Video on Dell GX260

[Zeppo]

I cannot get the video to be any better than 640X480 on a Dell GX260

I tried re-installing FC from scratch, and this is what happens:

After the installation, on the first boot, a blue screen comes up 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?
Yes/No

Only lines that look important say this:
EE:I810(0): No Video BIOS modes for chosen depth.
EE:Screen(s) found, but none have a useable configuration.

Fatal server error:
no screens found.


I hit OK to get out of that log, and it asks if I want to view another log.
Look through it, and it has basically the same errors.



Click OK to get out of that log, then get another blue screen asking me:

Would you like me to try to run the X configuration program? Note that you will need the root password for this.
Yes/No


Comes up to the screen where you can choose the resoultion and color depth.
The font is very small, but the picture is huge.

I select a resolution of 1024X768.
Color depth: Thousands of colors.


I will now try to restart the X server again.
OK

Hit Ok, and it comes up to the login screen.

Log in, and the screen looks like it is still in 640X480.

Go to System Tools > Display and it says it is set to 1024X768 and Thousands of Colors.
I can't see the bottom, but I know to hit tab a few times and it gets to the OK at the bottom.

Go to Preferences > Screen resolution and it brings that screen up with a resolution of 640X480, refresh rate of 85Hz.
It won't let me change either selection.
I click on it, a box around it turns blue, but there are no other choices.



System is a Dell GX260
Video info from a similar system running windows:
Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics controller



Any ideas?

[ewdi]

what video driver did you choose during installation?

[Bana]

You might want to post the relevant section of your XF86Config file to see if the X Configurator program might have made a setup error.

[mhelios]

POsting your XF86Config would be helpful as Bana suggested.
The screen section should look something like:

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Make sure 1024x768 is listed in your Modes line.

You could also try changing the resolution with the ctrl alt + key combo (use + on keypad)

[Zeppo]

It never gave me a screen to choose any video drivers.

When I get back to work tomorrow I will get that file and post it and try that key combo.

[DaDevil]

In case it helps here is my XF86Config. I also have the Intel 845G/GL/etc/etc graphics controller on the motherboard.

You know what to do with the file but in case not :D :-

All commands as root

1. Backup your XF86Config - cp /etc/X11/XF86Config /etc/X11/XF86Config.bak

2. Copy downloaded config file to dir :-

cp /path/to/downloaded/file /etc/X11/Xf86Config

3. Just to be sure :- init 3; startx

4. Hopefully you can see 1024x768 display with millions of colors.

5. If not then revert back to your original file :-

mv /etc/X11/XF86Config.bak /etc/X11/XF86Config

And anyways you are going to post your XF86Config and then hopefully somebody will spot the error. :D

[DaDevil]

Ah dam* typo typo. Gotta type more carefully in future.

The 2nd instruction is

cp /path/to/downloaded/file /etc/X11/XF86Config

and *NOT*

cp /path/to/downloaded/file /etc/X11/Xf86Config

Note *f* changed to *F*

[mhelios]

DaDevil's step number 3 (- 3. Just to be sure :- init 3; startx) which is to restart the X Server
can also be done simply with the key combo Ctrl Alt Bckspce.

[DaDevil]

Yes very right about the key combo. But I mentioned the init 3; startx method because I was not sure whether the key combo works when the X server is unable to start itself and you can see the blue screen saying "Unable to start the X server or something like that". Now if the original poster is making changes while in 640x480 which he can log in then for sure Ctrl-Alt-Bkspc is going to work.

But I was expecting him to make the changes when he is dropped to a console with the "no screens found" message.

Also as a note to the original poster my XF86Config is configured for a scroll mouse. If you do not have that then you will have to reconfigure yours by using redhat-config-mouse otherwise most likely the mouse pointer is going to go bonkers.

Additional Note - As the OP said "It never gave me a screen to choose any video drivers" , If you start redhat-config-xfree86 then at the top you can see the Hardware tab click on that and then you can configure your Monitor and Video Card. But at least in my case Fedora picked up flawlessly my Video Card but got bogus values from ddcprobe for my non standard monitor although RH9 on the same monitor can get back proper values.Anybody got any suggestions for this or should I start a new thread. If yes the moderator is allowed to whack me on my head albeit softly. :D

[mhelios]

DaDevil, it would probably be best to start a new thread. No head whacking necessary. :) Nice point about the key combo though.

