mmm more problems...laptop install

[David Pastern <david@scsenterprises.com.au>]

OK guys, i'm curious.  After getting base install of Debian onto my Compaq
Armada 1750 laptop I rebooted and ... well... it wasn't pretty.  It starts
off ok as the bootup messages fly by, and then the screen goes white.  Yes,
white.  Realising that i'm damaging my screen potentially, I shutdown.  

I then proceeded to try a Debian boot floppy - same thing.

So...I tried the boot parameters as I did when installing...ie

linux video=vga16:off

Now this worked and it booted ok, no white screen.  I have a few questions:

1.  Why does the white screen occur?  What actually is it?  It didn't do it
when installing to my desktop pc.  So is it a laptop only issue?  

2.  What does the video=vga16:off mean?  I presume it means boot in vga
mode, not svga, 16 bit (not 24 bit).  The off bit i'm not sure on.  

I'm yet to get to the point of getting xfree86 onto the laptop, so hopefully
when that's on it'll fix everything.  Advice appreciated.

Dave