FC2 graphical installer -> monitor goes blank (no signal)

[Christopher J. Bottaro]

the installer detects my video card properly, but then detects "unknown 
monitor".  then it tries to start X and my monitor goes blank (gets no 
signal).

i tried starting the installer with the line "linux acpi=off apm=off" 
because having those on have caused problems with starting X causing the 
  monitor to lose signal.

any ideas?  thanks for the help.