topic title: SOLVED installation by failsafe mode
Posts: 80
kwstas
Joined: 14 Feb 2011
#1
hi guys,

after i've tried plenty of light distros through virtualbox i found antix which suits my needs better so i proceed in installation to my pentium3 mmx 866, 128 mb ram...

while i had no problems with the installation to virtual box, i had some to the real box!
booting with the 1st(default) option i can't even run gparted or install antix because i can't get the"give password" screen!
i tried to boot with the"failsafe mode"(if i remember the exact name correctly) and it worked fine!

i installed antix but the problem is that i don't know what exactly wasn't configured/installed and what i should try to configure/install now. for example, the screen resolution i get is 800x600 while my monitor is 21''. i bet there should be more limitations but until now i haven't tested it much.
Last edited by kwstas on 21 Feb 2011, 21:15, edited 1 time in total.
Posts: 609
dark-D
Joined: 02 Jun 2008
#2
hello and welcome to antix,
please post the output of inxi -F so we can make an idea of what system you use and could you specify what version of antix you have, if it is base or full. at first glance, on 128mb of ram, you need a swap partition of at least 256 mb. also to set the resolution you either need to open run and use grandr to set the desired resolution or edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf and add the desired resolution in the config file.
Posts: 80
kwstas
Joined: 14 Feb 2011
#3
thanks! __{{emoticon}}__

antix full version: antiX-M8.5-686.
i have made a quite big swap!

inxi -f
CPU: Single core Pentium III (Coppermine) (UP) cache 256 KB clocked at 864.475 MHz
CPU Flags fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 sep mtrr pge mca cmov pse36 mmx fxsr sse up

grandr gives me 2 choises 800x600 0HZ and 640x480 0HZ.
i'm not sure what to change in xorg.conf. i think that i'm missing drivers or something...
anticapitalista
Posts: 5,955
Site Admin
Joined: 11 Sep 2007
#4
inxi -F (capital F)

Post contents of /etc/X11/xorg.conf

You could try, in a terminal

# buildxconfig

then reboot to see if correct resolution is used.

Alternatively, delete xorg.conf file (make a copy first), then reboot and let udev set the screen resolution.
Posts: 80
kwstas
Joined: 14 Feb 2011
#5
inix -F
System: Host antiX1 Kernel 2.6.32-1-mepis-smp i686 (32 bit) Distro antiX-M8.5 Marek Edelman 11 April 2010
CPU: Single core Pentium III (Coppermine) (UP) cache 256 KB flags (sse) bmips 1729.98 clocked at 864.475 MHz
Graphics: Card nVidia NV11 [GeForce2 MX/MX 400] X.Org 1.6.5 Res: 800x600@0.0hz
GLX Renderer Software Rasterizer GLX Version 2.1 Mesa 7.7.1-DEVEL Direct Rendering Yes
Audio: Card Creative Labs SB Live! EMU10k1 driver EMU10K1_Audigy at port dc00 BusID: 00:09.0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Version 1.0.21
Disks: HDD Total Size: 160.0GB (1.1% used) 1: /dev/sda WDC_WD1600AVBB 160.0GB
Partition: ID:/ size: 5.3G used: 1.5G (30%) fs: ext3 ID:/home size: 68G used: 216M (1%) fs: ext3
ID:swap-1 size: 1.60GB used: 0.04GB (2%) fs: swap
Info: Processes 84 Uptime 1:06 Memory 75.1/120.9MB Runlevel 5 Client Shell inxi 1.4.9

xorg.conf

Code: Select all

Section"ServerFlags"
    Option"DontZap""Off"
        Option"AllowMouseOpenFail""true"
        Option"blank time""0"
        Option"standby time""0"
        Option"suspend time""0"
        Option"off time""0" 
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"Monitor"
  Identifier"Monitor0"
  VendorName"unknown"
  ModelName"unknown"
  Option"DPMS""true"
  HorizSync    30-75
  VertRefresh  55-70 
EndSection

Section"Device"
  Identifier "Card0"
  Driver"vesa"
  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"vesa"
  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"800x600"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection"Display"
  Depth 15
  Modes"800x600"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection"Display"
  Depth 16
  Modes"800x600"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection"Display"
  Depth 24
  Modes"800x600"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection"Display"
  Depth 32
  Modes"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"DRI"
  Mode 0666
EndSection

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

# buildxconfig didn't work
i can't delete the xorg.conf so i tried to log out and back in as root but i get a quick error message and back in login screen!

by the way, maybe i should have mentioned that since the 1st boot option (antix at sda5, kernel 2.6.32-1-mepis-smp) says"nousb" (root=/dev/sda5 nomcequiet nosplash vga=normal nousb) and my connection to router is by usb,
i use the 2nd boot option (antix-m8.5,kernel 2.6.32-1-mepis-smp) which says"root-UUID-eadfsf63-bec5-4464-87b0-23461bddbd08 ro nosplash quiet"

i hope that helps...
anticapitalista
Posts: 5,955
Site Admin
Joined: 11 Sep 2007
#6
To delete the file, open terminal and type

sux
rootpassword
rox /etc/X11

Then you can delete the file. Make a copy first.
Posts: 80
kwstas
Joined: 14 Feb 2011
#7
it now gets the highest resolution possible(1920x1080).
i can change the resolution in grandr but it doesn't stay after reboot!
it also appears that highest resolution is more ram consuming, right?
anticapitalista
Posts: 5,955
Site Admin
Joined: 11 Sep 2007
#8
Probably, yes. What resolution do you want?
Posts: 80
kwstas
Joined: 14 Feb 2011
#9
i'm not sure.. i don't even know about the Hz I should use!
so let's say i'll need 1440x900...

