Help, Black screen

[jdelliott]

I am totally new to Linux systems, and very excited about the whole concept, so sick of the whole windows experience.
I installed Karmic two days ago, and nothing is showing on the screen
But when I start up Ubuntu I just get a video mode message on the screen. I have never been able to see the splash screen ( I think that is what it is called)
I have been trawling the web and have found that it is a graphics card issue (Nvidia Gforce6800).
With my very limited knowledge of computers I have tried in vein through the console to install/update etc. Nothing seems to work. I am beginning to get frustrated with how hard it is to correct. It seems very easy to do if you have the ubuntu up and running, which I do not.
Is there an idiot proof way to fix this??



Dell Dimension 9150
300GB
4GB RAM
Pentium 4 3.00Ghz
Windows XP Pro SP3

[devils casper]

Hi and Welcome !

You have to install Nvidia driver. First of all, try generic driver, "vesa". If Ubuntu boot up in Graphics Mode through "vesa" driver, you can install Nvidia drive easily.

Boot up Ubuntu and press Alt+Ctrl+F3. It will switch to command line mode. Login there and execute this

sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf

* Its Captial X in X11.

Above code will open xorg.conf file in nano editor. Copy this code and add in xorg.conf file :

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"Configured Video Device"
	Driver		"vesa"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"Generic Monitor"
	Option		"DPMS"
	HorizSync	30-71
	VertRefresh	50-160
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Device		"Configured Video Device"
	Monitor		"Generic Monitor"
	DefaultDepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		24
		Modes		"1280x1024" "1024x768" 
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier	"Default Layout"
	Screen		"Default Screen"
	InputDevice	"Generic Keyboard"
	InputDevice	"Generic Mouse"
EndSection

Press Ctrl+X, Y and hit Enter key to save file. Execute this to reboot machine.

sudo shutdown -r now

If Ubuntu boot up fine in Graphical Mode, install Nvidia driver through Hardware Drivers option available in Administrative menu.

[jdelliott]

Thank you, will give it a go!!!

[jdelliott]

Thanks for your help, but I now get this message when I try to activate the drivers.


Reconfiguring X.org video drivers is not possible: /etc/X11/xorg.conf is invalid.


But at Least I can see the screen now, thank you

[devils casper]

You haven't copied exact contents. Check xorg.conf file again and verify its contents as given in post #2.
Press Alt+F2 and type this

gksu gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

It will open xorg.conf in Gedit with root privileges.