Problem with LIVE CD on an Dell Inspiron 1100

[zax]

Hi,

I am trying to run TinyMe on an old Dell laptop. When all the hardware
has been checked, I get the error:

Failed to start the X server (your graphical interface). It is likely
that it is not set up correctly. Would you
like to view the X server output to diagose the problem?

And looking at the end of the error I see:
"/etc/x11/xorg.config" Parse error in line 77 of section Monitor in
file "/etc/x11/xorg.config" "Flat" is not a valid keyword in this
section. (EE) Problem parsing the config file (EE) Error parsing the
config file

Fatal server error: no screens found

Any ideas? I have tried both flavours of TinyMe with the same result.

Thanks,
Zax

[Stephen Moss]

I have had this problem with Dell in the past, in BIOS set F9 for defaults then set to boot from CDROM before F10 Save and Exit. This may solve the Monitor Error. For some reason the BIOS will only work with default for Monitor Config. Good Luck.

[Rob Arsenault]

I am not exactly sure of the error but a similar error happened to me with a Dell Latitude 610. Try booting in to Videosafemode from the Live CD. After you run the install it will come up fine. At least it did for me.

Good luck

 

-boxdog   

[zax]

I went into the BIOS and there was not any kind of monitor config. But
I set the boot from CDROM up. I tried booting in safe mode, FBVDev
acted the same as before, and the VESA safe mode sent the monitor to
go nuts.

I did go into xserver and blindly change a few things, but nothing
seemed to make any difference. The weird thing is the error
contradicts itself. It says there is a monitor with no usable config,
and then no screen.

I tried the Damn Small Linux Live CD and that worked! But that is not
really a solution for me, I want to get TinyMe working. Any more
suggestions?

Thanks,
Zax

On Dec 15, 2:15 pm, "Rob Arsenault" <box...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I am not exactly sure of the error but a similar error happened to me with a
> Dell Latitude 610. Try booting in to Videosafemode from the Live CD. After
> you run the install it will come up fine. At least it did for me.
>
> Good luck
>
> -boxdog
>

> On Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 7:16 AM, Stephen Moss <lupg...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I have had this problem with Dell in the past, in BIOS set F9 for defaults
> > then set to boot from CDROM before F10 Save and Exit. This may solve the
> > Monitor Error. For some reason the BIOS will only work with default for
> > Monitor Config. Good Luck.
>

[Rob Arsenault]

Sorry it didn't work. you said it was an old Dell laptop what model ?

I have installed the last two releases of tiny me on both a Dell Latitude D600 and a D610 both have the cheaper video card in them.What was the last OS to run on the laptop did it have any problems. Do you get the same error if you plug a monitor in to the external port.sorry I am not very good at hacking xorg.conf files.

when I am in the gui desktop I can type video in the terminal it brings up the video card and display config can you access this from the command line ?

 

-boxdog  

[Stephen Moss]

That's beyond me Sir, I hope Rob can help. All the best.

[zax]

I can answer a couple of questions (I am not near the laptop at the
mo). The laptop is a Dell Inspiron 1100 and currently it has Windows
XP on it. A while ago I tried to install the xubuntu wubi thing, but
that doesn't work either : ( Just stalled, and black screened.

I will try and answer your other questions soon.

Thanks

On Dec 16, 7:17 am, "Stephen Moss" <lupg...@gmail.com> wrote:
> That's beyond me Sir, I hope Rob can help. All the best.
>

[Rob Arsenault]

When in doubt turn to Google. I copied your error in to Google and it only came up with two pages, one on Tiny me.The problem is it looks like its from maybe Finland ? 

so its possible your not the only one with the problem. I know that doesn't help you much. Sorry that most of what Ive learned about Linux has been from braking and fixing my own systems and for the most part Ive been lucky. Two other things I thought about over the day where  check to see if there is something wrong with the CD by booting it on another system. and maybe check out how old your BIOS is? Video problems are tough to debug, it may be possible the chipset in your laptop is not supported by Linux at this time. I included the Google out-put it looks like they are talking about the same problem you are having.  

Good luck

 

http://www.datormagazin.se/expertpanelen/linux/nyborjare/article303069.ece  

 

-boxdog

[Kaleb]

Greetings,

I sought help on IRC for the issue with the forum today but didn't get
anywhere. I will be home from the 17th to Jan 4th with intermittent internet
access. As a stopgap measure, I have created a board on the forum which is
open for guests to post to.

[zax]

Rob,

That link is not to a Finish site, it is Swedish. You see, I can read
Swedish (no really!), but I am not Swedish. Although, the laptop
itself is a UK one, I think this is just a lucky coincidence that this
guy had the same error as I have. The reply from the magazine roughly
translates as this:

"This seems to be a simple mistake from the developer's side, a bug in
a configuration file in the installation so the graphical interface
cannot start. The solution is to download an updated ISO file which
you can find described in the systems forum."

