Author Topic: [SOLVED] Scary Glitch after: Config Video Card  (Read 961 times)

Offline Tony

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[SOLVED] Scary Glitch after: Config Video Card
« on: August 15, 2011, 06:10:05 AM »
I've pclos 2011.6 LXDE Mini, running alongside pclos 2011.6 MiniMe. I choose which Distro, from Session Link.
I was logged in to LXDE mini.
Had a few flickers on my old CRT Monitor recently, so I felt it may be wise to look at the Configure Graphics Card section of PCLinuxOS Control Centre.

I guess it's probably useless to change to the exact model of my monitor, as against Plug 'nPlay, but I was looking to fix a small problem, so as the monitor was listed, I selected it. You look for those type of things I suppose, when troubleshooting, and certainly wouldn't think it to be a problem ?
Also checked the box; "Use EXA instead XAA" (Better performance ...) See Pic



That all seemed quite straight forward, not dangerous.
I was asked to Reboot, after the changes. Did so, but trouble ensued !
Computer turned off !!!

Restart:  GRUB found, and continued but boot process fell into a loop.
Some text = Green [o.k.](Good), then a flicker, and repeated, over, and over.(Bad)
I attempted to turn the machine off manually, with powerbutton (usually 5 secs push),however instead presented with a command prompt; at which I typed 'poweroff '. Once totally OFF I pulled the power lead for 5 mins, before rebooting. If it works for NASA ... In reality unloading charge from IC components is why this works, on occassion.

I'm no wizz at all with Commandline in Linux, which I must remedy!
Restarted Comp, the same loop happened, flicker, some checks, all green o.k.'s, ...I turned off the Computer, via Command prompt, "poweroff", Rebooted, started selectively, and carefully pushing some Keys, guessing.

Again, rebooted.This time I was presented with Commanline prompt -Login, logged in, somehow guessed a command which brought up a little System Menu.

I chose Display, shocked to see options as in Pic above. I unchecked "Use EXA instead XAA" (Better performance ...)" , was asked to reboot, ... I was pretty panicky but at command prompt after being told to "reboot" I did.
Thank the Computer God's it booted to my normal Login screen, I selected "Session Link" > KDE as by Default would've logged into LXDE, which I wasn't confident. It logged me in o.k. !!!

Just acted instinctively through the whole Boot, Loop - fiasco.
I unconsciously have remembered commands to a degree, or they are semantically logical, as i hit a few correctly to get me into that PCC Menu, very lucky indeed !

Only real hard Info i have is the unchecking of "Use EXA instead XAA" after crazy loop during Boot, and luckily found a very simple 'Menu' to undo that checked box!

I was using LXDE when changing Video card settings.

I'm posting this wondering why changing THAT Video Card Settings seemingly caused this instability to happen ?
« Last Edit: August 16, 2011, 03:11:31 AM by francis »
*PCLOS 3.2.18-pclos2 - MiniMe 2013.x - KDE 4.10.1 - Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz - 1GiB DIMM DDR 533 MHz RAM  = SHABANG ! ;) *Software Updates

Offline Neal ManBear

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Re: Scary Glitch after: Config Video Card
« Reply #1 on: August 15, 2011, 10:35:45 AM »
Which desktop environment is in use has nothing to do with what system settings you use. Had you committed the same actions while using kde, the same result would have occurred.
CRT Monitor? So far as I know, EXA is used on LCD monitors.

Offline Tony

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Re: Scary Glitch after: Config Video Card
« Reply #2 on: August 15, 2011, 11:53:57 PM »
o.k., thankyou Neal. I'm new to this "Tandem desktop environment", old-polack walked me through wiping my HDD, and setting up this great Dual desktop System, plus NO Windows, (Yeehaww !) so a few hiccups here and there.
Quote
CRT Monitor? So far as I know, EXA is used on LCD monitors.
Aha, well this tells me two things:
1.) I shouldn't have checked the EXA setting. (however, does it say anything about LCD Monitors ?)
2.) I shouldn't go looking around in PCC settings checking things that I don't know what they are, exactly. Obviously my bad as to select EXA, I should know what it is !

3.) It's unfortunate that we learn by our mistakes, and please I was not disrespecting PCLinuxOS  LXDE 2011.6 !
It is at first, as I've read a few visitors say, not up to their expectations visually; I have however found that it is full of some very nice visual surprises   :D

While I'm here,  ;D , in two weeks I just about can do what I did in Windows with PCLinuxOS 2011.6 installations I have. To think that I didn't kill the System when I upset my Video Card is incredible progress !

Plus I've figured things like how to convert a .flv to an .Avi, using videos from the public domain, so I can take the .avi's into my Living room and watch them on a DVD, or USB input on my Multimedia System. Way cool !! [WinFF]

One thing that has me stuck is the screensaver (BlackScreen - selected - KDE), when logged into LXDE; it comes on after 5 mins, and the selector button in that configure your desktop Menu for the Screensaver (? ... You know what I mean, I'm in KDE)  does nothing, when clicked. That's why I assumed KDE had control of some settings.

If there is a way to change the length of time before the screen saver comes on, in LXDE, independently in each Destop environment it would be dandy, otherwise I'll put up with it.

