Unable to Login with GUI. Coloured lines\bars

[pradyot]

Hi,
I am new to Linux i successfully installed lubuntu 12.10 alternate version "lubuntu-12.10-alternate-i386". I checked the iso file using "winmid5Sum" and it was proper. I burned it and checked error for disk, even that was proper. After installation , from grub i went to ubuntu, then i got this weird screen full of colored bars. It didn't make any sense. I tried ctrl+alt+f1 and logged onto it, then ctrl+alt+f7. still the same screen.

i am using

System Model: HV84510A
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1.60GHz
Memory: 512MB RAM
Hard Disk: 160 GB
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: S3 Graphics Inc. Savage4
Manufacturer: S3 Graphics Inc.
Chip type: S3 Savage4
DAC type: S3 SDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_5333&DEV_8A22&SUBSYS_8A225333&REV_03
Display Memory: 32.0 MB
Current Mode: 1152 x 864 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: s3sav4.dll

[matt_symes]

Hi

Welcome to the forums

My first question: Is this a Wubi installation (inside Windows) or did you install it into its own partition ?

Can you boot into "safe mode" (to use a Windows expression) from the grub menu ? (This will help to identify if it's a driver problem or something more serious as safe mode uses the Vesa driver).

Kind regards

[JOHNNYG713]

Driver issue !

[pradyot]

Thank you for the fast reply!

No, this is not wubi installed. I created a free space of 12GB then at the partition part i assigned 1gb for swap and 11Gb ext4 for LUBUNTU.
I referred " http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi-VPj4jzrg " for installation . Everything went as per video. but when restarting I am getting login part with colours (Check out the pics I uploaded). I can open terminal via "ctrl+alt+1"

Yes, I can open Windows XP through grub.


JOHNNYG713

any idea how to solve it?

[pradyot]

My computer is kinda ancient (You check my system info above). I just want a linux os on my system. I am doin CS engg and my college s teaching UNIX. I heard LUBUNTU is very light weight so i used it. Is there any other light distros???

[The Cog]

You've definitely got a driver issue there. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if the S3 is even supported by Linux any more. If not, then you may not be able to get Linux working on that machine at all without replacing the graphics card.

[pradyot]

Do you know any other linux which would work on my machine ??

[matt_symes]

Hi

Did you try booting into safe graphics mode from the grub menu ?

The card should work with VESA as that has been around for an age and that should get you up and running.

You can also edit the kernel command line to boot using the VESA driver.

At the grub prompt when you select a kernel, press the e key.

Navigate to the end if the text line and add this

video=uvesafb

Press ctrl + c to continue booting.

Does that help ?

Kind regards

[MAFoElffen]

If you use a "video=x" (where x= an xorg driver or mapped port settting) kernel parameter set like matt_symes suggested, you first need to add a "nomodeset" parameter before it before that parameter will work. KMS has to be disabled before you can use a "video=x" set. That didn't use to be like that // but changed to that at about Ubuntu 11.04-11.10... and comparable other linux distro's around that same time. (When KMS was implemented.)

Fortunately, xorg does have a savage driver... so you could use parameters:

nomodeset video=savage

Just by you using "nomodeset", would turn off kms and give xorg the ability to try different drivers with your card... but setting it to savage would point it right there.

If that works, set "nomodeset" as persistent in the /etc/default/grub and create a default /etc/X11/xorg.conf file and point the driver to savage in the device section... That way you can tweak the resolutions and other settings for that driver (suggested). Once you get the xorg.conf working, then you can try taking out the nomodeset in grub to see if it is then still needed. You need it if you're telling it from grub to set a driver from grub, but not if it is set to a driver from the xorg.conf file.

You could leave it as "nomodeset video=savage" as persistent in grub without using or adding an xorg.conf file, but then you don't have as much control and aren't using that driver to it's full capabilities (just the basic functions).

If you need reference or instructions for any of that, look in the first three posts of my Graphics Resolution Sticky- link in my sig line.

[matt_symes]

Hi

if you use a "video=x" kernel parameter set like matt_symes suggested, you first need to add a "nomodeset" parameter before it before that parameter will work.

Thanks for that MAFoElffen. I knew i had forgotten something, i just could not think what.

Kind regards