FC6 boots up to a blank screen

turquoise70 · #1 14th January 2007, 10:08 AM

Hi everyone,
I'm the newest of possible types of newbies with Linux; I just started trying to use it for the first time tonight. I'm having some trouble. The bottom line is, I'm absolutely Linux-illiterate at this point.

I've got an AMD 64x2, Windows XP (so I'm trying to dual boot with FC6 on another partition of the same HDD), ATI Radeon x1600 graphics card, 512 mb of RAM

I downloaded and burned all 6 FC6 CD files to CDs (64 version), and installed FC6. This seemed to go smoothly-- although at one point when it was doing something with the video, the screen displayed a very garbled version of my motherboard's bootup image, tiled.

The problem began when installation stated that it was complete, and (presumably) went to start up FC6. However, when it did this, the screen went blank-- in fact, my monitor read "entering power save mode" like it does when the computer shuts off. The computer is still running, but the monitor I guess isn't recieving any video signals. The system responds to some things apparently-- I can still turn the Num/Caps/Scoll Lock on and off and the LEDs respond.

So my computer is set up to dual boot, and FC6 is set up as the default, but it arrives at the blank screen every time it goes to start up what I'm presuming is the graphical part of the OS.

I know I'm probably leaving out some crucial information, but like I said I'm very new to this. Anyone think they can help me given what we all know now?

Thanks in advance peoples, I appreciate any help

***glennzo*** · #2 14th January 2007, 12:53 PM

We can help you. In my opinion this is a common problem. But a few questions first. Are you using GRUB to handle booting? Do you know your monitor's horizontal and vertical refresh rates?
The problem is likely a mis-configured /etc/X11/xorg.conf file. If we make a few small changes to it we can probably get you up and running in no time. It's usually pretty simple.

el_diablo4303 · #3 14th January 2007, 01:40 PM

i do have same problem with turquoise70. some told me that to add something like this....

->When grub appears hit the enter key and type e [for edit]
and add the following to your kernel boot line.
mode=vesa resolution=800x600

It should look like this

.........rhgb quiet mode=vesa resolution=800x600

If this allows you to boot properly then you can system-config-display and sort out your hardware
configuration <-

sadly..it doesnt work for me. i'm using gigabyte 945P-S3 motherboard...SATA...ATI Radeon X1600PRO PCI-E.

***glennzo*** · #4 14th January 2007, 05:48 PM

When grub appears, scroll to the OS you want to boot and press 'e'. Then arrow down to the second line, the one that looks similar to this: kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2869.fc6 ro root=LABEL=/ vga=791 and press 'e'. Now you can edit the line. The sample line I used is from my own grub menu. Using that as an example, get rid of 'vga=791' and replace it with '3'. Press 'enter' and press 'b'. This will accept the change and boot Linux to level 3 where you can then log in as root and edit your /etc/X11/xorg.conf. Change to your /etc/X11 folder. Using an editor, open xorg.conf. Look for the text below in your file.

SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection

Remove "1280x1024" from both lines. Save the file. Now you should be back at the command prompt. Type 'startx' and press enter. If all went well you should get into the graphical desktop. If it worked, I'd reboot and log in as your regular user. You don't want to be working as root. If not, we go back a step. Keep us posted if you will.

turquoise70 · #5 14th January 2007, 09:00 PM

Yes, I'm using GRUB to handle it. And I changed the last bit to 3, and have proceded onwards. Yay! No more black screen.

So now I'm looking at a command line and i've logged in as root with the password I set at installation. But...I don't know how to change to that folder, or open that file.

I tried just typing in /etc/X11/xorg.conf but it said permission denied.

Update: I figured out how to change to the /etc/X11/ directory and I can see xorg.conf in the list of files, but I don't know how to edit xorg.conf.

***glennzo*** · #6 14th January 2007, 10:14 PM

As root, type cp xorg.conf xorg.conf.bk which will backup the untouched xorg.conf file. Then type vi xorg.conf. As soon as vi opens, hit the esc key and then the insert key. That puts you in edit mode. Move down until you see the lines I talked about, make your changes, hit esc then, in this order, :wq! ,that's a colon the letter w the letter q and the exclamation point and press enter. That will save the file and exit the vi editor.

turquoise70 · #7 14th January 2007, 10:40 PM

Okay. I've gotten as far as opening xorg.conf and entering edit mode, but no such lines exist in the file.

at that part in the file, it instead reads:

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

There doesn't appear to be anything about screen resolutions. What should I do from here?

