Newb Help?

[Semaj Khan]

Hi, first post here.

Relatively new to linux in general. I've tried a few distros in the past and want to get away from MS for good, if possible.

I've installed Debian Etch. In fact I've installed it twice now because I'm getting a problem.

Etch GNOME locks up every couple of minutes... I mean totally locks up for about 30 seconds, then releases as if nothing happened. I tried reinstalling as I said above.

It's really annoying and it's making me think about looking for another distro.

Has anyone experienced this problem before and perhaps give me some advice on how to handle this? Treat me as a newb and let me know what info I need to post!

[devils casper]

Hi and Welcome !

I think this problem is coz of wrong Graphics Driver. Execute this in Terminal :

su -
/sbin/lspci | grep -i vga
grep -i driver /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Post output here.

[Semaj Khan]

Thanks for the reply.

First line (I had to remove the "s" from sbin to get a result):

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device (rev 01)

Second command:

Driver "kbd"
Driver "mouse"
Driver "i810"

It's not locking up right now. These fits occasionally happen... at least once a day.

[devils casper]

Execute this

su -
apt-get update
apt-get install 915resolution

In case it doesn't work, open /etc/X11/xorg.conf file and replace Driver "i810" with "vesa".

su -
nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf

[Semaj Khan]

Ok, tried the first option. It loaded and install 915resolution, but gave me a message that panel ID not supported and fell back to a default.

So, I went with the second option and that caused no problems.

I'll ride this out and see if your second option did the trick. If it goes 24 hours without cocking up then I'll assume it worked.

Thanks ahead of time for your help, caspar!

[devils casper]

Glad to help you.
vesa is a generic driver and it works much better than native drivers.
Do let us know how it goes.

[Semaj Khan]

Sigh... nope, it's still happening.

ETA: it happens in GNOME and KDE, but doesn't appear to happen in Fluxbox.

[devils casper]

Post the contents of /etc/X11/xorg.conf file here.

[Semaj Khan]

Here it is:

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
# path to defoma fonts
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "i2c"
Load "bitmap"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc104"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Intel Corporation 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device"
Driver "vesa"
BusID "PCI:0:2:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "COMPAQ FS760"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Intel Corporation 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device"
Monitor "COMPAQ FS760"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

[devils casper]

Refresh rates ( HorizSync and VertRefresh ) are not specified in your xorg.conf file. Check your Monitor's Manual for Refresh rates and edit xorg.conf file accordingly.

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier "COMPAQ FS760"
        Option "DPMS"
	HorizSync	30-71
	VertRefresh	50-160
EndSection