[matthewshore]

Hey, I have installed Mandrake 9.1 that came with my flatmates secondhand computer onto my Dell Inspiron 1100 Laptop. the GUI doesnt start, but I can log on as root fine . However, when i type in either "kde" or "startx", a message reading...

(EE) I810(0) No Video BIOS modes for chosen depth
(EE) Screens found, but none have a usefull configuration

Fatal Server Error
No Screens Found

I am brand new to linux, and don't have much of a scooby about it. The last time i used a command line was on my first 25MHz 386!!! It tells me to look at a log, (/var/log/XFree86.0.log) but i cant get into it.

Also i read in another discussion on this site that Mandrake 9.0 is better than 9.1 or 9.2. is 9.0 still available? what about suse or red hat etc, will i still encounter the same problem if i download and inistall them?

Cheers


matthew ;( ;( ;(

[Dapper Dan]

As root type:

XFdrake [enter]

and fool around with that. Look in the "monitor" section, and try to find what corrresponds with your laptop.

Here's where you can get Mdk 9.0.

ftp://mandrake.redbox.cz/Mandrake-old/iso

[matthewshore]

Yeah, so i tried that already and it doesn't work.

i went to intel's website and found this:

http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/linux/graphics.htm

I haven't the faintest idea how to do what it says.

Anyway, it says that the i810 driver contains the support for my chipset. I selected it (i810) in XFdrake: nothing changed. I even went as far as to re install Mandrake, with the new settings: BUGGER ALL CHANGED.

say what you will against Windows (and i have plenty to say), at least it installs itself without having to spend 6 hours of my life farting around the internet looking for drivers etc that solve nothing; leaving me wih a black screen and a flashing cursor. I think i'll buy a Mac...

PS, Thank you for your help anyway.

[Dapper Dan]

I would try to steer you in a different direction, but it looks as though you've made up your mind. Good Luck.