User Feedback :: Decent graphics settings on an IBM thinkcentre?



Hi all -

Been having loads of fun with DSL, but unable to get decent graphics working on an IBM Thinkcentre desktop I'm using.  

After messing around with booting 'dsl vga=normal xsetup' and experimenting with the options, I was unable to get anything other than nastily pixelated graphics, weird colours, no destop icons... except at 480 x 640 resolution, where any open window went off the edge of the screen...

After reading some of the other posts here on Xsetup and video options, tried booting to command line, and using

# sudo -u dsl Xvesa -listmodes | more

Turns out the best decent colour (ie 16) option with the default xserver is 480 x 640.

So tried to install the XFree86.dsl, after reading henk's post here:

http://damnsmalllinux.org/cgi-bin....xfree86

But ran into problems.  Here's what Ive done so far:

1) Not being an expert in this, but knowing that Knoppix used XFree86 to get decent resolution on hte same pc, I booted the pc with knoppix (3.6) & saved the /etc/X11/XF86Config file that it generated.

2) rebooted with dsl (0.9), copied over the saved XF86Config file

3) loaded the XFree86.dsl,

4) and replaced the contents of /home/dsl/.xserverrc (using nano) with the line: 'exec /usr/X11R6/bin/XFree86 -nolisten tcp'

5) ctrl-alt-backspace to exit Fluxbox

6) # exit
to start the new xserver.

Didnt work.  Got error messages about an error in line 33 of the XFreeconfig file... (will try to duplicate so that i can post all error messages if it would help...)

Any ideas about where to go next?  I'm getting out of my depth here, but the video thing is bugging me so much need to get it sorted out!
post your XF86Config-4 file (in [code] tags) here as well.

maybe we can figure something out.

also, have you tried framebuffer mode?

-J.P.
Hi there SaidinUnleashed

Thanks for that!  Yes, have tried framebuffer, but no joy.

Here are the error messages visible on screen immediately on dropping out of flux:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

apm : overidden by ACPI

insmod: /lib/modules/2.4.26/kernel/arch/i386/kernel/apn.o : init_module : no such device
insmod: /lib/modules/2.4.26/kernel/arch/i386/kernel/apn.o : insmod chr-major-10-134 failed

Failed to load groupfile

IMLIB ERROR : cannot find pallette

rxvt : Cant load color ............ [loads of these :(  ]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

and here are the error messages after trying to restart with 'startx', having loaded the Xfree86.dsl:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

/usr/X11R6/XFree86 : No such file or directory

giving up...

/home/dsl/.xserverrc xinit No such file or directory (errno 2) : unable to conncet to X server
xinit : no such process (errno 3) : server error

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sorry if syntax dodgy with the above - was not able to copy & paste & had to rely on my (terrible) handwriting.
oops, sorry, you asked for the config file (bit confused - didnt have a '4' at the end... just XF86config....) Anyway, here goes - not sure what you meant about 'code' either....  Sorry this is a bit of a monster  :O

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Section "Files"
       RgbPath      "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
       FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc:unscaled"
       FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
       FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
       FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
       FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
       FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
       FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo"
       FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/PEX"
# Additional fonts: Locale, Gimp, TTF...
       FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
#        FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/75dpi"
#        FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/100dpi"
# True type and type1 fonts are also handled via xftlib, see /etc/X11/XftConfig!
       FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
       FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/ttf/western"
       FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/ttf/decoratives"
       FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/truetype"
       FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/openoffice"
       FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/ttf-bitstream-vera"
FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latex-ttf-fonts"
       FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/defoma/CID"
       FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/defoma/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
EndSection

Section "Keyboard"
  Protocol    "Standard"
  AutoRepeat  500 5
  LeftAlt        Meta
  RightAlt        Meta
  ScrollLock      Compose
  RightCtl        Control
# This is just the default keymap for X.
# May be changed with the KDE international keyboard tool.
  XkbModel    "pc105"
  XkbLayout "us"

#   XkbOptions  "ctrl:swapcaps"
#   XkbKeycodes     "xfree86"
#   XkbTypes        "default"
#   XkbCompat       "default"
#   XkbSymbols      "us(pc101)"
#   XkbGeometry     "pc"
#   XkbRules        "xfree86"
#   XkbModel        "pc101"
#   XkbLayout "us"
EndSection

Section "Pointer"
   Protocol    "IMPS/2"
   Device      "/dev/mouse"
   Emulate3Buttons
   Emulate3Timeout    70
EndSection

