configure xorg for flat panel

[PJ]

Alex Deucher wrote:
> On Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 7:10 AM, PJ <af.gourmet at videotron.ca> wrote:
>   
>> PJ wrote:
>>     
>>> Somehow, the web does show there are problems setting up flat panels but
>>> I have found no solutions.
>>> FreeBSD 7.2, Xorg 1.6 something - it's the latest for FBSD, driver is nv
>>> (Nvidia) FX5600, the monitor is LG W2361.
>>> I cannot find any errors in /var/log/Xorg.0.log
>>> # Xorg -config xorg.conf.new
>>> produces only a black screen regardless of what mouse I may be using -
>>> the mouse setup is always "auto" and "sysmouse" - the log shows
>>> "Silkenmouse" enabled (At the moment it is an IBM usb with button (cute
>>> blue) :-)
>>> the keyboard - same stuff: specify an "us,ca" keyboard or leave it as
>>> default...
>>> Same for the mode of the monitor same non-functionality as DVI or as
>>> DSUB - digital or analog.
>>> "AllowEmptyInput" "off" only prevents getting out of the test mode -
>>> even ctl/Alt/Del does not respond.
>>> The log shows that the monitor is being detected correctly; the
>>> parameters for the monitor are displayed correctly... but there is no
>>> mouse, no keyboard, no image
>>> "DontZap" has no discernible effect.
>>> hal is on
>>> I have no problems with Xorg on this machine or another with analog
>>> monitors. All work just fine.
>>> Xorg just plain refuses to start... yet the monitor works fine on XP as
>>> digital or analog and works in dual mode with another analog monitor.
>>> And, yes I did read the manual and did try various options suggested on
>>> the web....
>>> So what's the story here?
>>> I tried to avoid bothering the list, but this is getting a little
>>> ridiculous.
>>> Oh, yes, at one point when shutting down with ctl/alt/del there was a
>>> very clear X in the middle of the screen - but it would not move and
>>> then the machine rebooted.
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> xorg mailing list
>>> xorg at lists.freedesktop.org
>>> http://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/xorg
>>>
>>>       
>> I see no one seems to know anything about flat panels on Xorg.
>>
>> Well, I did get it up and running, but no thanks to any information in
>> either the xorg or freebsd manuals...
>>
>> I accidentally ran startx and to my great surprise the screen came up
>> with fluxbox and did work, albeit very sporadically... it kept going
>> black and sort-of flickered.
>> I shutdown and checked the log and lo and behold, the configuration file
>> was one I had forgotten about that came from another computer from where
>> the current disk was cloned.
>> So, with a little tweaking, the thing now works - but the what and the
>> why excape me completely.
>> The configurations does not need any parameters for horiz or vertical
>> scanning - only the screen depth and monitor size. I guess the name of
>> the manufacturer and the model are irrelevant. Oh yes, the
>> AllowEmptyInput had to be "off" ; �the DontZap was also "off"
>> Setting the FlatPanel settings (3 of them) to "True" does not seem to
>> make any difference whether they are T of F.
>> So, although it now works, configuration is still a total mystery.
>> Does anyone understand just what is going on or are we just groping in
>> the dark along with our blind leaders?
>>     
>
> Most drivers get the modes out of the edid provided by the monitor.
> Digital monitors tend to be very picky about the timing they get, so
> if the mode info you were providing was different than that preferred
> modes in the edid, that would explain the problems.
>   
Actually, I did provide timing that was supposed to be supported
according to what was probed by FreeBSD or was it Xorg...

But this does not explain why hal did not function correctly... as far
as I can see, hal is a piece of crap. It has never fuctioned on any of
my installations, and there have been several. I really am offended for
being taken as a guinea pig for some greenhorn programmers who don't
have common sense. So far, it looks like the only way to get things
running with Xorg is by "blind man's bluff" - grope and poke and hope
something works.