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linux probs...please help

D

Descend492

Senior member
OK, I'm completely new to Linux, and I just installed Mandrake 7.1 yesterday. The install went fine up until the monitor select. I own a Hitachi CM771, which wasn't listed, but other Hitachis around the same model number were listed. I tried a few monitor choices, but the resolution test produced an error on all of them. SO I selected the generic high frequency at 1280x1024 for my monitor (res test still failed, but it was the only choice). I selected Geforce 256 for my vid card (I have a GF2MX). So the rest of the install goes well (from what I could tell, no errors or anything). I boot up Linux (bootloader works fine, so the install must be fairly successful), but I get shoved into command line, not the graphical interface. I tried typing "startx", which threw errorno 111 at me. I don't know how to troubleshoot this problem, does anybody have any help? I really want to get this up and running, but I have no clue what to do with the command line.
I also have another question: I have a Kensington Expert Mouse (trackball). During the installation it wasn't detected, so I plugged in one of my friend's Microsoft mouse,and used that for teh installation. I checked the Kensington website for drivers, but it doesn't have any Linux drivers. what should I do to get my mouse working? Thanks for your help
 
As root run Xconfigurator. The input your monitors horizontal and vertical sync ratios with these settings:

Hitachi CM771

After you do that then try startx and see if that works.

As to the Kennsington trackball I'm not sure, but you could try mouseconfig and see if you can choose it there.
 
Xconfigurator won't work. The only way to make a GF2 MX work is to install XFree86 v4.0.1., available from www.xfree86.org. This is no easy task for a not so newfer in Linux. There's more. Once XFree86 v4.0.1 is successfully installed, you have to go to nVidia.com and DL and install their latest Linux driver for the GF2 MX.

Device drivers tend to be APITA in Linux. This is not the fault of the thousands of people who are working to improve Linux. Most of whom are un-paid. The root of the difficulty is that many if not most hardware manufacturers don't even think about Linux--at all. Many of the manufacturers that DO remember that the Mighty L is alive and well don't care...and it costs a LOT to write good drivers. For this reason, many hardware drivers are proprietary. And secret. Open Source drivers are anathema to lots of folks who hold Microsoft's business model up as direct from Mt Sinai.

This often means that Linux drivers have to be written from scratch, by people who have no idea what the proprietary code even looks like.

It's best to ascertain if a particular piece of hardware is supported in Linux--before buying a particular distribution. Or purchasing a certain piece of hardware!
 


<< It's best to ascertain if a particular piece of hardware is supported in Linux--before buying a particular distribution. Or purchasing a certain piece of
hardware! >>



Why in the world would you choose a geforce 256 if you have a GeForce2 MX? One of the only ways to damage any hardware is to choose the wrong VC and Monitor settings. Toms hardware has a link to a HowTo for the NVIDIA Detonator 3 Linux drivers, best of luck.


SHUX
 
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