Boot video problem

[Sylviane et Perry White]

On Saturday 01 September 2007 01:45, Stew Schneider wrote:
> I post this periodically, hoping somebody might have come across it. So,
> here goes, again.
>
> I'm running Feisty. If I turn the machine off, then restart it, the
> video shows the Gateway splash screen, then "Kubuntu" with the blue
> progress bar, but a wide vertical bar on the right side that I can clear
> by hitting Auto on the LCD.

Looks like a video problem to me.

>
> Booting proceeds, and I get a wristwatch for a mouse cursor, then an
> arrow. The arrow then freezes, a white square appears in the center of
> the screen, and that's that for booting.

What do you mean, in your previous post (Jul 25) you mentionned a black 
screen? Could a video problem freeze the computer? If not you should be able 
to get some noticeable reaction (disk activity) from the computer with 
keyboard shortcuts, try ctr-alt + or ctrl-alt - for screen resolution, or
crtl-alt bksp to kill x server, or alt F2 and a command.
What happens when you boot in text mode?
Have you tried another monitor or that monitor on another computer (or another 
systemif available)?

>
> If, on the other hand, I put in ANY live CD (Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Knoppix --
> doesn't seem to matter), and choose Boot from First Harddrive, I'm good
> to go. Video is normal and I get to the login screen just fine.

I can't explain that. I thought a "CD boot from First Harddrive" would only 
provide its bootloader, then take all settings from hard drive. (Maybe I'm 
wrong)
You probably have tried succesive reboots without the CD and got consistent 
results, haven't you?

>
> So, the put-in-a-liveCD workaround works around the problem, but that's
> a dorky way to fix it. Anybody have any idea what's going on?
>
> stew

Hi Stew,

Im not a specialist, I only hope my questions would help clarify if the 
problem is with the video or something else. It could be in the greeting page 
of Kubuntu (KMenu/SystemSettings/(advanced tab) Connexion Manager) and I 
would try to change something there and save, just to see, and also play with 
screen resolutions.
It doesn't make sense to me why you can boot with the CD'help but when I have 
a problem on my machine I often solve it by trying almost everything.

Perry




P.S. I swear the BOFH excuse below was randomly selected, but I am amazed how 
often it seems related to the mail's subject. 
-- 
BOFH excuse #161: monitor VLF leakage