Open SuSE 10.2 is blocked.

[Doodle]

I have been using 'open SuSE 10.2' for more than a year. As it works fine I never thought of installing 'open SuSE 10.3'.

All my work are on 'open SuSE 10.2. side of the computer. I have installed even Mandriva 2007 and Fedora 7.

GRUB helps me to select the operating system. However, the default operating system is 'open SuSE 10.2'.

I bought a new Samsung monitor. Its manual says 1680 X 1050 is the correct resolution for the monitor. It is Samsung Syncmaster 223BW.

Now I am in a grave situation. I can't get the SuSE Linux 10.2 to the screen.

I get the following message:

-----------------------------------------
Not optimum mode
Recommended Mode 1680 X 1050
66HZ

?
-----------------------------------------
[ The above message is just floating on the screen and I don't know how to get rid of it and start the open SuSE 10.2. I am compelled to shut down the power to get rid of the situation.]

I am writing here using Fedora 7. As I wrote I have 'open SuSE 10.2' , Fedora 7 and Mandriva 2007 on the computer.

The important operating system is 'open SuSE 10.2'.

I always work with it. Now I can't get it onto the screen.

After connecting to the new monitor, I changed the screen resolution. I did it with open SuSE 10.2. Afterwards, I can't get 'open SuSE 10.2' to the screen. I don't have any start diskette for 'open SuSE 10.2'.
All my work are on the 'open SuSE 10.2'.

Please help me.

The computer is about 3 years old. I inserted 3 hard drives.
The graphic card is 'RV 280 [ Radeon 9200 PRO]'.

[Jonathan183]

Have you tried starting SUSE in text mode and running sax2?

[Doodle]

Thanks Jonathan for the reply.
You helped me in the past.

How can I get the text mode?
When the computer starts, I get a menu.

1. open SuSE 10.2
2. Windows XP
3. Fedora 7
4. Mandriva 2007
5. Fedora 8

My default operating system is 'open SuSE 10.2'.
Instead of starting the 'open SuSE 10.2', I get the following message which floats on the screen.

-----------------------------------------
Not optimum mode
Recommended Mode 1680 X 1050
66HZ

?
-----------------------------------------

This problem came after connecting the new Samsung monitor.
I connected the new monitor and started the computer. It worked properly and the 'open SuSE 10.2' was on the screen.

The manual of the Samsung screen says correct resolution is 1680 X 1050.
So I changed the resolution to 1680 X 1050.

Now I can't get the 'open SuSE 10.2' on to the screen. I just get the above mentioned message.

All my work is on 'open SuSE 10.2' side of the computer.
I am facing a big problem.
I can go to the Internet and write to you using Fedora 7 side of the computer.
The Fedora 7 is not important. I don't have any important document on Fedora 7. Because it is rare I use either Fedora 7 or Mandriva 2007.

How can I get the text mode?
What is this command 'sax' ? It is not in my UNIX books.


I tried the following:

/sbin/init 1

Then I got the following:

Telling init to go to single user mode.

INIT: Going single user

INIT: Sending processes the TERM sinal.

INIT: Sending process the KILL siganal.

sh-3.2#


The above means the single user mode. I tried in vain the command 'sax'.

sh-3.2# sax 2
Command not found

What is the problem? I tried both 'sax2' and 'sax 2'. The output were 'Command not found'.


Please help me. I badly need your support.


PS
A couple of months ago you helped me to get Fedora 8 to the menu. It is still on start menu though I can't get it on to the screen. You did a lot of work to tune the GRUB so I can have Fedora 8 too.
I gave it up. Do you know why? I have so many other things to do. I am training 3 times a week at the gym. I am working too. Time is my biggest enemy. I believe it is the same to you too. You have so many other things to do and trying to help people on this forum when time permits.

You helped me a several days in a row to correct it. You are very clever at these things. It was not your fault that I can't get Fedora 8 on the screen.

[Jonathan183]

sax2 is a Yast module see here, so will not be in a Unix book. You may find it does not work because it will try to start X, if this is the case then you will probably need to manually update your xorg configuration.
To enter text mode at the grub menu press escape, select openSUSE menu entry then e to edit, select kernel line and e to edit again and add a space and 3, then enter then b to boot. This should start the system in runlevel 3, giving you a text prompt to login.

[Doodle]

Jonathan
Sorry for the belated reply. I went to the gym for circuit training and came home a couple of minutes ago.

I am greatly indebted to you. Now I got back 'open SuSE 10.2' to the screen.
I take my hat off to you.

I have been working with Linux for more than 10 years. However, I know one hundredth of what you know when it comes to troubleshooting.

