Linux on a Toshiba SatellitePro 490CDT

[khtm]

I'm trying to use my old laptop as a firewall, and I'm having a lot of trouble getting xwindows working on it.

Linux-Mandrake 8.0 installed like a charm, but as soon as it's about to load xwindows, the screen goes black and it locks up (I have to hold the power button to shut it off).

Anyone have linux running on this, or a similar laptop? I'm imagining the problem is some incompatibility with the video card, but that's just a guess.

If you got linux running, can you let me know what distribution and what version?

Thanks!

 

[viguru]

What kinda video card does your laptop have? Did you choose graphical login or text login?

 

[viguru]

Also, try some generic settings and see if that helps.

 

[DSTA]

Hm, is it really crashing right after it tries to load X, or is it just a case of a wrong xconfig? I've never used Mandrake Linux, but try pressing CTRL/ALT/F1-12 and CTRL/ALT/+ or - to see if you can get back to the console. The 490CDT has S3 Virge graphics - if you installed the S3 specific XServer try it the SVGA server instead. If all else fails, choose the VGA16 server, that's gotta work and you don't really need X for a firewall.

Oh, or ignore the above and look at what the search engine brought home :

"Von:Erik Andreassen (Erik.Andreassen@xtra.co.nz)
Betrifft:Re: S3 ViRGE/MX + Linux Mandrake 7.2 (XFree86 4.0.1) = White Screen of Death
Newsgroups:alt.os.linux.mandrake
View this article only
Datum:2001-02-11 23:28:55 PST


"LD" <nospam@here.now> wrote in message
news:3a8727dd.1421288@news2.thot.net...
>
> Hello,
>
> Decided to Upgrade from Mandrake 7.0 to Mandrake 7.2.
>
> Everything goes fine except the X install.
>
> It seems the S3 ViRGE/MX Server isn't working.
>
> If anybody out there is using XFree86 4.0.1 or 4.0.2 with an S3
> ViRGE/MX chipset, if would be appreciated if you could let me know
> what you did to get it going.
>
> System Config:
> Mandrake 7.2
> XFree84 4.0.1 (tried upgrading to 4.0.2 with the Cooker RPM's, but no
> luck)
> S3 ViRGE/MX w/ 2048 KB RAM (Chipset 86C260)
>
> Toshiba Satellite Pro 490CDT w/64 MB RAM
>
> LD
simular problem and the reason --- default boot for 7.2 is framebuffer
enabled mode and guess which cards have problems with this.

do your install and do not do a test or run mode (it should finish and
reboot just after)

boot into failsafe mode

when it apears select configure (can't remeber the rest)

go into boot mode

select any of the boot modules

when open configure each ones vga to normal

back out and reboot

should fix the problem

annoyed me no end after the install to be presented with an black nothing
and to add insult to injury the monitor went to sleep :-("

 

[Workin']

Starting with a search is always a good idea!
Link 1
Link 2

 

[khtm]

Thanks guys,

I already tried all the 'generic' video card settings (using xconfigurator). I can boot into text mode, but xwindows doesn't work. And yes, I've tried the specific S3 Virge MX server, but only to get the same result.

That search engine result looks good, DSTA - thanks!

I'll try it when I get home tonight.

Cheers

 

[khtm]

<< Starting with a search is always a good idea!
Link 1
Link 2 >>



Thanks Workin', but of course I already searched Google
I've been trying to get this fixed for a couple days now. I've been to all the sites that Google gave me, but they're all pretty useless since I'm not a Linux guru and the information is all old (pertaining to old versions of linux).

 

[viguru]

Its hard to read through all the documentation when your new to Linux, sometimes you just need a hand..