a problem with Debian's graphic interface...

[psychophage]

Hello everybody!
I'm a newbie at Linux. I mean, I would be a newbie at Linux if I had managed to install it on my computer...
So, here's the little story...
I created a linux partition and a swap partition with partitionmagic, so no problem with that.
Then , I put the Debian i386 cd in the computer, and followed the instructions to install it.
Everything seemed to be fine, until I wanted to log-in...
And then...
"could not load graphic interface, screen not found"
...
Somebody I know told me to try : startx.
So I did it, and Linux wrote back : unable to start graphic interface, or something close to it.
The guy told me : try "locate x86"
I tried...
File not found....
He told me : ok, you forgot to install it, but I'm pretty sure I installed the file...
I have an ATI radeon graphic card, the HIS radeon 7200.
Do you have a solution for me? I was looking forward to starting to use Linux, but it's the third time I'm trying to install it ( different versions of Debian, each time ) and the graphic interface never works....
Could you help me?
Thanks a lot!
Psycho

[Duckula]

Your post is all messed up... I'll try to make some sense of it and be helpful.

In your debian system, as root, in a console, use the command 'tasksel'.

When the grey menu appears, choose the "X windowing system" option. Accept and let install anything necessary.

[Wertigon]

Also, what Kernel are you running, and are you running Stable, Testing or Unstable?

It sounds like it can't recognize your video drivers for the Radeon. Try upgrading to Sarge (Testing) and the latest kernel (2.6.3 or something like that).

[apenguinlinux]

hi ..ur graphich problem is not a big ..
followin step u will do i m sure u can run graphic easily..

1) if u have install already installl xfree86 then run
in console mode #dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86.
2)if u dosnt have xfree86 then use
a) apt-cdrom add
( enter woody or sid whatever u r runnig and add)
b) than use apt-get install xserver-xfree86
3) then reboot ur computer ,,
graphich will be show..
otherwise send me mail i will send u some trick more,,

[Wertigon]

...

That third step is completely unneccessary on Linux you know ;)

[psychophage]

I'm running the latest version, I thing it's the stable one, not sure about it...
I tried to go to ati's website to download my graphic card's driver for linux, and I didn't find it. Obviously, it's been released...
You think Sarge would solve my problem?
I reformated the partition where I put Linux, because I had problems with my computer ( couldn't load win xp anymore ), but I'm planning to put it back on tomorrow ( I have a big exam tomorrow, so I don't have time today ) and try your suggestions.
Hope that will work!
I'll tell you about it...
Thanks!

[Wertigon]

Well, you're most probably running Stable.

Debian stable is like, rock rock rock überrock solid... But it's also very very old. Most of the releases of the apps in stable are like, 2 years old by now... I personally wouldn't run Debian Stable unless it was a mission-critical server, and by the sound of it that isn't what you're trying to do.

Sarge/Testing got much more decent software, and better drivers, so you really want to switch if you want the latest.

Anyhow, once the system is installed (without graphical!), log in and edit the sources.list file for the Debian repositories with nano by writing "nano /etc/apt/sources.list".

Now you should see some lines in there already... What you want to do is to change the word that reads "woody" to "sarge" or "testing". Do that on all lines, exit and save, then write "apt-get dist-upgrade". This will upgrade your system and might take quite a while.

Once that is done, to install graphical write "apt-get install x-window-system" and go through the configuration process. Hopefully you can take it from there. :)

[psychophage]

After all, I think I'm running "testing".
There was indeed something about "stable" where I downloaded the iso, but on the website, they wrote that the "testing" version was the version currently used, and that nobody used the stable anymore.
So I'm pretty sure it's the testing one.... I found it on [debian.org...]
I have the i386 version...
I didn't have time to reinstall it, but I'll try to have it done by Friday night ( before that, I wake up at 6am and come back home at 12pm, so I'm a little overbooked... ( uni + work.... :( ) )
I'll tell you by then...

[edited by: DaveAtIFG at 3:06 pm (utc) on April 7, 2004]
[edit reason] Linked URL [/edit]

[psychophage]

Nope, finally, I'm not running "testing"....
So, Sarge is the one I should get? There are a lot of different iso on the server, which one should I choose? Are they all equivalent? ( I hope I'm not sounding too stupid to you... )

[Wertigon]

Well, just use the Debian CD you used right now. Then when everything is installed (except for graphical), do the above steps. You could also add a repository in the installation phase and then when it asks you to add more you say "edit sources by hand".

Oh, right... Forgot. You also need to write "apt-get update" before you can do apt-get dist-upgrade, else it'll still think the old sources are in use. Hope that clears some things. :)

[psychophage]

ok, I got the Sarge cd anyway...
I'm going to try with this one, because I'm not very confident with typing things during the installation.... :sweat:

[psychophage]

It's me again....
Ok, I tried to install Debian again ( after all, it's only the 5th time... ) and it didn't work.
I tried everythuing you suggested me, but no way, it wouldn't load this damn screen....
Then, I decided to Google my problem... and guess what?
Debian is NOT compatible with my graphic card, an ATI Radeon 7500...
They are still fixing the bug.....
After that, I couldn't load Windows anymore, I was quite desperate...
So I installed Madrake, version 9.2, and everything went back to normal, except that after I restarted the computer, it crashed....
A fatal system error, or something like that... It doesn't want to boot anymore... What do I do? I didn't touch anything, I don't know why everything went wrong!
I must be doomed..... :((((

[psychophage]

so, does anybody know ( I'm sure you know, but could you tell me ) how to recover the system when it has crashed done and when there is an error in a system file?
I'm using mandrake 9.2, the download version...

[psychophage]

Hey, oh, anybody here?
I'm desperate with my Linux....

[igf1]

Hey man, check out [fedora.redhat.com...] thats a much easier Distro for beginners ( and experts alike ) if you REALLLLLLY want Deb I sugest getting Knoppix [knoppix.org...] its deb but uses a killer compression algo so you burn a CD then boot from that CD to see if it works with your confuser then if everything is as you want it, just type knx-hdinstall and your off more info on how to do this is found here: [freenet.org.nz...]

BC lifes hard enough :)

[Wertigon]

Ya, go with Knoppix or maybe XandrosOS for now, that's my advice too... :/

[psychophage]

Hey, but for the moment I have Mandrake....
How do I mend the errors? Should I just reinstall?
As soon as I can, I'll go for the Knoppix...
What are the differences?
I'm going to install Perl, Python and Tcl anyway, so after all, if it's not Debian, it's okay. All I want is something that doesn't crash when I just login... ;)
Mandrake should me fine, no? Moreover, my usb key is detected, and THAT's a good point....
Can I just repair the error or do I have to reinstall everything?

[Wertigon]

Well, I have no experience with Mandrake myself unfortunately, but a re-install sounds like the best option. Especially since you haven't got anything to loose by doing it. It's not as if we're talking about a Gentoo Stage 1 install, or Linux From Scratch install... ;)