Reconfiguring Linux due to hardware changes

[Alberto1]

Hello,
I installed, several months ago, Ubuntu Linux 5.10 on my daughter's PC, in dual boot with its native OS (Windows 98 SE). I didn't find any problem about the hardware configuration, as I knew all the related data.
In the meantime, she changed monitor, video card and she's going to change Internet provider. I know I have to operate by dpkg-reconfigure, but while I know brand and type of the monitor, I don't know anything about the video card (as for Internet, I think that the procedure should be performed automatically by DHCP). In addition, I have forgotten the way to start Linux, without the Xserver, but in Console mode, and to start Xserver in a second time.
Any suggestion will be welcomed.
Best Regards

[saikee]

I don't bother with the monitor type myself but just edit the /etc/X11/xorg.conf's
"Horizsyc" and "VertRefresh" frequencies to match those indicated by the monitor manufacturer or the back of the set.

For different video cards I just edit the "Driver" statement in /etc/X11/xorg.conf. I get by with picking one of the few generic drivers (ati, radeon, nv...) availble.

If the internet is connect via the network then altering the ISP should have no consequence I would have thought.

Generally if the video card and monitor fail to match you don't get a display and lose communication with Linux. You can then press "ctrl+alt+backspace" to drop into a Bash shell with which you can edit the /etc/X11/xorg.conf any way you like. When ready you can type "startx" to try to get back the desktop again.

By repeating the above you should be able to get the Linux working again.

[mrBen]

If GDM fails to start X properly, it will generally post an error message and drops you to console login anyway.

[webwolf]

On Ubuntu, my tip would be to do it the easy way and just run sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg (or xserver-xfree ?, or xserver-xf86 ?), been a while since I've used hoary. Anyway that will scan the current hardware needed by X and rewrite the xorg.conf/XF86Config. Afterwards startx to test if it works to your taste then <strg-alt-bckspace> to close X and sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart. Then your set to go

[klackenfus]

I installed, several months ago, Ubuntu Linux 5.10 on my daughter's PC, in dual boot with its native OS (Windows 98 SE).

Since it's dual boot, you could cheat. Just boot into Windows and look at the devices section and note what the video card is. I think Windows, even as old as Win 98, might show you. Not that I'm advocating the use of Windows.

[xrx]

Or just type 'lspci' to know what video card it is, eg:
...
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV25 [GeForce4 Ti 4200] (rev a3)
...

Knowing what graphic card it is, we'd be able to figure out what X driver you'd need.