<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> </head> <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000"> Sorry this is a bit long, but there's quite a lot of information to give. [text is also attached as a pdf] <meta http-equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> Installation problem I recently bought an Acer Aspire S 13 which came with Windows 10. I have put up with earlier versions of Windows for many years, but Windows 10 was the last straw. After seeing what Windows 10 was like, I decided that I had to remove it from the computer altogether, which basically meant that I had to switch to Linux. I had not used Linux before, but got some help from a friend who had. We worked through the installation process, with several hiccups, and eventually had Linux Mint 18.1 Serena up and running from the hard drive. A restart then failed, with "No bootable device". We got around this problem with help from the web, by reinstalling Linux with diffferent settings, but sorry I can't remember details. We managed to close and restart the m/c once successfully, but then it wouldn't start. It gave a stream of messages ending with: "The X server is now disabled. Restart MDM when it is configured correctly.". But then, after a few other actions, I found I could get the m/c to restart and run OK. But it isn't OK really ..... ..... can anyone help me to get the m/c to power up and run normally? The full(ish) history is as follows: <ul> <li> Downloaded Linux Mint 18.1 Cinnamon 64-bit from (I think) <a href="https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php">https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php</a> </li> <li> Wrote a USB memory stick (20GB reqd) as instructed in <a href="http://www.avoiderrors.net/uninstall-windows-and-install-linux-mint/">http://www.avoiderrors.net/uninstall-windows-and-install-linux-mint/</a> except that I didn't do the "change the boot sequence in the BIOS" because I was on a different computer at the time (and then forgot). </li> <li> Booted the Acer from the memory stick. </li> <li> Ran "Install Linux Mint" to get Linux onto the hard drive. Used options to remove Windows 10 completely - no going back. It took several attempts at this, trying different settings, before it worked. </li> <li> Restarted from hard drive successfully (ie, memory stick removed before turning on). </li> <li> Shut down the m/c, powered on next morning, and got: "Failed to start the X server (your graphical interface). It is likely that it is not set up correctly. Would you like to view the X server output to diagnose the problem?" - answered "Yes". </li> <li> The resulting output stream contained (selected lines only): </li> </ul> - - - (WW) The directory "usr/share/fonts/x11/cyrillic" does not exist. Entry deleted from font path. (WW) -- same message for ../100dpi (WW) -- same message for ../75dpi (WW) -- same message for ../100dpi [again] (WW) -- same message for ../75dpi [again] - - - (++) using VT number 7 - - - (EE) VESA (0): V_BIOS address 0x0 out of range - - - (EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration (EE) Fatal server error: (EE) no screens found (EE) (EE) Please consult the X.org foundation support at <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wiki.x.org">http://wiki.x.org</a> for help (EE) Please also check the log file at "var/log/Xorg.0.log" (EE) (EE) Server terminated with error (1). Closing log file. [Exit] <ul> <li> I then was given the message: "The X server is now disabled. Restart MDM when it is configured correctly.". </li> </ul> I couldn't check the log file, because I couldn't access anything on the m/c. One of the websites I have visited trying to find the causes of the various problems indicated that the Acer itself was a cause of problems. Sorry I can't remember which one. On <a href="https://www.x.org/wiki/ConfigurationHelp/">https://www.x.org/wiki/ConfigurationHelp/</a> it advised "As root just run: <code class="western">X -configure</code>". After turning the m/c off and on again, there was a screen saying: Linux Mint 18.1 Serena mike-Aspire-S5-371T login: I gave my userid ("mike" - should I have used "root"?) and password, and then keyed in: X -configure The multi-line reply went thus: X.org X Server 1.18.4 Release Date: 2016-07-19 X Protocol Version 11. Revision 0 Build Operating System: Linux 4.4.0-45-generic x86_64 ubuntu Current Operating System: Linux mike-Aspire-S5-371T 4.4.0-53-generic #74-ubuntu SMP Fri Dec 2 15:59:10 UTC 2016 x86_64 Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-53-generic root=UUID=5cba3833-f404-4f25-b775-2f750ad191b6 ro recovery nomodeset Build Date: 02 November 2016 10:06:10pm xorg-server 2:1.18.4-0ubuntuu0.2 (For technial support please see <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.ubuntu.com/support">http://www.ubuntu.com/support</a>) Current version of pixman: 0.33.6 Before reporting problems, check <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wiki.x.org">http://wiki.x.org</a> to make sure that you have the latest version. Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting, (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) Informational, (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown. (==) Log file: "/home/mike/.local/share/xorg/Xorg.0.log", Time: Mon Jul 3 12:57:26 2017 List of video drivers: amdgpu ati intel nouveau qx1 vboxvideo vmware modesetting fbdev vesa radeon xf86enableIOPorts: failed to set IOPL for I/O (Operation not permitted) (++) using config file: "home/mike/xorg.conf.new" (==) Using system config directory "usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d" modprobe: ERROR: could not insert '1915': Operation not permitted intel: waited 2020 ms for 1915.ko driver to load modprobe: ERROR: could not insert '1915': Operation not permitted Number of created screens does not match number of detected devices. Configuration failed. (EE) Server terminated with error (2). Closing log file. I held down the power button for some seconds in order to shut down. Then, in spite of the above error messages, I tried restarting. This time I held down F2 while powering on, and the m/c started normally after presenting a 'boot' dialogue. Programs such as Firefox and Thunderbird worked OK with web connection etc. All good. I closed down normally. I then pressed Power key to restart. Nothing (black screen, keyboard turned itself off after a few seconds). Tried shift-Power. Still black screen, but keyboard stayed lit up. I had to hold Power down to get it to turn off. F2-Power still worked, but there's a 'boot' dialogue to press Enter on, and it's a pretty unsatisfactory way of powering up. PS. After writing all of the above, I tried a normal startup again - just the Power button - and it worked! I don't know whether I'm now in the clear, or whether the problem will recur. Any help is welcome. PPS. I definitely downloaded Cinnamon, but the system says it's Serena. <title></title> <meta name="GENERATOR" content="OpenOffice.org 3.4.1 (Win32)"> <style type="text/css">  </style> </body> </html>