kernel 2.4.22-1.2194 burned my monitor

[Jeff Vian]

Hongwei Li wrote:

>Hi,
>
>We have a fc1 linux with kernel 2.4.22-1.2188 and 2.4.22-1.2194 installed.
>The X-window was working well with kernel 2.4.22-1.2188.  This morning, I
>ran up2date to get kernel 2.4.22-1.2194, installation went through without
>error.  However, after reboot, the X-window cannot start.  The monitor
>shows the text-mode login screen, then a sound of clicking, then black,
>then the text-mode login screen, then a sound of clicking, ... endless.  I
>restart the system and select kernel 2.4.22-1.2188, X-window cannot start
>either now, the same as above.
>
>It seems that the monitor has been damaged by kernel 2.4.22-1.2194. I
>could test another monitor on it, but before doing that, I want to know
>how to set the system starting with a pure text mode, then I can probe a
>new monitor to prevent it from burned.
>
>Thanks a lot!
>
>Hongwei Li
>
>  
>
Not likely a damaged monitor.  Something has possibly changed the config 
for the xserver and the black screen/clicking is the server trying to 
start and failing.

To boot to text mode (using grub) simply press an "a" when the menu with 
the kernel list displays and add a simple "3" (or "init 3") on the end 
of the kernel command line.

You can boot to runlevel 3 and hand edit /etc/X11/XF86config to a safe 
value for your hardware so it will allow the X server to start. Then you 
can use the display config panel to probe/reset the parameters for your 
hardware and it should be ok after that.