Re: Re: Virge GX (Derek Smith)

"Derek Smith" <derek@marcotte-smith.com> · Mon, 8 Jul 2002 21:08:38 -0400

Thanks Richard, I was starting to give up hope 
on this card- I have actually been combing my local for sale newsgroup looking 
for a cheap replacement.
I will try the new info you have sent, but I am a 
linux newbie so it may take me a bit to get through it! The one thing I have to 
research a bit is to install 3.3.6 rather than 4.X.X. Did you completely remove 
version 4 before installing 3, or did you use version 4 with the XF86_S3 
server?

Wish me luck!!

Thanks again.

Derek

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: 
  Richard Dawson 
  To: newbie@XFree86.Org 
  Sent: Monday, July 08, 2002 7:30 PM
  Subject: Re: Virge GX (Derek 
  Smith)

I believe that I posted this for you before, but perhaps I 
  failed to send it. 
  Your problem seems identical to my problem with a Compaq 4000 and its 

version of the S3 Virge GX card which, as I recall, used the same chip you 
  mention. 

The solution:  use XFree86 version 3.3.6 rather than 4.x.x.  Here 
  is 
what worked for my installation of Redhat 7.2. (Posted Previously) 

Regarding Deskpro (4000?) using S3 ViRGE GX.  I have just gone through 

the same experience.  I am installing RedHat 7.2. 

My symptoms were a small, rectangular area that adjacent to the cursor, 

plus other annoying distortions.  I was using a SonyCPD 1304 monitor 

that was supported by RedHat.. 

I found the solution at "www.dsm.fordham.edu/~moniot/linux-compaq/". 

With RedHat's help (see below) I was able to implement the solution. 

The basic problem seems to be that the XFree86 version 4.XX XF86_SVGA 
  server doesn't support 
Compaq's (OEM version?) of the S3 Virge card.  
  The S3 card is better supported by 
the XFree86 version 3.3.6 XF86_S3 
  server which was also included on the RedHat 7.2 
distribution disks. 

Here is how Red Hat advised me to implement the fix recommended at 

www.dsm.fordham.edu/~moniot/linux-compaq/: 

About the video settings, we suggest that you install the 
  XFree86-S3V 
package which is located at the Red Hat CD#2, under the 
  RedHat/RPMS directory. 

To install that package please use this command: 

rpm -ivh XFree86-S3V* 

Then issue this command to reconfigure the settings: 

Xconfigurator --expert --preferxf3 --server XF86_S3V 

As I recall, there was a little confusion in selecting a server even after 
  getting the ver. 3.3.6 software on the computer.  You need to be certain 
  that you are running version 3.3.6, not version 4.x.  Evenutally I worked 
  through it, and my antique computer was running linux with Xwindows! 

There remained one glitch, however:  When you close an Xwindow you are 
  left with a somewhat garbled text screen.  You can make out enough of 
  what is happening to issue commands, but not to do any sort of complex 
  work.  The site I mentioned above said that there should be a vgareset 
  utility that can be run to restore the text screen, but I never located that 
  software.  Upon rebooting the text screen is restored -- until, of 
  course, you run Xwindows again. 

By the way, there is a big difference between versions 3.3.6 and version 
  4.x versions.  I'm not sure I can articulate it at this point - which is 
  really to say that I'm not sure I remember (or maybe even ever fully 
  understood) the difference.  As I recall, ver. 3.3.6 had individual 
  "driver" or "server" files for different cards, but all "drivers" are 
  contained in one file for 4.X.  Someday I hope to understand all this a 
  lot better than I do now. 

Please advise if you receive this message and tell me whether or not it did 
  you any good.  If necessary, I could dig back through my files to see if 
  I have any further information regarding this problem. 