[Xpert]idiot-proof Xconfig

[Ir. Hj. Othman bin Hj. Ahmad]

I posted an idiot-proof Xconfig in the 90s and had used it successfully in dealing with different cards and monitors. It even worked on Diamond Edge 3D 2000 display cards although it worked only on vga modes.   I am disappointed that the ideas presented on the idiot-proof Xconfig is not followed by subsequent developers of XFree systems. Except the improvement in the accuracy of the core clock detector.   The XF86Setup(?) failed on 2 linux systems that I tested using some old cards, both Trident PCI based display cards, not even on basic display modes.   The bootcd OSs that I tested was the dynebolic 0.3 and lnx-bbc 1.6xx. Both filed to even display something on the screen. The pointer devices did not fail although both assume ps/2 mouse, which was not used by my systems.   The methods of changing modes are not even mentioned in the XF86Config, i.e ctrl+alt+"+". I already forgot how to program the Xconfig and had to retrieve my old idiot-proof Xconfig. Hopefully it should be able to display something.   My recommendation to the XFree team is to include sample XConfig or equivalent which use the standard vga driver instead of the more exotic drivers so that beginners can at least sample the X screens.   Alternative Xconfig using different sets of display cards can be provided in the distribution in the same directory as the sample Xconfig.   Error messages should point out to these alternative Xconfig files.   The methods of changing modes should also be clearly pointed out through the Xconfig or error messages in case we receive corrupt displays.     I shall report further progress on my experiments and will attempt to inform as many diverse groups of these free OSs in the net.