X Windows freezes on startup

[ribbie]

I'm a newer linux user, who has installed several different distros in the past... including 10.2 on 3 different machines at school.

I installed 10.2 on my home machine:

AMD 3000+
BFG Nvidia 7800 GT
Soundblaster Audigy 2 Value
2 gb ram
74 gb sata raptor

The install went great, except Im having what I think is a driver issue. I can load up in safe mode fine, but would like to get the gui going. Every time i startx it just opens a black screen with the white x cursor (or as I know it by, xwindows). This happens prior to showing the login screen.

I'm confused, because during the install it probed and found my videocard driver and tested fine. Same goes for my sound card.

I found a hint from google suggesting I modify /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 to use a "vesa" driver, but I don't have that file path.

Any help is greatly appreciated, I'm at a loss right now.

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

Boot into safe mode, check your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file for the driver used and try the nv and vesa drivers to see if one of them works better. You'll need to su to root to have the permissions needed to edit that file.

[ribbie]

Thanks for the quick response. That did the trick.

So now I guess I have to try and get my nvidia driver to work with suse before I'll be able to use the web browser etc (it chops out like in windows when i have no vid card driver).

I'll check out the sticky there and see what I can come up with.

[gogalthorp]

Not having a NVIDIA driver should not effect anything but 3d ie OpenGL type stuff. It certainly should not effect the web browsing. Which driver did you have in xorg.conf and what did you change it to. I've found the vesa driver fine with normal 2d windows. I'm running a 6800XT based card.

[ribbie]

Not having a NVIDIA driver should not effect anything but 3d ie OpenGL type stuff. It certainly should not effect the web browsing. Which driver did you have in xorg.conf and what did you change it to. I've found the vesa driver fine with normal 2d windows. I'm running a 6800XT based card.

It was initially set to the nv (nvidia) driver and I had freezing problems. I changed it to use the vesa driver and it would load up no problems.

I can browse the web fine on the machine, the problem is when I scroll down using the scroll wheel. The screen is extremely laggy and very slow and almost unreponsive when it scrolls through the content.

Only reason I thought it was a video card driver issue was because when I've reinstalled xp in the past it would load up and i'd be able to use the o/s, but the moment I tried to scroll through a page I'd get the same issue as previously described.

I've switched it back to vesa and I'll look around at the video options to see if I can get it to work a little better.

[ribbie]

I actually had to just change my xorg.conf file to read "nvidia" instead of "nv" or "vesa" and it works fine now.

Yay, I'm so happy. Thanks again guys, I'll be around on here for a while I'm sure.

[oz]

Yes, if you have the official nvidia driver installed, it's best to use it. Otherwise, you have to use the generic nv or vesa drivers with an nvidia card.

Glad you got it all worked out. Post back with any other questions.

[parabola66]

Sorry for your troubles friend. Been there, tried & done that. Have you updated YUM / RPM? I installed and ran Linux Fedora Core for a brief time a couple of months ago on my last box. Now = I have since upgraded to a brand new Inspiron 531 Dell PC with Windows Vista Basic:

PC

2.10 gigahertz AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core
256 kilobyte primary memory cache
1024 kilobyte secondary memory cache
159.96 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
86.62 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
TSSTcorp CDRWDVD TS-H493B SCSI CdRom Device [CD-ROM drive]
LEXAR JD FIREFLY USB Device [Hard drive] (8.05 GB) -- drive 1
ST316081 5AS SCSI Disk Device (160.00 GB) -- drive 0
NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE [Display adapter]
DELL E207WFP [Monitor] (20.0"vis, s/n CK6307860DGL, August 2007)

I did opt for the Windoze Vista basic to save on CPU/Memeory. I am not one for the bells and whistles. I enjoy a streamlined, mean screamin machine. I have also tweaked Vista on my new box to get the most performance. Why am I including all the specs? Personal diatribe? Because I am very proud of my upgrade. Just proud of where I am now, how far I've come; trying, having the courage to try Linux, having the humility to say, "I run Windoze Vista, and love it. it's the entire OS journey that resulted in my opting for Vista. Just sharing folks. I am hoping my post humbles some who are considering switching back to Windoze after having tried the penguine. I did. It can be done my friends. Don't be unbarrassed. Yeah, i'm gettin flack from my geek peers, but hey, at least I have the humility to know thy limits...lol.

This whole OS war. Windoze vs. Linux is silly. They're both outstanding OS's - Mac OSX included. They all have their place. We need to find what works for each. Not bad, not better, just find an OS that works for you. Hey, aren't we all just one big happy geeked out family anyway?

It's been 5 years since my last new com. That ole 02' Win XP HP Pavillion 760n was a great workhorse. Never in the shop. Damn, I went from 512 MB SDRAM to 2 Gigs. Whew! Screamin! I think Vista is better than XP, and am enjoying it very much. I do miss the Fedora Core Linux OS my peeps; however, I have no issues getting flash, Direct X, and many other necessities we need to run our machine's; not to mention downloading whatever I need without trial. My whole point being...

I like Linux, don't get me wrong; however, due to the issues you mention and a few other items, I have gone back to Windoze. I like linux for the no frills get er done apps/GUI. For me, I have found Linux to be too difficult to troubleshoot, etc. hey guy's be proud of me, cause I ran with the penguine for 2 months! Proud? I consider myself somewhat tech savvy too. Prolly more than most, but a lot less than many computer users. I just need an OS I understand. And I know Windoze.

I suggest you get Windoze Vista and be done with it. Linux ROCKS! Windows Vista has it's perks too. Good luck friend... Glad you got the issue resolved. I wish you guys all the best. You rascally Linuxicanonians.....lol.