Mandriva Linux question

[Salazaar]

Hi. When I tried to run Mandriva 2008 form live-cd, I've 'met' a bug. It's description and solution is described in it's errata:

Few users told us about black screen appearance while loading desktop using ATI Radeon.Solution: Erase following lines from /etc/X11/xorg.conf:

# 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

# 768x576 @ 100 Hz, 61.6 kHz hsync
ModeLine "768x576" 63.07 768 800 960 1024 576 578 590 616

And the question is, how to do it? I mean, how to find this file. It couldn't be done by exploring cd from windows.
Regards

[marcel]

You have to boot in runlevel 3 or 1 (refer to your bootloader's manual on what options you have to pass to it), and edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf. After that either reboot or run startx.

EDIT: or try switching to a terminal after the screen goes blank (ctrl + alt + f2, for example), or even try pressing ctrl-alt-backspace, maybe X will terminate and return you to a terminal.

[Salazaar]

You have to boot in runlevel 3 or 1 (refer to your bootloader's manual on what options you have to pass to it), and edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf. After that either reboot or run startx.

Sorry, but I don't understand a word of it

EDIT: or try switching to a terminal after the screen goes blank (ctrl + alt + f2, for example), or even try pressing ctrl-alt-backspace, maybe X will terminate and return you to a terminal.

I tried, no result
Regards

[wysota]

It might not be possible to alter the file when running from live cd. You might try overriding the ati driver with the vesa driver by passing some option to the boot sequence. When you boot the cd, it probably contains some info how to access help which should contain the list of switches you may pass (F1, F2 or F3 are likely candidates for accessing the help).

[Salazaar]

Yes, it contains some help and boot settings, but they're kind of magic for me.
Regards
P.S - When they write in errata to change this file, it is possible to do it, I think
P.P.S
Here's what I found somewhere:

You can alter your .conf file by typing "su (root password)press enter then type:
"vi /etc/X11/xorg.conf" (vi is a text editor)

[wysota]

P.S - When they write in errata to change this file, it is possible to do it, I think

Yes, you can always change the file and rebuild the live cd

Here's what I found somewhere:

Unfortunately you must be already booted to do that. You need to boot into runlevel 3 (one of the boot options certainly does that) and then change the file and start X.

[marcel]

When running a live cd, doesn't it create a RAM disk containing at least the main config files, which is not read only? As far as I know it will contain at least /etc, /dev, /usr.

[wysota]

But you have to boot the system for the disk to be created. And if it boots into X, the driver will lock it, preventing access to the console. Thus the system needs to be booted into runlevel 3.

[Salazaar]

Ok, guys, the theory But what about the practice? What are the steps that I need to do? I mean, how to edit this file? Is it able to edit it from Windows/Ubuntu (which I have installed)? How? I'd be thankful
Regards

[wysota]

Boot into runlevel 3. I'm sure the CD supports it.

[Salazaar]

But how? When I run live-cd, it's 'welcome screen' and it starts booting

[wysota]

Use F1 or F3 as earlier advised. The live cd should first let you choose some things before booting the system. Even the install disk does that, so I'm sure live cd has such capabilities as well.

[Salazaar]

Ok, I've solved the problem in other way.