freeBSD

[skilar]

I downloaded freeBSD 5.1, and I am trying to install it on my old p2 300mhz. I think I've installed the operating system ok, but I am trying to run KDE 3.1.3 on it, and its giving me problems. I was trying to have my resolution be 1280x1024 (on a 15in. monitor), but whenever I ran startx it would say "no screen". so I changed the resolution a few times and I had to take it down to 400x300. This is waaaay to small for me, and all the windows are too big to see. I'm not sure how to get the resolution up to 1280x1024. I know the monitor and graphics card supports it (I was using it on Windows). And I also get a few other errors when I first run startx. Something about dcopsomething not finding something. I can't look it up right now, but as soon as I can I will and I'll post again. So basically my problems are these:

Can't change resolution to 1280x1024
Can't run startx or KDE without several errors

Thanks in advance for the help!


EDIT: One of the errors was that startx and/or KDE didn't have write access. But I was logged in as root. So I don't know why.

[SirDice]

You probably need to edit the horizontal and vertical frequencies for your monitor.

You can find these in /etc/X11/XF86Config. Mine has this:


Section "Monitor"
#DisplaySize 370 280 # mm
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "GSM"
ModelName "4a40"
HorizSync 30.0 - 100.0
VertRefresh 50.0 - 200.0
#Option "DPMS"
EndSection


Look in the documentation of your monitor for your values!

[skilar]

Ok, well I'm trying to do this, but it keeps saying that it cannot write the file. I don't know what's wrong. And in KDE I kept getting an error about not being able to write.

Another error: When I type startx and KDE opens up, I get an error about dcopserver, and it lists my ISPs name. Don't know what that's about.

[lumpyporridge]

If you type XFree86 -configure it wil let you reconfigure then you just copy it over to its rightful place. Read chapter 5 (5.4) of the handbook for the rest. and if you do not have the handbook you MUST get a copy to read -- http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/index.html
to download ---- ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook Make sure you install portupgrade and cvsup they both will be important to you in the future , have fun here is a good place to find articles on configuring sound,firewalls...... http://www.onlamp.com/pub/ct/15

[skilar]

xauth: error in locking authority file /root/.Xauthority
I'm getting this error right before KDE pops up. I totally reinstalled freeBSD, and I still cannot write the XFree86 file. I don't know what is wrong. It's like the entire system is read only.

[lumpyporridge]

That is an odd error , i would guess file system corruption , you can try the command fsck (as root) When you say you can not write to the /etc/x11/Xf86Config file, is that from the install menu? (/stand/sysinstall) if so that is normal if you pick things that won't work .Try the what i suggested above and them move the old file and copy the new over. 1280x1024 is too high for a 15' (recomended for +17') I would go with at least one step down. 800x640 is probably best. I would say almost for sure your monitor will not support 1280x1024


#XFree86 -configure ( put in all the appropriate stuff as prompted)
#cd /etc/X11
#mv XF86Config XF86Config.old
#cp /tmp/XF86Config.new /etc/X11/XF86Config
#su yourusername
$startx


I am fairly sure /tmp/XF86Config.new is where it gets written but not 100% so pay atention to what it says and change if needed
The command xvidtune can be used for fine tuning after just be sure of what your monitors limits are cause you can destroy your monitor easily.

[skilar]

I don't know the refresh rates of my monitor, and I do not have the manual for it. It is a NEC MultiSync XV15+.

I've decided to switch over to Gnome 2, so most of this stuff is irrelevant now, but I am still getting an error.
Here it is:
xauth: (argv:1: bad display name ":0" in "remove" command
Anyone know what this is about?

[lumpyporridge]

If you paste your monitors make and model into google or pretty much any search engine you will get the specs for sure in the first couple links. Having the correct specs for your monitor will help considerably and save the risk of killing your monitor. Do you have a graphic interface? If so i would not worry too hard as long as stuff works. I would try posting the error in the x-11 forum here--> http://www.bsdforums.org/forums/ It should not matter if you use gnome or kde. Gnome should be a little faster ,there are many other desktops that are a lot lighter but are generally harder to configure. X is the underpinings and a very plain desktop . KDE,Gnome ,blackbox,.... make the fancy stuff possible.

[quizz]

I don't know the refresh rates of my monitor, and I do not have the manual for it. It is a NEC MultiSync XV15+.

I did a simple search on google. Keyword: NEC MultiSync XV15 and found
THIS! (http://www.griffintechnology.com/archive/monitors/NEC42.html)

[SirDice]

Setting the security level during the install could be the reason you cannot write to /etc/X11/XF86Config. For normal (testing) operation set this to none! Only use the higher security levels when you know what you are doing and are running a production server.

I've decided to switch over to Gnome 2, so most of this stuff is irrelevant now, but I am still getting an error.

Only for the errormessages generated by KDE. You seem to have a problem with X-Windows not starting properly or it's not running the right resolution. This has nothing to do with the window- or desktopmanager.

Before you startx try to remove the /root/.Xauthority file and try again.

[sweet_angel]

Originally posted here (http://www.AntiOnline.com/showthread.php?threadid=#post) by skilar



EDIT: One of the errors was that startx and/or KDE didn't have write access. But I was logged in as root. So I don't know why.


Can you do this as root:

# cat /var/log/XFree86.0.log


And paste it here..we will see the problem is..

[skilar]

Yes I can.....

