can you get to a command line - i.e. login and type stuff? If you caN, then try typing this:
 
xfreecfg
or
xf86cfg
or
xfree86cfg
or
xf86config
or
xfreecfg
I use xorg so I don't remember what xfree's config tool is as my remembery is broken.
 
if none of those do anything try typing
 
xorgcfg
 
anyhoo it might do something - or at least give a useable error.
 
eventually you may need to hand edit your /etc/X11/xfree86.conf file or whatever its called as mines xorg.conf - to give it a video mode it can use
 
Let us know what happens
 
also try startx - just to see if it does anything.

I second teh startx suggestion. also try dells website. they have linux community forums
http://linux.dell.com/
 
This is the site I reffernced when reserching my laptop purchase. I got the 600m running ubuntu.
http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/dell.html

what type of video card do you have in your laptop is it an ATI or nvidia if you can post that info i would help you more with your problem.

Im not sure what video card but i do know its intergraded intel, nothing like ati or nvida. When I install mandrakes it auto picks 830 and so does red hat, drivers for windows on dell.com which is 830 and 855 is also compatible.
 
see - http://support.dell.com/support/download...=WW1&osl=EN
 
I've tried startx, just gives me the video error, Ill get you the full details later today. I can get to the login, but nothing graphical just login and just stays in the dos-type program
 
I found this - http://dominia.org/~jlee/inspiron/
 
does this mean 830 intel graphics are incompatible?

is X staying up? I mean do you get dumped back to the fullscreen console or do you have a grey background with a terminal?
 
try to start gdm if you're using gnome or kdm for kde... I think I'm not a kde fan, if those fail try xdm. good luck and the more information the better.

The article that you referenced about the graphics in RedHat 7.3 is very old an does not apply to the newer distros.
 
What is important is the error message that you are getting. You are getting dumped to a terminal window, with a message? Try to post the message, such as "no screens found."
 
I'll see if there are any articles on your system with Mandrake installation that may shed some light on the issue.

thats what it says "No Screens Found" and also "No BIOS for chosen depth", and I tried all of the resolutions and all generic video cards, its no use. I upgraded my dell BIOS also, still nothing. I wonder if I have to do somethin in the kernel (no clue how to). When mandrakes goes to the login, you can tell its tryin to boot the graphics login, so it flashes to black screen and back to the command line, then gives up and stays in the command and asks for login. When i type startx it gives the error, i dont have the exact error right now, but i will post it up soon, maybe you guys have see it before.

if you can post your xf86config file that would help a great deal.

you see i dont kno how to access that file. how do i do this? I know nothing of linux commands or how to access files on it.

Ok, this is a problem. I found this link.
 
It is a problem with the bios and how it allocates memory for video, which is very limited. The fix will be complicated for you.
 
What bios revisison did you update to?
 
You can try the following, but I doubt that it will work.
 
When you are logged in as root user, type in;
 
XFdrake (hit the enter key)
 
The syntax is important...capital X and F, small drake.
 
Try setting the video card to vesa and the default depth to 16.
 
Just remember that these systems are made to run Windows only, so it takes a little work to get it going. Not good for someone just starting out with Linux.
 
Are you willing to try another distro of Linux other than Mandrake?

I have upgraded my BIOS to A11, but in the BIOS setting there is nothing that allows me to change the MB of video RAM, it doesnt even show any video RAM in the BIOS. And another thing too is that the command "XFdrake" never works, just says command not found. IF I cant get mandrakes to work you think a different distro would work? Dont they have simalar structure and just wouldnt work with this dell?
 
error msg:
 
Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log"
using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
Using vt 7
(EE) Failed to load module "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/libglx.a" (once-only module, 135962511)
(EE) I180(0): No Video BIOS modes for chosen depth.
(EE) Screen(s) FOund, but none have a usable configuration.
 
Fatal server error:
no screens found

Hmmm xorg... alright. Go ahead and post the contents of your config file - here's how:
 
type this in the "dos-type" program
 
vi /etc/X11/xorg.conf
 
note that it is case sensitive so capital X, the numbers one and one, and all else lowercase. Also note the foreward slash used in linux / as opposed to the backslash used in windows \ .
 