[DaDevil]

Done started a new thread albeit under Hardware. Now all it needs is people to reply to it :D. And mheliios thanks for not whacking me on the head :D.

Looks like with moderators like you this forum may be a nice place for Newbies and they (which includes me) will not get told off for asking simple questions. :rolleyes:

[Zeppo]

Here is my file.

I will start going through it to see what I can find and try the suggestions above.


# XFree86 4 configuration created by redhat-config-xfree86

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "single head configuration"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "DevInputMice" "AlwaysCore"
EndSection

Section "Files"

# RgbPath is the location of the RGB database. Note, this is the name of the
# file minus the extension (like ".txt" or ".db"). There is normally
# no need to change the default.
# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together)
# By default, Red Hat 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of
# the X server to render fonts.
RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
FontPath "unix/:7100"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "dbe"
Load "extmod"
Load "fbdevhw"
Load "glx"
Load "record"
Load "freetype"
Load "type1"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

# Specify which keyboard LEDs can be user-controlled (eg, with xset(1))
# Option "Xleds" "1 2 3"
# To disable the XKEYBOARD extension, uncomment XkbDisable.
# Option "XkbDisable"
# To customise the XKB settings to suit your keyboard, modify the
# lines below (which are the defaults). For example, for a non-U.S.
# keyboard, you will probably want to use:
# Option "XkbModel" "pc102"
# If you have a US Microsoft Natural keyboard, you can use:
# Option "XkbModel" "microsoft"
#
# Then to change the language, change the Layout setting.
# For example, a german layout can be obtained with:
# Option "XkbLayout" "de"
# or:
# Option "XkbLayout" "de"
# Option "XkbVariant" "nodeadkeys"
#
# If you'd like to switch the positions of your capslock and
# control keys, use:
# Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:swapcaps"
# Or if you just want both to be control, use:
# Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:nocaps"
#
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

# If the normal CorePointer mouse is not a USB mouse then
# this input device can be used in AlwaysCore mode to let you
# also use USB mice at the same time.
Identifier "DevInputMice"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Monitor Vendor"
ModelName "Gateway CM751"
DisplaySize 360 270
HorizSync 30.0 - 95.0
VertRefresh 50.0 - 160.0
Option "dpms"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "i810"
VendorName "Videocard vendor"
BoardName "Intel 845"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 16
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Group 0
Mode 0666
EndSection

[Zeppo]

Ok, tried putting your config file in there DaDevil.
It didn't like it and started over with the blue screen saying that it couldn't start the X server, and so forth.
Back at 640X480 again.
I will keep trying other things as I find them.

[Zeppo]

Well, I can't figure anything out.
I even pulled out my old RedHat 8 CDs and tried installing that.
Same errors except that RH 8 would not even go into 640X480 mode.
Couldn't get X to start at all.
I am thinking that it must be something wrong with this PC.

With Fedora on it, I compared my XF86Config file to that of DaDevil's, and they are the same except for the Monitor part.

[ofeeley]

Is it possible that the monitor you're using won't actually sync to the frequencies required for 1024x768?

What is the monitor you're using?

[mhelios]

You may need to add a Modeline to your Monitor Section of the XF86Config. What does the command ddcprobe give you?
LCD screens are more picky about the resolutions they will allow than CRT.

[Zeppo]

It is a Gateway VX900 monitor.
It runs 1280X1024 under Windows well.
Here is what ddcprobe returns:


Videocard DDC probe results
Description: Intel Corporation Brookdale-G Graphics Controller
Memory (MB): 0

Monitor DDC probe results
ID: GWY0013
Name: Gateway CM751
Horizontal Sync (kHZ): 30-95
Vertical Sync (HZ) : 50-160
Width (mm): 360
Height(mm): 270

[Zeppo]

Well, I have been working on this some more and I have come to the conclusion that X is just not supposed to work on a Dell GX260.
At least not this one.
I will see if I can find one laying around here at work and trade.
If it does the same thing on a different one, then I give up.

[DaDevil]

Ah before you give up altogether how about trying to run 1024x768 using "fbdev" or "vesa" as the driver in the "Section "Device"". Where Driver is mentioned as i810 just replace it with "vesa" and try to run a higher resolution say "1024x768" albeit in 16 bit mode *NOT* 24 bit. Also you will need to pass the "vga=79?" parameter most likely 791 which will result in "1024x768" at 65536 colors or 16 bit.

