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MrMan9879 · Jan 8th, 2006, 2:00 PM

Hi, I've been trying to install Ubuntu Linux... I just got some CDs in the mail. I tried it before with an ISO i got off the internet for it, but it did not work. When I booted to Ubuntu, it said that there was a problem with X Server and I was left in a Command Prompt/Shell kind of thing. I've removed it since then, thinking that maybe the CD had a problem. I installed it last night with a CD directly from them, and during installation I got this error... I wasn't able to install the kernel: linux-386, so it gave me a list of ones I could install. I chose linux-image-386. It also had a problem at around 90% through installing extra packages for Ubuntu, and I just ended up finishing the rest of it after that. I tried to boot to it, and I got the same problem... X Window Server would not run properly. It said something about "gdm"... I have no idea what it means, because I'm a complete Linux noob.

I heard that Ubuntu was good for beginners, so if anyone could help me with this problem, I would appreciate it.

Arevos · Jan 8th, 2006, 2:48 PM

It's good for beginners - assuming it works

. It sounds like Ubuntu has a problem interfacing with your graphics card. You might want to try asking on the official Ubuntu forums, as there's likely more people who know about Ubuntu there than there is here.

What graphics card do you have?

MrMan9879 · Jan 8th, 2006, 2:49 PM

Powercolor Radeon X700 - AGP

... Yes I know that ATi is not the best for Linux, but I like them better than nVidia, and I play quite a bit of games.

Arevos · Jan 8th, 2006, 3:07 PM

Do you have any way of giving us the output of some log files? Say, by copying them to floppy drive or an FTP site you have access to?

coldDeath · Jan 8th, 2006, 3:07 PM

We need some more details, liek exact error messages. "A problem with x server" doesn't help. If we see an error message we can help you change settings etc.

jayme · Jan 8th, 2006, 3:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMan9879

Powercolor Radeon X700 - AGP

... Yes I know that ATi is not the best for Linux, but I like them better than nVidia, and I play quite a bit of games.

You say you like them better than nVidia, AND you play quite a bit of games.. you do know nVidia can play games too.. most games run better on nvidia's actually. More than half the games that are developed are done using the nvidia chipset, boosting the fps compared to the equivalant ati card.

Arevos · Jan 8th, 2006, 3:19 PM

I this problem might be solved by installing the official ATI linux drivers. There should be a tutorial on how to do this on Ubuntu somewhere online.

You could also try changing X to use the lowest-common-demoninator vesa driver - that may at least give you a working X, although one that will be low resolution. But that should be enough to give you a working browser and desktop so you can solve your problem in Linux. Type in these commands:

(Toggle Plain Text)

cd /etc/X11
sudo cp xorg.conf xorg.conf.mybak
sudo pico xorg.conf

And then find the "Device" section. There should be something that says something like:

(Toggle Plain Text)

Driver     "radeon"

Or something like that. Change it to:

(Toggle Plain Text)

Driver     "vesa"

And then try rebooting. That might possibly work.

Lich · Jan 8th, 2006, 5:15 PM

Try booting the live CD, does that work?>

niteice · Jan 8th, 2006, 5:46 PM

I had similar issues with my CDs...they were 4.10, the first release, I was hoping that it was simply a first-run issue...perhaps not.

For future reference, gdm is the graphical login manager, similar to Windows's logon/logoff screens.

Indigno · Jan 8th, 2006, 6:48 PM

try a different graphics card. Just get an old PCI that uses a standard driver. If that doesn't work try a different distro.

Jan 8th, 2006, 2:00 PM	#1
MrMan9879 Programmer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Nanaimo, BC, Canada Posts: 97 Rep Power: 0	Troubles with Ubuntu Install Hi, I've been trying to install Ubuntu Linux... I just got some CDs in the mail. I tried it before with an ISO i got off the internet for it, but it did not work. When I booted to Ubuntu, it said that there was a problem with X Server and I was left in a Command Prompt/Shell kind of thing. I've removed it since then, thinking that maybe the CD had a problem. I installed it last night with a CD directly from them, and during installation I got this error... I wasn't able to install the kernel: linux-386, so it gave me a list of ones I could install. I chose linux-image-386. It also had a problem at around 90% through installing extra packages for Ubuntu, and I just ended up finishing the rest of it after that. I tried to boot to it, and I got the same problem... X Window Server would not run properly. It said something about "gdm"... I have no idea what it means, because I'm a complete Linux noob. I heard that Ubuntu was good for beginners, so if anyone could help me with this problem, I would appreciate it.

Jan 8th, 2006, 3:07 PM	#5
coldDeath Expert Programmer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: UK Posts: 862 Rep Power: 4	We need some more details, liek exact error messages. "A problem with x server" doesn't help. If we see an error message we can help you change settings etc. __________________ Programming Tutorials - Linux Installation Guide - Learn Python - Learn C++ Got Slack? Join us at #programmingforums @ irc.freenode.net! My software never has bugs. It just develops random features.

Jan 8th, 2006, 3:19 PM	#7
Arevos Programming Guru Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: England Posts: 1,499 Rep Power: 5	I this problem might be solved by installing the official ATI linux drivers. There should be a tutorial on how to do this on Ubuntu somewhere online. You could also try changing X to use the lowest-common-demoninator vesa driver - that may at least give you a working X, although one that will be low resolution. But that should be enough to give you a working browser and desktop so you can solve your problem in Linux. Type in these commands: (Toggle Plain Text) cd /etc/X11 sudo cp xorg.conf xorg.conf.mybak sudo pico xorg.conf cd /etc/X11 sudo cp xorg.conf xorg.conf.mybak sudo pico xorg.conf And then find the "Device" section. There should be something that says something like: (Toggle Plain Text) Driver "radeon" Driver "radeon" Or something like that. Change it to: (Toggle Plain Text) Driver "vesa" Driver "vesa" And then try rebooting. That might possibly work.

Jan 8th, 2006, 5:15 PM	#8
Lich Professional Programmer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Detroit Posts: 254 Rep Power: 4	Try booting the live CD, does that work?> __________________ --John Cruz Web Developer www.cruzweb.net

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Jan 8th, 2006, 2:48 PM	#2
Arevos Programming Guru Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: England Posts: 1,499 Rep Power: 5	It's good for beginners - assuming it works . It sounds like Ubuntu has a problem interfacing with your graphics card. You might want to try asking on the official Ubuntu forums, as there's likely more people who know about Ubuntu there than there is here. What graphics card do you have?

Jan 8th, 2006, 2:49 PM	#3
MrMan9879 Programmer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Nanaimo, BC, Canada Posts: 97 Rep Power: 0	Powercolor Radeon X700 - AGP ... Yes I know that ATi is not the best for Linux, but I like them better than nVidia, and I play quite a bit of games.

Jan 8th, 2006, 5:46 PM	#9
niteice Programmer Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 98 Rep Power: 4	I had similar issues with my CDs...they were 4.10, the first release, I was hoping that it was simply a first-run issue...perhaps not. For future reference, gdm is the graphical login manager, similar to Windows's logon/logoff screens.

Jan 8th, 2006, 6:48 PM	#10
Indigno Professional Programmer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Anywhere non-productive Posts: 267 Rep Power: 0	try a different graphics card. Just get an old PCI that uses a standard driver. If that doesn't work try a different distro.

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Troubles with Ubuntu Install