Problems with starting Xubuntu

[Nils Kassube]

Joep L. Blom wrote:
> I just installed Xubuntu 11.10 on a system on a 1 TB Hitachi disk
> from an USB-stick.

> However, when I started from the disk The graphical interface was
> unusable. I graphic mode (in which it started) the monitor displayed
> "signal out of range" and when I shifted to terminal (CTRL-ALT-F1)
> the characters are illegible, rather large some are in reverse
> script and others are not recognizable.
> The monitor is an LM17N with specs 1280x1024 at 75Hz H-freq 31-81 V-freq
> 56-75. I thought reasonable values, i suspect that Xubuntu uses a
> V-freq over 75 Hz and the monitor refuses that.
> However, How can I correct this. Using Esc. when starting or F4
> doesn't work. 

ESC was used with the old GRUB but 11.10 uses GRUB2. There you can get 
to the boot menu if you hold the shift key.

> Using the Live USB I looked at the xorg.conf but there
> nothing is seen (only default for device and screen).

That's normal because the xserver doesn't need the xorg.conf any longer. 
However if it exists, it would be used.

> The video-card is I think an NVIDIA board but it is a somewhat older
> system (2005) and worked always without a problem (with Ubuntu 8.04
> and Windows).

You can find out which video card you have from the command line with 
this command:

lspci | grep -i vga

I would suggest to check the file "/var/log/Xorg.0.log". Perhaps there 
is a hint what went wrong with the monitor setup.

Do you still have an old xorg.conf from a previous *Ubuntu version? You 
could try to use that file with the current Xubuntu version.


Nils