Problems With a Fresh Reinstall

[capt-zero]

Hi, yes I've developed some new problems. Due to an enormous error on my part, I had to reinstall 12.04 again and ended up with some difficulties. One problem that predates the reinstallation is this, I recently added a 3d graphics card. The card is an older Aopen Mx400 with 64mb. Since putting it in when I boot up right after my grub menu selection my screen appears to go into sleep mode (amber light on my monitor lights up and screen goes blank for about 2 minutes). Not really sure if there is a work around, but I assume the system reads it because it's listed in my system settings menu.
After this reinstallation, I can't seem to change my login screen in the settings menu. When I select new themes they don't show up on the selection menu. When I looked it up in the KDE instructions it said you have to do this as a superuser, but I had assumed when it asked you for your password at the start of login screen settings, that is what it was doing.
One final issue after this reinstallation, I get no splash screen. After logging in, my user name/ password icon dissapears leaving the gray rainbow and slowly fades to the desktop after a bit. None of the changing icons as it builds as usual in the splash screen. Any ideas?

Thanx,
capt-zero

[james147]

After this reinstallation, I can't seem to change my login screen in the settings menu. When I select new themes they don't show up on the selection menu. When I looked it up in the KDE instructions it said you have to do this as a superuser, but I had assumed when it asked you for your password at the start of login screen settings, that is what it was doing.

This is a known bug, the dialog only asks for your password when you click apply but not when you click the get new themes button since this is about the only get new stuff button that needs to be run as root. So the dialog downloads the theme to your user area instead of the system location.

To work around this run the kdm dialog as root by running the following:

kdesudo kcmshell4 kdm

[ardvark71]

The card is an older Aopen Mx400 with 64mb.

Along with what James has said, I really don't think you're going get much out of this card at all, especially anything requiring 3D acceleration.

How is old is your system and is the MX400 you installed newer than the onboard chip or card you replaced it with?

Regards...

[capt-zero]

James147 and Ardvark71,

I really appreciate the help. James that little command is really handy and is now on my list of must-have command strings. Worked great! Ardvark, my computer is a study of what a person can do on the cheap. The tower itself is probably 6 or 7 years old and was scavenged on heavy trash day in my neighborhood, The video card, memory and one of the HDD's came from a computer that my father was tossing and is probably older than that, however it does work and gives me a little eye candy on the system. I've put my system together from bits and pieces I've picked up for free or close to it. Right now I have more cash tied up in blank CD's than hardware. I think too much electronic equipment ends up in our dumps, most of which is usable in one form or another. I don't have a screaming gaming system. but I do have a respectable little machine that does most of what I need it to do. Anyway, thanks loads for the response, I'll try to go a week or so without doing anything else stupid to my system.

Thanx,
capt-zero

[capt-zero]

Ardvark71,

I bow to your superior knowlege. I removed the video card and all my problems went away. I spent several hours looking for an adequate driver for it with no luck. I decided the eye candy wasn't worth the glitches it put in my system. Thanks again for your input I appreciate it.

capt-zero

[ardvark71]

I removed the video card and all my problems went away. I spent several hours looking for an adequate driver for it with no luck. I decided the eye candy wasn't worth the glitches it put in my system. Thanks again for your input I appreciate it.

Hi...

Please do not bow before my knowledge or anything I am or have, that comes from God. He is the one we all should kneel before.

Your idea wasn't bad, I think it's a matter of possibly finding a suitable card for you. You mentioned that your system is composed of different parts you were able to find, if you can give me the motherboard brand name and model (including model number,) I might be able to steer you to a card that would give you (as much as possible) what you're looking for.

Regards...

[capt-zero]

Actually ardvark, I bow all the time to others. When I first took up meditation, I asked my teacher why bowing, in her culture, became the preferred method of address as opposed to the western convention of shaking hands, She didn't actually answer me directly, but said "It costs me nothing and usually makes people feel good." which I thought an excellent response.

In regards to my motherboard, I'll disassemble my box tomorrow and get the numbers, but it is a standard Emachine 3300+ with an AMD semipron 2400 chip running at 2 GHZ. It has PCI slots for sound and video. However, I would prefer a card that uses onboard power and doesn't require a seperate power source. I understand adding those kind of cards is problematical in an Emachine.

Thanks,
capt-zero

[ardvark71]

In regards to my motherboard, I'll disassemble my box tomorrow and get the numbers, but it is a standard Emachine 3300+ with an AMD semipron 2400 chip running at 2 GHZ. It has PCI slots for sound and video. However, I would prefer a card that uses onboard power and doesn't require a seperate power source. I understand adding those kind of cards is problematical in an Emachine.

Hi...

A slight misunderstanding...

An "add-on" video card does not have its own power source, it draws its power from the same source all the other chipsets and components do: The PSU (power supply unit.) However, if there is not enough voltage to supply all the components, then, yes, there will be problems.

In your case and if your motherboard is original to the system, I would need the model number, like the system here.

Regards...

[capt-zero]

Ardvark, that is the machine I have. I did upgrade the memory to 1 gig.. and put in a 160 gig IDE HDD. Also, recently I put in another HDD, a Sata 80 gig, The basic machine and motherboard is the stock 3300+ with the AMD Semipron 2400 chip. I guess I misunderstood, I thought you wanted to know the model and serial numbers on the board. The stock motherboard in the machine seemed to be a good and relatively modern board, so I hadn't considered changing it yet.

capt-zero

[ardvark71]

I thought you wanted to know the model and serial numbers on the board.

Hi...

No, since the board is still stock, I would need the model number of the system.

Regards...