Undefined Mode Number

Forum: Apps
Topic: Undefined Mode Number
started by: smithsa

Posted by smithsa on May 28 2006,02:46

I've just started using DSL after hearing good things about it. When I boot it up on a fairly recent box I get the error message:

You passed an undefined mode number

I'm not really sure what this means, but anything I choose off of a scan list still makes the display look almost unusable. I also don't get any icons on the desktop.

This is in contrast to booting the same image on a different computer that's a good 3-4 years older. There, it looks beautiful.

What is going wrong here? Is there any easy way to fix this problem so that I can read what's on the screen?

Sander Smith

Posted by kerry on May 28 2006,04:07

use the cheat code > dsl vga=normal

Posted by smithsa on May 28 2006,19:53

I noticed that I tried it, but it doesn't seem to do anything. I get a dialog that says

XVESA is faseter and more flexible ...

If I hit cancel, thnigs still look bad.

If I hit OK, then I have to go through a bunch of menus where I try to choose the highest resolution possible. In the end, things still don't look half as good as my much older and less powerful machine, and I still don't get any icons.

Any other ideas on what to do?

Sander Smith

Posted by roberts on May 29 2006,06:37

If vga=normal does not help you might try booting with

fb800x600

Note: do not use dsl fb800x600 only fb800x600

Posted by kerry on May 29 2006,08:04

I was just wondering what version of DSL are you using? I remember seeing that error on mine some versions back because of my nvidia card, but with all version after 2.2 i did not have that any more. What kind of vid card are you using? Did you also try the cheat code "dsl xsetup"?

Posted by smithsa on May 29 2006,11:09

To answer some questions:

The video controller is integrated on the motherboard. It claims to be a

Intel 82810E Graphics controller

I'm running DSL version 2.4 that I downloaded a few days ago

When I bring up XP, I see the card is set to 1024X768 24bit 96dpi

I tried duplicating those values when I get the menu when I specify vga=normal, but that does nothing.

I tried to enter fb800x600 at the initial boot: prompt (just that and not dsl fb800x600), but it didn't seem to do anything since I still got the Undefined mode number error message.

I also tried dsl xsetup which didn't see mto do anything at all.

Any other ideas on what to do?

Sander Smith