Averatec monitor problem
Posts: 14
Dear MEPIS team:
I'm almost too happy for words! I installed MEPIS Version 2003.10.02) on my Averatec 3150 today and this version of Linux is the first one to be able to recognize my Smartlink Winmodem and to have Power Control operations that do not run my laptop fan on full speed all the time. Previously, I had tried RedHat9, ASPLinux, Lycoris, Peanut and Knoppix. MEPIS is golden!
The only thing I have not been able to adjust so far is the monitor settings. The screen has a constant flicker that is distracting and irritating. (This also happened with the other versions of Linux that I have tried.) When I went to the MEPIS System Center, under "Mouse and Display" and then "Monitor", I tried to change from what was listed (Unknown/Unknown) to "Generic LCD/Lcd panel 1024 x 768", when I click on "apply" it tells me to restart X or reboot for the settings to take effect. I've both restarted X and rebooted and each time, when I again check the monitor settings in the MEPIS System Center, they are back to the original "Unknown/Unknown". Any suggestions? If I can get this one problem ironed out, this system will be PERFECT!!
Here are some specs for this laptop:
Processor: Mobile AMD Athalon XP(Model 
Monitor: 12.1 inch LCD Panel
Graphics card: S3 ProSavage DDR, PCI Bus
Refresh rate: 60 Hz (for both horizontal and vertical according to both Averatec support and as it is listed in WinXP. WinXP also lists the dpi as 96.) The only information available from the Averatec User's Manual is the size of the monitor - there is almost no technical information in that document!
Appreciatively,
mshaas
Averatec monitor flicker
Posts: 14
Yongjoo,
Thanks for the suggestion. I found that Mandrake 9.2 does not cause a flicker on the screen so I copied the /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file from that distro and tried all of it and parts of it in various combinations with MEPIS. So far, nothing has worked. There must be a magic combination, but I'm still not savvy enough to construct it. MEPIS won't startx with Mandrake's XF86Config-4 file so I had to go in at command line and change the backup file into the Config-4 file. Editing the XF86Config-4 file to change the horizontal and vertical refresh rates in quite a variety of combinations didn't remove the flicker. There's GOT to be a way, because Mandrake can do it.
Would you, or anyone else, be interested in taking a look at both the Mandrake and MEPIS XF86Config-4 file to suggest some constructive blending of the two?
Is there some way to post the
Posts: 14
Is there some way to post them as attachments, or should I just post them in this box? They are both fairly lengthy files.
Here are the files
Posts: 14
Here are the two files, separated by a line of dashes -------.
# MEPIS XF86Config-4
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "XFree86 Configured"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "PS/2 Mouse" "CorePointer"
#InputDevice "USB Mouse" "CorePointer"
#InputDevice "Serial Mouse" "CorePointer"
EndSection
Section "ServerFlags"
Option "AllowMouseOpenFail" "true"
EndSection
Section "Files"
RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
ModulePath "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/PEX"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
# True type and type1 fonts
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/ttf-xfree86-nonfree"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/java"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/freefont"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/openoffice"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/ttf-bitstream-vera"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/ttf/western"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/ttf/decoratives"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/type1/gsfonts"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/defoma/CID"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/defoma/TrueType"
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/CID"
EndSection
Section "Module"
Load "ddc"
Load "GLcore" # disable for official nvidia driver
Load "dbe"
Load "dri" # disable for official nvidia driver
Load "extmod"
Load "glx"
Load "bitmap"
Load "speedo"
Load "type1"
Load "freetype"
Load "record"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
Option "XkbModel" "pc104"
Option "XkbLayout" "defkeymap"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Serial Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "Microsoft"
Option "Device" "/dev/ttyS0"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "false"
Option "Emulate3Timeout" "70"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "PS/2 Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "false"
Option "Emulate3Timeout" "70"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Buttons" "5"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "USB Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Buttons" "5"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
HorizSync 31.5 - 58.5 # Warning: This may fry old Monitors
VertRefresh 40.0 - 70.0 # Very conservative. May flicker.
