Dark Screen

[WashoeWm]

HI!

I have TC on a usb that runs on ram, the only other OS I've done that with
is Knoppix and DSLinux ..

My prob is the screen is soo dark with TC I can barely see anything.
The other OS I have on here are doing ok, as far as seeing/reading.

I tried changing the systemlinux.cfg to add vga=791-but I see no change.
I changed my vid buffer to 8 MB, it was 1 MB.

I really like TC, but it's really giving me eyestrain!

My puter is a Dell 2400, it's not new.
I only have 512 mb ram, could that be it?  
My monitor is new, an Acer - AL1917W

I am running XP home, Mepis and 'Drake most times..
Different flavors of Ubuntu are the only distros that have given me screen probs..

Let me know if you need to know anything else.
It is in persistent 'mode', if that helps.

TIA
.

[^thehatsrule^]

If you're talking about X, run xsetup and try other video modes, such as lowering the bit depth from the default 32.

Which video chipset do you have?

[curaga]

Dell + Intel tends to be not the best combo. Xorg might help.

[WashoeWm]

It's an intel 845GV-

and yes, so I have heard (and seen) that Dell+Intel=doesn't work with some *nix OS.

Someone suggested 915 reso and xorg together, but I am not sure how to go about that?
Do you know anything about using that combo?

In your experience, can a noob get it done?
Any links to doing that?

Thanks y'all! 

[cjgau]

One of my Dell --- GX260 --- has a dark screen. After monkeying around, I got a bright LOW resolution screen; the mysterious steps are as follows:

1. Install Xorg, and then move Xorg.tce to the folder /tce/optional

2. Backup, reboot and click >Tools>Xvesa_setup>1 (1 is the only choice.  )

"Try" it, if you don't mind the low resolution.

[Juanito]

I've had two or three dell laptops, all with intel chipsets:

Xvesa and 915resolution will work
Xorg will work in its own (but you need to supply a suitable xorg.conf - confless and Xorg --configure will not work)

[Kingdomcome]

I have had the same experience with my older dell laptop and xorg.  googling xorg.conf and your specific model number will most likely produce a couple different xorg.conf's that you can then tweak and get xorg to work.

[WashoeWm]

OK, this wknd I will just go down the line and try cj's idea-
if that doesn't help I'll get the xorg.conf on here...
On my way to work atm.

I have googled my prob, one solved thread said they switched the intel
driver for i810-most said to config the xorg.conf..

Since I wouldn't be doing graphics on it, low res shouldn't be bothersome..I don't think..
Anyway, thanks, I'll try them all and let you know what works..bein' optimistic here..

[3rail]

fwiw, I had an old dell laptop that was dark & limited number of colors until I used the framebuffer for X(see FAQ)

good luck

[WashoeWm]

I will leave my xorg.conf here in case I mess it up...

Haven't gotten to cj's suggestion yet...
If I change the settings for TC will they affect my other OS? Confused about that..

Tried to post it as a text file attachment, so it wouldn't be so big, but, wouldn't go.

Code: [Select]

Section "ServerLayout"
  Identifier "XFree86 Configured"
  Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
 #Screen 0 "ATIScreen" 0 0
 #Screen 1 "Screen1" RightOf "Screen0"
 #Option "Xinerama" "true"
 #Option "Clone" "true"
  InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
  InputDevice "PS/2 Mouse" "CorePointer"
 #InputDevice "USB Mouse" "CorePointer"
 #InputDevice "Touchpad" "SendCoreEvents"
 #InputDevice "ALPS Touchpad" "SendCoreEvents"
 #InputDevice "Appletouch" "SendCoreEvents"
 #InputDevice "Stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
 #InputDevice "Eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
 #InputDevice "Cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
 #InputDevice "Serial Mouse" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
  Option "AllowMouseOpenFail" "true"
EndSection

Section "Files"
# Xorg 7.0 font paths
    FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc:unscaled"

