[PLUG] Re: linux newbie here

[Darxus@ChaosReigns.com]

On 02/15, matty mo wrote:
> Hi.
> 
> i'm a total Linux neophyte. a few months ago an
> acquiantance of an acquaintance came over and we
> installed redhat on it's own parition here on my
> Compaq Presario 5461. it's there and all is well,
> HOWEVER... we were unable to go into GUI mode due to
> the proprietary windows "software video card" (or so I
> was told) - same thing with the modem. yuck. as a
> newbie I don't really know what to do with the command
> line - i know - i'm silly and need to learn. 
> 
> i want very much to escape from the microsoft
> universe.
> 
> is there a workaround? is this really why we can't go
> GUI? the acquaintance is long gone and though i had
> the best intentions of attending the december,
> january, and february meetings of PLUG i have been
> unable due to being a primary care giver for my
> elderly father. i have the meeting on the 7th of march
> marked on my calendar and hope to be able to attend.
> in the meantime any help or information you might care
> to give would be MUCH appreciated. 
> 
> matt
> p.s.
> i am also open to buying a used or new system to run
> Linux if the compaq truelly can't handle it - let me
> know if you have any contacts who would be interested
> in providing that solution should it come down to
> that.

I am sending my reply to the plug list in addition to you, since the group
of over 300 people is better at answering these questions than I alone.

It is very possible you've got an unsupported video card.  You should be
able to look up the type of video card on Compaq's web site, and try to
find it in a list of cards supported by X at, I believe, www.xfree86.org.  

You've basically got 2 solutions:

1) Disable the video card (or remove it if it's not embeded) and install a
   supported one.

2) Write support for your card.

-- 
http://www.ChaosReigns.com


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