i mentioned earlier about the boot options etc.
by the way, maybe i should have mentioned that since the 1st boot option (antix at sda5, kernel 2.6.32-1-mepis-smp) says"nousb" (root=/dev/sda5 nomcequiet nosplash vga=normal nousb) and my connection to router is by usb,
i use the 2nd boot option (antix-m8.5,kernel 2.6.32-1-mepis-smp) which says"root-UUID-eadfsf63-bec5-4464-87b0-23461bddbd08 ro nosplash quiet"
besides the non-working usb are there any serious differences between the 1st(default) and 2nd boot options?
should i change something there? maybe i could use the 1st(default) option and just change somehow the"nousb"?
Posts: 609
dark-D
Joined: 02 Jun 2008
#10
i don't know how you get the nousb option, i guess from the failsafe option when you installed.
to edit the boot options open run and type:

Code: Select all

gksu leafpad /boot/grub/menu.lst
and delete the nousb flag and then save.
also you could try to set the resolution as root, same as before open run and type:

Code: Select all

gksu grandr
Posts: 80
kwstas
Joined: 14 Feb 2011
#11
thanks!
i can now boot with 1st option and have usb enabled!

i'm afraid that still nothing happened with the resolution problem with"gksu grandr"!

after i had deleted xorg.conf, i don't have it now...
should i maybe restore the one we made backup and change it somehow?
should i try maybe to delete the vga=normal from the boot options?
Posts: 1,062
Dave
Joined: 20 Jan 2010
#12
Yes you can restore it and try changing in the screen section to this

Code: Select all

Section"Screen"
  Identifier"Screen0"
  Device"Card0"
  Monitor"Monitor0"
  DefaultColorDepth 16
 
  SubSection"Display"
  Depth 8
  Modes"1440x900""1280x800""1024x768""800x600"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection"Display"
  Depth 15
  Modes"1440x900""1280x800""1024x768""800x600"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection"Display"
  Depth 16
  Modes"1440x900""1280x800""1024x768""800x600"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection"Display"
  Depth 24
  Modes"1440x900""1280x800""1024x768""800x600"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection"Display"
  Depth 32
  Modes"1440x900""1280x800""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"TwinViewOrientation""RightOf"
  Option"ConnectedMonitor""dfp,dfp"
EndSection
it was set to try to use and only use 800x600, adding more modes should help, if the modes / resolutions work with the moniter, check with grandr to make sure.
Posts: 80
kwstas
Joined: 14 Feb 2011
#13
dave,

i just restored the xorg.conf with the"screen" details as proposed(i added also"1920x1080")

grandr now gives me 3 options only, with 0.0Hz(!)
1024x768 (it boots here)
800x600
640x480
Section"Device"
Identifier"Card1"
Driver"vesa"
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"1920x1080""1440x900""1280x800""1024x768""800x600"
EndSubSection
SubSection"Display"
Depth 15
Modes"1920x1080""1440x900""1280x800""1024x768""800x600"
EndSubSection
SubSection"Display"
Depth 16
Modes"1920x1080""1440x900""1280x800""1024x768""800x600"
EndSubSection
SubSection"Display"
Depth 24
Modes"1920x1080""1440x900""1280x800""1024x768""800x600"
EndSubSection
SubSection"Display"
Depth 32
Modes"1920x1080""1440x900""1280x800""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"TwinViewOrientation""RightOf"
Option"ConnectedMonitor""dfp,dfp"
EndSection

Section"DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

Section"Extensions"
Option"Composite""Enable"
EndSection
Posts: 1,062
Dave
Joined: 20 Jan 2010
#14
Ok glad to see that it excepted the higher resolution.

Looking through your xorg.conf it seems that you have the nvidia driver options enabled but you are using the vesa driver.
see here in xorg.conf

Code: Select all


# 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"TwinViewOrientation""RightOf"
Option"ConnectedMonitor""dfp,dfp"
EndSection
this would agree with your output from inxi

Code: Select all

Graphics: Card nVidia NV11 [GeForce2 MX/MX 400]
I would fisrt try changing the driver from vesa to nv ( or the actual" nvidia" driver if you installed it )
from this

Code: Select all

Section"Device"
Identifier"Card1"
Driver"vesa"
BoardName"unknown"
to this

Code: Select all

Section"Device"
Identifier"Card1"
Driver"nv"
BoardName"unknown"
also I would change the default colour depth from 16 to 32
from this

Code: Select all

Section"Screen"
Identifier"Screen0"
Device"Card0"
Monitor"Monitor0"
DefaultColorDepth 16
to this

Code: Select all

Section"Screen"
Identifier"Screen0"
Device"Card0"
Monitor"Monitor0"
DefaultColorDepth 32
Don't forget to log out and back in. If this doesn't work, I can write how to build a new one. Requires working out of you X display server, if you are comfortable with that.
Posts: 80
kwstas
Joined: 14 Feb 2011
#15
i changed the"vesa" from"card1"(there is also"card0") to"nv".
i also changed the color depth to 32.

after these changes i reboot but i got command line login prompt. how can i start x?