[Discuss] The T61p meets Kubuntu

[Alan W. Irwin]

On 2007-11-06 12:25-0800 Michael wrote:

>    That's what I mean when I say no-fix bug. VGA mode, nosplash noacpi,
> alternate install disk, text install then configure xorg.conf ... they
> all ended in brick mode. Frustrating to say the least.

X.org is going through a big configuration transition now (at least with the
RandR extension which changes all X configuration in a completely backwards
incompatible way).  Thus, I am not surprised that Ubuntu has X configuration
problems for some hardware. I believe they used to have an install option to
avoid configuring X.  Is that gone now?  That would give you a sane and
easy-to-complete text install, then after the install you could get rid of
gdm|kdm|xdm (so the startx method would work for starting and testing X
manually rather than having a badly configured X rammed down your throat
automatically by one of gdm|kdm|xdm), and then you could fix whatever was
wrong with xorg.conf at your leisure and test the results.

BTW, you might be able to approximate that sane method of installation by
using ctrl-alt-F1 to get access to the first Linux text console, edit
xorg.conf, then get back into X with alt-F7, then ctrl-alt-backspace there
to exit X in the normal way (which gdm|kdm|xdm immediately and automatically
restarts, but with the new xorg.conf).

Anyhow, it is that old-fashioned "startx" method I always use with my Debian
installs, and I am glad I continued that habit with my recent install,
because X configuration was tough on Debian as well (more later).

Alan
__________________________
Alan W. Irwin

Astronomical research affiliation with Department of Physics and Astronomy,
University of Victoria (astrowww.phys.uvic.ca).

Programming affiliations with the FreeEOS equation-of-state implementation
for stellar interiors (freeeos.sf.net); PLplot scientific plotting software
package (plplot.org); the libLASi project (unifont.org/lasi); the Loads of
Linux Links project (loll.sf.net); and the Linux Brochure Project
(lbproject.sf.net).
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