Modeline "640x480" 25.175 640 664 760 800 480 491 493 525 #60Hz
Modeline "800x600" 40.12 800 848 968 1056 600 601 605 628 #60Hz
Modeline "1024x768" 75 1024 1048 1184 1328 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "1024x768" 85 1024 1056 1152 1360 768 784 787 823
ModeLine "1152x864" 65 1152 1168 1384 1480 864 865 875 985 Interlace
Modeline "1152x864" 92 1152 1208 1368 1474 864 865 875 895
Modeline "1152x864" 110 1152 1240 1324 1552 864 864 876 908
Modeline "1152x864" 135 1152 1464 1592 1776 864 864 876 908
Modeline "1152x864" 137.65 1152 1184 1312 1536 864 866 885 902 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1280x1024" 80 1280 1296 1512 1568 1024 1025 1037 1165 Interlace
Modeline "1280x1024" 110 1280 1328 1512 1712 1024 1025 1028 1054
Modeline "1280x1024" 126.5 1280 1312 1472 1696 1024 1032 1040 1068 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1280x1024" 135 1280 1312 1456 1712 1024 1027 1030 1064
Modeline "1280x1024" 135 1280 1312 1416 1664 1024 1027 1030 1064
Modeline "1280x1024" 157.5 1280 1344 1504 1728 1024 1025 1028 1072 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1280x1024" 181.75 1280 1312 1440 1696 1024 1031 1046 1072 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1400x1050" 129 1400 1464 1656 1960 1050 1051 1054 1100 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 162 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 189 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 202.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 220 1600 1616 1808 2080 1200 1204 1207 1244 +HSync +VSync
ModeLine "1800x1440" 230 1800 1896 2088 2392 1440 1441 1444 1490 +HSync +VSync
ModeLine "1800x1440" 250 1800 1896 2088 2392 1440 1441 1444 1490 +HSync +VSync
EndSection
Section "Device"
#Option "sw_cursor" # needed for some ati cards
#Option "hw_cursor"
#Option "NoAccel"
#Option "ShowCache"
#Option "ShadowFB"
#Option "UseFBDev"
#Option "Rotate"
#Option "NoUseBios" # needed for some Savage cards
# nvidia special options, use with care
Option "CursorShadow" "1"
Option "CursorShadowAlpha" "63"
Option "CursorShadowYOffset" "2"
Option "CursorShadowXOffset" "4"
Option "FlatPanelProperties" "Scaling = native"
Option "NoLogo" "false"
Option "IgnoreEdid" "true" # needs to be true for some nvidia cards
Identifier "Card0"
Driver "savage"
VendorName "All"
BoardName "All"
#BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Card0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultColorDepth 16
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 32
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
# Only the official NVIDIA driver supports twinview
# these setting are an example
Option "TwinView" "false"
Option "SecondMonitorHorizSync" "30-82"
Option "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" "50-75"
Option "MetaModes" "1280x1024, 1280x1024; 1024x768, 1024x768; 640x480, NULL"
Option "TwinViewOrientation" "RightOf"
Option "ConnectedMonitor" "dfp,dfp"
EndSection
Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Mandrake XF86Config-4
# File generated by XFdrake.
# **********************************************************************
# Refer to the XF86Config man page for details about the format of
# this file.
# **********************************************************************
Section "Files"
# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together)
# By default, Mandrake 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of
# the X server to render fonts.
FontPath "unix/:-1"
EndSection
Section "ServerFlags"
#DontZap # disable
#DontZoom # disable
AllowMouseOpenFail # allows the server to start up even if the mouse doesn't work
EndSection
Section "Module"
Load "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension
Load "v4l" # Video for Linux
Load "extmod"
Load "type1"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx" # 3D layer
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard1"
Driver "Keyboard"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "en_US"
Option "XkbOptions" ""
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse1"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "PS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Emulate3Buttons"
Option "Emulate3Timeout" "50"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "monitor1"
VendorName "Generic"
ModelName "Flat Panel 1024x768"
HorizSync 31.5-48.5
VertRefresh 40-70
# Sony Vaio C1(X,XS,VE,VN)?
# 1024x480 @ 85.6 Hz, 48 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1024x480" 65.00 1024 1032 1176 1344 480 488 494 563 -hsync -vsync
# TV fullscreen mode or DVD fullscreen output.
# 768x576 @ 79 Hz, 50 kHz hsync
ModeLine "768x576" 50.00 768 832 846 1000 576 590 595 630
# 768x576 @ 100 Hz, 61.6 kHz hsync
ModeLine "768x576" 63.07 768 800 960 1024 576 578 590 616
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "device1"
BoardName "S3 Savage4 Pro+"
Driver "savage"
VideoRam 32768
Option "DPMS"
# Option "no_accel" # You may enable this if there are timeouts when starting X
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "screen1"
Device "device1"
Monitor "monitor1"
DefaultColorDepth 24
Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 15
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection
EndSection
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "layout1"
InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer"
Screen "screen1"
EndSection
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think
Posts: 4864
that I'll read it tomorrow
(geez, I can't even work out how to put a smiley in the text tonight)
Mystery Smiley
Posts: 14
To tell the truth, I haven't a clue how the smiley face in my first post got there. It wasn't intentional. In the spirit of experimentation, here's a big smiley chosen from the list to the left of the "add new comment" page ---- 
. If that doesn't work, my next one attempted will be a puzzled look smiley. My reaction to the visual effect of the stripped formatting in the previous post listing the two XF86Config-4 files together would be an "aghast face" smiley --- :shock:. Best of luck in figuring out the files!
files
Posts: 4864
are an excellent example of concatenation and i am slowly going cross eyed as I try to put the new lines in
add an extra day, but I'm started
Looking forward to the answer too
Posts: 1
I popped the live CD into my laptop today, and came across the same problem - hardly shocking since I also have the same Averatec model. I'm probably going to stick it on the laptop as well. It'll be handy to have all the same tools with me on the road, and with this distribution, there's LOADs of tools.
