Black screen of death

Forum: User Feedback
Topic: Black screen of death
started by: Sharktooth

Posted by Sharktooth on Jan. 13 2007,00:29

With my old Dell XPS R350 computer, I was able to run DSL. Now with a new computer, no matter how many options I try, it continues up to a point where the main DSL screen should appear, and there it hangs with a Black Screen of Death (excuse the paraphrase)

My assumption is that there is probably an incompatibility with my nVidia card, which is a GeForce 7600GS.

Have others experienced this, and is there any solution?

Thank you,

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Jan. 13 2007,05:34

which "main DSL screen"?

X? If yes, then try fb options and use xsetup to try xfbdev. which options have you tried? did you try failsafe, etc?

There shouldn't be a problem in using that card. If it's only X, you could use the full xf86 server as well.

Posted by Sharktooth on Jan. 14 2007,19:23

Thanks for the response. However, none of the options produced a result other than a blank screen hanging right after reaching the point where I verify my keyboard, mouse, and screen parameters.

Just to be certain that my DSL disk was not defective, I resurrected my old Dell XPS computer, attached the cables, and a few moments after just pressing <Enter> DSL was up and running again.

There has to be something about my NVidia card that DSL does not recognize, but what?

Posted by skaos on Jan. 15 2007,11:47

I don't know what's the problem, but you could try "dsl 2" (without quotes) at the boot prompt which should launch you into command line only. If this doesn't work, see if there is any boot option for booting into standard vga resolution, i.e. 640x480 at 16 colours - all(?) graphcis cards should recognise this. If this works, run "Xvesa -listmodes" to see which vesa resolutions etc. that your card supports.

Posted by Sharktooth on Jan. 15 2007,18:02

You have given me a diagnostic tool that showed some good clues. When I entered "dsl 2" at the boot prompt, it went into command mode. Then, "Xvesa -listmodes" gave me this somewhat puzzling list:

Interrupt pointer doesn't point at ROM
Interrupt pointer doesn't point at ROM
ox0006: 640x200x1 (monochrome) Planar (1 Planes)
ox000D: 320x200x4 Planar (4 planes) (no linear framebuffer)
ox000E: 640x200x4 Planar (4 planes) (no linear framebuffer)
ox0010: 640x350x4 Planar (4 planes) (no linear framebuffer)
ox0011: 640x480x1 (monochrome) Planar ( 1 planes)
ox0012: 640x480x4 Planar (4 planes) (no linear framebuffer)
ox0013: 320x200x8 PseudoColor

I should mention that running my usual distribution (SUSE10.2)
I am showing Monitor VESA 1024x768@60 HZ 16.7MO(24 bit)

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Jan. 15 2007,20:05

Well, as I earlier stated, you may want to use the full xf86 server, since DSL does not use that in its default session.

My guess is that your monitor is restricting you here, not your video card.

Posted by Sharktooth on Jan. 21 2007,19:45

Today, I went back to try loading DSL. By choosing the lower resolution (640x480) I was able to enter the opening desktop. One of the responders suggested that my monitor was at fault. If this were the case, why does SUSE 10.2 and Puppy load correctly at 1024x768@60 HZ using the same video card?

I really like some of the features of DSL over the other small distributions. If I can figure out how to get my normal resolution,
that would be my small Linux distribution of choice.

Thanks to all who have responded to my questions.

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Jan. 21 2007,21:06

Did you try any of the advice listed? (xfbdev? or full xfree86?)

Posted by Sharktooth on Jan. 21 2007,23:08

Please do not think that I am challenging your assertion that my monitor is the limiting factor. However, I just cannot comprehend WHY this would be the case when the same monitor and video card produces 1024x768 in two other Linux distributions???

Could you elaborate a bit?

Also, I am not clear on how to "use the full xf86 server as well."
Do you mean that I should enter DSL at the lower resolution and somehow re-configure the resolution while DSL is running?

Thanks,

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Jan. 22 2007,01:12

After 4 repetitive posts, I was just hoping you'd take the intiative :P
xfbdev -> see xsetup.sh
xfree86 -> see mydsl, (dsl by default uses tinyx)

Posted by skaos on Jan. 22 2007,15:37

DSL uses the lightweight Xvesa X server and Xvesa only supports the vesa standards that's hardcoded into your graphics card, i.e. the output from Xvesa -listmodes. The other distros use a full X server (X.org or XFree) which has specific drivers for each cards supporting higher resolutions. Try the myDSL XFree package which should support higher resolutions.

Posted by Sharktooth on Jan. 22 2007,16:38

I too have been guilty of "assuming" that others were conversant with terminology that was in my own fields of expertise but not in theirs. ;-)

Four years of using SUSE Linux did not prepare me for the differences with DSL.

I was able to enter DSL correctly now using "dsl xsetup" followed by "xfbdev xserver" once I knew where to look.

Thus emboldened, I shall download the latest edition of DSL and see if it will help me over the next hurdle of recognizing my Ethernet ADSL modem. (Siemens SpeedStream 4200)

Thanks again for all of the assistance.