Editing xorg.conf [revisited]

[DarkStarAeon]

I was wondering how I might go about setting my display resolution to 1440x900, here is my xorg.cong file, can anyone help me out? I don't want to screw it up. ;)

It detects I'm using an Nvidia graphics card, but not that it's a GeForce 7300 LE. Not sure if that's part of the problem or not, but thought I;d mention it.

Here's my xorg.conf below......


# XFree86 configuration file for RoFreeSBIE

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "XFree86 Configured"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
#Option "DisableVidModeExtension" "True"
#Option "NoTrapSignals" "True"
#Option "DisableModInDev" "True"
EndSection

Section "Files"
RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
ModulePath "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/TrueType/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/illinoy/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/webfonts/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/TTF/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/CID/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/dejavu/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/hebrew/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/vietnamese/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/indic/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/AAHS"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/AGA"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/FS"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/Kasr"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/MCS"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/Shmookh"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/local/"
EndSection

Section "Module"
# Load "record"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "dbe"
Load "extmod"
Load "glx"
Load "xtrap"
Load "freetype"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Device" "/dev/sysmouse"
Option "Buttons" "6"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Card0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
#DefaultDepth 24
DefaultDepth 16
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection


Section "Monitor"
#DisplaySize 410 260 # mm
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "WDE"
ModelName "LCM-19w4"
### Comment all HorizSync and VertSync values to use DDC:
HorizSync 30.0 - 82.0
VertRefresh 56.0 - 76.0
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
### Available Driver options are:-
### Values: [i]: integer, <f>: float, <bool>: "True"/"False",
### <string>: "String", <freq>: "<f> Hz/kHz/MHz"
### [arg]: arg optional
#Option "SWcursor" # [<bool>]
#Option "HWcursor" # [<bool>]
#Option "NoAccel" # [<bool>]
#Option "ShadowFB" # [<bool>]
#Option "UseFBDev" # [<bool>]
#Option "Rotate" # [<str>]
#Option "VideoKey" # [i]
#Option "FlatPanel" # [<bool>]
#Option "FPDither" # [<bool>]
#Option "CrtcNumber" # [i]
#Option "FPScale" # [<bool>]
#Option "FPTweak" # [i]
Identifier "Card0"
Driver "nv"
VendorName "nVidia Corporation"
BoardName "Unknown Board"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

[dracheflieger]

Welcome to the forums DarkStarAeon...check out the modified xorg.conf below. I don't know if this will work so be sure to make a backup. You can install the latest nVidia driver from ports but you must load your ports and source first. This post (http://forums.pcbsd.org/viewtopic.php?t=6888&highlight=latest+nvidia+driver) will give you some direction. Once you have your ports and source downloaded then you can , in a terminal, as root cd usr/ports/x11/nvidia-driver && make install clean and then cd /usr/ports/x11/nvidia-xconfig && make install clean && reboot now and it may allow a 1440x900 as an available option. In the meantime, here's your modified xorg.conf, good luck.

I was wondering how I might go about setting my display resolution to 1440x900, here is my xorg.conf file, can anyone help me out? I don't want to screw it up. ;)

It detects I'm using an Nvidia graphics card, but not that it's a GeForce 7300 LE. Not sure if that's part of the problem or not, but thought I;d mention it.

Here's my xorg.conf below......


# XFree86 configuration file for RoFreeSBIE

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "XFree86 Configured"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
#Option "DisableVidModeExtension" "True"
#Option "NoTrapSignals" "True"
#Option "DisableModInDev" "True"
EndSection

Section "Files"
RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
ModulePath "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/TrueType/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/illinoy/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/webfonts/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/TTF/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/CID/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/dejavu/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/hebrew/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/vietnamese/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/indic/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/AAHS"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/AGA"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/FS"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/Kasr"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/MCS"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/Shmookh"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/local/"
EndSection

Section "Module"
# Load "record"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "dbe"
Load "extmod"
Load "glx"
Load "xtrap"
Load "freetype"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Device" "/dev/sysmouse"
Option "Buttons" "6"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Card0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
#DefaultDepth 24
DefaultDepth 16
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1440x900" "1280x1024" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1440x900" "1280x1024" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection


