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trouble loading xwindows

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hnugz:
I installed red hat 9 on my new laptop which is an emachine with a widescreen monitor.  The only two choices I had for resolution are 640x480 and 800x600.  I chose 800x600.  When I started linux for the first time it goes to the localhost login and blinks 3 times before saying it could not start the xwindows system.  Apparently it doesn't think I have a monitor.  When it asked me which monitor to select during the setup I just left it at the default because I didn't know what else to pick.  How can I fix this problem?

solo:
now wait. does it say "no screens found"?

or ScreenInit error?

or something else?

If it says no screens found you should log in in the console (with your normal user name) and do

less /var/log/XFree86.0.log

look for errors. Errors would look like (as an example):

nv(0): Can't initialize memory

The error message may be different and replace nv with something similiar or related to your hardware.
You should be able to figure out whether something is an error or not.

sorry for the vagueness, im tired.

hnugz:
After logging in as root I tried startx.  Then I get the error that says:

(EE) No devices detected.

Fatal server error:
no screens found.

I was looking around and saw that you can change the monitor using Xconfigurator, but when I tried that it said the command could not be found.  Any other suggestions?

hnugz:
OK after lots of poking around I found the linux laptop site where it showd how to configure for a lot of different laptops.  Unfortunately there wasn't a guide on mine but I did find some which had the installation with a widescreen.  Basically all of them said they needed to edit the XF86Config file.  Here is one in particular:  http://www.x123.info/?menu=docs/i8500.  First of all, what is the difference between XF86Config and XF86Config-4?  Also, could I damage my monitor by just copying that exact config file and using it on my machine?

BouncingAyatollah:
I'm not gonna be much help because I don't know if there are any peculiarities with setting up X for a laptop, not having done this, but you could try this.

Log into a console in text mode as root.

Try xf86config

mv XF86Config XF86Config.old

or something like that first so you have a backup.

This will go through some questions re: your keyboard, mouse, screen etc. and set up a basic XF86Config file for you. Make sure you have details of hardware to hand, e.g. refresh rates and resolutions before you start.

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