How Do I Edit From The Command Line?

[firechicken]

Hi everyone!

I'm trying to edit my xf86config, but do not know the command to do this. I need to change the sync values for my monitor. I THINK this is one of the reasons I get errors when I type "startx".

Also, does xf86config have a default directory? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

BTW, I tried changing my monitor's sync values during setup, but for some unknown reason I could not type in my own manual settings (I had to choose the closest values offered).

[Strike]

Argh, I'd love to recommend vim as an editor, but for one little edit, the learning curve is a bit too steep. Just do pico /etc/X11/XF86Config and you should be able to edit it (make sure you are "root" though).

[Luthor]

If you're new to Linux, you might wish to try out Midnight Commander (type 'mc' at the CLI). It might make it a bit easier for you to get around your filesystem and the default editor is fairly simple to use. It comes with all RH and Drake dists I have tried so I imagine it is fairly standard.

Note: You will need to 'su' as root to edit some files and a warning is in order - It is VERY easy to make mistakes as root that will be 'detrimental' to your system so be careful. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

Hope This Helps...



------------------
Luthor St. James
(aka [AcK]BillTheCat)

[Gibby]

oops

[This message has been edited by Gibby (edited 12 November 2000).]

[firechicken]

Thanks for the help, guys.

Unfortunately, I opened up what I needed...changed what I thought needed to be changed...pressed some key or keys I was not supposed to...and the entire configuration disappeared. (Yes...I am super-newb...hold me!) Then I reinstalled and I'm back to square one.

Let me put it this way. Here is the error I receive when typing "startx" from the CLI(?):

Config error:
/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/XF86Config:402


Modes 640x400
^^^^^^^

Mode name expected

x connection to :0.0 broken(explicit kill or shutdown)

I have an ATI Radeon card and my monitor's specs are: Horizontal 30-70 Khz (Auto), Vertical 50-120 Hz (Auto). I realize there are no drivers for the Radeon, so I've tried running it as "vga 16" and "svga". I don't care about graphics, I just want to get to the GUI and look around!

Any more help would be very appreciated.






[This message has been edited by firechicken (edited 12 November 2000).]

[wmHardRock]

Try this:
Modes "800x600"

[Evil Jeff]

You can automatically configure x by typing:

XF86Setup

Hope that helps.

Evil Jeff
www.hellincorporated.com (http://www.hellincorporated.com)

[firechicken]

Hi guys. I tried to type in the "XF86Setup" from the prompt, but I get the error "bash: XF86Setup: command not found". The same thing happens when I try the "mode 800x600", only with the error sayihng "mode" not found.

Perhaps I screwed up during the intitial installation? I installed the OS as a "workstation", not "custom" or "server". Do I need to install it as "server"?

After I log in, my prompt looks like this:

[root@localhost/root]#


Do I need to run commands from a different prompt? Thanks again.