Section "Monitor"
#DisplaySize 410 260 # mm
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "WDE"
ModelName "LCM-19w4"
### Comment all HorizSync and VertSync values to use DDC:
HorizSync 30.0 - 82.0
VertRefresh 56.0 - 76.0
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
### Available Driver options are:-
### Values: [i]: integer, <f>: float, <bool>: "True"/"False",
### <string>: "String", <freq>: "<f> Hz/kHz/MHz"
### [arg]: arg optional
#Option "SWcursor" # [<bool>]
#Option "HWcursor" # [<bool>]
#Option "NoAccel" # [<bool>]
#Option "ShadowFB" # [<bool>]
#Option "UseFBDev" # [<bool>]
#Option "Rotate" # [<str>]
#Option "VideoKey" # [i]
#Option "FlatPanel" # [<bool>]
#Option "FPDither" # [<bool>]
#Option "CrtcNumber" # [i]
#Option "FPScale" # [<bool>]
#Option "FPTweak" # [i]
Identifier "Card0"
Driver "nv"
VendorName "nVidia Corporation"
BoardName "Unknown Board"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

[DarkStarAeon]

Wow, thanks! :)

One question though, I can't save the file, says I don't have permission to do so. How do I login as root? su didn't work.

[gelex]

You can use Konqueror as root:

Start->System->More Applications->File Manager - Super User Mode

[DarkStarAeon]

Ok, that File Manager Super User thing is @$%*&# awesome! Thanks for the info! :)

The xorg.conf change didn't work, but I really appreciate you trying. I just put it back to the way it was before with my backup.

Ok...so I downloaded the latest driver and the 'nvidia-settings' utility, but that other post you linked to confused me because the guy was getting confused in that post. lol

So should I install those first then do the commands you posted?

[Gerard]

We will ship KX Generator (http://www.kde-apps.org/content/show.php?content=39085) (a handy utility to configure the xorg in gui) with PC-BSD 1.4.

Editing those X settings should be a lot easier then

[dracheflieger]

We will ship KX Generator (http://www.kde-apps.org/content/show.php?content=39085) (a handy utility to configure the xorg in gui) with PC-BSD 1.4.

Editing those X settings should be a lot easier then

Good move...I've glanced at it before and while it's powerful it looks like one could easily shoot themselves in the foot. Maybe with some kind of an added script that would copy back a copied xorg.conf ala the 'W' way would be handy if it doesn't already have that ability.

[dracheflieger]

Ok, that File Manager Super User thing is @$%*&# awesome! Thanks for the info! :)

The xorg.conf change didn't work, but I really appreciate you trying. I just put it back to the way it was before with my backup.

Ok...so I downloaded the latest driver and the 'nvidia-settings' utility, but that other post you linked to confused me because the guy was getting confused in that post. lol

So should I install those first then do the commands you posted?

Have you got your ports and source code yet?

[DarkStarAeon]

We will ship KX Generator (http://www.kde-apps.org/content/show.php?content=39085) (a handy utility to configure the xorg in gui) with PC-BSD 1.4.

Editing those X settings should be a lot easier then

that would be really cool

[DarkStarAeon]

Have you got your ports and source code yet?


I know this will probably make you groan, but I'm not exactly sure what that means. :oops:

[dracheflieger]

<groan> :lol: Go here (http://docs.pcbsd.org/guide/chap5.1.html) and read about the Tasks tab.

[DarkStarAeon]

lol, see, I knew you'd groan. heh.

Wow, seriously, this has to be one of the best documented OS's I've ever encountered, and it's all straight forward, not like some of the vague MS or Linux stuff. I'm impressed. Although I feel a little dumb for not having tried the documentation first, I'm just used to docs not being all that helpful with other operating systems.

Ok, being brand spankin new at BSD, I'm still reluctant to tinker too much right off the bat. (I will of course have to at some point, but I've just set up 5 computers in a week all with different OS's and I'm a bit tinkered out).

So, since my graphics card...well...bites, I was thinking of changing it anyway. Anyone got a particular graphics card that worked at 1440x900 right out of the box with PC-BSD?

[dracheflieger]

I'm using a CRT and have a machine with a 6200FX that would do 1400x1050 after I installed the ports nvidia-driver and related -settings -xconfig ports.

