Getting Help
If your system fails to boot or if you’re unable to complete the Linux installation process, don’t despair: this section will help you troubleshoot your installation.
Failed Graphical Startup or Login
Sometimes, the graphical startup or login fails. This is more likely if your system wasn’t manufactured recently or if it’s a laptop rather than a desktop.
If you don’t see either display manager’s screen, it’s likely that your X configuration isn’t appropriate for your system’s video hardware. It could be that your X configuration requires revision. In the worst case, your system’s video hardware may not be compatible with X; in that event, you’ll nevertheless be able to run nongraphical Linux applications.
Warning
If you see a scrambled image rather than text or images on your monitor, immediately switch off the monitor. If your monitor is an older model, it can be damaged by the incorrect configuration. Using the resources described in the following section, seek help in configuring X to work with your system’s video adapter and monitor.
Additional Resources
As much as I’d like to help you solve your problems in installing Linux, I get too much email to be able to respond personally. But don’t fret: the help you need is probably close by, in one of these sources (roughly ordered by importance and value):
- The Red Hat Enterprise Linux Installation Guide
This guide is distributed with boxed copies of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It’s also ...
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