I've found that having a "bus
Posts: 14
I've found that having a "busy" wallpaper on the desktop helps with the flicker by disguising it. Light colored plain backgrounds highlight the flicker. While the busy wallpaper is a helpful work-around, I hope a permanent solution is found to the flicker problem. It doesn't flicker in the Windows XP Home that comes with the computer, so there must be a way to eliminate the flicker in Linux. It could be the video driver. I noticed that the MEPIS setup doesn't offer the exact S3 driver for the card (S3 ProSavage DDR KN266). I think the closest one I found was a KN133 if I recall correctly.
Found the answer!
Posts: 14
Happy day!! I've found the solution to the monitor flicker problem on the
Averatec! A forum suggestion by shinwise was the solution. I took the driver
found on a Mandrake install on my machine, copied it to a pen drive, booted
MEPIS and installed the Mandrake driver in MEPIS. The Mandrake driver is
slightly larger than the MEPIS driver by a few Kb, and I held my breath as I
overwrote the old driver with the new, rebooted, and it WORKED! No more screen
flicker! Here is a quote with the specific instructions from shinwise's
suggestion: "Hardware Compatibility Alert--S3 Savage Submitted by shinwise on Fri, 01/02/2004 - 02:31. .... Open the file /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 andscroll down to
the Section "Device" look at the line Driver and note the namelisted there.
Then open file manager and browse to/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drivers and find the
same named driver theredriver-name_drv.o While you are there copy this file to
some type of removableor accesible media within Mepis. After booting into your
Mepis install openSystem/More Programs/File Manager-Super Users Mode and copy
this .o file to/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drivers. Then while still in the Super
Users File Managergo once again to /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 and under the Section
"Device" and DriverLine change "vesa" or "vga" (assume your booting with the
vesa or vga drivernow) to Driver "name of new driver" (without the _drv.o of
course) then go to File/Save. Close Kwrite, File Manager and reboot."
Averatec monitor flicker solved without replacing driver
Posts: 1
After much investigation I have found that loading a different driver is not required to fix the flicker problem.?? The build properly finds the savage card and installs the savage driver ("Driver savage") in the /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file under the "Device" section.?? However, there is an option in the "Device" section which is commented out
?????? #Option "NoUseBios" # needed for some Savage cards
Uncommenting this line (i.e. removing the '#' in front of the word Option) and rebooting the system removes the flicker.
Another issue regarding the video installation is related to the lack of agp support.?? The agp support can be added by modifing the "Device" section of /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 with the additional line of
???? Option "AGPMode" "4"
added to the file and the additional line of
???? agpgart agp_try_unsupported=1
added to the file /etc/modules.
Note: All changes are made as root.?? I suggest making a copy of the original file(s) that you plan to modify.
yeah!
Posts: 1
hey, i have an averatec 3150 laptop also, and the above comment worked for me! Mepis is awesome!
Yessirree!
Posts: 145
I concur doctors: abukofske and oceanplexian . Indeed the Option "NoUseBios" turned the stobe light feature off on??my 3150.??
use a known good XFree86Config-4
Posts: 223
You say you've tried a bunch of other Linux distros? You still have any of them on other partitions? I think the easiest thing to do is just copy the /etc/X11/XFree86Config-4 file from one of those other distributions that you know works with your screen, keyboard, and mouse. Knoppix will probably work, though it's XFree config file tends to be a little bloated. Libranet's adminmenu built a pretty good file for me. The only part of that file that might be MEPIS-specific are the paths to the font directories, I think.
Eventually, I ended up building my own file from bits and pieces of Libranet's and Mepis's files. I know there are scripts (XFree86-configure? xf86-config?) that do this, too, but I haven't used them, so I can't advise on that front.
Seems like Mepis devoted great big gobs of effort to autoconfigure everything else, and hasn't gotten around to XFree86 yet, so from what I can tell, it doesn't seem to autoconfigure that at all yet, just gives you a generic config file that should work with most systems? The monitor settings in MEPIS System Center don't do anything for me, either, so I assume that's still a work in progress.