# Auto-generated by mkxf86config

Section "Monitor"
       Identifier   "Monitor0"
       VendorName      "IBM"
       ModelName       "IBM18a3"
HorizSync 30 - 69 # DDC-probed
       VertRefresh 50 - 120 # DDC-probed
       # These are the DDC-probed settings reported by your monitor.
       # 1024x768, 85.0Hz; hfreq=68.68, vfreq=85.00
       ModeLine "1024x768"      94.50 1024 1072 1168 1376  768  769  772  808 +hsync +vsync
       # 1024x768, 75.0Hz; hfreq=60.02, vfreq=75.03
       ModeLine "1024x768"      78.75 1024 1040 1136 1312  768  769  772  800 +hsync +vsync
       # 800x600, 85.0Hz; hfreq=53.67, vfreq=85.06
       ModeLine "800x600"       56.25  800  832  896 1048  600  601  604  631 +hsync +vsync
       # 800x600, 75.0Hz; hfreq=46.88, vfreq=75.00
       ModeLine "800x600"       49.50  800  816  896 1056  600  601  604  625 +hsync +vsync
       # 800x600, 60.0Hz; hfreq=37.88, vfreq=60.32
       ModeLine "800x600"       40.00  800  840  968 1056  600  601  605  628 +hsync +vsync
       # 640x480, 85.0Hz; hfreq=43.27, vfreq=85.01
       ModeLine "640x480"       36.00  640  696  752  832  480  481  484  509 -hsync -vsync
       # 640x480, 75.0Hz; hfreq=37.50, vfreq=75.00
# 640x480, 60.0Hz; hfreq=31.47, vfreq=59.94
       ModeLine "640x480"       25.17  640  648  744  784  480  482  484  509 -hsync -vsync
       # Extended modelines with GTF timings
       # 640x480 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 50.90 kHz; pclk: 43.16 MHz
       ModeLine "640x480"  43.16  640 680 744 848  480 481 484 509  -HSync +Vsync
       # 768x576 @ 60.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 35.82 kHz; pclk: 34.96 MHz
       ModeLine "768x576"  34.96  768 792 872 976  576 577 580 597  -HSync +Vsync
       # 768x576 @ 72.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 43.27 kHz; pclk: 42.93 MHz
       ModeLine "768x576"  42.93  768 800 880 992  576 577 580 601  -HSync +Vsync
       # 768x576 @ 75.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 45.15 kHz; pclk: 45.51 MHz
       ModeLine "768x576"  45.51  768 808 888 1008  576 577 580 602  -HSync +Vsync
       # 768x576 @ 85.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 51.42 kHz; pclk: 51.84 MHz
       ModeLine "768x576"  51.84  768 808 888 1008  576 577 580 605  -HSync +Vsync
       # 768x576 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 61.10 kHz; pclk: 62.57 MHz
       ModeLine "768x576"  62.57  768 816 896 1024  576 577 580 611  -HSync +Vsync
       # 800x600 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 63.60 kHz; pclk: 68.18 MHz
 ModeLine "800x600"  68.18  800 848 936 1072  600 601 604 636  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1024x768 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 81.40 kHz; pclk: 113.31 MHz
       ModeLine "1024x768"  113.31  1024 1096 1208 1392  768 769 772 814  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1152x864 @ 60.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 53.70 kHz; pclk: 81.62 MHz
       ModeLine "1152x864"  81.62  1152 1216 1336 1520  864 865 868 895  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1152x864 @ 85.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 77.10 kHz; pclk: 119.65 MHz
       ModeLine "1152x864"  119.65  1152 1224 1352 1552  864 865 868 907  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1152x864 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 91.50 kHz; pclk: 143.47 MHz
       ModeLine "1152x864"  143.47  1152 1232 1360 1568  864 865 868 915  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1280x960 @ 72.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 72.07 kHz; pclk: 124.54 MHz
       ModeLine "1280x960"  124.54  1280 1368 1504 1728  960 961 964 1001  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1280x960 @ 75.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 75.15 kHz; pclk: 129.86 MHz
       ModeLine "1280x960"  129.86  1280 1368 1504 1728  960 961 964 1002  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1280x960 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 101.70 kHz; pclk: 178.99 MHz
       ModeLine "1280x960"  178.99  1280 1376 1520 1760  960 961 964 1017  -HSync +Vsync
nc +Vsync
       # 1280x1024 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 108.50 kHz; pclk: 190.96 MHz
       ModeLine "1280x1024"  190.96  1280 1376 1520 1760  1024 1025 1028 1085  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1400x1050 @ 60.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 65.22 kHz; pclk: 122.61 MHz
       ModeLine "1400x1050"  122.61  1400 1488 1640 1880  1050 1051 1054 1087  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1400x1050 @ 72.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 78.77 kHz; pclk: 149.34 MHz
       ModeLine "1400x1050"  149.34  1400 1496 1648 1896  1050 1051 1054 1094  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1400x1050 @ 75.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 82.20 kHz; pclk: 155.85 MHz
       ModeLine "1400x1050"  155.85  1400 1496 1648 1896  1050 1051 1054 1096  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1400x1050 @ 85.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 93.76 kHz; pclk: 179.26 MHz
       ModeLine "1400x1050"  179.26  1400 1504 1656 1912  1050 1051 1054 1103  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1400x1050 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 111.20 kHz; pclk: 214.39 MHz
       ModeLine "1400x1050"  214.39  1400 1512 1664 1928  1050 1051 1054 1112  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1600x1200 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 127.10 kHz; pclk: 280.64 MHz
       ModeLine "1600x1200"  280.64  1600 1728 1904 2208  1200 1201 1204 1271  -HSync +Vsync
EndSection
nc +Vsync
       # 1280x1024 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 108.50 kHz; pclk: 190.96 MHz
       ModeLine "1280x1024"  190.96  1280 1376 1520 1760  1024 1025 1028 1085  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1400x1050 @ 60.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 65.22 kHz; pclk: 122.61 MHz
       ModeLine "1400x1050"  122.61  1400 1488 1640 1880  1050 1051 1054 1087  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1400x1050 @ 72.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 78.77 kHz; pclk: 149.34 MHz
       ModeLine "1400x1050"  149.34  1400 1496 1648 1896  1050 1051 1054 1094  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1400x1050 @ 75.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 82.20 kHz; pclk: 155.85 MHz
       ModeLine "1400x1050"  155.85  1400 1496 1648 1896  1050 1051 1054 1096  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1400x1050 @ 85.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 93.76 kHz; pclk: 179.26 MHz
       ModeLine "1400x1050"  179.26  1400 1504 1656 1912  1050 1051 1054 1103  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1400x1050 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 111.20 kHz; pclk: 214.39 MHz
       ModeLine "1400x1050"  214.39  1400 1512 1664 1928  1050 1051 1054 1112  -HSync +Vsync
       # 1600x1200 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 127.10 kHz; pclk: 280.64 MHz
       ModeLine "1600x1200"  280.64  1600 1728 1904 2208  1200 1201 1204 1271  -HSync +Vsync
EndSection
       