Maybe as i installed MiniMe (KDE) first, setup screensaver, then "task-lxde" it has shut out screensaver settings in LXDE ? Or maybe I haven't installed something for LXDE (from Synaptic?)
Yes, I know I sound like an idiot, it will take time.  :P

All the best,

francis
« Last Edit: August 15, 2011, 11:56:36 PM by francis »
*PCLOS 3.2.18-pclos2 - MiniMe 2013.x - KDE 4.10.1 - Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz - 1GiB DIMM DDR 533 MHz RAM  = SHABANG ! ;) *Software Updates

Offline Neal ManBear

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Re: Scary Glitch after: Config Video Card
« Reply #3 on: August 16, 2011, 12:25:10 AM »
Francis,
You should post only one question per thread. :) 

Screensaver settings --- 
LXMenu > More Applications > Configuration > Configure XScreensaver   

"Visually," there is a lot you can do in PCLinuxOS-LXDE. It depends on what your hardware will support. Older, less powerful hardware is unlikely to work well, if at all, with any of the 3D effects. But you can add wallpapers, openbox themes, GTK themes, cursor themes and icon themes and make changes with those until you find something visually pleasing to you.   

Offline Tony

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Re: Scary Glitch after: Config Video Card
« Reply #4 on: August 16, 2011, 01:00:18 AM »
Quote
Francis,
You should post only one question per thread.

Right,  very sorry  :-[

Personally, I'm very happy with the LXDE Desktop, plus the speed  ;)

I don't have Configure XScreensaver @ : Screensaver settings ---
LXMenu > More Applications > Configuration > Configure XScreensaver .



Advice ?

edit (Imageshack link prob)
« Last Edit: August 16, 2011, 01:03:41 AM by francis »
*PCLOS 3.2.18-pclos2 - MiniMe 2013.x - KDE 4.10.1 - Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz - 1GiB DIMM DDR 533 MHz RAM  = SHABANG ! ;) *Software Updates

Offline Neal ManBear

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Re: Scary Glitch after: Config Video Card
« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2011, 01:15:57 AM »
The entry is set up to not show in kde. You need to be in LXDE to see it. 

Make sure these are installed --- 
xscreensaver   
xscreensaver-base   
xscreensaver-common   
xscreensaver-gl   
xlockmore   
xdg-utils   

If it doesn't appear in the menu still, start it from lxterminal. The command to start Configure XScreensaver is --- 
Code: [Select]
xscreensaver-demo
Report any terminal feedback exactly as it appears.   

Offline Tony

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Re: Scary Glitch after: Config Video Card
« Reply #6 on: August 16, 2011, 02:42:17 AM »
LXMenu > More Applications > Configuration > ...
That Snap is in LXDE.  :D

Shuffled over once you gave me confidence it was o.k. to.

Obviously need to check Synaptic for those Items.

Quote
Report any terminal feedback exactly as it appears.
no worries,
Thanks Neal !
*PCLOS 3.2.18-pclos2 - MiniMe 2013.x - KDE 4.10.1 - Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz - 1GiB DIMM DDR 533 MHz RAM  = SHABANG ! ;) *Software Updates

Offline Neal ManBear

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Re: Scary Glitch after: Config Video Card
« Reply #7 on: August 16, 2011, 02:55:20 AM »
 ??? Solved? If so, modify your first post in this thread to add [Solved] to the title.   

Offline Tony

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Re: Scary Glitch after: Config Video Card
« Reply #8 on: August 16, 2011, 03:10:44 AM »
Missing from your list:

words (version 3.0-4pclos2010) will be installed
xlockmore (version 5.32-1pclos2011) will be installed
xscreensaver (version 5.14-2pclos2011) will be installed
xscreensaver-base (version 5.14-2pclos2011) will be installed

[Solved]

All done, too easy, once again.

Thankyou Sir
*PCLOS 3.2.18-pclos2 - MiniMe 2013.x - KDE 4.10.1 - Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz - 1GiB DIMM DDR 533 MHz RAM  = SHABANG ! ;) *Software Updates

Offline Neal ManBear

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Re: Scary Glitch after: Config Video Card
« Reply #9 on: August 16, 2011, 04:42:18 AM »
Missing from your list:

words (version 3.0-4pclos2010) will be installed

I did not add to the list dependencies that are automatically added with the installation. I saw no need to do that.

Quote
xlockmore (version 5.32-1pclos2011) will be installed
xscreensaver (version 5.14-2pclos2011) will be installed
xscreensaver-base (version 5.14-2pclos2011) will be installed

Look again. These are in the list I posted.

Quote
[Solved]

All done, too easy, once again.

Thankyou Sir

Offline Tony

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Re: [SOLVED] Scary Glitch after: Config Video Card
« Reply #10 on: August 16, 2011, 05:25:08 AM »
Semantics it seems  ???, I'm sorry.

Quote
Missing from your list:

words (version 3.0-4pclos2010) will be installed
xlockmore (version 5.32-1pclos2011) will be installed
xscreensaver (version 5.14-2pclos2011) will be installed
xscreensaver-base (version 5.14-2pclos2011) will be installed
I meant, missing from My System, and on your list of items to check as installed.
I simply copied the Synaptic 'Description', thus "words (version 3.0-4pclos2010) will be installed".
Again thankyou for your help, everything Solved, all is good, I love LXDE, as the creator I'm sure you do too.  ;)
That's my monthly out of the way  :)
*PCLOS 3.2.18-pclos2 - MiniMe 2013.x - KDE 4.10.1 - Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz - 1GiB DIMM DDR 533 MHz RAM  = SHABANG ! ;) *Software Updates