New2Linux Can't get GUI going, HELP

[Solvision]

Hey Guys

Ok, so never used Linux before

This site has got me pretty much all the way to where i am so, hopefully someone can get me to the next step.

I made a boot disc for Debian, and net installed the rest.

I've run the following since install was completed:

- apt-get update
- apt-get install gnome
- apt-get install x-window-system
and a couple of others, i now have gdm, kdm, & xdm (still stumbling around)

and dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86 (several times)

I still can't get GUI to actually run.

When i type "startx" i get the following error:

Fatal Server error: no screens found

XIO: fatal IO error 104 (Connection reset by peer) on X server ":0.0" after 0 requests (0 known processed) with 0 events remaining.

Can someone please help?

I am running an ATI Radeon 9250. Maybe i need this installed properly.

If you ask me to do something, please be really specific, i am learning this as i go along.

Thanks.

[brokndodge]

the normal way to start the x session in debian is to execute as root

/etc/init.d/gdm start

i don't know if this will help you, i am not sure as to whether or not xorg is correctly installed and configured on your system, however, if it is correctly installed then that should get it going.

now, if x starts and you cannot see anything or the screen looks real messed up hit ctrl+alt+f1 at the same time to get back to the console then type

/etc/init.d/gdm stop

that will stop the xserver

[Zelmo]

The "Fatal Error" message means it's probably just a misconfigured XF86Config file. Can you post the contents of your /etc/X11/XF86Config? And to help find the error, run this command:
tail -n 20 /var/log/XFree86.0.log
and post the output. The lines that start with (EE) will point out the problem.

[Solvision]

Ok...

the normal way to start the x session in debian is to execute as root

Code:

/etc/init.d/gdm start

It Says: "not Starting GNOME Display Manager (gdm); it is not the default display manager."

So i tried: "/etc/init.d/kdm start" and it said: "Starting K Display Manager: kdmOnly root wants to run kdm already running."

[Solvision]

tail -n 20 /var/log/XFree86.0.log
and post the output. The lines that start with (EE) will point out the problem.

And i get:

ATI FireGL Mobility T2 (m10) NT (AGP),
ATI FireGL Mobility T2 (m10) NT (AGP), ATI Radeon 9800SE AH (AGP),
ATI Radeon 9800SE AI (AGP), ATI Radeon 9800SE AJ (AGP),
ATI FireGL X2 AK (AGP), ATI Radeon 9800PRO NH (AGP),
ATI Radeon 9800 NI (AGP), ATI FireGL X2 NK (AGP),
ATI Radeon 9800XT NJ (AGP)

(II) Primary Device is: PCI 01:00:0
(II) ATI: Candidate "Device" section "ATI Radeon 9250"
(WW) ATI: PCI/AGP Mach64 in slot 1:0:0 could not be detected!
(WW) ATI: PCI/AGP Mach64 in slot 1:0:1 could not be detected!
(EE) No devices detected.

Fatal server error:
no screens found

I know it is physically working cause i had a Knoppix running straight off the DVD.