Xfree86 [unix] on suse with ATI radeon

stevebakh · Post by **stevebakh** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 6:48 am

Hi there...

I'm having problems with installing SuSELinux 7.2pro on my computer with the radeon 9700 pro installed.

I managed to trace the problem to xfree86 having a problem with the older version. The thing is that I can't get past the config of video settings to create the x window system to access the GUI. so I can't access the GUI and download the newer version through there.

I can only access the text based access only... and I don't have a clue from there because I'm pretty much a newbie with unix based OSs.

Any help really appreciated.

Thanks

cyberskye · Post by **cyberskye** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 12:39 pm

What exactly are you trying to download? Suse? Let me know and I'll tell you how to get it from the command line.

Skye

stevebakh · Post by **stevebakh** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 1:44 pm

thanks...

okay, I payed 30 quid and got the 7 CDs/1DVD suse 7.2 pro.... I used it on a GeForce 2 Ti a small while ago but since I re did the computator and added more HDs and changed the vid card, this is the first time I've re-installed it.

What happens is that the copmuter will freeze when clicking the "next" or "test" button for the display config. The same thing happens through Yast2 and Sax/2 regardless.

I traced the problem back to a listing of a problem of the older version of xfree86 and the radeon chipset.

The main problem is that I can't download the updated version of Xfree86 and install it because I can't access the GUI [startx command not created as the textmode only has to be selected as vid config freezes the comp]... I know where to get xfree but...

Any help at all would be great. Even if it's unrelated, anything you could recommend about using linux... I've only had limited experience but it starts now ;-)

Thanks

cyberskye · Post by **cyberskye** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 3:09 pm

Do you want the source or binaries?

You know, it might be easier to download the latest Suse image from their site. X can be a little tricky.

Stef · Post by **Stef** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 3:16 pm

You could always use Lynx to browse SUSE's ftp server and download newer X packages. If you where using Debian you could just use apt to install and configure the latest X packages.

ANother method would be to edit XF86Config-4 and temporarily use the ati driver for your video card.

ALways research hardware compatibility before installing new devices, regardless of what OS you use!!

Stef

stevebakh · Post by **stevebakh** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 3:48 pm

well that's the thing. I know the location of the binaries etc... but the problem is that the computer freezes.

I do have lynx installed so that's a possibility. I actually haven't used linux since I bought the radeon. i used to use it on a geforce 2 with no probs at all... just found this problem with the xfree86 or at least that's what I believe is causing the prob.

Any other ideas?

stevebakh · Post by **stevebakh** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 3:50 pm

one more thing.... do you think it's worth installing the ATI driver that you can download from the ATI website?

thanks