***glennzo*** · #8 15th January 2007, 12:24 PM

Here's a clip from xorg.conf from one of my Linux installations.
Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
Try adding the Modes line just as you see it here to your file, save and type startx. Keep us posted. We'll get it working for you.

el_diablo4303 · #9 15th January 2007, 06:29 PM

glennzo....
this is my kernel that u had said go to second line....

Quote:

grub edit>kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6 ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 rhgb quit

... i add 3 at the back..then move on to root... then i log in as root and the password.
problem here...i don't know how to change to that folder, or open that file.

i had try typing -> /etc/X11/xorg.conf but it said permission denied.

i got stuck here.... could u point me to something?

sdowney717 · #10 15th January 2007, 06:47 PM

Here is my xorg.conf as found in /etc/X11

Please help me a little here as well. Sometimes when I boot, the X server gives me a blank screen past UDF line as it is booting. The only way I can get it to work if this happens is to boot into win XP, shut down and reboot fedorca core 6

here is my grub
# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE: You have a /boot partition. This means that
# all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/VolGroup01/LogVol00
# initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/hda
default=2
timeout=15
splashimage=(hd0,1)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title Fedora Core (2.6.18-1.2869.fc6)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2869.fc6 ro root=/dev/VolGroup01/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.18-1.2869.fc6.img
title Fedora Core (2.6.18-1.2798.fc6)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6 ro root=/dev/VolGroup01/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6.img
title WindowsXP
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

# Xorg configuration created by pyxf86config

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "i810"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

sdowney717 · #11 15th January 2007, 07:21 PM

I ran the configuration program (click system - administration - display)

perhaps it will work better now that the monitor is identified

# Xorg configuration created by system-config-display

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "single head configuration"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
ModelName "AOC SPECTRUM 7Dlr & 7DlrA"
### Comment all HorizSync and VertSync values to use DDC:
HorizSync 30.0 - 68.0
VertRefresh 50.0 - 120.0
Option "dpms"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "i810"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

***glennzo*** · #12 15th January 2007, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el_diablo4303

glennzo....
this is my kernel that u had said go to second line.... ... i add 3 at the back..then move on to root... then i log in as root and the password.
problem here...i don't know how to change to that folder, or open that file.

i had try typing -> /etc/X11/xorg.conf but it said permission denied.

i got stuck here.... could u point me to something?

Type, in this order"
su (press enter)
(enter root's password) <--don't type this

cd /etc/X11 (press enter)

You are now in the /etc/X11 folder

Type
cp xorg.conf xorg.conf.bk <--This will make a backup of the file for use later

vi xorg.conf

Make the needed changes. Save and exit vi by pressing the escape key, the colon key and wq! and press enter.

Type startx at the prompt. Feel the magic. Don't give up if there's no magic.

turquoise70 · #13 16th January 2007, 04:02 AM

Excellent! Absolutely excellent, thanks so much glennzo

my .conf file is fixed and FC is working like a charm, and it looks lovely by the way. Now to get the internet configured...

el_diablo4303 · #14 16th January 2007, 11:27 AM

thnaks glennzo. i've done it. now i can enter graphical interface. i had try to change monitor property..but i reboot it...same problem appears. i've check the xorg.conf file. there some changing in it. new line were added for monitor if i'm not mistaken.
then edit back...save it..follow ur instruction again with typing startx. now some errors appear.

Quote:

Error message like this :
.
.
.
.
.
(EE) VESA(0) : No matching modes
(EE) Screen(s) found, but none have usable configuration.

Fatal server error:
no screens found
XIO : fatal IO error 104 (Connection reset by peer) on X server "0:0" after 0 request (0 known processed) with 0 events reamining.
[root@localhost X11]#

then i reinstalled fedora..repeat back then steps to edit the xorg.conf. i've tried Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" but it doesn't work. then i delete "1024x768"..its work. however the resolution only "800x600" and "640x480". now i can use fedora with no problem like before.
now what should i do? i've graphic card but no onboard vga. the resolution is rather small with big icons for me. how can i install the graphic card driver or else to get better resolution?

***glennzo*** · #15 16th January 2007, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdowney717

I ran the configuration program (click system - administration - display)

perhaps it will work better now that the monitor is identified

# Xorg configuration created by system-config-display

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
ModelName "AOC SPECTRUM 7Dlr & 7DlrA"
### Comment all HorizSync and VertSync values to use DDC:
HorizSync 30.0 - 68.0
VertRefresh 50.0 - 120.0
Option "dpms"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "i810"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Change the horizontal and vertical sync ranges, where I've made the text red. It needs to read HorizSync 30 - 95 VertRefresh 50 - 160. Save and exit the editor. Type 'startx'. Once you get a screen, log out and log in as your regular user and type 'startx'. Better off to just reboot and log in as regular user.