Author: Brian Vincent
Email: brian@uniqsys.com
Date Submitted: Wed, Sep 2, 1998
Status: New Entry

Requester: Karl Griest
Email: dawn@abs.net
Request Made: Mon, Feb 23, 1998

Releases: 5.0
Platform: all
Category:  X Windows
Category Listing:  I installed x-windows with the install program, but I can't get it to run!!

Issue

During the setup I was asked to configure X-windows. did that, but 
dring the re-boot it didn't go in to X-windows. read up on it in 
redhat install html's, tryed to run it with the 

Response

 Let me preface this by saying this assumes you are using 
XFree86 and not something like the fine X servers produced by 
Metrolink or Xi Graphics. You've now typed "startx" at a prompt and 
nothing happens. Or, more likely, an X server starts up and either 
crashes or makes the monitor freak out. At this point I would run 
"Xconfigurator" as root and verify all the settings are correct. 
While your video card might support a color depth of 32 bits at a 
resolution of 1280x1024, be modest and select 8 bits of color at 640x480. Knowing 
what frequencies your monitor can support is also helpful, when 
in doubt choose the lower frequencies at a low resolution. Once 
you've done this again, try "startx". If it works (albeit poorly) you're 
in business. Just run Xconfigurator to tweak the resolution and 
color depth. Don't forget CNTRL-ALT-BACKSPACE will kill X If it 
doesn't work, there are a few options you can try - I'd choose one 
based on how comfortable you feel with the particular process: - 
If you have a commercial X server product (licensed of course) 
laying around, follow their instructions to install it - Consider 
installing and running another configuration utility. Personally, 
I've had the most success with XF86Setup - Make sure you have the 
latest release of XFree86 and/or associated drivers. RedHat now has 
the "XBF" program to distribute binary X servers for new chipsets. 
SuSE does something similar. - Go into /etc/X11 and verify "X" is 
correctly linked to the right X server. Edit /etc/X11/XF86Config by hand 
to make sure the video card and monitor mode settings are 
correct. If you are on the bleeding edge of video cards, it might 
be a few months before you can get a driver for XFree86, in that 
case I'd consider getting a commercial X server (about $100). 

References

(none)