(EE) Failed to load module "kbd" (module does not exist, 0) (EE) Failed to load module "mouse" (module does not exist, 0) (II) APM: driver for the Alliance chipsets: AP6422, AT24, AT3D (II) Primary Device is: PCI 01:00:0 (EE) No devices detected. Fatal server error: no screens found
In desperation, on 2007-01-16 I posted a query to this list. Five people answered me with positive suggestions. I am submitting my success report on the late side; but a series of medical problems have slowed me down lately.
In short, I discovered that only some of the packages in the x-server-x-org meta-package had been installed by the installer. Missing were x-server-xorg-imputs-all, four of its five dependencies, x-server-xorg-video-all, and all but one of its 36 dependencies. The two dependencies installed were x-server-xorg-imputs-acecad and x-server-xorg-video-apm.
I needed only two of the five dependencies of x-server-xorg-imputs-all: -kbd and -mouse. After installing these two packages and running dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg again I got the kbd and mouse modules installed, but not the video driver.
I then examined the information about the 36 dependencies and discovered that each one is specific to a given video card or a group of such cards. The one installed was -apm, for Alliance Pro Motion cards; whereas my card was a Matrox.
I then installed xserver-xorg-video-mga and ran dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg once more. This time, when asked to choose between apm and mga, I knew what was meant and so chose mga. When the reconfiguration ran its course X.org was up and running.
The key question is why did the installer on the Etch RC1 CDROM not install all the dependencies of the xserver-xorg? Only three were installed: x-server-xorg-core, and two others which I did not need: x-server-imputs-acecad and x-server-video-apm. The ones I did need I had to install myself.
A few days later I used the same build of Etch RC1 to install it from scratch on my laptop. All the dependencies of x-server-xorg were installed, and on first boot X.org was loaded without needing any manual configuration on my part.
Ken Heard Toronto, Canada