No desktop after boot. SOS

peterdeflice · September 15, 2008, 11:19pm

I had been using Ubuntu 8.04 HH for about a month and then someone mentioned openSUSE 11 so I had to try it. Ran the LiveCD, loved it and installed it immediately. Everything from the boot seems to run fine until just when it is about o go into the desktop GUI and POOF!, nothing. I hear a start-up noise and that’s it. Blank screen. I’m hoping someone here can point me in the right direction. Im currently uning OpenSUSE via the liveCD. I have a Gateway 8510gz running a 1.73 GH M. Centrino, 2 Gigs of Ram, and a ATI Mobility Radeon x700 PCIe 16x. PLease help…

Thank you

mingus725 · September 16, 2008, 12:26am

Do you still have Ubuntu installed? Do you (or did you) have the ATI proprietary graphics driver installed in Ubuntu? Can you post back here the contents of both the Ubuntu and openSUSE /etc/X11/xorg.conf?

AZeininger · September 16, 2008, 12:27am

Hi
Di you try to stop the X-Server using <Alt> <Ctrl> <Backspace> and/or to switch to another Console using <Alt> <Ctrl> <F2…> ? Then you should be able to start YaST in ncurses-mode and change the standard runlevel to something unequal “5”. After finishing this and using init 6 to reboot the machine it should be possible to check the X-configuration after the next boot using the provided tools or just try <startx kde> so you will get a verbose information about the problems. Using Sax2 to set up just no more than SVGA for the Desktop and using the provided ‘radeon’ driver might also help. At first had nearly the same problems on my computer but using Linux since version 5. “dont know exactly” left me the manner to boot only into runlevel 3. This means, you have control to the machine also without any graphical gimmicks and -if you dare- to edit the config files yourself to fix troubles.
Hope this helps

peterdeflice · September 16, 2008, 2:04am

I neglected to mention i am running this with GNOME…I’m not sure if that helps any. I will try the above suggestion, but I’m a little unsure how to go about it…not too familiar with the terminal/console of openSUSE

mingus725 · September 16, 2008, 4:32am

You didn’t reply whether you still have Ubuntu installed. If you do, find and run Ghome Terminal, and then copy/paste back here the output from:

cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf

You then need to mount the openSUSE root partition. Not knowing your Ubuntu setup I can’t give you the precise instruction. This will probably work though:

sudo mkdir /mnt/opensuse
sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/xxx /mnt/opensuse

where /dev/xxx is the partition name (for example, /dev/sda6; fdisk -l might help you identify it if you’re unsure). After the mount, do this and again copy/paste back the output:

cat /mnt/opensuse/etc/X11/xorg.conf

We now have the X-server configuration for Ubuntu (which we know works) and openSUSE. My guess is that you have installed the ATI proprietary driver in Ubuntu, but don’t yet have a working driver in openSUSE.

peterdeflice · September 16, 2008, 6:12am

mingus-

openSUSE is the only operating system installed on my computer. Im running off the live right now, and like i said, just as its ready to go into the GUI, it cancels out, which makes no sense because the live works

Xilanaz · September 16, 2008, 8:06am

When you startup you get grub (the green screen), put a 3 in the bootup options, This will make the system stop before it goes into the GUI, you then get a prompt to login (use root or your normal login) then you can preform the commands that mignus suggested and post the results. “shutdown -h now” will turn the system of again when your done.

Maybe a sax2 -r (as root !) might help but Mignus probably knows better then me so wait for his reply.

ps: you reformatted when you installed opensuse over ubunto or simply installed over it ?, if you installed over it then that would explain why the livecd works and normal bootup not, maybe some conflicts of left over settings from ubunto

mingus725 · September 16, 2008, 4:04pm

The Live-CD runs drivers which, when openSUSE is installed, sometimes need to be configured afterward or differently. Or a different driver may be wanted/needed for permanent install.

So boot from the Live-CD, and run Gnome Terminal. Then do this:

su
cd /etc/X11
cat xorg.conf

Then copy/paste back here the output from the last command. Then do this:

mount -t ext3 /dev/sda<n> /mnt
cat /mnt/etc/X11/xorg.conf

where is the openSUSE root partition number (e.g., sda1).

In the first output we’ll see how the X-server is being set up on-the-fly by the Live-CD, and the second output will show us what the actual installed configuration is.

You can also try the following as a temporary workaround, but please do the above first. Reboot from the hard drive. At the boot menu screen, in the box below, type in the numeral 3 (if there is any text appearing, make sure there is a space between it and the 3). You will be booting into text mode. You should be taken to a command line login prompt; login as root. Then do:

sax2 -r -m 0=radeon

If the graphics card configuration gui starts up, in the message window select Change Configuration, and then check/change if required your card/monitor setup and be sure to save the configuration. If the gui does not start up, try this instead:

sax2 -r -m 0=vesa

You may not get the full resolution supported by your card, we can work on that next. For now, we’re making sure you have a working driver.

peterdeflice · September 16, 2008, 5:42pm

SaX generated X11 config file

Created on: 2008-09-16T07:21:04+0000.

