graphic card installed - cannot see logon screen

[Alfrid]

I`m newbee.

I installed my graphic cartd (driver from ATI) in terminal. ATI Catalyst? Proprietary Display Driver the notebook is an Compaq evo n600c.

The installation went fine and i was asked for a reboot. When i booted I cannot logon. It loads drivers and then the color gets not right, cannot see what it is on screen or log on.

My question is: how can I undo the last change or uninstall from command promt?

[larryfroot]

There is a file called xconf.org which handles the various configurations in your graphics system. As the default xorg.conf would have been automatically backed up when the present xorg.conf (from the ati propriety driver) was generated, its a case of writing over the present unusable xorg.conf using the default, presently backed up, xorg.conf which will take you back into servicable vesa settings. And yes, its done from the command line.

Try

[Howto] Restore your previous xorg.conf file - Ubuntu Forums

it seems to have a lot of satisfied ubuntufroots who used the post to good effect. Good luck!

[Alfrid]

how can I find where the xorg.conf file is stored? I push esc when starting and get an boot menu, then c for command prompt. It stands in the folder "grub>" is that the root?

[larryfroot]

Sorry Alfrid,

That must have been a little frustrating for you.

I am trying to remember...does the system present a login routine (asking for username and password) to you from the command line? I am honestly in amnesia land on that one. Assuming it does and you can log in...

from the command line you will have to cd into the relevant directory, in this case /etc/X11 (cd in this case means 'Change Directory').

So type cd /etc/X11

then you will see that the location comes up before the cursor and after the name of your machine to let you know you have arrived.

After that, type ls

This is short for list and it will list all the directories (folders) and files in the X11 directory.

Do the instructions from the link I sent you pick it up satisfactorily from that point?

[reed9]

The grub> prompt is not what you're looking for. I forget as well, does Ubuntu offer a boot option for something like "safe graphics mode"? You can try that to get to a normal desktop. Otherwise, when you get to the screwy log in screen, try pressing ctrl+alt+F1, and that should drop you to a terminal prompt where you can log in. From there you can follow larrfoot's directions to get to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.

[larryfroot]

Thanks reed99, I will make a note of that shortcut! hope its helping you Alfrid.

[Alfrid]

Thank you both the key combo worked and then it was quite easy to restore. Ubuntu do not have "safe graphic mode" in boot screen. now I have to find the proper driver, so I can switch to s-video.

again,
thanks

[reed9]

The proprietary ATI driver is notoriously bad. My distro of choice, Arch Linux, has dropped it from their officially maintained packages altogether, it's so bad. Try the radeonhd driver. Ubuntu -- Details of package xserver-xorg-video-radeonhd in intrepid

[larryfroot]

Yay! I'm well happy you got a result!

And from a serious and proper gaming point of view, in linux (using cedega and wine) my ati hd4870 may as well be an ancient vesa dinosaur. I was well miffed to discover that nvidea are the ones to go for with linux and 3D. Even brought a custom cooling set for the card...mumble...mumble...dark looks....etc