Difference between revisions of "X configuration"
m (→How to edit the file: formatting for the commands is a little easier and stands out more) |
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==How to edit the file== | ==How to edit the file== | ||
| − | Using [[nano]] or another command line editor as root, you open up the file: | + | Using [[nano]] or another command line editor as [[root]], you open up the file: |
nano -w /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 | nano -w /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 | ||
| − | Then you'll need to look for what you have to change. One common change is the video driver, for instance from <code>"nvidia"</code> to <code>"nv"</code> (closed source to open source drivers for nVidia cards). Look through the file until you find the <code>"Device"</code> section, and change the value of the <code>Driver</code> line to match the correct driver. Another common change is the default color depth, which is under the <code>"Screen"</code> section, on a line labeled <code>DefaultDepth</code>. | + | Then you'll need to look for what you have to change. One common change is the video [[driver]], for instance from <code>"nvidia"</code> to <code>"nv"</code> (closed source to open source drivers for nVidia cards). Look through the file until you find the <code>"Device"</code> section, and change the value of the <code>Driver</code> line to match the correct driver. Another common change is the default color depth, which is under the <code>"Screen"</code> section, on a line labeled <code>DefaultDepth</code>. |
Make your changes and save the file, then quit out of the editor. As root, you'll want to try to start X again, which you accomplish by: | Make your changes and save the file, then quit out of the editor. As root, you'll want to try to start X again, which you accomplish by: | ||
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For more information, type: | For more information, type: | ||
| − | man XF86Config-4 | + | [[man]] XF86Config-4 |
at the command line. | at the command line. | ||
Revision as of 17:05, 24 August 2005
Overview of contents
The /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file holds configuration information for the XF86 windowing system. This includes information on the keyboard, mouse, monitor, and video card, as well as some special options for resolution, fancy graphics display, and multi-headed systems. The file is broken up into sections such as "InputDevice" for mice and keyboards, "Monitor" for monitors, and just plain "Device" for video cards themselves. The "Screen" section has meta information about combining all the pieces together correctly.
We are going to have to deal with this file most often because magix somehow fails to create it correctly. In these situations, we need to make small tweaks to fix things.
How to edit the file
Using nano or another command line editor as root, you open up the file:
nano -w /etc/X11/XF86Config-4
Then you'll need to look for what you have to change. One common change is the video driver, for instance from "nvidia" to "nv" (closed source to open source drivers for nVidia cards). Look through the file until you find the "Device" section, and change the value of the Driver line to match the correct driver. Another common change is the default color depth, which is under the "Screen" section, on a line labeled DefaultDepth.
Make your changes and save the file, then quit out of the editor. As root, you'll want to try to start X again, which you accomplish by:
/etc/init.d/kdm restart
If this doesn't work again, check the log file:
less /var/log/XFree86.0.log
and try again.
For more information, type:
man XF86Config-4
at the command line.