Dell Latitude CPi - Redhat 8.0 - Display Problem

[kaziah]

I have a Dell Latitude CPi: PII 400 w/128MB RAM and a NeoMagic 256 display adapter. I'm running Redhat 8.0 with all the latest updates from RHN.

I'm new to linux, and this is my first Redhat install (was using Mandrake 8.0, 8.2, and then 9.0). When I was running all three of the Mandrake versions listed above I didn't experience the problems I'm having now, one of which I'll describe below. I'm really growing fond of Redhat though, and so is my wife, so I'd like to iron out the problems if I can, obviously =)

I'm having three problems, but I'm just focusing on the most annoying one this time around. I've been trying google searches on the subject, but haven't had much luck yet =( So here goes....

When Redhat 8.0 loads, all goes well. It then gets to the point to where it should show the bluecurve login screen, but at that precise moment(before anything is displayed) both the LCD and the Monitor go blank. I verified this by trying it with the LCD open and with it closed... it does the same when it's on the CRT only function as well, BUT if the laptop is totally disconnected from a monitor, it displays properly when using only the LCD. I figured out a simple work-around by opening the LCD and cycling through the CRT/LCD function until it comes full circle back to where it started. When I do that, both LCD and CRT get signal again(or just the CRT respectively), and the signal stays UNTIL I logout. When I logout, the displays go blank again and I have to cycle back through the CRT/LCD function again. It does this whether it's docked or not. I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to linux so I tried totally re-installing Redhat with it docked and then undocked to see if it was some sort of issue with that, but it still does it. I can put Mandrake back on the laptop and I don't have the problem.

I think I've covered everything, but if I remember something else I'll post a follow-up.

I'd appreciate any help anyone can offer. It's not a critical issue, just an annoying one =(

Thanks in advance for any help offered,

Kaziah
Linux Newbie

[pbharris]

hello,
tough one - i am thinking this is apm acting up where it should not be, and unffortunately i don't have a good answer, but a couple of guesses - did you install the laptop support packages? also, how lng does it take before the scren goes blank and you need to do this?

[kaziah]

I'm sorry for the delay in replying. The holidays have me in and out quite a bit.

Well, as I mentioned above, I'm very new to Linux so I doubt I've installed any support packages specific to my laptop since I don't remember doing anything like that =) All I have done really is a mostly standard install (just added a couple of packages that weren't auto-selected, and that I was familiar with in Mandrake like the extra XMMS plugins, skins etc.). I've also completed all the updates that RHN offers. Past that though... I'm lost at sea =) I'm very MS brainwashed, but I'm trying to re-program myself with the help of friendly folk like yourself =)

Where would I find support packages specific to my laptop? Just google for it or is there a site dedicated to the collection of support packages?

As for the ammount of time it takes for the display to go blank... I'm not sure I completely understand what answer you're looking for, but I'll describe that moment in more detail below:

The text flys by with the [OK]s etc. when starting up, and then it starts to load the graphical part where ya login. It actually blinks to the text based login the moment before it goes blank. It takes about 1 or 2 seconds for it flash the text login and then go blank on both displays as soon as the startup process is over. I can immediately cycle through the CRT/LCD functions and get video again.

Is that what you meant by how long?

Oh, I also looked for BIOS updates today after I read your initial reply. The Dell site only shows A14 as the latest, which is what I have. I peaked in the BIOS, and APM is turned on, but I wasn't sure what to look for that might be contributing to my problem. If I need to look for something specific to change in the BIOS in addition to looking for the support packages to install, let me know what to look for =) I haven't a clue myself =)

When I logout, it happens after everything is exited out and precisely when the bluecurve login is suppose to pop back up(or as far as I know anyway).

Now that I think about it, when I had Mandrake installed, it use to power off the monitor and "click" when it logged out and/or started X etc. as well... but it always immediately "clicked" again and came back on (the clicking I'm referring to is like when you adjust your resolution in windows - sorry, my only reference relates to the evil empire *grin*).

Thanks again, I really do appreciate the help =)
Seriously,

Kaziah

[storm2k]

sounds like it's most likely a bug with the neomagic chip drivers that ship with redhat 8, especially if you can get video right after cycling the power.

as a solution: try this. go under the hat menu (aka the kmenu or the gnome foot) and click on system settings, and then display. click on the advanced tab and we can try a few things.

first try and let it probe your videocard. it might have the wrong driver setup. next try one of the other neomagic drivers listed in the list on the left. one might do the trick. it's a stop gap anyway, neomagic is a lousy videochipset and has a lot of bugs under linux unfortunately.

then go under dispaly and make sure your display is set as dell1024x laptop display or dell 1280x laptop display, depending on which native resolution your laptiop supports (i believe the cpi allows for 1024 only).

hope this helps!

[kaziah]

My display was listed as an "Optiquest Q71" which is the monitor I haved plugged into the laptop. I changed it to a Dell 1024x Laptop Display and then tried the functions again to see if it helped.

Well, after that, I powered on the laptop and left the lid open while on the function that displays to both CRT and LCD. When doing this it behaves normally =) I no longer lose my displays on both at the moment I described earlier, but if I shut the lid to the laptop or manually cycle to the CRT only function, it goes back to doing what it did before. However, that's at least better than it was before, and I'm more than willing to leave the laptop lid open while in use =)

I think, for now, I'll just be happy with that and move on to another problem I was having. It's Christmas, and I have other new toys to play with anyway =)

Thanks,
Kaziah

[kaziah]

Well, this is a pretty old thread, but I thought I'd add this:

I recently installed RH9 clean. The weird LCD/CRT toggle problem I was having before while docked is gone now... so I don't have to even put up with a 'work around' now =) I have no idea what it was, but something in RH9 must of cured it =)

Kaziah =)

[Scott Tiger]

Good! Consider it progress.