Advice for troubleshooting X (total screen loss) -- Newb Alert

["Jeff Soules" <soules@gmail.com>]

Hi all,

Thanks for taking the time to read this.  I try to solve things by myself, but 
I'm at a loss for the next step in troubleshooting this one.

After install, I attempt to start X using startx.  A few lines of text flash

on the screen, then it blacks out and the system buzzer gives me one
short beep.  I cannot alt-Fx to any other terminal and lose the terminal
I'm working in, and have to restart with ctrl-alt-del.
I've tried to capture the text printed to screen before it blacks out

using
$ startx 2>&1 >xfail
but on the next restart, file xfail is empty.

Setup:
I have a fresh install of Etch (AMD64 version) running on an Athlon64x2
dual-core proc.  Graphics card is an EVGA-branded nVidia 8600GT.
Display is a 22" Acer LCD; I ensured the refresh rates in the 
x configuration were within monitor specs.

For setup, I installed the base system and a couple extra packages
(bastille, sudo).  Went through interactive bastille, set up my
sudoers file, then sudid:

apt-get install xserver-xorg-core
apt-get install x-window-system

apt-get install xserver-xfree86
apt-get install xserver-xorg
apt-get install x-window-system-core
apt-get install gnome-core
apt-get install enlightenment

then installed nvidia drivers:

apt-get install module-assistant gcc nvidia-kernel-common

apt-get install nvidia-kernel-2.6.18-6-amd64
apt-get install nvidia-glx

Then reconfigured the x server to use the nvidia driver using
dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

Forced the nvidia driver to load at boot:
echo nvidia >> /etc/modules

(first time) manually loaded the nvidia module:
modprobe nvidia


...and then I try startx and get the uninformative results above.


If anyone can recommend next steps for troubleshooting or where
I should look for more information, I would be very grateful.

Thanks!

Best,
Jeff Soules