Re: Problem starting x server
Adrian S. Glover wrote:
Hello!
I'm new to Debian and this GNU/linux. I've installed from CD but the
machine returns an error saying "I cannot start x server, it is
likely that it is not set up correctly etc etc".
Setting up X is one of the most common difficulties newbies have,
especially if they're using the current Stable branch of Debian, Woody.
Woody is ancient, and if this is what you have, you'd probably find life
much easier if you could upgrade to Sarge (Testing) or Sid (Unstable),
both of which are suitable for workstation use (whereas you'd probably
do better to stick with Woody for a server, in which case, do you really
need X?).
Then next screen says "warning process set to nice value 0 instead of
-10 as requested etc".
You can ignore this error; it's not the one causing you problems.
Next screen "would you like to run the x config program etc"
then "I will now try to restart x server again"
then "I cannot start the x server".
It either goes round in circles or I have to decline and get to the
command prompt.
The machine is not yet on either its network or the internet
Then upgrading to Sarge or Sid is more difficult.
, the only way in is via CD (no-floppy).
Can anyone tell me how (in simple terms please!) how to get through
this and bring up the GUI? I copied the CD from a mirror.
I've tried the faq's and other lists.
Run "lspci" and see what video chipset you have; the output will look
something like this:
westk[@westk03]:/home/westk/DOCS/KCARC/NEWSLETTERS/2005> lspci
0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8366/A/7 [Apollo
KT266/A/333]
0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8366/A/7 [Apollo
KT266/A/333 AGP]
0000:00:09.0 Ethernet controller: Linksys NC100 Network Everywhere
Fast Ethernet 10/100 (rev 11)
0000:00:0b.0 VGA compatible controller: S3 Inc. 86c325 [ViRGE] (rev 06)
0000:00:11.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8233 PCI to ISA Bridge
0000:00:11.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc.
VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 06)
0000:00:11.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB
1.1 Controller (rev 1b)
0000:00:11.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB
1.1 Controller (rev 1b)
0000:00:11.4 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB
1.1 Controller (rev 1b)
0000:00:11.5 Multimedia audio controller: VIA Technologies, Inc.
VT8233/A/8235/8237 AC97 Audio Controller (rev 30)
0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Rage 128
RL/VR AGP
There are two lines referring to VGA controllers, indicating that this
box has two video cards (yours probably (almost certainly) only has
one); one is an S3 86c325; the other is an ATI Rage 128.
Now that you know what video chipset you have, run "dpkg-reconfigure
xserver-xfree86", and select the corresponding driver for your chipset
when prompted. After this program is finished, try starting X manually
with the "startx" command.
If it still fails, look on the screen (Shift-PgUP to scroll up) for any
relevant error messages. Also you might look in /var/log/XFree86.0.log.
As your other question is on a different topic, it really deserves its
own thread. I'd still attempt answering it, however, if I were so qualified.
--
Kent
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