Installing XFree86 3.1.2

My preferred installation method was to actually go and grab the various packages directly from a sunsite mirror, rather than use the Slackware disk sets. This was due to the extremely small nature of my HD...

The installation, once I sorted out where things were meant to be unpacked, was fairly straightforward. Note that with version 3.1.2 of XF86, the WD90C24 chipset is directly supported. There is another document available, the X-Notebook mini HOWTO, which details the general installation of X on a laptop computer, without going into great specifics on individual computers. This is an excellent reference, and I found it extremely useful when working on installing X.

I've actually installed the packages which are marked (R)equired, plus an old version of fvwm and rxvt. I got these from the TinyX distribution, which is one to check out, if you only want monochrome, and don't mind having XFree86 2.0. I tried briefly to get the TinyX SVGA server to work, but eventually gave up in favor of getting the current server. (See the problem I mention below.)

When you install X (if you choose to do the configuration yourself rather than using my XF86Config), these are the vital, important points to remember:

• Your computer has a WD90C24 chipset. The 3400 has the A model (WD90C24A), and the 3600 has the A2 model (WD90C24A2), although this currently makes no difference as far as the user is concerned.
• Your LCD screen should be treated as a standard 640x480 monitor (ie, pick the most constrained options for monitor config, or use the specs for the external monitor you'll be using).
• On monochrome machines, you have 512k of available VRAM when using the internal screen, due to the way the screen is drawn. (You really have 1024, but if you try to assert that, you'll get doubled images.) There is still 1024k available when driving an external monitor. Use a virtual desktop of 800x600 when using the LCD.
• Active-matrix machines are not apparently subject to this memory limitation (again due to the way the screen is drawn in hardware). If you have a color machine, you should be able to use 1024k and a 1024x768 virtual desktop with no trouble.
• The AccuPoint mouse is a PS/2 mouse, and should be treated as such. Note that this means running selection/gpm will interfere with X starting, and you'll probably have to kill it before X will start properly (there may be a workaround available in the current Busmouse-HOWTO, but my copy -- which appears to date from around kernel 1.0 -- doesn't have one). If startx dies with the "Device or Resource Busy" message, this is what's happening.

Problem: video mode

The only brief problem I encountered was that for some reason, the desktop was tiled over itself in a random (but reproducible) pattern. It took me most of an evening to discover that, at least on the 3400 monochrome version, the video hardware must be set to 'Simultaneous' display mode or it won't work properly. On the 3400 monochrome, this is accomplished by entering the BIOS setup menu (hold down the [ESC] key while the system is rebooting; press [F1] at the prompt), and selecting 'Simultaneous' instead of 'Internal/External' mode in the 'Display' box. On the color versions, it's not necessary to use the BIOS menu.

On the color machines (eg. 3400CT and 3600CT), the [Fn] + [F5] hotkey combination switches between internal/simultaneous/external display modes, and on the monochrome (3400), it only selects internal/external. On the 3600, this setting appears to make no difference to XFree86's operation *. This suggests that color 3400's will also have no problem with the different settings either.

Problem: video timings

Michael Holve reports that if the video mode timings (in the modeline definitions) on his 3600CT are even slightly wrong, the screen will go all jittery. This should not be a problem if you just use the provided mode timings:

Modeline "640x480"     25.175 640  664  760  800   480  491  493  525

Thanks to Michael Holve for his contributions to this page.

If I could give you only one piece of advice when dealing with the configuration of XFree86, it would be: be careful and patient. Read the documentation, and try to understand what it says before messing around with the actual configuration files. It'll save you a great deal of time and effort.

Here's my XF86Config file, for your perusal. Note that I don't have an external monitor for testing, and this config file isn't likely to work with one (except at 640x480). If you want to use an external monitor it is very important that you find the ratings for your monitor, and follow the instructions given in the X-Notebook mini HOWTO. You could very easily maim or destroy your monitor if you're not careful.

This config file will most likely work right out of the box on any of the models being covered in this mini HOWTO, but I make no guarantees. Make sure you check it through and change any site-dependent stuff I've left in. Also, if you have the time, it's well worth trying out the configuration process, if only for the experience.

My XF86Config.

Michael Holve has donated his XF86Config as well, although once again, no guarantees are made as to how well it will work for your particular situation.

Michael Holve's XF86Config for a T-3600CT.