Frequency Out of Range error

[awesomealex]

So I am trying to install kubuntu on my desktop computer for the first time but I keep getting an out of frequency error. From the cd I can get the splash screen to appear but when I enter start kubuntu the error comes up on the monitor and I cant do anything. I have read countless other people that have had the same problem, but the solutions they use dont work for me. I have typed in vga=771 as well as vga=ask on the boot options command line and tried the different resolutions but none of them work. I am guessing that the refresh rate of the monitor is the problem but Im only able to change the resolution. Also my monitor is not that old and works fine on other platforms. Please help!!

[rfakhrai]

Re: Frequency Out of Range error

first, is your install disk uncorrupted? you can check the integrity of it from the menu.

[awesomealex]

Re: Frequency Out of Range error

No the iso and the cd are not corrupted. I checked them both already. I gave up on the that install and downloaded the alternate cd version to do a text based install. now I'm stuck at a totally different point. In the text based installer I get stuck at 73% when it says updating packages. I can't do anything but restart the computer. I have also googled this and found other people that have the same problem. I tried a few things they suggested but all of the solutions seem impractical to me. One was to disconnect the network from the computer but my computer in question isn't connected to any network. Another person said changing the keyboard to usa would solve the problem but I already had it set at that. The other options were buy new hardware which I shouldn't have to do cause my hardware isn't that old and if something needs replaced i'm not sure what that would be. Also I don't have a large enough thumb drive to try it the usb install. So if anyone can solve this problem or figure out the first problem it would be much appreciated.

[ardvark71]

Re: Frequency Out of Range error

Hi....

What is your video chipset and monitor? If possible, can you duplicate the problem using another monitor?

Regards...

[dibl]

Re: Frequency Out of Range error

That message comes from the monitor, when the output from the video chip is either nonexistant or out of the vertical and horizontal frequency limits.

Try the "nolapic" and "noacpi" boot options, one at a time, and together. I think the video chip is defaulting to sleep mode.

[ardvark71]

Re: Frequency Out of Range error

I think the video chip is defaulting to sleep mode.

Hi...

If this is the case, what would cause the chip to do this?

Regards...

[awesomealex]

Re: Frequency Out of Range error

Sorry for the delayed response... Im busy with my classes at the moment.

@dibl: I tried what you said and none of it worked

@ardvark71: Yeah its not the best monitor but i would think it would due. I've posted the specs of the monitor:
Compaq FS 7600 - display - CRT - 17" specifications
General
Display Type Display / CRT
Width 15.9 in
Depth 16.7 in
Height 16.0 in
Weight 37.5 lbs
Localization English / United States
Display
Diagonal Size 17.0 in
Viewable Size 16.0 in
Dot Pitch / Pixel Pitch 0.25 mm
Max Resolution 1280 x 1024 / 60.0 Hz
Max Sync Rate (V x H) 160.0 Hz x 70.0 KHz
Video Bandwidth 110.0 MHz
Display Screen Coating Anti-glare
Signal Input VGA
Video Input
Analog Video Signal RGB
Input Device
Type None
1.0 x VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)
Miscellaneous
Compliant Standards TCO '03 , MPR II , Plug and Play
Power
Form Factor Internal
Voltage Required AC 120/230 V
Power Consumption Operational 75.0 Watt
Power Consumption Stand by / Sleep 4.0 Watt
Environmental Parameters
Min operating temperature 50.0 F
Max operating temperature 95.0 F
Operating humidity range 20 - 80%

Video: GeForce FX 5200
Motherboard: Mach Speed MK8-939A
HD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.9

fyi I just want this kubuntu to work on this computer so I can use it to learn linux and experiment.
Thanks for the help

[ardvark71]

Re: Frequency Out of Range error

Hi....

While someone else may know a hack that will solve this problem, on the hardware end of it, it appears your video card is a bit dated. Your motherboard, according to the manual, is capable of running a PCI-E x16 card. Based on the motherboard specs, your card is most surely standard PCI. While I don't know the exact cause of your problem, I'm wondering if upgrading your card might solve it. Here is a card that might work well. You can also try borrowing a monitor to see if the problem is just isolated to yours.

Hope this helps...

Regards...

[dibl]

Re: Frequency Out of Range error

There are more boot options here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions

The issue is almost certainly "power management". I would try "noapic" and "noapm", for example.

@aardvark, the video system designer may have assumed a Windows OS, with installed driver, would be present at boot. It might have been simpler to design the chip to default to "sleep", and let the Windows driver give it a poke every 10 minutes, if there is user activity on the keyboard or mouse.

[ardvark71]

Re: Frequency Out of Range error

@aardvark, the video system designer may have assumed a Windows OS, with installed driver, would be present at boot.

Hi...

Thank you for explaining this.

I really do wish both hardware and software manufacturers would stop assuming this! Although I realize the money factor plays a huge part in how OS's are supported, it would be interesting to consider how viable linux would be with full driver and software support. But that's an entirely different discussion.

Regards...

[awesomealex]

Re: Frequency Out of Range error

Thanks for all the help! Now that my classes are over I've had time to work with the computer again and I finally got it installed from the cd! Dible was right because I checked every option on the more options menu except for the free software one and then everything worked fine! Kubuntu installed successfully! However now I have to figure out how to turn those off for good because now when I start the computer it does the same frequency out of range when kubuntu loads... Do either of you know how to turn those options off after kubuntu is installed?

[dibl]

Re: Frequency Out of Range error

Actually, you still need whichever boot option(s) makes it come up in "awake" mode. Probably there is only one or two that you really need -- perhaps "noapic" and "nolapic".

In the file /etc/default/grub there is a line about four or five down in the uncommented lines that begins like this:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash ....

This is the line where you must add the needed boot options for that card. So, if you use kate in super user mode by doing Alt-F2 "kdesudo kate /etc/default/grub" without the quote marks, then you will edit that line to add the options so that it reads

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash noapic nolapic"

and then save it and exit kate. To make the change effective on the boot menu, you must run

sudo update-grub

If it turns out you also need the "noacpi" option, then add it too. Experiment adding and deleting until you've got the options that are required to bring it up "awake", and then you'll be fine. You need to run the update-grub routine every time you make a change to that default file to make it effective on the menu.