[DarkStarAeon]

Not to sound lazy, but I'm looking to avoid installing anything right now other than the card itself. lol
It's been a long week, I've set up too many boxes.

I'm just looking for something that I can pop in and have it work on it's own, if that's possible.

When I rest a bit, then I'll have the drive to get under the skin of PC-BSD ;)

[DarkStarAeon]

I was just reading the compatible hardware list and saw the entry about the NVIDIA Geforce 6200 256MB Video Card.

Does this thing work at 1440x900 without tinkering?

[dracheflieger]

I don't know...but it's basically the same card I'm using on another machine, AGP 256 EGVA 6200FX

[DarkStarAeon]

I don't know...but it's basically the same card I'm using on another machine, AGP 256 EGVA 6200FX

Did you have to tinker with yours?

Well, I'll just buy one, try it, and if it doesn't work then that;s what return policies are for right? heh.

[DarkStarAeon]

Ok, I just checked out that card in detail, and while it isn't bad, especially for the price, I have slightly higher needs unfortunately.

So, my question is, does anyone know if either of these will work with PC-BSD?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150130

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814141018


I really need to get 1440x900 on this monitor, my eyes are killing me right now.

[dracheflieger]

I'm using this one in my newer machine (Opteron 165 x2)

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130063

and it works just fine...300-400 fps in cube.

[DarkStarAeon]

Good card, good price! I think I'll get that to run a second monitor. Thanks :)

Guess what? I got my card to work! Woo Hooo!!!

I believe I downloaded the wrong driver before from pbiDir.

Just as a fluke, I went to download the driver and try it again, this time it told me to reboot when it was done, I didn't get that last time.
So I rebooted and now it works!

In fact, it works about 100 times better than it did on Windows or Linux!

Since it's working so much better than it ever did before, I'm just going to stick with this one. But buy a second card since mine isn't dual.
Really amazed how great it looks though!

So, the GeForce 7300 LE will work great with PC-BSD if you just use this:
http://www.pbidir.com/packages.php?code=359
Then reboot, set your resolution, then hit auto adjust on your monitor.

Woo Hoo!

:D

[dracheflieger]

Sweet...nothing better than success :lol: 8)

[DarkStarAeon]

Indeed! :)

Now to get that new sound card installed....

[DarkStarAeon]

Ok, so I had a hard drive failure and had to reinstall PC-BSD on a new hard drive, only this time, I cannot get 1440x900 on my monitor like I did last time.
I've tried every single driver out of desperation and the only one that even gives me any range of options is the nVidia 9746 driver. Which gives me just about every resolution except 1440x900.

So, I am stumped.

When I installed PC-BSD this time, right after install I checked for updates and installed them. Then I fetched my source and ports. Then I installed the sound driver, then the nvidia driver 9746, all with no issues.

But I just can't get 1440x900 this time, on the same hardware as I had before, what am I doing wrong?

My card is the Nvidia GeForce 7300 LE graphics card.

(I did actually ask on nvidia forums but no one knew anything about bsd)

[dracheflieger]

Modify your xorg to only that one resolution (make a backup first though). Something else you can try is to get nvidia-settings in ports and run it. It gives me resolutions I can't see in KDE.

[DarkStarAeon]

Hey dracheflieger :D

Ok, I'll try the xorg change right now, but, how do I get nvidia-settings in ports? I see the ports folder but I don't know what to do (and not do) in there. ;)

[DarkStarAeon]

The xorg edit you said did the trick, thanks! :D

[rocksolid]

I am in a fix. I used windows versions which detected all my hardware that kept changing for last 17 years. In the same period Linux did not allow me to install itself due to lack of drivers for most of my peripherals.
I had no time to become a nerd and write some spooky things at command prompt and who says Linux does not have problems or BSD?
I tried every Linux distro and they are growing like mushrooms with every nerd developing his own distro with some crackpot philosophy. Fed up with Linux, somebody told me about freebsd and then PCbsd. Again I am stuck at graphic card driver (this time s3 Unichrome pro). So I will never know what PCBSD is as I have not seen it. I will shout at the top of my voice but nobody will develop a simpler way of recognising my card. I see some Xorg or Forg thing and mile and miles of tweaks - and there are enough people frustrated even after trying this Xorg, startX and some such thing. Why the hell I am doing this thing of trying other OSs? Because Vista is a bloatware and expensive too. There are security issues and now it does not have drivers for my peripherals. So VISTA, UNIX, and LINUX are unifying. They all will not have drivers for my hardware. IS IT TIME TO TRY MAC OSX? May be. If that does not work I am heading for Himalay.

