Linux 9 Problem

I have just installed redhat linux 9 on a system that already had win xp. I am using grub to choose op to boot. When I try to boot linux the process starts normally and suddenly I get a black screen. The only thing I can do is restart the computer and again the same thing happens. My computer is a sony VAIO labtop but linux does not recognize my monitor. I have a NVIDIA GeForce 4 .... card and linux recognize it as "GeForce 4 (Generic)".

I had the same problem when I was trying to install using the linux graphical installation mode and I was forced to use text mode.

Can anyone help me?
Thank you[/quote]

you may have to install a later version of xfreedevel on your machine.

ok, how do I do that?

I think you may have to add support for your monitor in the kernel, could be wrong, but i think i remember seeing an option like that the last time i did a kernel recompile

you have some problem with the framebuffer.
i'm not a grub specialist but there must be some parameters you can give to strart your console with certain resolution a color depth, perhaps it is too high for your screen and that's why you get a black screen.

perhaps it's that

Another question, when exactly does the screen go blank when you are required to login or when the POST is being conducted.
What type of login are you using text or graphical.

the screen goes black before the login part. I think is graphical cause when i restart i see on the screen something like "Starting X ....".

post what's in your xorg.conf file

you can find it in /etc/X11/xorg.conf

That is the configuration file for your X server. the answsers could be there

Also copy also your Xorg.0.log
You will find it in /var/log/Xorg.0.log

Post those thing back in here and most likely we will find an answer.

When the screen goes black type simulanously
crtl+shift+F2
this will open a second console.
login as root with the command

su root
and type your psw

now copy those files into a floppy so you will be able to post them here with those commends

first mount the floppy

( depending on your distro )

go into the directories where the files are located with


copy the files



umount the floppy and them post your files here



I know it seems a bit coplicated but since you can't start into X i don't c much of options here.
btw you will learn some console ;D

have phun


Other wise you can run the xorg setup
type:
/usr/bin/X11/xorgconfig

This will setup your X You will have to change the boot into the console and work from there.

hope this helps

sorry for the late reply.
you can go to the following website
ftp://ftp.xfree86.org/pub/XFree86/4.4.0
and d/l the latest version of xfree86.
then you use the boot disk and edit your 'inittab' file which is located in /etc folder.
then there will be a number in the file...i am sorry i cannot remember where exactly but you just have to change the number from 5 to 3.
that will actually change the login from graphical to text.
after that reboot and login to your machine then install the xfree86 download and then reboot and you should be able to use graphics from there on.

hope this helps

i thought about writing the inittab aswell, but perhaps a bit complicated.
if you open a new console with crtl+alt+F2 you'll have the same result without going thru inittab

You can then just restart the X server with ctrl+alt+backspace