New Debian user: no X

[Elric of Grans]

G'Day,

In the past I have used RedHat (mostly), Mandrake and Slackware, and have just installed Debian. Most things seem to be working (so far), but X does not seem to want to start up for me. I have a nVidia GeForce 2 MX and an Acer 54eL, and the following can be found in my XF86Config-4 file (minus the keyboard and mouse bits):

# I left this section alone, as I only half knew what it was all about
Section "Module"
Load "GLcore"
Load "bitmap"
Load "dbe"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "pex5"
Load "record"
Load "speedo"
Load "type1"
Load "vbe"
Load "xie"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "nVida GeForce2"
Driver "nv"
VideoRam 64
Option "UseFBDev" "true"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
HorizSync 30-60
VertRefresh 50-75
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "nVida GeForce2"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
InputDevice "Generic Mouse"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

#eof

I also thought to check dmesg, but did not see anything wrong there. I used the 7CD install for Woody, as my system will not be able to connect to the Interenet for a while. I installed the nVidia files on it, so I would have thought I would have enough to at least run X; I guess not.

In short, what do I need to do, and can I do it when my system is not online? Thanks!

[Gertrude]

What error do you get when you try to load X?

[mrBen]

Your horizontal and vertical refresh rates seem very low/narrow. I'm guessing that you're probably getting an error about not having any available resolutions.

Double check your monitor specs.

[Elric of Grans]

G'day

Oops, sorry: forgot the error! It says Screen(s) found, but none have useable configurations. If the refresh rates are too low, I guess that may be it. I've not got a manual for the monitor, but I'll try looking them up and see if that helps.

[mrBen]

I think it will help - my monitor here (at work) is running 1024x768, and its at horiz 60.05 and vert 70.03, which wouldn't work on your settings!

If you've got Windows running at all, and it's a newish monitor, it may well show the refresh rates that it is using for particular screen sizes.

[ven0m]

You currently have your colour depth at 24, try changing it to 16. The generic nv driver may not be able to display 24 bit colour (sometimes doesn't with me). You should be able to change it back to 24 bit when you install the nvidia driver

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "nVida GeForce2"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"

[Elric of Grans]

G'Day,

I found the correct refresh rates for my mointor: they were not far off what I had there. I corrected them, but no success. I also tried changing to 16bit colour depth, but that also made no difference.

[je_fro]

Try commenting out Option "UseFBDev" "true" line.
And make sure you have:

Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 16
.....
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"

[Elric of Grans]

G'Day je_fro,

I gave that a try, but there was no difference: it still died with the same message. Tried commenting that line out on both 24 (because I would prefer that ) and 16 bit colour depth.

[Elric of Grans]

G'Day,

I've been fiddling with some things, and now there's a drastic change to the output of /var/log/XFree86.0 - I'll copy the notable section here:

