core 2 test 3 boots into blank screen after install

[espique]

Hi there,

I just installed Fedore Core 2 Test 3, my first Fedora ever. The installation seemed to work quite well. I wasn't asked for monitor or screen resolution though. And I think here is my problem: After the first reboot (while showing details) I could see the line "X is not configured, starting..." and then the screen blanked out. Could not read the rest of it. My monitor LED is blinking as if it would not get a signal or a signal that it can't display.

Subsequent reboots all do the same, they boot into a blank screen.

I am running an AMD XP processor system, nVidia nForce2 chipset, MAtrox Parhelia graphic card. And I am not experienced in Linux.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Sascha

[Bana]

when you get into Grub (the one with the boot options) press e to edit the fedora entry then delete the rhgb line and press enter and then b. This should get you in without the graphical bootup (although it will still probably launch the gdm login manager) Then after a while press ctrl+alt+F1 and it should present you with a text login. Then you can edit your config file (/etc/X11/xorg.conf ) and hopefully change your refresh rates/resolutions to ones you know work. Or you can try something like xfree86config (if it is still there anymore). Good luck!

[Picomp314]

I know that this sounds wierd, but what kind of monitor do you have, sometimes linux has difficulties configuring certain types (particularly lcds)

[Thoreau]

not to be a jackass, but if you're trying core 2 test3 as your 1st linux distro... i would try and get Core 1, it's super stable, or tough it out with test3 :)

Does XF86Config -configure work in Fedora? or it is linux/Xfree wide?

[espique]

hey.

fedora is not my first distro, but my first fedora :)

I found more quirks, maybe it helps to isolate the problem: I booted into runlevel 3 and started X from there, which worked! however, I then logged out of X and when X was shut down, I was again left with the blank screen and blinking monitor LED (which is a LCD monitor, and at least it's brand "SyncMaster" was recognized by the configuration).

so it seems to be a problem when X is starting or ending, mabe even the login manager. because next time I booted into runlevel 5 it worked fine, then I rebooted again and it booted into a blank screen. very confusing. If I ever get back to X I will try to reconfigure the monitor, maybe that will do it.

Any more hints?

Thanks!

Sascha

[Darkmage]

Try this
X -configure
X -xf86config /root/xorg.conf.new
cp /root/xorg.conf.new /etc/X11/xorg.conf


During this process, if you see a blank screen with an "X" cursor, hit Ctrl-Alt-Backspace to get to a shell prompt.

[mhelios]

All test release questions please post in the Test Releases forum thanks. Moved.

[jeru]

I noticed a DDC bug myself. (same effect as your experiencing)

Edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf and uncomment the horizontal and vertical refresh rates instead of letting DDC do it.

[espique]

@Darkmage: Your X -configure suggestion did not help, unfortunately.

However, I was able to get back into X and edited the display settings so that I am now using a standard LCD display instead of a specific monitor. I can now boot to init 3 and successfully startx. When logging out I still get the blank screen though.

@JERU: Thanks for that hint. I will try that. What would I enter for horizontal/vertical refresh rates?

BTW: I am also getting strange keyboard errors before starting X. I get "atkbd.c: unknown key released" errors while typing. Maybe this is related? I don't know...

Many thanks,
Sascha

[Darkmage]

Basically for the horizontal and verical refresh rate there is a comment "#" , remove them from both line and save.

I was reading your first post and you indicated you were never asked to select a display, then I will suggest running firstboot.
do a man firstboot

[espique]

well... unfortunately editing the xorg.conf file as was suggested did not help. I still get the same thing.

also, a "man firstboot" says the manpages are not available for firstboot. when running the command firstboot, nothing happens. it just returns to the shell with no output whatsoever.

anything else? :)

thanks,
sascha

[Darkmage]

rpm -qa |grep firstboot
to see if you have the rpm installed.
Firstboot is the package that detects your hardware during the initial install. Maybe you can install it from the Fedora cd but, it has some dependencies rhnlib and up2date.
Install rhnlib, up2date and firstboot in that order
rhnlib and up2date are on the first cd and firstboot is on the second cd

[espique]

thanks. without having it checked yet, I think firstboot is in fact installed. when typing it into a shell I do not get an error about the command not being found or similar. all it does is nothing...

I will try though.

thanks,
sascha

[gtano]

I have had almost the same problem as espique. But I got to the "firstboot" dialog and did all the setup. (the firstboot setup was in the right resulltion 1400x1050 tough). After clicking "ok" the screen went blank. I've tried to do the same thing with lower resulotion but got the same result.

Worth mentioning: I've got a Compaq Presario 2100 (2173EA) Laptop.

Please help.

[Darkmage]

get to a shell login --Ctl-Alt-F1 and login as root and

# HorizSync 30.0 - 95.0
# VertRefresh 50.0 - 160.0
remove the two comments in /etc/X11/xorg.conf. reboot and hopefully that works

[gtano]

okey, hm. I couldn't get to the shell..
Ctl-Alt-F1 (and also Ctl-Alt-Backspace) just gave me a blank screen. Almost everything I do generates a blank screen.

Is there a way I can start fedora without X (or in this case GDM login manager), direct to shell from grub?

I have had alot of problems with this laptop(Presario 2100) and linux. Usually it's either the keyboard or ACPI not working. This problem never occurd before..

Thanks, Gustav

[jrblevin]

The best way to boot into console only mode is to add a "3" at the end of your grub kernel line so that it reads something like "kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.5-1.358 ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb quiet 3". You can do this from the grub prompt by pressing e to edit the menu entry, selecting the kernel line and pressing e again, then make the modification, press esc, then b to boot. This will put you at a console login screen without even starting gdm or any X stuff.

You might want to have a look at the following thread. It might help solve your problem as well:
ATI 9200 screen blanks (http://www.fedoraforum.org/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1695)

[jeru]

Originally posted by Darkmage
get to a shell login --Ctl-Alt-F1 and login as root and

# HorizSync 30.0 - 95.0
# VertRefresh 50.0 - 160.0
remove the two comments in /etc/X11/xorg.conf. reboot and hopefully that works

Note: you will want to find the H and V settings for *your* monitor... Otherwise you risk burning it.

[gtano]

Thanks for all the help!
In some strange way by dissable the "first boot" fedora stated perfectly.
(I'm now writing in fedora.)

In grub I typed 3 after rhgb quiet. And all went well.

Now let's see what happends if I reboot now..

Gustav

[espique]

I dumped my matrox parhelia card (which made problems in other distros as well) in favor for a sparkling new ati radeon 9600xt. now fedora boots as it is supposed to boot. quite expensive fix, but a fix :-)))