SuSE Linux: Versions since 8.1
XFree86: Version 4.2.0
When you start the installation or your system, you notice the following symptoms:
Console messages are not displayed. The screen remains black until the x server is started
Console messages are displayed but the screen remains black even when the x server is started.
This problem may have different reasons:
Problems with the ACPI code in kernel 2.4.19
For more information please refer to the article "Kernel Parameters for Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/81_acpi.html)
Problems during the DDC probing of the monitor
If the monitor data is not detected or not correctly detected, the monitor may be addressed incorrectly. This can lead to various problems, such as a distorted display or an "Out of Range" message from your monitor due to unsuitable frequency settings in XF86Config.
Start the installation or your system with the kernel parameter
vga=normal
This deactivates the kernel framebuffer mode. The console messages should be available as usual. If this option is to be used in an installed system, enter the option for the boot loader GRUB in the kernel line of the file /boot/grub/menu.lst
Lilo users have to insert this option to the append line in /etc/lilo.conf. The changes have to be activated by restarting lilo (execute the command lilo).
More information on modifying the boot loader configuration is available in the article "Inserting Boot Options Permanently" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/fhassel_bootoptions.html).
SuSE Linux 8.2
In SuSE Linux 8.2, the parameter showopts is used in the file /boot/grub/menu.lst. This parameter makes sure that the options specified in menu.lst for the system start-up are not displayed. However, this parameter also prevents an existing vga=XXX from being modified.
Therefore, start your system in the failsafe mode or edit the boot loader configuration in the graphical user interface. To do this, start YaST2 and modify the settings in the boot loader configuration module (-> YaST2 -> System -> Boot Loader Configuration). Remove the entry showopts and set vga=xxx to vga=normal. Refer to the article "Inserting Boot Options Permanently" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/fhassel_bootoptions.html) for more information.
Finally, reboot your system.
Reconfiguration of the X server with VESA modelines
The latest SaX2 packages are available under ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/i386/supplementary/X/XFree86/SaX2/
This version (minimum sax2-4.7-237) enables you to specify the selected resolution when you start SaX2 and replaces the detected DDC values with your VESA values.
Example:
Proceed as follows to generate a complete XF86Config:
Start your system
Select your Linux system in the boot loader and press 3. Confirm with Enter to start your operating system
Log in as root
Start SaX2 as follows:
sax2 --vesa Chip#:resolution@refresh_rate Example: sax2 --vesa 0:1024x786@75
The chip number can be determined with the command
sax2 -p
In this way, SaX2 will start with a resolution of 1024x768 and 16-bit color depth. Click Change configuration to edit the configuration or click OK to complete the configuration.
Of course, you can also use a combination of additional SaX2 parameters:
sax2 -m 0=nv --vesa 0:1280x1024@85 -n /dev/psaux -t imps/2 -a
More information on SaX2 and the parameters used above is available in the article "X Server Configuration with SaX2 (8.1 or higher)" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/wessels_sax247.html).
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