(SNIP)
(II) Setting vga for screen 0.
(II) Loading sub module "int10"
(II) LoadModule: "int10"
(II) Reloading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/linux/libint10.a
(II) NV(0): Initializing int10
(II) NV(0): Primary V_BIOS segment is: 0xc000
(--) NV(0): Chipset: "GeForce2 MX"
(**) NV(0): Depth 24, (--) framebuffer bpp 32
(==) NV(0): RGB weight 888
(==) NV(0): Default visual is TrueColor
(II) Loading sub module "vgahw"
(II) LoadModule: "vgahw"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libvgahw.a
(II) Module vgahw: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.1.0.1, module version = 0.1.0
ABI class: XFree86 Video Driver, version 0.4
(==) NV(0): Using HW cursor
(--) NV(0): Linear framebuffer at 0xD8000000
(--) NV(0): MMIO registers at 0xE0000000
(**) NV(0): VideoRAM: 64 kBytes
(II) Loading sub module "ddc"
(II) LoadModule: "ddc"
(II) Reloading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libddc.a
(II) Loading sub module "i2c"
(II) LoadModule: "i2c"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libi2c.a
(II) Module i2c: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.1.0.1, module version = 1.2.0
ABI class: XFree86 Video Driver, version 0.4
(II) NV(0): I2C bus "DDC" initialized.
(II) NV(0): I2C device "DDC:ddc2" registered.
(II) NV(0): I2C device "DDC:ddc2" removed.
(II) NV(0): I2C device "DDC:ddc2" registered.
(II) NV(0): I2C device "DDC:ddc2" removed.
(II) NV(0): DDC Monitor info: 0x8628da8
(II) NV(0): Manufacturer: API Model: 9715 Serial#: 2088
(II) NV(0): Year: 1999 Week: 42
(II) NV(0): EDID Version: 1.1
(II) NV(0): Analog Display Input, Input Voltage Level: 0.700/0.300 V
(II) NV(0): Sync: Separate
(II) NV(0): Max H-Image Size [cm]: horiz.: 27 vert.: 20
(II) NV(0): Gamma: 2.87
(II) NV(0): DPMS capabilities: StandBy Suspend Off; RGB/Color Display
(II) NV(0): redX: 0.619 redY: 0.350 greenX: 0.305 greenY: 0.600
(II) NV(0): blueX: 0.154 blueY: 0.064 whiteX: 0.280 whiteY: 0.311
(II) NV(0): Supported VESA Video Modes:
(II) NV(0): 720x400@70Hz
(II) NV(0): 640x480@60Hz
(II) NV(0): 640x480@72Hz
(II) NV(0): 640x480@75Hz
(II) NV(0): 800x600@60Hz
(II) NV(0): 800x600@72Hz
(II) NV(0): 800x600@75Hz
(II) NV(0): 1024x768@60Hz
(II) NV(0): Manufacturer's mask: 0
(II) NV(0): Supported Future Video Modes:
(II) NV(0): #0: hsize: 800 vsize 600 refresh: 85 vid: 22853
(II) NV(0): Monitor
(II) NV(0): Monitor
(II) NV(0): Monitor
(II) NV(0): Monitor
(II) NV(0): end of DDC Monitor info

(==) NV(0): Using gamma correction (1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
(II) NV(0): Acer 54eL: Using hsync range of 30.00-54.00 kHz
(II) NV(0): Acer 54eL: Using vrefresh range of 50.00-120.00 Hz
(II) NV(0): Clock range: 12.00 to 350.00 MHz
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "640x350" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "640x400" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "720x400" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "640x480" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "640x480" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "640x480" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "640x480" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "800x600" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "800x600" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "800x600" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "800x600" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "800x600" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1024x768" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1024x768" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1024x768" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1024x768" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1024x768" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1152x864" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1280x960" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1280x960" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1280x1024" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1280x1024" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1280x1024" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1600x1200" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1600x1200" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1600x1200" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1600x1200" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1600x1200" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1792x1344" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1792x1344" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1856x1392" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1856x1392" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1920x1440" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1920x1440" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1400x1050" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) NV(0): Not using default mode "1400x1050" (insufficient memory for mode)
(WW) NV(0): Mode pool is empty
(EE) NV(0): No valid modes found
(II) UnloadModule: "nv"
(II) UnloadModule: "i2c"
(II) Unloading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libi2c.a
(II) UnloadModule: "ddc"
(II) UnloadModule: "vgahw"
(II) Unloading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libvgahw.a
(II) UnloadModule: "int10"
(EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration.

Fatal server error:
no screens found

Sorry about the length. It seems to me like it has something to do with the video driver, but I could be misreading this. Should I try using a different driver? Or perhaps there's something else I should be doing?

Thanks!

[Elric of Grans]

G'Day,

Oops, I feel like an idiot! I'd set the video ram to 64K rather than 64M Fixed that, and she starts up now. Clock is an hour wrong for some reason though - CMOS is right, but gkrellm is reporting it wrong. Guess it doesn't realise d/light savings has started No sound either, but I think I sort of know what to do there.

Thanks for all the help!