Hello

I built this system for 3D. The video card has an s-video port going out, and I booted it up once with only that attached to my TV and I was able to see the desktop. I know that the port works.

When I boot KnopMyth using ONLY the s-video connection to my TV, I get the ram check, bios, and all that text startup stuff that PCs do, but when the computer gets to the GUI, I get a scrambled picture.

What can I do? I have no idea where to start.

Thanks,

--------------------Steve

You need to specify your refresh rates in the /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file. usually vert 30 - 50 and horz 60. Most TV's can't handle the refresh rates of a default knoppmyth install. If you are using R4v2 then there should be some example XF86Config files for TVout on nvidia cards.

How do I edit the x86config-4 file?

----------Steve

If you did the KnoppMyth install in the /etc/X11 folder you should see a file called XF86Config-4.nvidia-tvout.sample. I would suggest Making a copy of your current config just in case,
cp XF86Config-4 XF86Config-4.backup
then do
cp XF86Config-4.nvidia-tvout.sample XF86Config-4

Restart Xwindows, and it should work

KnoppMyth doesn't include Xwindows, rather it includes the X Window System.

_________________
cesman

When the source is open, the possibilities are endless!

There's one in every crowd LOL

Hello

I looked at the XF86Config-4 file, and it states that there are 2 values for the horz where you specify 1. Does it need to be 2 values?

you said:
usually vert 30 - 50 and horz 60

config file says:
HorizSync 28.0 - 96.0
VertRefresh 50.0 - 76.0

Also, are the "modelines" important?

thanks again,

--------S

the modelines should be fine as they are, and for tvout the vert only has one value not a range. Did you look at the example config files mentioned in this thread?

He probably didn't

Thanks for that overwhelming vote of support, Turkish. I DID look at the example files.

When I boot with the settings you specified, I got a message when the system is starting up (before Xwindows):

-------
Press <RETURN> to see video modes available, <SPACE> to continue or 30 secs
-------

When I hit return, I get an array:


------
Video Adapter: VESA VGA
Mode COLSxROWS:
0 0F00 88x25
1 0F01 88x50
2 0F02 88x43
3 0F03 88x28
4 0F04 88x30
5 0F05 88x34
6 0F06 88x60

Enter mode number or "scan":
-------

If I type "scan" then the screen flashes around for a while and comes back to the selection menu with a 7th option:


7 0100 40x25
-------

When I select any of the options, before or after using the "scan" option, the system loads and stops at an ASCII window:


---------
"I cannot start the X server (your graphics interface). It is likely that it is not set up correctly. Would you like to view the X server output to diagnose the problem?

<Yes> <No>
---------

If I select Yes, then it asks me for the root password to run a configuration program. Then the screen goes black. If I select No, then I am dumped to the command prompt.

I'm not really sure what the problem is.

when you get dumped to the command prompt login as root, and cat /var/log/XFree86.0.log

close to the end of the output should be some sort of error message telling you why X didn't start.