Re: A novice having trouble with X window on install
On Sat, 2003-10-04 at 08:19, Charles Forelle wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I'm in the midst of my first ever installation of Debian and I'm having
> trouble with the graphical interface. I've completed the process (installing
> the bf2.4 flavor with only desktop environment picked in tasksel -- I chose
> not to run dselect yet). The install complete with a text log-in prompt. I
> can login OK, both as the normal user I created and as root. But when I
> reboot, I get a message right after the login prompt appears that says:
>
> I cannot start the X server (your graphical interface). It is likely that it
> is not set up correctly. Would you like to view the X server output to
> diagnose the problem?
>
> My choices: Yes or No.
>
> I pick Yes and get a blank gray box. My only choice is EXIT, which I pick.
> Then it says:
>
> Would you like me to try to run the X configuration program? Note that you
> will need the root password for this.
>
> I pick Yes and give the root password. Then I get:
>
> I will now try to restart the X server again.
>
> I pick OK, and after a second or two pause, I'm back to the original I
> cannot start the X server... message, whence I end up in an endless loop.
>
> Help! I'm totally flummoxed. Does anyone have a sense of what's gone wrong?
>
> With thanks,
>
> Charles.
>
Hi Charles,
I've had similar problems, usually turned out the driver
for my graphics card wasn't selected properly. I solve it as
following: run 'lspci' from a prompt as root and find out your
actual graphics card, modify the /etc/X11/XF86Config-4, section
"Device" option "Driver" accordingly by hand and work from there.
'man 5 XF86Config-4' should give directions. "Driver" refers to
files at /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drivers/*_drv.o
Falling back on "vga" is a possibility. Make a copy of your
original XF86Config-4!
Sincerely,
Jan.
Reply to: