Undefined Mode Number - Boot-up
Posts: 1
Had the following message today during boot-up:
"You passed an undefined mode number. Press [Return] to see video modes available or press [spacebar] to continue"
Had a look round the forums and couldn't find much on the matter.
So here's what I did to rectify the problem:
I have a Dell Dimension 3000 and it appears my BIOS had reset to default (trying to seek a floppy drive was an immediate give away as I don't have one installed!)
1. F2 into BIOS setup when PC starts up
2. Scroll down to 'Integrated Devices (LegacySelect Options)' and hit RETURN
3. Scroll down to where it says 'Onboard Video Buffer' and if it says 1MB hit right arrow key until you see 8MB (source of problem)
4. Hit ENTER to set
5. Press ESC and save new settings
Now at reboot, after selecting kernel in grub menu, the bootsplash (pyramid and moon picture) should reappear.
A bit long-winded this guide but I hope it helps anyone who may encounter the same problem. If anyone knows why the video setting at 1MB causes the initial problem then I'd like to know. I merely changed to 8MB through a process of elimination.
Good Luck!
Mike
What Changed?
Posts: 5513
Mike, you said you had the following message TODAY. So what has changed since today? Did you update anything, change some hardware, modify some configuration files?
Based on what you changed, we can give better instructions on correcting things. Also, what resolution did you have, or want to have on your monitor during boot up? Because there is a not-so-intuitive bunch of values that you can pass to the "vga=" variable. "vga=791" (without quotes, and no space) is common, and often works. You can test it by entering it on the boot line when you start up. Just use your left-arrow key to go to where the vga statement is and change it.
Jon
The ability to comfortably use a computer is directly proportional to desire to listen, learn, and experiment, and is inversely proportional to the fear, anger, and stubbornness that you show.
I was having the same
Posts: 36
I was having the same problem with a machine containing an
Intel 945 chipset and Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop.
The grub menu option had vga=0x317 which according to the output of hwinfo --framebuffer ought to work. Couldn't find a mode number that would make the bootsplash work.
I was getting nowhere with the problem until I found this forum post. Looked in the BIOS, there was an option called 'On-chip frame buffer size' and it was set to 1mb. Changed it to 8mb. Problem solved.