There may be a setting we can manually help you with. once you run that command, then you should be dumped into a text editing program - just use the aarow keys to scroll down. Lots of it will look confusing but worry not. There will be a spot that looks like this sort of:
 
EndSection
 
Section "Device"
Identifier "Intel Corporation 82810E DC-133 CGC [Chipset Graphics Controller]"
Driver "i810"
BusID "PCI:0:1:0"
EndSection
 
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "NEC FPD15"
Option "DPMS"
HorizSync 30-50
VertRefresh 59-61
EndSection
 
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Intel Corporation 82810E DC-133 CGC [Chipset Graphics Controller]"
Monitor "NEC FPD15"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection
the important stuff is at the top though, so write it down and post it here

When i login and type: /etc/X11/xorg.conf it tells me Permission denied, even under root....

Did you include the vi program command
 
vi /etc/X11/xorg.conf
 
...at the command line?
 
vi is the editor program that will open the xorg.conf file.

here we go....
 
 
Section "Module"
Load "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension
Load "v4l" # Video for linux
Load "extmod"
Load "type1"
Load "synaptics"
Load "gfx" # 3D layer
Load "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/libglx.a"
EndSection
 
Section "Monitor"
Identifer "monitor1"
VendorName "Generic"
ModelName "1024v768 @ 70 Hz"
HorizSync 31.5-57.0
VertRefresh 50-70
 
# Sony Vaio C1(X,XS,VE,VN)? //Vaio WTF??? ..sorry
# 1024x480 @ 85.6 Hz, 48 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1024x 480" 65.00 1024 1032 1176 1344 480 488 494 563 -hsync
 
# Dell D800 and few Inspiron (16/10) 1280x800
ModeLine "1280x800" 147.89 1280 1376 1512 1744 800 801 804 848
 
# Dell D800 and few Inspiron (16/10) 1680x800
ModeLine "1680x800" 147.89 1280 1376 1512 1744 800 801 804 848
 
# Dell D800 and few Inspiron (16/10) 1920x800
ModeLine "1920x800" 147.89 1280 1376 1512 1744 800 801 804 848
 
 
# TV fullscreen mode or DVD fullscreen output.
# 768x576 @ 79 Hz, 50 kHz hsync
# ModeLine "768x576" 50.00 768 832 846 1000 576 590 595 630
 
Section "Device"
Identifer "device1"
VenderName "Intel Corp"
BoardName "Intel 830"
Driver "i810"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection
 
Section "Screen"
Identifer "screen1"
Device "device1"
Monitor "monitor1"
DefaultColorDepth 24
 
Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Virtual 800 600
EndSubsection
 
Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Virtual 800 600
EndSubsection
 
Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Virtual 800 600
EndSubsection
EndSection
 
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifer "layout1"
InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "SynapticsMouse1" "CorePointer"
Screen "screen1"
EndSection
 
 
(My hands hurt now)
 
um, i skipped some stuff that i felt wasnt important, but if i did skip somethin important let me kno thanks

Try changing the sync rates
 
HorizSync 30-60
VertRefresh 50-75
 
You can try to load the generic vesa driver as well
Section "Device"
Identifer "device1"
VenderName "Intel Corp"
BoardName "Intel 830"
Driver "vesa"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

i was tryin to find out how to type in the file and i did by pressin INSERT and messed it up so i rebooted (Ctrl +Alt+Delete) and now the files empty!?!
 
And when I do xf86config, at the end when it saves it says "failed to open filename for writing".
 
what should I do?
 
I dont know how to type or save or even exit the xorg.conf file. Can you please tell me, this linux stuff is so complex....
[Edited by mulatto on 2005-06-17 21:37:27]
 

sounds like you need a vi primer.
 
vi has two modes entry mode where you type like a text editor then command mode which is similar to a unix shell
 
hitting esc toggles between modes
commands
i = insert where you are
a = insert or add. adds to teh next character
o = open new line
x = delete character
dd = delete line
j = moves cursor up
k = moves cursor down
h = moves cursor left
l = moves cursor right
 
more commands can be executed with the :
:q = quits
:w = write
:wq! write quit
:set number shows number of lines
:%/soda/juice/g will find and replace the word soda with juice anywher in the document.
 
this coould be a whole new thread but back to your problem.
 
debian has dpkg --reconfigure I'm sure mandrake has something similar to reconfig the x file with teh default. At teh very worst you will be back where you were.
 
mandrake gurus do you have an equiv to debian dpkg --reconfigure
 
xfdrake or something rings a bell???

OMG, I just reinstalled the whole OS and the file is still blank. I think im gonna give up on this.

Originally posted by mulatto:

Quote:OMG, I just reinstalled the whole OS and the file is still blank. I think im gonna give up on this. 
sorry but that's a big lol wtf? I have one word for you
UBUNTU! If god needed an OS he would use ubuntu or maybe OSX