odd colors

Forum: Other Help Topics
Topic: odd colors
started by: abbrew

Posted by abbrew on Mar. 29 2006,03:14

I am not sure if it's supposed to be this way or not, but my DSL has a really pixely background and unnatural coloration on other windows and programs. Sorry if this is a basic question. I am new to DSL and Linux in general.

Posted by DrWatt on Mar. 29 2006,05:15

It sounds like your video adapter isn't set up correctly. In order to give you much advice you need to tell us what you are running DSL on and how you set it up. On some older machines with out of the ordinary video adapters, you may need to play with the video setup until you get the right one

Posted by abbrew on Mar. 29 2006,22:23

I am using an old computer that my friend probably built himself 5 years ago. It does not have separate video (just graphics from the mobo). The computer has 128 mb ram, a 6 gb, hd, an intel mobo, a celeron proc ... not sure what else to tell you. I just downloaded dsl, used ubuntu to write the iso to a cd and then pop in the cd, restart the computer and use dsl. I am allowed to select a video resolution or something like that when dsl is booting. I jave tried a few just to see if that would help. Please let me know what i need to tell you. Thanks!

Posted by green on Mar. 30 2006,02:07

Enter the boot command xsetup at the boot prompt:

dsl xsetup

you can add any other boot commands you want, like toram, dma, etc.

when using xsetup, before DSL finishes it's boot process, it will present you with some choices:

usb or ps2 mouse
frame buffer or xvesa
screen resolution
color bits
keyboard language
stuff.

after you make your choices, DSL will finish booting.
If your choices didn't get what you want, then do this:

Ctrl+Alt+Backspace

Pressing those three keys at the same time will make X go away and leave you at a command prompt.

Then type this:

xsetup.sh

You will go thru the choices again.
Once you have made your choices, do this:

startx

This will start X with your new choices.

Keep doing that until you get where you want to be, or the best you can get.

one of the motherboards i have that has built in video seems to like 800x600 resolution at 24 bit color. i would rather have 1024x768 at 24 bit color, but that can be obtained in other ways. play with the options and see what happens.

Posted by cbagger01 on Mar. 30 2006,18:25

Just for laughs, try booting with:

dsl vga=normal xsetup

and then choose

640x480x16bit for color

If it works, you probably have an Intel video chip that only works correctly at this resolution/color depth combination. Otherwise, you can install XFree86.dsl and then get it to work at any resolution with the correct video driver file.