Version: 8.1

Contact: Marcus Schaefer <sax@suse.de>, 2005

Contact: SaX-User list <https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/sax-users>

Automatically generated by [ISaX] (8.1)

PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE!

Section “Files”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/local”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/URW”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/Speedo”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/PEX”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/cyrillic”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin7/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/baekmuk:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/japanese:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/kwintv”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/truetype”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/uni:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/CID”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/misc/sgi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/xtest”
FontPath “/opt/kde3/share/fonts”
InputDevices “/dev/gpmdata”
InputDevices “/dev/input/mice”
EndSection

Section “ServerFlags”
Option “AllowMouseOpenFail” “on”
Option “ZapWarning” “on”
EndSection

Section “Module”
Load “glx”
Load “type1”
Load “extmod”
Load “dbe”
Load “freetype”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”
Driver “kbd”
Identifier “Keyboard[0]”
Option “Protocol” “Standard”
Option “XkbModel” “microsoftpro”
Option “XkbRules” “xfree86”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”
Driver “synaptics”
Identifier “Mouse[1]”
Option “Buttons” “5”
Option “Device” “/dev/input/mice”
Option “Emulate3Buttons” “on”
Option “HorizScrollDelta” “0”
Option “InputFashion” “Mouse”
Option “Name” “Synaptics;Touchpad”
Option “Protocol” “explorerps/2”
Option “SHMConfig” “on”
Option “Vendor” “Sysp”
Option “ZAxisMapping” “4 5”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”
Driver “mouse”
Identifier “Mouse[3]”
Option “Buttons” “5”
Option “Device” “/dev/input/mice”
Option “Name” “ImPS/2 Generic Wheel Mouse”
Option “Protocol” “explorerps/2”
Option “Vendor” “Sysp”
Option “ZAxisMapping” “4 5”
EndSection

Section “Monitor”
DisplaySize 367 230
HorizSync 30-70
Identifier “Monitor[0]”
ModelName “SAMSUNG LCD MONITOR”
Option “DPMS”
Option “PreferredMode” “1440x900”
VendorName “SEC”
VertRefresh 43-60
UseModes “Modes[0]”
EndSection

Section “Modes”
Identifier “Modes[0]”
EndSection

Section “Screen”
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection “Display”
Depth 15
Modes “1440x900”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 16
Modes “1440x900”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 24
Modes “1440x900”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 8
Modes “1440x900”
EndSubSection
Device “Device[0]”
Identifier “Screen[0]”
Monitor “Monitor[0]”
EndSection

Section “Device”
BoardName “Mobility Radeon X700 5653 (M26) (PCIE)”
BusID “1:0:0”
Driver “radeon”
Identifier “Device[0]”
Option “MonitorLayout” “LVDS”
Option “GARTSize” “32”
Option “AUTO” “”
Screen 0
VendorName “ATI”
EndSection

Section “ServerLayout”
Identifier “Layout[all]”
InputDevice “Keyboard[0]” “CoreKeyboard”
InputDevice “Mouse[1]” “CorePointer”
InputDevice “Mouse[3]” “SendCoreEvents”
Option “Clone” “off”
Option “Xinerama” “off”
Screen “Screen[0]”
EndSection

Section “DRI”
Group “video”
Mode 0660
EndSection

Section “Extensions”
EndSection

peterdeflice · September 16, 2008, 5:48pm

these are the outputs, respectively as by your instructions…

SaX generated X11 config file

Created on: 2008-09-15T15:54:34-0400.

Version: 8.1

Contact: Marcus Schaefer <sax@suse.de>, 2005

Contact: SaX-User list <https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/sax-users>

Automatically generated by [ISaX] (8.1)

PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE!

Section “Files”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/local”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/URW”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/Speedo”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/PEX”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/cyrillic”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin7/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/baekmuk:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/japanese:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/kwintv”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/truetype”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/uni:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/CID”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/misc/sgi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/xtest”
FontPath “/opt/kde3/share/fonts”
InputDevices “/dev/gpmdata”
InputDevices “/dev/input/mice”
EndSection

Section “ServerFlags”
Option “AllowMouseOpenFail” “on”
Option “ZapWarning” “on”
EndSection

