On May 10, 1:32 am, Marty <this.addr...@is.invalid> wrote:
> I recently installed Etch on a system with a cheap ATI video card.  Every
> other time or so that I start the system, it comes up in VGA mode, and I
> can't change the resolution without restarting, which normally fixes the
> problem for that session.
>
> Call me picky, but I'd rather have it boot the first time all the way.  

Might be that the screen isn't started right/fast enough and not
reporting right resolution to the video card the first time.  Set the
resolution with
sudo dpkg-reconfigure -plow xserver-xorg

Any way, what is in your error log /var/log/Xorg.0.log
"Yous the logs, dud" or was it "Use the force, luke" ;-)

> So, I have a spare nvidia card that's somewhat better than the ATI, I thin
k,
> and I tried switching cards, but X would not start.

Try same command after you have started the computer.  With the old
configureation, X11 is looking for a ATI card and not a nVidia card.
If it doesn't find that, it just stops (with an error message in /var/
log/Xorg.0.log

> I tried searching for info, and found a couple of suggestions, neither of
> which worked as suggested.  One was an X config file edit, but I didn't kn
ow
> the right format, and the other was a command-line "dpkg-reconfigure
> xerver-xorg", but I got an error from dpkg that I didn't know how to handle.[/vbco
l]
[vbcol=seagreen]
> I'm not at home right now, and I don't remember the exact error, but it wa
s
> something to do with conflicts, I think.

What error? You shouldn't get that.

> Is that the way to do it?  Anyone have any definitive suggestions that I c
an
> try, preferably with suggestions for what might go wrong?

Little more information would be nice (like error messages from
commands, strange lines in /var/log/Xorg.0.log and how your /etC/X11/
xorg.conf looks like)

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]