Section "Device"
   Identifier    "My Video Card"
   VendorName    "Unknown"
   BoardName     "Unknown"
#     TextClockFreq  22.175
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier    "fbdev"
 VendorName    "Unknown"
 BoardName     "Unknown"
EndSection


# Standard Server
Section "Screen"
   Driver      "svga"
   Device      "My Video Card"
   Monitor     "Monitor0"
   Subsection  "Display"
       Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
ViewPort 0 0
   EndSubsection
EndSection

# Accel. Server(s)
Section "Screen"
   Driver      "accel"
   Device      "My Video Card"
   Monitor     "Monitor0"
   Subsection  "Display"
       Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
       ViewPort 0 0
   EndSubsection
EndSection

# Fallback
Section "Screen"
   Driver      "vga16"
   Device      "My Video Card"
   Monitor     "Monitor0"
   Subsection  "Display"
       Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubsection
EndSection

Section "Screen"  
 Driver        "fbdev"
 Device        "fbdev"
 Monitor       "Monitor0"
 SubSection "Display"
   Depth       32
   Modes       "default"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
   Depth       24
   Modes       "default"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
   Depth       16
   Modes       "default"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
   Depth       15
   Modes       "default"
Device        "fbdev"
 Monitor       "Monitor0"
 SubSection "Display"
   Depth       32
   Modes       "default"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
   Depth       24
   Modes       "default"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
   Depth       16
   Modes       "default"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
   Depth       15
   Modes       "default"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
   Depth       8
   Modes       "default"
 EndSubSection
EndSection
Oh yes, and according to windoze, the display adapter is an Intel 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV/  graphics controller... mean anything?? ???
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