[CentOS] Completely lost X (was system-config-display wronglysets up Viewsonic VG730m monitor)

Thu Feb 28 20:00:25 UTC 2008
Ross S. W. Walker <rwalker at medallion.com>

Anne Wilson wrote:
> On Thursday 28 February 2008 19:29:07 Craig White wrote:
> > On Thu, 2008-02-28 at 19:17 +0000, Anne Wilson wrote:
> > > On Tuesday 19 February 2008 13:02:31 Johnny Hughes wrote:
> > > > Anne Wilson wrote:
> > > >
> > > > <snip>
> > > >
> > > > >  ### Comment all HorizSync and VertSync values to use DDC:
> > > > >         Identifier   "Monitor0"
> > > > >         ModelName    "Monitor 1280x1024"
> > > > >  ### Comment all HorizSync and VertSync values to use DDC:
> > > > >         HorizSync    60.0 - 72.0
> > > > >         VertRefresh  60.0 - 72.0
> > > > >         Option      "dpms"
> > > > > EndSection
> > > > >
> > > > > Section "Device"
> > > > >         Identifier  "Videocard0"
> > > > >         Driver      "nv"
> > > > > EndSection
> > > > >
> > > > > Section "Screen"
> > > > >         Identifier "Screen0"
> > > > >         Device     "Videocard0"
> > > > >         Monitor    "Monitor0"
> > > > >         DefaultDepth     16
> > > > >         SubSection "Display"
> > > > >                 Viewport   0 0
> > > > >                 Depth     24
> > > > >         EndSubSection
> > > > >         SubSection "Display"
> > > > >                 Viewport   0 0
> > > > >                 Depth     16
> > > > >         EndSubSection
> > > > > EndSection
> > > >
> > > > try this:
> > > > #
> > > >    ### Comment all HorizSync and VertSync values to use DDC:
> > > >           Identifier   "Monitor0"
> > > >           ModelName    "Monitor 1280x1024"
> > > >    ### Comment all HorizSync and VertSync values to use DDC:
> > > >           HorizSync    30.0 - 82.0
> > > >           VertRefresh  56.0 - 75.0
> > > >           Option      "dpms"
> > > > EndSection
> > > >
> > > > Section "Device"
> > > >           Identifier  "Videocard0"
> > > >           Driver      "nv"
> > > > EndSection
> > > >
> > > > Section "Screen"
> > > >           Identifier "Screen0"
> > > >           Device     "Videocard0"
> > > >           Monitor    "Monitor0"
> > > >           DefaultDepth     16
> > > >      SubSection     "Display"
> > > >          Viewport    0 0
> > > >          Depth       24
> > > >          Modes      "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864"
> > > > "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
> > > >      EndSubSection
> > > >      SubSection     "Display"
> > > >          Viewport    0 0
> > > >          Depth       16
> > > >          Modes      "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864"
> > > > "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
> > > >      EndSubSection
> > > > EndSection
> > > > #
> > > >
> > > > (the "modes" lines will wrap ... but all the resolutions should be all
> > > > on one line, separated by spaces and inside quotes)
> > > >
> > > > Also, if "DefaultDepth 16" does not work, try "DefaultDepth 24"
> > > >
> > > > You say that you bought a digital lead ... meaning I guess that you are
> > > > using a different PORT on your video card and monitor.  It is possible
> > > > that he standard "nv" driver does not support that port on your video
> > > > card and that you will need to instead download the proprietary drivers
> > > > from nvidia's website to get that port to function. Regardless of
> > > > which driver and cable you use, the resolution/freq of the screen is
> > > > going to be the same ... why not just use the old cable :D
> > >
> > > Johnny, this afternoon I got around to putting the old cable back in,
> > > only to find that I can't get X correctly configured again.  I have no X.
> > >  I managed to get to a text screen and vi xorg.conf, putting in exactly
> > > what you recommended above (maybe that was for digital, not analogue?). 
> > > I still can't startx.  I see
> > >
> > > (==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
> > > (EE) NV(0): No valid initial configuration found
> > > (EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration.
> > >
> > > Fatal server error:
> > > no screens found
> > > XIO: fatal IO error 104 (Connection reset by peer) on X server ":0.0"
> > >      after 0 requests (0 known processed) with 0 events remaining.
> > >
> > > Can you recommend a really basic xorg.conf to get me started?  Thanks
> >
> > ----
> > init 3
> > system-config-display --reconfig
> >
> 
> Couldn't start X server on card 0
> Error, failed to start X server

Anne,

Here is a simple Vesa config that should work on most cards and monitors,
I use it here at work during kickstart installs.

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      "vesa"
EndSection

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


Cheers,

-Ross

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