Debian 3.1 - no graphical interface!!!

**nomadic** · 05-08-2006

I've installed 3.1 and used base-config to update the software inc desktop software, all of which was installed ok.
However, the installation did not recognise my graphics card and / or monitor so I have only a bash shell interface and I'm lost. Startx bombs out - no video.
I also suspect my mouse may not have been detected but obviously I cant be sure since I have no graphical interface.
Is there some way from bash of configuring my graphics card, monitor and mouse? I would prefer not to have to reinstall again.

Any help would be appreciated.

nomadic

**IsaacKuo** · 05-08-2006

First off--just making sure, but are you absolutely sure you selected the Desktop Workstation suite? You need to press SPACE to select it--if you press ENTER, then it won't be selected at all.

Based on your description of the "startx" error, I'm guessing that you did install the Desktop Workstation suite. However, it's strange. When the Desktop Workstation suite is installed, it should have asked you to manually configure at least which video driver to use. Debian 3.1's installer does NOT try to automagically configure everything without at least asking first.

Do you remember being asked which video driver to use? It would have asked about trying to detect your mouse at this time, also.

What's your video card? What video driver did you select? If you're not sure which video driver you should use, then you should choose "vesa", which is a pretty generic driver (but it's really very functional, with the exception of 3d accelerated graphics).

Assuming you selected the generic "vesa" driver, then most likely the problem is that it's not detecting your mouse. Stupid as it sounds, by default X will simply refuse to load up if it doesn't detect the mouse it expects. You can change this default behavior by manually editing /etc/X11/XF86Config-4. Under one of the mouse entries will be some configuration option saying the mouse is required. You can change that option so the mouse isn't required...but this really isn't a good option because then you're left with a GUI interface and no mouse!

**antidrugue** · 05-08-2006

Yop, give more details:

-what is your graphic card?
-what's your mouse?
-what's your screen?

**genesus** · 05-08-2006

also, you can get a mostly right basic configuration by running

Code:

xorgcfg

**IsaacKuo** · 05-09-2006

Originally Posted by genesus

also, you can get a mostly right basic configuration by running

Code:

xorgcfg

Not with Debian 3.1 you can't. Debian 3.1 uses XFree86, not xorg.

**nomadic** · 05-09-2006

First, thank you for the replies.

The details are the following
- 128mn PCI-Express ATI Radeon X300SE graphics with TVout and DVI
- Dell 1703FP 17" Ultrasharp Flat Panel monitor
- Microsoft wireless usb mouse.

(PC is Dell Dimension 4700, P4, 1gb ram, 160GB)

I was asked during installation for details of these.
- I selected ati for the graphics. It did not offer radeon as an option.
- I tried various options on the monitor - not vesa as you suggested.
- I was just guessing on the mouse questions - it did not offer usb / wireless as an option.

It appears not to have recognised the graphics card and / or the monitor. I dont know about the mouse.

I have since found out how to try configuring again from bash (dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86) but I dont know which options to pick for my hardware.

Suggestions will be much appreciated.

nomadic

**nomadic** · 05-09-2006

I should have added that I did correctly specify the desktop software during install (space bar - after trying every other key!) and it did download and install
correctly. The problem looks to me to lie with the graphics card and / or monitor (and / or mouse?)

nomadic

**IsaacKuo** · 05-09-2006

Yes, I thought you installed it correctly--I was just making sure.

I'm not familiar with installing to PCIe cards so I don't know of Debian 3.1 has any issue with that...I'll guess for now that it doesn't. Either way, try selecting "vesa" first because it has the greatest chance of working.

I'll bet that it's the mouse that's the problem. You should first try to see if you can get it to work with a simple PS/2 mouse. If you're in the USA, then you can pick up a dirt cheap PS/2 mouse from Dollar Tree for $1. It'll be a pathetic two button ball mouse, but it'll work. Also, try using a PS/2 keyboard if that's not what you're using right now. Then run dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86, picking "vesa" and "PS/2" options as appropriate.

**antidrugue** · 05-09-2006

What does

Code:

cat /var/log/XFree86.0.log | tail

tell you?

X should notify you of the exact reason why it is crashing (in the file /var/log/XFree86.0.log).

You can run again

Code:

dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86

to reconfigure X with an configuration assistant.

Specify that you have an LCD monitor, an ATI as a driver should be OK.

If that doesn't work, you can manualy edit /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 and try the generic "vesa" driver in the "Device" section:

Code:

Section "Device"
        Identifier      "Your Card"
        Driver          "vesa"
...
EndSection

**djhobo9** · 05-09-2006

If you think the mouse is the issue, add the following to your XF86Config-4 file:

Code:

Section "ServerFlags"
          Option	    "AllowMouseOpenFail"
EndSection

Add just the second line to an existing "ServerFlags" section if you have one, or add all three if no such section exists.

This should take the mouse out of the equation by allowing X to start even on a mouse failure.

In response to a comment above, Debian 3.1 has no significant issues with PCIe cards as far as I know--I ran it with one for quite some time with no problems.

See if the mouse is the issue... and I can't gather from above whether or not you've tried the vesa driver yet and whether or not it's worked--that could be a big clue in getting your ATI to work, so please let us know!

Good luck!

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