XWindow -- on EGA?

Twist · 01-20-03, 08:12 PM

I have an old computer, and I installed a small (5 floppy-sized) version of linux -- MonkeyLinux -- and it comes with an XWindow GUI, but I can't get it to work.

Here is my problem: This computer is running EGA (maybe its VGA? I got confused...) and whenever I type the command to start XWindow (command is: startx) it tries to run it, but the screen just stays blank. It's trying to start in 8-bit mode, but it doesn't work? Any ideas? I would really love to get this working!!

XWRed1 · 01-20-03, 11:51 PM

What kind of res is X set to do? I'd think if you plugged in a computer with a vga card to an EGA monitor, you'd just get a crummy picture unless the computer was outputting at too high or a resolution.

This is an EGA monitor that can do non-character graphics, isn't it?

Twist · 01-21-03, 05:59 AM

I believe so. It's an old NEC monitor. The computer I'm using has no graphics card though.

Um..the resolution? I'm not sure, gotta check that

XWRed1 · 01-21-03, 10:51 AM

If the computer you are using has no video card... then how are you outputting to a monitor? Are you on a serial console or something? You aren't going to get X to work one of those.

Twist · 01-21-03, 02:17 PM

The graphics card must be integrated then.

Specs:
COMPAQ XE560
Pentium 60 (60MHz)
6GB HD
Integrated sound card (outputs to internal speaker)
Compaq Mobo (unidenitfiyable, all I could find is that is was from compaq!!)

XWRed1 · 01-21-03, 10:52 PM

Well what does the connector you are plugging the monitor into look like? Plain old 15-pin vga?

Have you tried to verify that the monitor is capable of non-character-based graphics?

Twist · 01-22-03, 05:52 AM

Yes. I used it with windows XP on my other computer.

XWRed1 · 01-22-03, 09:55 AM

Whats the highest res you can run it with in XP? You checked to see if Linux is trying to run at a res higher than that? When you hit ctrl-alt-backspace on the Linux box, do you get your console back?

Master Mitch · 01-24-03, 04:19 PM

If you used the monitor with WinXP, then it's definitely a 15-pin, VGA style sort of thing. And hopefully no Pentium machine would have built-in EGA anyway. Even a Compaq. =)

But at any rate, EGA uses a different connector, so your machine does not have EGA graphics. It might, however, have a very archaic implementation of VGA. So if you find those resolution and color settings somewhere, go for 640x480 and as few colors as you can. 4-bit color at 640x480 is supported in the brain stem of every color VGA adapter ever built, so that's definitely safe.

01-20-03, 08:12 PM	Thread Starter #1
Twist Member Join Date: Oct 2002	XWindow -- on EGA? I have an old computer, and I installed a small (5 floppy-sized) version of linux -- MonkeyLinux -- and it comes with an XWindow GUI, but I can't get it to work. Here is my problem: This computer is running EGA (maybe its VGA? I got confused...) and whenever I type the command to start XWindow (command is: startx) it tries to run it, but the screen just stays blank. It's trying to start in 8-bit mode, but it doesn't work? Any ideas? I would really love to get this working!! Last edited by Twist; 01-20-03 at 09:02 PM.
	QUOTE Thanks

01-20-03, 11:51 PM	#2
XWRed1 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001	What kind of res is X set to do? I'd think if you plugged in a computer with a vga card to an EGA monitor, you'd just get a crummy picture unless the computer was outputting at too high or a resolution. This is an EGA monitor that can do non-character graphics, isn't it?
	QUOTE Thanks

01-21-03, 05:59 AM	Thread Starter #3
Twist Member Join Date: Oct 2002	I believe so. It's an old NEC monitor. The computer I'm using has no graphics card though. Um..the resolution? I'm not sure, gotta check that
	QUOTE Thanks

01-21-03, 10:51 AM	#4
XWRed1 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001	If the computer you are using has no video card... then how are you outputting to a monitor? Are you on a serial console or something? You aren't going to get X to work one of those.
	QUOTE Thanks

01-21-03, 02:17 PM	Thread Starter #5
Twist Member Join Date: Oct 2002	The graphics card must be integrated then. Specs: COMPAQ XE560 Pentium 60 (60MHz) 6GB HD Integrated sound card (outputs to internal speaker) Compaq Mobo (unidenitfiyable, all I could find is that is was from compaq!!)
	QUOTE Thanks

XWindow -- on EGA?

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01-21-03, 10:52 PM	#6
XWRed1 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001	Well what does the connector you are plugging the monitor into look like? Plain old 15-pin vga? Have you tried to verify that the monitor is capable of non-character-based graphics?
	QUOTE Thanks

01-22-03, 05:52 AM	Thread Starter #7
Twist Member Join Date: Oct 2002	Yes. I used it with windows XP on my other computer.
	QUOTE Thanks

01-22-03, 09:55 AM	#8
XWRed1 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001	Whats the highest res you can run it with in XP? You checked to see if Linux is trying to run at a res higher than that? When you hit ctrl-alt-backspace on the Linux box, do you get your console back?
	QUOTE Thanks

01-24-03, 04:19 PM	#9
Master Mitch Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Rochester, NY	If you used the monitor with WinXP, then it's definitely a 15-pin, VGA style sort of thing. And hopefully no Pentium machine would have built-in EGA anyway. Even a Compaq. =) But at any rate, EGA uses a different connector, so your machine does not have EGA graphics. It might, however, have a very archaic implementation of VGA. So if you find those resolution and color settings somewhere, go for 640x480 and as few colors as you can. 4-bit color at 640x480 is supported in the brain stem of every color VGA adapter ever built, so that's definitely safe.
	QUOTE Thanks

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