kde white screen problem (debian)

[derhoi]

hello,
this is my first linux install (well i had knoppix installed for about two days before i decided it wasn't the best choice).

i installed the intel x86 version of debian 3.1 (with the http method) on my laptop.
at first i had not selected the xwindow option in base-config, so i just had a command prompt like os, but then i went back and fixed that.
the problem is, when i boot up, i get the text telling me what's loading and intiating and all that like when i just had the debian base installed, and thenm all the disapears and i assume the kde is loading, but all that happens is my monitor slowing turns white from the center of the screen outward, and then it sits there. i'm asuming that i setup my display options wrong but i don't know where and i don't know how to fix it.
any help would be very greatly appriciated

ben

ps my laptop is a medion sim 2000 with the following specs:

Intel Celeron M 330 1.4GHz
256KB L2 cache
60GB 4200RPM
10/100 MBit Ethernet, WLAN 802.11g
Includes with 2 batteries
CD-RW & DVD-R (dual layer) writes at 2x
12.1" XGA screen
512MB DDR (2 x 256MB) / Max 1024MB
SiS Graphics Chipset,128MB Shared Memory

[bryansmith]

Okay, the first thing to do is to get to the command line. Push CTRL-ALT-F1 - this will get you to the command line. Here, as root, run dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg. This will reconfigure xorg for you.

Bryan

[derhoi]

wow thank you for the extremely timely reply

i attempted to run dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg but it says:
Package 'xserver-xorg' is not installed and no info is available

do i need to install this, and if so, do i do this from base-config?

thanks

[bryansmith]

I may have been hasty in my response by assuming that you have xorg installed. You should try dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86 if you are running Debian Sarge (which you are).

If you wish, you could always do this the 'traditional' way by running xf86config

Bryan

[derhoi]

hmmm
so i ran both the xserver-xfree86 and the xfree86config and am certain i have impuytted the right information about my monitor and my graphics card. (though i do not know how to find my video card bus no. or whatever it asked for, and it's not in the laptops manual, so i left it blank)
is there anything else that could help fix this?
i have no idea why it's happening and what is supposed to happen and what to look for...
anyways
any help would be appriciated

[derhoi]

just an update
i plugged a monitor into my vga port on the laptop and everything works very well, so the issue is something to do with my laptop monitor