Very Computer

I have a problem:

386 DX 40, 8 Megs of Ram, and a fixed freq. VGA monitor (640x480 *sniff)
I tried to configure X-windows on it yesterday, and I just watched in awed
astonishment as my entire machine puked on me.  I fought with it for hours
afterwards until I tried fdisk /mbr to unscramble my partition table.
I would offer this knowledge to newbies, so they don't go through the trouble.
However, I'm no further than I started.

        I have a Trident card, (8900 chip, 1 meg of ram).

Does anyone have a setup script, xinit, or any advice they can give me to
help me set this blasted thing up?  (I've installed Linux over and over, but
never X.)

                Thanks.

                        John

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: 386 DX 40, 8 Megs of Ram, and a fixed freq. VGA monitor (640x480 *sniff)
                                                          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                                                          don't sniff...

Since you say that your monitor is fixed frequency, I assume you have
the technical details about it. Because your monitor docs say that it
is 640x480 *DOES NOT MEAN THAT XFREE MUST USE 640x480* ! I gave the
same advice today to someone else. *STUDY* VideoModes.doc. It contains
the complete explanation on how to setup a modedb line in Xconfig. The
only twist is that it assumes a multi sync (adjustable horizontal
frequency) monitor. However, once you understand what is going on,
you can redo the calculations even for a fixed monitor. You only change
your starting point for the calculations.

Anyhow,  (1) take your monitor documents,
         (2) take your video card documents,
         (3) take a small calculator,
         (4) print out the VideoModes.doc file,
         (5) grap a pen and a pencil,
         (6) a thermosflask of coffee i
optional (7) a pack of Camels

and make sure you're not disturbed for an hour or 2-3. Take the
time to study the ASCII pictures in the file, to *understand* what is
going on in the monitor. Redo the example calculation, understand
why they did what for. For me the first two calculations kept me busy
3 quarters of an hour per calculation. Now, I can calculate a modedb
line in 5 minutes... NO FOLKS, I will not do your homeworks :-)
BTW, Like I said already today, it feels *GOOD* once you know what
is going on in the monitor. Even if you don't succeed in getting it
work, the next monitor or card, you'll buy, will be a bulls' eye...

OK, so I got carried away, flame me :-)

--
Steven Buytaert
Interuniversity Micro Electronics Centre - Invomec Division
Kapeldreef 75, 3001 Heverlee, BELGIUM

phone   : +32 16 281 271
fax     : +32 16 281 584

                In case of danger, BREAK glass

For what it's worth the Trident DOES work (mine is 8900C). It is working with a bit fancier monitor admitedly. However, my experience was that the main problems I had were getting the appropriate mouse setup. BE SURE to try your mouse at 1200 baud. I had a 'logitech' compatible mouse. I wound up setting the Xconfig to a microsoft mouse though after reading somewhere that the Logitech control word is for OLD logitech devices. However, anything more that 1200 puked. Also try using the recommended clock setti

ngs from README.trident. Just put the line in your Xconfig file.

Good luck.