Setup resolution & Hz

[MeToo]

I have a very old monitor, which only supports 640*480 @ 60 Hz. Now I'm able to set the resolution OK, but how do I change the refresh rate to 60 Hz? I prefer graphical setup, because I'm quite new with Linux and the idea of txt setup gives me creeps... ;-) Any help appreciate.

PS. I have the possibility to change the monitor, but I'd rather not try it.

[Jman]

You can get at the resolution and refresh rates by going to Main Menu > Preferences > Screen Resolution. This runs gnome-display-properties. You may find your refresh rate there.

To change your monitor, go to Main Menu > System Settings > Display, which is a shortcut to redhat-config-xfree86. There you can change your color depth and hardware.

[MeToo]

Sorry for little unclear question...

What I mean is, that when I boot up from Fedora install CD and start to install Linux, only the beginning with CD-test is OK. Right after that when the graphic installer starts begins my troubles.

I can set the screen resolution to 640*480, but how can I set the refresh rate at 60 Hz?

I only see lots of stripes all over the screen and can't do anything.

Any help for that too...?!

[joking]

first off, you'll learn more from the text based install. then login as root and start the xwindow configuration from there by issuing the following command:

redhat-config-xfree86

it will take you to a graphic interface and you can chose a video card, set it's memory assets, and set the horizontal and vertical sync rates for the monitor. save the settings and then at the command prompt type startx.

If you don't know the video cards model you have to open the case. if you don't know your monitors horizontal and vertical sync rates search for the Model # on the web at its manufacturers site or if it isn't a name brand then it's a little harder to find.

[MeToo]

Originally posted by joking
it will take you to a graphic interface


How does this interface behave? Because if it behaves similiar than setup, I can't see a thing -> it's not possible to change anything.

Is there something like in Windows "Safe mode" in Linux?

Do anybody know any web resource, where I can find detailled information about installing Fedora in text mode? I have a vague feeling, that it would be a very good thing to read something about it before trying... 8-)

[joking]

well, there are hundreds of non-pertaining references on the web about XFree86 set up. weeding through them all can both confuse and confound. so I will get my cd's and install and give you a play by play.

that should help. be back in about 10 minutes.

[joking]

i apologize for the delay, had to take a phone call....

a. get the monitor sync rates.
b. get the video card ram amount chipset or manufacturer and part number.

if your cd will boot from the fedora first cd then proceed as follows:

1. type linux text and press enter
2. if your reasonable sure the cd media is good skip the media scan by tabing over to the skip button and press enter.
3. watch for the probe of the video card you'll need that info later if it was detected.
4. select ok at the Fedora Welcome screen.
5. select your language.
6. select your keyboard type.
7. specify your mouse type.
8. at the Monitor Configure, tab to the change field of Monitor and select the Monitor 640x480 and ok.
9. at the Montir Configure, tab to the change field for Horizontal and Vertical Sync Rates and enter the veritcal and horizontal sync rates. tab to ok.
10. select the type of installation you want.
11. Autopartition on the next screen.
12. if this is just a linux box click remove all partitions and then answer ok.
13. okay again at the prompt to really do it.
14. okay at the proposed disk layout.
15. ok if it tells you to activate swap space due to low memory constraints (Min 128M, will install on 64M but really slow).
16. okay to grub boot loader.
17. no special options to boot and okay.
18. no grub password and ok.
19. ok at boot loader configuration.
20. i said no at firewall configuration and okayed it to get past it.
21. english only install and okay.
22. UTC time yes and my location and okay.
23. entered root password twice and then okay.
24. select what packages you want to run and click okay.
25. dependencies will be checked.
26. it will tell you about the install log. just okay it after writing down the directory.
27. it will ask you if you want to continue installing the 3 cd's, and tab to continue.
28. the software will load.
29. sorry slow system so it will take a while.....stay tuned for part 2 when I resume this thread.

[joking]

continuation from 29
30. final cd loading.
break while kernel source code is loaded......that baby is 203Meg in size....
31. created emergency boot disk.
32. removed cd and ebd.
33. rebooted system.
34. grub appears and pressed enter to continue.
35. kuzu found network card, dhcp selected, plugged in network cable and continued.
36. Fedora legal screens appear. Clicked through.
37. set date and time.
38. setup user name and password.
39. No other cd's click through.
40. Finish fedora setup.
41. graphical user interface login.
42. gnome started.....will change to kde at somepoint.
43. if X didn't start then run the following command:

redhat-config-xfree86

this will take you to a bare minimum gui for setting up the montor and the video board.
once you click okay it will build the configuration file. you can tweak this file as necessary to get better graphics.

End of thread

Additional comments: Some older versions of RH software required that you turned off ACPI and APM to load the software. They would prevent the load of the software. Once you got it loaded you could turn them back on and RH would recognize them on reboot.

If this didn't help you, Hopefully it will someone else.

System as installed:

Dell Optiplex GXMT 5200
200Mhz CPU
64 MB Ram
4.2 Gig Drive
Onboard 10Mhz network
S3 Trio Video Graphics on board.
Sound onboard.
52x CD-ROM
MGC-1451d monitor
Horizontal Sync 31-55hz
Vertical Sync 51-90hz
(monitor settings possibly different but couldn't find the printout and its no longer available on the internet.)

[joking]

Originally posted by MeToo
How does this interface behave? Because if it behaves similiar than setup, I can't see a thing -> it's not possible to change anything.

Is there something like in Windows "Safe mode" in Linux?

Do anybody know any web resource, where I can find detailled information about installing Fedora in text mode? I have a vague feeling, that it would be a very good thing to read something about it before trying... 8-)

the interface is a low end gui. it will basically display in 8 colors on any monitor.

not necessarily, the emergency boot disk will allow you to get back on the system in case of a crash. it's just text at that point so that you can use commands to mount and fix system problems.

one thing about running the x configure script is that you can destroy any good x window that you have. i er, trashed the xwindows on the new install so it looks like a reload here.

okay got the gui back.....had to delete the /root/XFree86config file and go to /etc/X11 and cp the backup copy of XFree86config over the XFree86config file. then was able to restart the x window session.

[MeToo]

OK.

Thanks a lot!!!

I will try to do it sometimes this week(end). If I get stuck, I'll be back...

[kishorevsvn]

hi friends
i installed fedora6 in my system successfully.but after the installation rebooting ,i am not able to see the screen but a message "?hz" scrolling around the screen.

what i have to do for getting screen
reply me by mail to me to kishorevsvn@yahoo.co.in