During First Boot, PC monitor shows blank screen & ""CANNOT DISPLAY THIS VIDEO MODE"

im2saxy · #1 5th May 2007, 05:33 PM

This is my first try to install Linux. It is meant for my customer requirement.

I am using HP XW4400 Workstation, graphic card is Nvidia Quadro550 (PCIe card).
I am trying to install Linux OS, by Fedora 6 (2.6.18-1.2798.fc6)

I installed DISC 1~3 of FC6 ISO image files, as per instructed. Everything went
smoothly. The next step is to "reboot". During this reboot phase, the GNU GRUB
version 0.97 was executing the system checks. I could see "Starting udev",
before the LCD monitor went blank and showed me this error message - "CANNOT
DISPLAY THIS VIDEO MODE, CHANGE COMPUTER DISPLAY INPUT TO 1024X768@60Hz".

I hardware reset my PC. At the GRUB page, I added "3" at the end of this line
as follows:
grub edit> kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6 ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb quite 3

Then I boot my PC. the system check shows more details now. then it reaches the
command line - localhost login & password; which i entered my password.

At [root@localhost ~]#, I entered "init 3" - this brought me to the Setup Agent
text page.

Then I returned to [root@localhost ~]#, I entered "init 5" , it shows me blank
screen with the same error message "- "CANNOT DISPLAY THIS VIDEO MODE, CHANGE
COMPUTER DISPLAY INPUT TO 1024X768@60Hz".

I was told that it could be videocard compatibility issue. I tried with more
than 1 LCD & CRT PC monitor.

I read the HP & Nvidia websites but I could not find a solution. I downloaded a
HP Driver for Linux ISO image file and Graphic Driver Update file (nvidia-9746-
1.0.i386.rpm), but I do not know how to use them.

WOuld you guys kindly advise me how I should resolve this problem? Looking
forward to your good advice.

herrib · #2 5th May 2007, 06:33 PM

I assume you did try setup (a program to be launched in runlevel 3 with root rights) to fix the issue:

Code:

$ su -
$ password:<root password>
# setup

If so, I recommend you to try to modify /etc/X11/xorg.conf in order to input proper parameters:

Code:

# cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.back -> in case of trouble, it will easy to revert to previous stage
vi /etc/X11/xorg.conf -> to edit the file

Check the bellow sections:

1- what resolution to set up (the first one will be the default one):

Code:

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen0"
    Device     "Videocard0"
    DefaultDepth     24
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     24
        Modes   "1280x800" "1280x960"  "1280x1024" "1280x720" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

2- parameters of your display:

Code:

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "Screen0"
    VendorName   "to fill with the Vendor Name" 
    ModelName    "model" 
    DisplaySize  340    270 -> to adapt - example -
    HorizSync    30.0 - 83.0 -> to adapt -example -
    VertRefresh  55.0 - 75.0 -> to adapt - example- 
    Option        "DPMS"
EndSection

Save the file and enter in runlevel 5:

Code:

 # init 5

byroniac · #3 5th May 2007, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herrib

1- what resolution to set up (the first one will be the default one):

Code:

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen0"
    Device     "Videocard0"
    DefaultDepth     24
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     24
        Modes   "1280x800" "1280x960"  "1280x1024" "1280x720" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Initially, I had the same problem, and what I quoted above was all I had to do. If anyone has this problem and a widescreen monitor like I do, you can try putting "1400x1050" first (assuming that is a *EDIT* possible resolution for your monitor). If you get bored, you can do all kinds of funky things using ModeLines and such in the xorg.conf (which can be generated by hand using the cvt and gtf commands). Here's an example xorg.conf for my Dell 2007WFP and ATI X1300 (and it's not fully optimized, really---better configurations exist but this worked for me at the time). The first modeline was generated by 'cvt 1680 1050 60' and the second one by 'cvt -r 1680 1050 60' (for reduced screen blanking).

Code:

# Xorg configuration created by livna-config-display

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

Section "Files"
	ModulePath   "/usr/lib64/xorg/modules"
EndSection

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

Section "Monitor"

 ### Comment all HorizSync and VertSync values to use DDC:
	DisplaySize  433	270
	HorizSync    30.0 - 81.0
	VertRefresh  56.0 - 76.0
	ModeLine     "1680x1050_60.00" 146.2 1680 1784 1960 2240 1050 1053 1059 1089 -hsync +vsync
	ModeLine     "1680x1050R" 119.0 1680 1728 1760 1840 1050 1053 1059 1080 +hsync -vsync
	Identifier   "DELL 2007WFP"
	Option	    "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"

	Identifier  "Videocard0"
	Driver      "fglrx"
	Option	    "VideoOverlay" "on"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier "Screen0"
	Device     "Videocard0"
	Monitor    "DELL 2007WFP"
	DefaultDepth     24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth     1
		Modes    "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth     4
		Modes    "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth     8
		Modes    "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth     15
		Modes    "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth     16
		Modes    "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth     24
		Modes    "1680x1050_60.00" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

techmatt · #4 5th May 2007, 08:01 PM

I once had this problem too all I had to do was remove config file and try to start X

cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bk
rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf
startx

It then gave me the option to configure X were I can select my monitor and video card - All was good after that.

lmo · #5 5th May 2007, 08:22 PM

Can you post your file /etc/X11/xorg.conf

I have had success with commenting out (put a # pound sign) at the beginning of the lines:
HorizSync
VertRefresh
Modes

Also, sometimes it can work with the driver
Driver "vesa"

im2saxy · #6 6th May 2007, 09:17 AM

Dear Brothers,

Thank you very much for your good advices. I followed your instructions & change the monitor configuration to what I am using, and the display resolution to 1024X768.
--------------------
At GRUB, I added "setup" after root, before I choose "boot".

At the "DOS screen", I execute "setup" as follows:
[localhost@root] # setup

I was brought into Setup Agent Screen, in which I choose "X Configuration". It brought me into the page in which I change my monitor & display resolution accordingly.

Then I exit & continue the first boot.
-------------------------------------------------
Now i m inside the "window-like" GUI of Linux OS.

Just 1 more query - I read from the installation guide of FC6, in First Boot, I should be prompted for more installation after I enter the Linux OS environment. However, I do not see these prompts. Is this ok? So far I only install Disc 1~3 of the ISO images that I downloaded from FC6 directory. I still have Disc4~6 unused.

Once again, thank you guys so much.