On Fri, 22 Mar 2002, Avinash Gupta wrote:

> I have tried all PPC distributions including Yellow Dog, Debian and SuSE 
> (currently using Debian), but I have yet to see any that was able to start 
> the installer without any custom boot parameters, in case you have a Apple 
> 17" Studio Display. In my case the installer only works with the following 
> boot parameters:
> 
> video=aty128fb:vmode:20
> 
> Also, after the installation is complete, these custom parameters are not 
> remebered and put in the "append=..." line in yaboot.conf automatically, 
> forcing you to remember to type them in on the first boot after installation. 
> This is extremely confusing for a newbie since they get a blank screen after 
> rebooting.
> 

I certainly could remember the settings and add them in the yaboot setup,
but I think this is the exception, rather than the rule.  With current
kernels, I haven't had to use any video= settings on any of the machines I
have access to in some time.  Maybe only in the case of the custom
settings, I could pass another argument to clue the installer in that
custom options are desired.  What do you think?

> Another problem with this card/monitor combo is that X only
works in 
> 1280x1024 mode, unless you provide a custom modeline. The modeline that works 
> for me is:
> 
> Modeline "1024x768"   112.62  1024 1068 1240 1420  768  768  780  808 +hsync 
> +vsync
> 

I'm always happy to add modelines. I believe there is one in there already
for the Studio Display that someone else recommended. I can add yours too.

> It would be nice if this mode could be detected automaticaly during 
> installation if someone chooses the Apple Studio Display, and the 
> XF86Config-4 generated appropriately. 
> 

There really aren't any modelines generated by the installer.  We provide
some stock ones that work on a number of machines, and generally X is
pretty good these days at setting itself up.

> It seems like a lot of people use the Apple Studio Display and are turned off 
> from trying Linux PPC because of the install problems discussed above.
> 
> It would be great if Mandrake could somehow add these "autodetect" features 
> to their installation routine. Just my thoughts ...
> 

Thanks for the feedback.  I  appreciate it, as I have limited access to
machines, so it's only through all of your feedback that we can address
specific issues.

Stew Benedict

-- 
MandrakeSoft    OH/TN, USA http://people.mandrakesoft.com/~sbenedict/
PPC FAQ: http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/demos/PPC/FAQ/
Cooker-PPC IRC:  irc.openprojects.net/#cooker-ppc


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