# Other font paths
    FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/arphic"
    FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/freefont"
    FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/kochi"
    FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/ttf-bitstream-vera"

# path to defoma fonts
    FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"

EndSection

Section "Module"
  Load "dbe"
  Load "dri"
  Load "extmod"
  Load "freetype"
  Load "glx"
  Load "type1"
  Load "v4l"
  Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Identifier "Keyboard0"
  Driver "keyboard"
  Option "CoreKeyboard"
  Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
  Option "XkbLayout" "us"
  Option "XKbOptions" ""
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Identifier "Serial Mouse"
  Driver "mouse"
  Option  "Protocol" "Microsoft"
  Option  "Device" "/dev/ttyS0"
  Option  "Emulate3Buttons" "false"
  Option  "Emulate3Timeout" "70"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Identifier "Touchpad"
  Driver "synaptics"
  Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
  Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
  Option "LeftEdge" "1700"
  Option "RightEdge" "5300"
  Option "TopEdge" "1700"
  Option "BottomEdge" "4200"
  Option "FingerLow" "25"
  Option "FingerHigh" "30"
  Option "MaxTapTime" "180"
  Option "MaxTapMove" "220"
  Option "VertScrollDelta" "100"
  Option "HorizScrollDelta" "0"
  Option "MinSpeed" "0.09"
  Option "MaxSpeed" "0.18"
  Option "AccelFactor" "0.0015"
  Option "SHMConfig" "on"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver "synaptics"
  Identifier "ALPS Touchpad"
  Option "Device" "/dev/input/mouse0"
  Option "Protocol" "event"
  Option "LeftEdge" "130"
  Option "RightEdge" "840"
  Option "TopEdge" "130"
  Option "BottomEdge" "640"
  Option "FingerLow" "7"
  Option "FingerHigh" "8"
  Option "MaxTapTime" "180"
  Option "MaxTapMove" "110"
  Option "EmulateMidButtonTime" "75"
  Option "VertScrollDelta" "20"
  Option "HorizScrollDelta" "0"
  Option "MinSpeed" "0.25"
  Option "MaxSpeed" "0.50"
  Option "AccelFactor" "0.030"
  Option "EdgeMotionMinSpeed" "200"
  Option "EdgeMotionMaxSpeed" "200"
  Option "UpDownScrolling" "1"
  Option "CircularScrolling" "1"
  Option "CircScrollDelta" "0.1"
  Option "CircScrollTrigger" "2"
  Option "SHMConfig" "on"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Identifier "Appletouch"
  Driver "synaptics"
  Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
  Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
  Option "LeftEdge" "100"
  Option "RightEdge" "1120"
  Option "TopEdge" "50"
  Option "BottomEdge" "310"
  Option "FingerLow" "25"
  Option "FingerHigh" "30"
  Option "MaxTapMove" "220"
  Option "TapButton1" "1"
  Option "TapButton2" "3"
  Option "TapButton3" "2"
  Option "MinSpeed" "0.79"
  Option "MaxSpeed" "0.88"
  Option "AccelFactor" "0.0015"
  Option "SHMConfig" "on"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Identifier "PS/2 Mouse"
  Driver "mouse"
  Option "Protocol" "auto"
  Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
  Option "Emulate3Buttons" "false"
  Option "Emulate3Timeout" "70"
  Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
  Option "Buttons" "5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Identifier "USB Mouse"
  Driver "mouse"
  Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
  Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
  Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
  Option "Buttons" "5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Identifier "Stylus"
  Driver "wacom"
  Option "Mode" "Absolute"
  Option "Type" "stylus"
  Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Endsection

# Settings for wacom eraser
Section "InputDevice"
  Identifier "Eraser"
  Driver "wacom"
  Option "Mode" "Absolute"
  Option "Type" "eraser"
  Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Endsection

# Settings for wacom cursor (mouse)
Section "InputDevice"
  Identifier "Cursor"
  Driver "wacom"
  Option "Mode" "Relative"
  Option "Type" "cursor"
  Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Endsection