So they seem to think it is the developers fault! ; )

Your thought about my chipset not supporting Linux I guess is possible
as I have also tried puppyLinux, and that did install, but the screen
resolution was about 600x400. It is a shame to think that Windows XP
runs, and I can't wait to get Linux on there, but I am for the moment
defeated.

If you get any bright ideas, let me know.

Stephen

On Dec 16, 9:49 pm, "Rob Arsenault" <box...@gmail.com> wrote:
> When in doubt turn to Google. I copied your error in to Google and it only
> came up with two pages, one on Tiny me.The problem is it looks like its from
> maybe Finland ?
> so its possible your not the only one with the problem. I know that doesn't
> help you much. Sorry that most of what Ive learned about Linux has been from
> braking and fixing my own systems and for the most part Ive been lucky. Two
> other things I thought about over the day where  check to see if there is
> something wrong with the CD by booting it on another system. and maybe check
> out how old your BIOS is? Video problems are tough to debug, it may be
> possible the chipset in your laptop is not supported by Linux at this time.
> I included the Google out-put it looks like they are talking about the same
> problem you are having.
> Good luck
>

> http://www.datormagazin.se/expertpanelen/linux/nyborjare/article30306...
>
> -boxdog

[Rob Arsenault]

I would suggest trying other distors  until you find one that works for you until the problem with Tinyme is fixed . I prefer PCLinux or Mandrake. I have always had luck with them in the past and they support a wide range of hardware. You said you have your laptop working with Puppy Linux but at a low resolution.I would make a back up of your xorg file and try other drivers to see if you could improve the resolution. you can check out this article on backing up your xorg files if you need to.  

 

Good luck 

Rob  

 

http://pclosmag.com/html/Issues/200805/page04.html

  

[zax]

Rob,

I have not yet given up! There seems to be a whole world of pain with
this particular laptop and Linux:

http://www.geocities.com/randomnumbergenerator2001/

I think I need to update the BIOS, for which I need a new battery (on
order), so this might be something to do during the Xmas period. Thank
you all for your input so far, I am determined to get TinyMe (or some
flavour of Linux) installed.

Thanks again,
Stephen

On Dec 17, 4:26 pm, "Rob Arsenault" <box...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I would suggest trying other distors  until you find one that works for you
> until the problem with Tinyme is fixed . I prefer PCLinux or Mandrake. I
> have always had luck with them in the past and they support a wide range of
> hardware. You said you have your laptop working with Puppy Linux but at a
> low resolution.I would make a back up of your xorg file and try other
> drivers to see if you could improve the resolution. you can check out this
> article on backing up your xorg files if you need to.
>
> Good luck
> Rob
>
> http://pclosmag.com/html/Issues/200805/page04.html
>

[Rob Arsenault]

Good luck Zax

[zax]

Hi,

I am back on the trail of getting TinyMe installed on an Dell Inspiron
1100, and I have hit a snag which you guys might be able to help me
with.

Since I last posted, I have done the following:

1. Installed a new battery.
2. Updated the BIOS from A26 to A32 (for reference I got the upgrade
from here: ftp://ftp.dell.com/bios/I1100A32.exe)
3. In the new BIOS, I changed the video memory from 1MB to 8MB.

This has had an effect on my Live CD installation attempts. Now when I
try and install the Live CD, I get the cool TinyMe splash screen and
progress bar, until I get asked for the localhost username and
password. I type in admin admin, and then it displays -bash-3.1# and
stops. Am I getting closer? Why is it stopping on this script? Any
help greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Stephen

On Dec 18, 5:08 am, "Rob Arsenault" <box...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Good luck Zax
>

[zax]

Hi,

I now realise that -bash-3.1# is a command prompt...(doh)

Also, the second time I tried the install, I got the error:
"Failed to start the X server.... .. Would you like to view the X
server output..."

and in there it said that the fatal server error was: no screens found

I have also tried the VESA safe mode and it boots OK....! So if
someone can help me work out why it doesn't like the normal mode, that
would be great. (It feels like I am getting close!).

Thanks,
Stephen

[Rob Arsenault]

Do you mean "root as user and root as password " or admin? the default should be login as root & guest with the same as passwords. If you've made this mistake I am sure your not the first to.If your not getting the graphical login try booting in to "video safe mode"  to do the install

 

good luck

 

Rob

[Kaleb]

If VideoSafeModeVesa is working for you, then install it that way.

[zax]

Yeah sorry, root root. OK, I will try and install this way. Thanks.

[zax]

I just wanted to say that a full install went OK, with only a few
small things I need to iron out. But the wireless card installed with
no problems, and I now have a few questions that I will post on the
forum at a later date. I just hope this thread helps some other poor
sucker with a Dell Inspiron 1100.

Thanks again,
Stephen