[NCLUG] new X installation

[Eric Brunson]

The latest XF86 looks for its config file in /etc/X11/XF86Config by
default and I think /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 will be preferred over it if
it exists.  To remove all doubt, look at /var/log/XFree86.0.log and it
will tell you where it is looking.

I haven't had much luck with Xconfigurator since 4.x, I'm not even
sure if it isn't a legacy thing from 3, other people may disagree with
me, your milage may vary.  I've had the best success lately using:
'X -configure' which attempts to probe your hardware and generate a
base config that you can then tweak.  In most cases I've only had to
reduce my screen resolution to something I prefer over the 1600x1200
it usually selects, though on my laptop I had to force it to use the
external vid rather than the LCD.

Finally, once you have X running, Xf86cfg is the best tool I've found
for adding devices.  I say after you have it running because I'm not
sure which release -textmode, the first version of 4.x I got from
redhat didn't.  And for *no* apparent reason, the utility doesn't look
in the correct place for its config file, you have to specify it with
the '-xf86config' option.

* William Dan Terry (william.terry at knotworks.com) [011203 09:43]:
> I've just done a fresh install of KRUD 7.1 from CD (first Linux install
> via CD I've done; done IRIX and Solaris, but this was nicer) and X isn't
> working. The strange part is that for RedHat 7.0 Xconfigurator worked just
> fine. With 7.1, my monitor is even listed. However, the best I can get X
> working is to see a bit of screen with the test boxes mixed up, like the
> verticle sync is off. I've tried to just enter the custom monitor
> definition as I did with 7.0 to no avail. I've tried using the XF86Config
> and XF86Config-4 files from my 7.0 install with no luck. Unfortunately I
> don't recall what server my system used last time, just figuring it would
> figure out to use the same one this time. The XF86Config and -4 files
> don't seem to show any real difference (names, spacing type stuff only).
> 
> I have an HP Visualize X550. The Xconfigurator with 7.1 finds the same
> graphic card and sets it up with the SVGA server.
> 
> Any hints would be greatly appreciated. Please reply so that I get a
> direct reply. I'm on the nclug digest, but could use help sooner than I'd
> get the digest.
> 
> TIA, William
> 
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-- 
 Eric Brunson   brunson at level3.net   page-eric at level3.net  
tcA thgirypoC muinelliM latigiD eht detaloiv tsuj evah uoY