Section "Monitor"
  Identifier "Monitor0"
  VendorName "unknown"
  ModelName "unknown"
  Option "DPMS" "true"
  HorizSync    30-75
  VertRefresh  55-70

EndSection

Section "Monitor"
  Identifier "Monitor1"
  VendorName "unknown"
  ModelName "unknown"
  Option "DPMS" "true"
  HorizSync    30-75
  VertRefresh  55-70
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
  Identifier  "ATIMonitor"
  VendorName "unknown"
  ModelName "unknown"
  Option "DPMS" "true"
  HorizSync    30-75
  VertRefresh  55-70
EndSection

Section "Device"
  Identifier  "Card0"
  Driver "intel"
  BoardName "unknown"

  Screen 0
 #Option "UseDisplayDevice" "dfp"
 #Option "MonitorLayout" "crt,crt"
 #BusID  "PCI:1:0:0"
 #Option "sw_cursor" # needed for some ati cards
 #Option "hw_cursor"
 #Option "NoAccel"
 #Option "ShowCache"
 #Option "ShadowFB"
 #Option "UseFBDev"
 #Option "Rotate"
  Option "UseInternalAGPGART" "no"

  Option "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps" "true"

# savage special options, use with care
 #Option "NoUseBios"
 #Option "BusType" "PCI"
  Option "DmaMode" "None"

# nvidia special options, use with care
  Option "CursorShadow" "1"
  Option "CursorShadowAlpha" "63"
  Option "CursorShadowYOffset" "2"
  Option "CursorShadowXOffset" "4"
  Option "FlatPanelProperties" "Scaling = native"
  Option "NoLogo" "true"
  Option "UseEDID" "true"
  Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "true"
  Option "RenderAccel" "true"
 #Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
EndSection

Section "Device"
  Identifier  "Card1"
  Driver "intel"
  BoardName "unknown"

  Screen 1
 #Option "MonitorLayout" "crt,crt"
 #BusID  "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
  Identifier "Screen0"
  Device "Card0"
  Monitor "Monitor0"
  DefaultColorDepth 16
  
  SubSection "Display"
  Depth 8
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
  Depth 15
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
  Depth 16
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
  Depth 24
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
  Depth 32
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
  EndSubSection
  
  # Only the official NVIDIA driver supports twinview
  # these setting are an example
  Option "TwinView" "false"
  Option "SecondMonitorVendorName" "unknown"
  Option "SecondMonitorModelName" "unknown"
  Option "SecondMonitorHorizSync" "30-75"
  Option "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" "55-70"
 #Option "MetaModes" "1024x768, 1024x768"
  Option "TwinViewOrientation" "RightOf"
  Option "ConnectedMonitor" "dfp,dfp"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
  Identifier "Screen1"
  Device "Card1"
  Monitor "Monitor1"
  DefaultColorDepth 16
  
  SubSection "Display"
  Depth 8
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
  Depth 15
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
  Depth 16
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
  Depth 24
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
  Depth 32
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
  EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
  Identifier "ATIScreen"
  Device "Card0"
  Monitor "ATIMonitor"
  DefaultColorDepth 24
  
  SubSection "Display"
  Depth 24
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
  EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
  Mode 0666
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
  Option "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection


[WashoeWm]

I got Xorg installed from the repo, then moved it to /home/tc/optional-(ran the xsetup and chose vesa), rebooted=wrong order?
Now I have a black screen with an x for a mouse pointer.
It's a really nice lookin' X tho...

Do I reinstall, or is there something I missed that I can do before booting into TC?


 

[gerald_clark]

You need to move it into your tce directory as defined in /opt/.tce_dir.

[WashoeWm]

Ah Cheeeese!! 
OK, time permitting, I will give it a go later this week.

Thanks so much!

[rayburn]

Any more progress with this? I have exact same Dell model, and am having exact same problem.... So I would be grateful if you have found a solution, if you would be kind enough to post it here please!