[lug] RH 7.1

[Tim Klein]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

It sounds like xdm is trying to start X, but failing (or gdm, or 
kdm, or whatever graphical login).  It is a pain when this 
happens.  On my Debian systems, these programs are smart enough 
to give up after a few tries.  If this does not happen on your 
laptop, it will be a bit of a pain, if you can't use your system 
while xdm is thrashing around.  Xdm tries to respawn it self 
whenever it exits, so if there is a problem, it will just keep 
trying to respawn.

Something is not right in the video set up, I would guess.  Look 
for the log output from X.  My experience here is with Debian, 
so I don't know if Redhat is the same, but xdm writes a file in 
/var/log called xdm.log.  Kdm writes a file called 
XFree86.0.log.  Look for files like these, the problem should be 
be in there, towards the end, usually.

If your system is totally unusable, you might have to boot into 
non-graphical mode.  I think on Redhat, this would be init=3 at 
the lilo prompt (? Correct me, anyone?).  That way, hopefully, 
xdm will not try to start and you can figure out what is going 
on.

HTH,
Tim

On Sunday 29 July 2001 12:07 pm, Chad Wasinger wrote:
> I installed RH 7.1 on a compaq presario 3550, during the
> install xwindows ran fine and I got the GUI walk through of
> the install. After install it boots to Linux and comes up to
> Linux Login:(not xwindows) but my video flashes on and off 5
> to 10 times and it will not take keyboard inputs during the
> flashes, then it stops and I can type for about 5-10 seconds
> then it starts to flash again.
> I also got logged in in between the flashing and ran startx
> but it fails to start.
>
> Anyone have any idea? Video problem, I have a ATI rage 128
> card, I can't seem to get to a mode where it would be easy to
> switch drivers.
>
> Thanks in advance for any advise!
>
> _______________________________________________
> Web Page:  http://lug.boulder.co.us
> Mailing List:
> http://lists.lug.boulder.co.us/mailman/listinfo/lug

- -- 
==============================================
== Timothy Klein || teece at silverklein.net   ==
== ---------------------------------------- ==
== "Hello, World" 17 Errors, 31 Warnings... ==
==============================================
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.0.6 (GNU/Linux)
Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org

iD8DBQE7ZFXgnjAB6bVab/sRAluuAJ9ZvVb5OoPCWBZJd1Kbp54orFW7jACeI2ku
aYi89ynDES8FGF0ncl+xDco=
=rIjP
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----