I know the file system and familiar with most of the Linux commands. I know the basics of GRUB too. In the good old days I worked with LILO instead of GRUB.
I know shell scripting to a certain extent. I know those regular expressions to a certain extent.

Do you work with Linux at your job?

I know some companies/organizations use only open source for the server side. It is extremely uncommon to have Linux for desktop in Sweden. I have learnt that it exists as desktop to some extent in Germany. In Sweden both Windows and UNIX are widely used for the server side.

Is it common to use Linux in desktop in the UK? I am unaware of it.

It seems this command 'sax' is unique to SuSE Linux.
Am I wrong?

What is the correct resolution for me with the newly bought Samsung monitor?
If you have a clue, please tell me.


I changed resolution to 1280 X 600.
It was terrible. All the desktop icons got warped. It didn't kill 'open SuSE 10.2'. I got it on to the screen. Icons and letters got warped. I changed back to 800 X 600.

I am sure you want to know what is wrong with 800 X 600 resolution.
All the letters are big. It is not the normal size.
I want the normal size.
Now my new monitor works like a billboard.

[Jonathan183]

Yast is a SUSE system config tool and Sax2 is one of it's modules so is SUSE specific. You have been using Linux longer than I have and know more commands. I don't think Linux is commonly used as a desktop within the UK at the moment ... but Vista could change that I don't use Linux at work & my job is not really IT related.

I don't know the best resolution for your monitor/graphics card combination, I think you probably need to try a few different settings - if you do this through Yast/Sax I think the settings are applied and you have 15 seconds to accept them otherwise your old settings are restored ... making trying the settings much easier.

Glad you have things working again & hopefully it will not take you too long to find settings that suit your needs

[gogalthorp]

Changing resolution may require the resizing of fonts and icons

In KDE you go to Personal settings Appearance and Themes - Icon-advanced to st icon size. Appearance and Themes -Fonts to adjust font size.

[Cool01]

[QUOTE=Doodle;602308] . . .

-----------------------------------------
Not optimum mode
Recommended Mode 1680 X 1050
66HZ

?
-----------------------------------------

. . .

The manual of the Samsung screen says correct resolution is 1680 X 1050.
So I changed the resolution to 1680 X 1050.
. . .

I can tell you a bit about that message. It is coming from your monitor. You probably have 5 buttons in a group on the monitor. One will say MENU and another at the other end will say "AUTO". The message is probably because you are using the wrong refresh rate. [CORRECTION HERE: Your monitor PREFERS a 66Hz refresh rate. Your computer is sending something else, probably higher, like 72Hz.] So if you can select that in "sax2" then do so. Otherwise, you have some choices. If the display is acceptable as-is, you can hit "MENU" at this point and the warning will go away. Or you can hit the "AUTO" button and watch the monitor try to fit its receiver to the graphics signal. If you do not like that result, then you can hit "MENU" and try to readjust it yourself.

[Doodle]

Thanks Jonathan for the comments.

There is a book about 'sax'. It costs only 138.00 Swedish crowns.
ISBN:0596002378
I will buy it.
The word 'sax' means Simple API for XML.

When you press the Esc button, you get a text based menu.
Is it unique to SuSE?
Is it a feature in GRUB?
Please tell me.
There are so many things I don't know in open source though I work with open source for more than 10 years. I am ashamed of it; because sometimes I claim I am good at open source. I didn't learn UNIX at a school for a long period.

In 2004, I followed a 5 weeks course on UNIX. That is completely about Solaris on SUN Sparc computers. Schools taught Solaris when it comes to UNIX. Because the widely used UNIX operating system in Sweden is SUN's Solaris.
Few companies use HP-UX and IBM-AIX.

.................................................. .................................................. .

Cool01 mentioned about the 5 buttons. They are dead. I guess the problem lies in drivers. I must find a Linux based driver for the monitor. The CD came with the monitor for Windows. I hope I will find time to look for drivers or rather to talk to Samsung support group on the phone.
Do you know why are they dead? There is a big metal button. It works. I can press and shut down the monitor.
.................................................. .................................................. .....................
Gogalthrop suggested looking at KDE's Appearance and Themes. I will try it later.

I urge everybody to keep a good watch on this thread.

[Jonathan183]

There is a book about 'sax'. It costs only 138.00 Swedish crowns.
ISBN:0596002378
I will buy it.
The word 'sax' means Simple API for XML.

I put a link in post #4 to an openSUSE page on SaX2 I don't think a book is necessary for what you are trying to do.

I learn something every day about Linux, thats part of the fun for me

Ed: the esc key is a feature of grub and is not unique to openSUSE. I find the Grub manual handy, and tutorial linked in this post is worth a look