• Definition of GUI, X window, XFree86 & Window Managers
    • WM info at  http://www.plig.org/xwinman/ .
  • Video Card Probing
    • Problems and reasons for failure (ISA, AGP, unsupported, etc)
    • Chipset vs. model
  • Custom Monitor Setup
    • Terms:
      • Refresh rate - how many times per second (Hz) your monitor writes the image. <72Hz hurts.
      • Resolution - The size of your display, measured in pixels (width x hieght)
    • Choosing the generic monitor closest to yours
      • If you have your monitor's manual, choose the highest resolution it can handle from the list
      • If you don't have your montitor manual, visit  http://www.netmaster.ca/fvlug/monitor/
      • If it is not listed there, base decision on your windows resolution @ 72Hz if you know it.
      • If not, choose 1024x768 @ 60Hz (All monitors should support at least 800x600 @ 72hz)
    • Choosing the Vertical refresh frequency range of your monitor.
      • If you have a manual, choose the highest range that is less than your monitor's
      • If you don't have you manual, visit  http://www.netmaster.ca/fvlug/monitor/
      • If your monitor is not listed there, choose 50-90
    • Choosing your desired resolution
      • If you don't like what RedHat autoprobes, don't worry, we'll fix it later
    • Finish install & reboot.
  • What to do if something goes wrong or if you are not happy
    • Video chipset probe failure
      • Unsupported: http://www.suse.de/XSuSE/XSuSE_E.html,  ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/XFCom/ (laptops, neomagic), and  ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/XBF/ (i740)
      • S3V AGP should use the SVGA server (probe is wrong). Must specify s3_virge in the Chipset line.
    • Playing with /etc/X11/XF86Config
      • Overview
        • Pointer Section
        • Monitor section
          • Modelines
        • Device Section
        • Screen Section
      • Resolution/Refresh problems
        • Entering the exact values for HorizSync and VertRefresh
        • Pick the modes you like and put them in the Screen section. Modeline names may be altered.
      • Display qwirks
        • For higher refresh rates, raise the dotclock of your modeline. Xfree throws out modelines with dotclocks too high for your Vsynch and Hsynch ranges.
        • xvidtune can be used to adjust your display position & size. (So you don't have to change your monitor's settings)
      • Virtual Resolution - Godsend or annoyance?
    • Common Errors
      • Completly garbled or "screaming" screen.
        • Selected Resolution too high
        • Refresh rate too high (lower Vsync and/or Hsync)
      • Extremely large display (320x200)
        • SVGA server is being used, but no chipset has been specified.
      • Color is bad in programs.
        • Make sure you have a Depth directive in the proper Screen section.
        • Make sure you have enough video ram for your setup (resolution x depth / 8)
        • As a last resort, try startx -- -bpp 16
  • Finishing up
    • To start X, type startx from your prompt.
      • Sheild thy eyes, for fvwm95 is hellspawn