Ok, since I'm not using the freebsd computer for the internet right now, I can't put all of it here, but I'll start where I think the error begins:

(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "640x350" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "640x400" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "720x400" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "640x480" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "640x480" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "640x480" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "640x480" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "640x480" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "640x480" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "640x480" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "640x480" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "640x480" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "1024x768" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "512x384" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "1024x768" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "512x384" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "1024x768" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "512x384" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "1024x768" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "512x384" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "1024x768" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "512x384" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "1152x864" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "576x432" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "1280x960" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "640x480" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "1280x960" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "640x480" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "1280x1024" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "640x512" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "1280x1024" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "640x512" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "1280x1024" (insufficient memory for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "640x512" (insufficient memory for mode)

and it lists some more resolutions and says the same thing up til here:

(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "640x480" (no mode of this name)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "416x312" (width too large for virtual size)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "400x300" (width too large for virtual size)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "400x300" (width too large for virtual size)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "400x300" (width too large for virtual size)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "400x300" (width too large for virtual size)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "320x240" (width too large for virtual size)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "320x240" (width too large for virtual size)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "360x200" (width too large for virtual size)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "320x200" (no clock available for mode)
(II) VGA(0) : Not using default mode "320x175" (no clock available for mode)
(EE) VGA(0) : Virtual height (0) is too small for the hardware (min 1)
(II) UnloadModlue: "vga"
(II) UnloadModlue: "vgahw"
(II) Unloading: "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libvgahw.a"
(II) UnloadModlue: "int10"
(II) Unloading: "/urs/X11R6/lib/modules/libint10.a"
(EE) Screens found, but none have a usable configuration.

Fatal server error:
no screens found

[SirDice]

Looks like you didn't setup your graphicscard correctly.
What type of graphicscard is it?

Did you also try to run (as root) xf86config?
This will ask you a couple of simple questions and create a decent XF86Config file for you.

When asked look at the card database and select the proper graphicscard.

[sweet_angel]

Originally posted here (http://www.AntiOnline.com/showthread.php?threadid=#post) by skilar

(II) UnloadModlue: "vga"
(II) UnloadModlue: "vgahw"
(II) Unloading: "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libvgahw.a"
(II) UnloadModlue: "int10"
(II) Unloading: "/urs/X11R6/lib/modules/libint10.a"
(EE) Screens found, but none have a usable configuration.

Fatal server error:
no screens found [/B]

I agree with SirDice, You havent't got it right when you set up your X configuration.
Try "x86config" command and as video card try use "VGA generic(or try Vesa generic)" if FreeBSD 5.1 you will see it on option number 0/1

[skilar]

Ok, I fiddled with the settings and I got KDE to work. There's just one more problem. When I start KDE, I get this error:

Sound server informational message:
Error while initializing the sound driver:
device /dev/dsp can't be opened (No such file or directory)
The sound server will continue, using the null output device.


So I'm not sure what to do about that. But everything else seems to be working fine. Now to go exploring. . .

[lumpyporridge]

You need to either rebuild your kernel with option pcm or load the driver as a kernel module. freebsd comes with no sound by default. If you look in the section on sound in the hand book it will give good instructions. man kldload will give you info on loading modules.The handbook is the best reference though. Good to hear you got it up and runnin !

[skilar]

Ok, thanks!!! Anyone know any good programs for UNIX??? Just in general.

[lumpyporridge]

http://www.freebsd.org/ports/index.html there are 9000 to choose from all you have to do is
cd /usr/ports/
then cd into the section and port you want and as root type make install clean and it fetchs the source and any dependancies and compiles and installs or you can go through the ports list and , find what you want and as root type pkg_add -r whatyouwant and it will fetch the binary and install it ,its like friggin magic. I like juk for mp3s, I use mplayer for videos, mldonkey is a kick ass p2p program that lets you use any network you want (edonkey,slsk,fastrack,open napster,bittorrent,gnuttella) , if you have a nvidia graphics card there is a port to install it in the x11 section of ports, heretic is a fun game, webfonts(in the x11-fonts section) will give you MUCH better fonts than the default ones ,mutt is good for mail , bitchx is agood irc client,sudo is handy to use, You should get portupgrade and cvsup , with them you can have all the latest and greatest versions of every program you have very easily. if you installed the full kde package you will already have lots an lotsa stufff.
If you can't find something try whereis ?????? or locate ??????? or find ???????
Once you are done playing i would start reading the handbook start to finish and then start to finish again and at the freebsd.org site there is quite a bit of stuff. Singing up for the mailing list is a good idea too.If you installed the docs you can put this into konquerer file:/usr/share/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/book.htm and you will have the hand book , voila
have fun

[skilar]

Apparently, I did not install the mtools package, because when I try to open a floppy:

ensure that the mtools package is installed correctly on your system.

How do I install this?

And KDE does not seem to be recognizing my network card. It works, because I was using it to connect and download some things when I was still on windows on that machine. Don't know what's wrong there.


EDIT: Figured out that I didn't configure the networking thing. So I configured it. So the internet's workin' now (I've been posting from a different computer).

[sweet_angel]

Originally posted here (http://www.AntiOnline.com/showthread.php?threadid=#post) by skilar
Apparently, I did not install the mtools package, because when I try to open a floppy:

ensure that the mtools package is installed correctly on your system.

How do I install this?

And KDE does not seem to be recognizing my network card. It works, because I was using it to connect and download some things when I was still on windows on that machine. Don't know what's wrong there.

You will have answers of your "questions" if you read manual/handbook :) , try start from here http://www.FreeBSD.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/

cheerss

[skilar]

I'm there right now. And I found my answer. Guess I should have looked earlier like lumpyporridge suggested.

I've been looking through some screenshots of KDE, and I was wondering how to do that opacity thing for windows and menus. I've looked through the docs and I cannot find anything.

[SirDice]

Another good source for ports is Freshports (http://www.freshports.org).
Freshports can easely show you which ports are new and/or updated.

And for searching *BSD related articles you can use http://www.google.com/bsd