For other possible modes read this doc present on your system if the kernel-source-*ntpl.rpm is installed on your system.

/usr/src/linux-2.4/Documentation/fb/vesafb.txt

If this does not work then try the fbdev option for the Driver section.

Only one problem with using framebuffer because of which I did not mention it earlier... Slow refresh rates. So playing games is most likely out of the question. But if you are not going to use this machine for playing games but just for browsing etc anything which is not sooo graphics intensive you should be ok.

[Zeppo]

Ok, tried that.
No luck.
Maybe I was putting the vga=291 paramater in the wrong place.
What section should it be in?

[Jolly]

Originally posted by mhelios
POsting your XF86Config would be helpful as Bana suggested.
The screen section should look something like:

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Make sure 1024x768 is listed in your Modes line.

You could also try changing the resolution with the ctrl alt + key combo (use + on keypad)

open this file in a text editer
in the first "mode" section
under depth 16
add
"1024x768"
to the entries already there
from this "800x600" "640x480"
to this "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

save changes
log out then back in

[DaDevil]

The parameter is not 291 it is 791. The complete parameter is "vga=791". My mistake I should have mentioned more clearly it is a boot parameter meaning you pass it to the kernel line. :p

For example something like the below :-

kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.22-1.2115.nptl ro root=LABEL=/ hdc=ide-scsi hdd=ide-scsi rhgb vga=791

Notice the vga=791 right at the end. The above is the case for grub.conf. If you are using lilo then you will need to add an append line like below :-

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.22-1.2115.nptl
label=linux
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.22-1.2115.nptl.img
read-only
append="hdc=ide-scsi hdd=ide-scsi rhgb root=LABEL=/ vga=791"

Only the vga=791 parameter is pertinent for you the remaining is all clutter I have just copied and pasted the above lines from my system.

As far as the XF86Config file goes try using the following :-
Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "i810" --> Replace the i810 with vesa
VendorName "Videocard vendor"
BoardName "Intel 845"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24 --> Replace 24 with 16
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24 --> Replace 24 with 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" --> Remove anything other than 1024x768
EndSubSection
EndSection

Also temporarily remove any other SubSection "Display" under Section Screen retaining only the one with Depth as 16 like the above. This is just to be sure nothing else. :D

[Jolly]

an add-on to the above
please back up the file first

so u can reference/replace if needed
DaDevil - no offence ment sir.

[DaDevil]

No offence taken. It was my mistake in assuming that the OP will take a back up since I had originally asked him to do that prior to making changes in the file in an earlier post. :D

And dude whats with the sir and all ??? You are making me feel old way old. :p Perhaps this smiley should clear up my mental age if not the physical. :p :p :p :p

[Zeppo]

Jolly, I thought I had tried that before without any luck, but I went ahead and tried it again.
Didn't work.
It would just rerun the setup and change it back.

Went back in and did what DaDevil said and added that line to the grub.conf and change the driver to vesa.
Rebooted, but the screen went black and I couldn't get it to come back.
Rebooted with my boot floppy, screen was kinda squished horizontally, but I could log in and change everything without dropping out of X.
Got it all changed back.

Then I read that thread by LackeyLad about his resolution problems and Mindstorm said something about the BIOS having the wrong setting for video memory. I know he was talking about laptops, but I gave it a shot anyway on this GX260.
Changed the video memory from 1meg to 8meg.
Booted back up, and lo and behold I was in 1024x768 mode.

So, keep that fix in mind for other Dell people with problems.

Thanks for everyone's help!

[DaDevil]

God damn so that was your problem. Never even realised to ask you the Video Memroy in the bios. :o

Good for you anyways and another piece of information added to this sieve of a mind. :D

[mindstorm]

Originally posted by Zeppo

Then I read that thread by LackeyLad about his resolution problems and Mindstorm said something about the BIOS having the wrong setting for video memory. I know he was talking about laptops, but I gave it a shot anyway on this GX260.
Changed the video memory from 1meg to 8meg.
Booted back up, and low and behold I was in 1024x768 mode.

So, keep that fix in mind for other Dell people with problems.

Thanks for everyone's help! Had no idea this affected some dell towers too, interesting.