On Mon, 03 Jan 2011 15:34:39 -0500, Ted Roche wrote: [....] > If you execute Xorg :0 -configure as root, it will write out an > xorg.conf. > > man Xorg for more details. > > You would need to stop X before you issue that command, either booting > into a non-X runlevel or switching to one. I'm not sure how you'd do > that in a liveCD, but hope that helps a bit. [....] I'm already forgetting details, especially as to sequence, but the machine is again running largely as it should. I think I misunderstood the directions above at least once; and I couldn't begin to slog all the way through man Xorg, even with Konqueror helping. I *think* I tried some of that, without mounting things, using the live medium -- and didn't seem to succeed. Then I rebooted, took out the DVD, and got the usual hang before boot completed. From there, as usual, I was able to ssh into the machine, and tried the directions above again. I recall a generated xorg.conf in /root/<whatever>, moving the generated xorg.conf I had stoked up in /etc/X11 under ssh to a backup (which I had to become root to do), and then moving the one under /root into its place. At that point, iirc, I rebooted -- and got a usable display. HOORAY!! The present GUI does have a couple of oddities. First, the app that looks much like system-config-display (which I don't have and can't seem to get with yum any more) is now labeled Livna. (Good old Livna! I thought it had been absorbed.) Second, it has a feature that system-config-display never did : it can offer resolutions higher than the one on display. I tried running that clear up to 1680x1050, the monitor's actual size -- and, oddly, got a display cramped into no more than half the screen. (I did not try leaving that, then logging out and back in; didn't think of it; maybe I should.) Anyway, I believe I'll now be able to copy the masses of data on the veteran (archives of my own email and of a couple of lists that I run or help run) onto an external USB hard drive, and thereafter onto a second external one -- where, I trust, my newer machines will be able to get to everything even if I bollix the veteran again -- or if our otherwise excellent developers embrace something that it can't begin to handle ... Many heartfelt thanks to Ted and to Richard! -- Beartooth Staffwright, Neo-Redneck Not Quite Clueless Power User I have precious (very precious!) little idea where up is. -- users mailing list users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe or change subscription options: https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/users Guidelines: http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