Section “Module”
Load “dbe”
Load “type1”
Load “freetype”
Load “extmod”
Load “glx”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”
Driver “kbd”
Identifier “Keyboard[0]”
Option “Protocol” “Standard”
Option “XkbLayout” “us”
Option “XkbModel” “microsoftpro”
Option “XkbRules” “xfree86”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”
Driver “evdev”
Identifier “Mouse[1]”
Option “InputFashion” “Mouse”
Option “Name” “Logitech Media Play Mouse”
Option “Pass” “3”
Option “Vendor” “Sysp”
Option “evBits” “+1-2”
Option “keyBits” “~272-287”
Option “relBits” “~0-2 ~6 ~8”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”
Driver “synaptics”
Identifier “Mouse[3]”
Option “Buttons” “5”
Option “Device” “/dev/input/mice”
Option “Emulate3Buttons” “on”
Option “HorizScrollDelta” “0”
Option “InputFashion” “Mouse”
Option “Name” “Synaptics;Touchpad”
Option “Protocol” “explorerps/2”
Option “SHMConfig” “on”
Option “Vendor” “Sysp”
Option “ZAxisMapping” “4 5”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”
Driver “mouse”
Identifier “Mouse[5]”
Option “Buttons” “5”
Option “Device” “/dev/input/mice”
Option “Name” “ImPS/2 Generic Wheel Mouse”
Option “Protocol” “explorerps/2”
Option “Vendor” “Sysp”
Option “ZAxisMapping” “4 5”
EndSection

Section “Monitor”
DisplaySize 367 230
HorizSync 30-70
Identifier “Monitor[0]”
ModelName “SAMSUNG LCD MONITOR”
Option “DPMS”
Option “PreferredMode” “1440x900”
VendorName “SEC”
VertRefresh 43-60
UseModes “Modes[0]”
EndSection

Section “Modes”
Identifier “Modes[0]”
Modeline “1440x900” 106.47 1440 1520 1672 1904 900 901 904 932
Modeline “1440x900” 87.25 1440 1488 1520 1600 900 903 909 926 +HSync -Vsync
EndSection

Section “Screen”
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection “Display”
Depth 15
Modes “1440x900”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 16
Modes “1440x900”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 24
Modes “1440x900”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 8
Modes “1440x900”
EndSubSection
Device “Device[0]”
Identifier “Screen[0]”
Monitor “Monitor[0]”
EndSection

Section “Device”
BoardName “Mobility Radeon X700 5653 (M26) (PCIE)”
BusID “1:0:0”
Driver “radeon”
Identifier “Device[0]”
Option “GARTSize” “32”
Option “CRT2HSync” “31-48”
Option “SaXDualMode” “Clone”
Option “SaXDualMonitorModel” “1024X768@60HZ”
Option “SaXDualMonitorVendor” “–> VESA”
Option “SaXDualOrientation” “LeftOf”
Option “SaXDualResolution” “1024x768”
Option “SaXDualVSync” “50-60”
Option “CRT2Position” “Clone”
Option “CRT2VRefresh” “50-60”
Option “IgnoreEDID” “yes”
Option “MergedFB” “yes”
Option “MetaModes” “1440x900,1024x768;1024x768,1024x768”
Option “SaXDualHSync” “31-48”
Option “MonitorLayout” “AUTOCRT,AUTO”
Option “SaXDualHead” “”
VendorName “ATI”
EndSection

Section “ServerLayout”
Identifier “Layout[all]”
InputDevice “Keyboard[0]” “CoreKeyboard”
InputDevice “Mouse[1]” “CorePointer”
InputDevice “Mouse[3]” “SendCoreEvents”
InputDevice “Mouse[5]” “SendCoreEvents”
Option “Clone” “off”
Option “Xinerama” “off”
Screen “Screen[0]”
EndSection

Section “DRI”
Group “video”
Mode 0660
EndSection

Section “Extensions”
EndSection

peterdeflice · September 16, 2008, 6:10pm

SUCCESS!!

You can also try the following as a temporary workaround, but please do the above first. Reboot from the hard drive. At the boot menu screen, in the box below, type in the numeral 3 (if there is any text appearing, make sure there is a space between it and the 3). You will be booting into text mode. You should be taken to a command line login prompt; login as root. Then do:

Code:

sax2 -r -m 0=radeon

that did the trick. I then logged in with out any special anything and it came right up. I did excatly what you said and it worked, thank you so much, everyone, especially you mingus

mingus725 · September 16, 2008, 7:27pm

That’s great!

The problem was probably that one/more of the installation configured options for the driver created a problem; note the difference in the Device section of xorg.conf between the Live-CD version of the file vs the installed version.

Now you have a decision to make. The current configured driver is “radeon”, an open source driver for ATI cards. There is another driver supplied by ATI. The primary benefit of using the ATI driver is hardware acceleration, 3D (the radeon driver only provides limited 3D support), and support for higher resolutions. But sometimes, usually depending on the particular graphics device, users have problems with ATI’s driver (go figure). Here is the howto [http://en.opensuse.org/ATI](http://en.opensuse.org /ATI).

If you choose to do this, be sure to only use the 11.0 instructions (including the post-installation config step!). And beforehand, do this in Gnome Terminal:

su
cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.mybackup

Now you have a copy of an X-server configuration you know works. Just in case something gets borked, you can swap the backup in. (Or use “sax2 -r -m 0=radeon” again.)

Welcome to the community!