[NTLUG:Discuss] Grub Video Config Help

[Robert Pearson]

On 4/1/06, Stephen Davidson <gorky at freenet.carleton.ca> wrote:
> Greetings.
>
> I am having an issue with GRUB, Linux booting, and LCD Monitors.  During
> the boot (after the countdown finishes), the LCD monitor is flashing
> "input not supported" at me, until XDM starts.  I was wondering how to
> change the video mode during booting to something the LCD supports.
> This would be especially useful for when the system fails to start
> runlevel 5 and X, especially when something happens and it goes to
> Single User mode.
>
> I was unable to find anything either in the info pages, man pages, or on
> Google on how to do this.

What Linux are you running? I assume you are running Xorg for X.

On SuSE 9.3 I get these symptoms when the "X" config file is correct
but the YaST config for the monitor has the wrong frequencies. This
has happened both with XFree86 and Xorg.
If you have the manual for your monitor it should have a table of
these frequencies. Use the frequencies for the recommended for
the resolution you are using.

(1) Get the system up and running
(2) Go direct to step (4) if you have the manual and frequencies
(3) Open the xorg.conf file and find where the monitor frequencies are
   (a) On my SuSE 10.0 system the xorg.conf file is in /etc/X11.
   (b) The monitor part looks like---
Section "Monitor"
  DisplaySize  340 270
  HorizSync    30-78
  Identifier   "Monitor[0]"
  ModelName    "MRT_MVPII L7CH_TA"
  Option       "DPMS"
  VendorName   "GVT"
  VertRefresh  43-75
  UseModes     "Modes[0]"
EndSection

Only
"HorizSync    30-78"
"VertRefresh  43-75"
are of real interest.

(4) Open YaST / Hardware / Graphics Card and Monitor and check that
the Horizontal and Vertical frequencies are the same or within the range
of the xorg.conf ones.

Be aware YaST (using input from SaX) will write a new xorg.conf file
after you make your changes. Sometimes you have to repeat the
process until SaX and YaST agree. These means the monitor will work
during "non-X" processes but not after "X" starts. Just the reverse of
what you have now.

Robert...