Casio sub-notebook graphics driver / X issue

[MadRush]

Hello,

I have an ancient Casio sub-notebook which I am attempting to get Linux on. I've installed Windows 98 and then used the Slacko windows installer which worked. Once the machine fully boots it even DHCPs an IP and is present on the network. However, it starts X11 with bad options and I just get a white screen. Before it does so, I successfully get text mode briefly saying "auto logging in to root ...". If I could just prevent X from starting I'm sure I could handle making it work properly. Also, doing the ctrl+alt+1 or which ever number fails to land me at a virtual terminal

I've tried the usual 'init=/bin/bash' kernel option, as well as 'single' for single user mode. changing init doesn't have any appreciable effect and 'single' seems to prevent slacko puppy from doing its usual routine mounting the .sys or whatever.

Does anyone have a suggestion how I can work around this? If it just had sshd enabled by default I would be golden!

[ardvark]

Hi...

Welcome to the forum

Which Puppy are you trying to use? Does the boot parameter "nomodeset" help at all?

Regards...

[Keef]

Putting 'pfix=nox' on the kernel line will get you to a prompt without X starting.
No idea what to suggest after that apart from running 'xorgwizard' and a lot of messing about.

[bigpup]

What version of Slacko is this?

ancient Casio sub-notebook

If you could state the model number we could look up the specs to see if you are using the correct version of Puppy for the hardware.

What boot loader is being used?

If you can get to the boot entry in the boot loader to edit.
Most boot loaders give you an edit option before you click on the entry.

Try this:

At the end of the kernel line put this:

pfix=nox

This will make it boot to a prompt.
Type xorgwizard at the prompt.
Select the vesa driver.
set resolution.
run test to see if it works.
finish xorgwizard.
back at prompt.
Type xwin
should see desktop.

Example:
kernel /vmlinuz pmedia=atahd pfix=nox
initrd /initrd.gz

[bigpup]

I assume you are using a boot loader to boot Slacko.

Slacko 5.7 release notes
http://slacko.01micko.com/notes.html

Graphic driver setup is a problem with some hardware.

if you boot to blackscreen:

for intel cards:
i915.modeset=0

ATI/AMD radeon cards:
radeon.modeset=0

nvidia cards:
nouveau.modeset=0

Those strings must be placed on the kernel line of extlinux.conf, syslinux.conf, menu.lst, lilo.conf
Old nvidia N3x cards (mx440, fx5200 and some others) often do not render properly.
For those use this string in a similar fashion to above:
nouveau.noaccel=1

[Flash]

Ctrl-Alt-F1 gets you a terminal and Ctrl-Alt-F4 gets you back into X with everything as it was before. I just tried it.