[GoldfrappJenny]

Well, *BSD and most Linuxes are free Software.
While all of them tries to get better and better (in particular BSD), it's still difficult to have drivers for all and every Hardware stuff. Windows has a market penetration of >90% on the desktop market due to marketing tricks,bluffs and history tragedies. No wonder all hardware manufatcures are making Win drivers. But only very few also support Unix. It's not MS who makes all the drivers. Blame the hardware makers that they don't provide drivers.

The only solution to change that : Use BSD/Linux and tell everyone to do the same. If the market share of Win drops and Unixes are rising, more and more HW makers will support Unix. It is that simple.

Until then try to use Unix compatible HW. You will be rewarded with a rock solid system without all that malware, without software that rings home, etc,etc.

[TerryP]

Again I am stuck at graphic card driver (this time s3 Unichrome pro). So I will never know what PCBSD is as I have not seen it.

No offense but your video card is in the same boat as *nix versus Windows. I.e., nVidia and ATI are more or less De Facto (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Facto) which is indeed an evil word.

I was actually some what surprised my test machines Matrox 8MB was supported so well.

[rocksolid]

Hi, GoldfrappJenny,

thanks for a lucid explanation. Yes, after reading reviews ans writings by experts on the subject, I am doubly convinced about the robustness of BSD bandwagan. UBUNTU has a strong backbone. I hope somebody does the same with FreeBSD or PCBSD and not just push but give a jolt. I live in a country of more than 100 million people but no pc user knows UNIX or BSD. Rampant piracy of Windows is one strong reason for this. Home users as well as businesses are using pirated Windows vesions since its start many years back at win 3.1. So who will go for BSD where one has to used arcane commands and non-graphic interface.
Anyway I vow to give PCBSD as well as FREEBSD a try. I have queries that may sound stupid but please answer them. I will use the answer to educate other people.
1. IS it true that one does not require antispyware and antivirus or anti keylogger in PCBSD ? And is it because it is built into the OS or there is some mechanism to stop them?
2. IS there any package similar to MSoffice that can be used to open word files or wordperfect files?
3. Can one use Opera or firefox browser of Linux on BSD?
4. Which graphic card is accepted by BSD so that I can build a system around that?
I hope I will be able to at least duelboot PCBSD on my PC.
thanks everybody.

[dracheflieger]

Hi, GoldfrappJenny,

thanks for a lucid explanation. Yes, after reading reviews ans writings by experts on the subject, I am doubly convinced about the robustness of BSD bandwagan. UBUNTU has a strong backbone. I hope somebody does the same with FreeBSD or PCBSD and not just push but give a jolt. I live in a country of more than 100 million people but no pc user knows UNIX or BSD. Rampant piracy of Windows is one strong reason for this. Home users as well as businesses are using pirated Windows vesions since its start many years back at win 3.1. So who will go for BSD where one has to used arcane commands and non-graphic interface.
Anyway I vow to give PCBSD as well as FREEBSD a try. I have queries that may sound stupid but please answer them. I will use the answer to educate other people.
1. IS it true that one does not require antispyware and antivirus or anti keylogger in PCBSD ? And is it because it is built into the OS or there is some mechanism to stop them?
2. IS there any package similar to MSoffice that can be used to open word files or wordperfect files?
3. Can one use Opera or firefox browser of Linux on BSD?
4. Which graphic card is accepted by BSD so that I can build a system around that?
I hope I will be able to at least duelboot PCBSD on my PC.
thanks everybody.

Good luck on your quest...

1) I know of no spyware targeted toward *BSD. Same for keyloggers. You can get a rootkit but there are at least two programs you can run to find and remove them. These are very rare as you have to be surfing or installing things you don't know about as root which is nearly impossible unless you do it on purpose. If you install PBIs from pbidir.com or packages from freebsd.org/ports or from the ports tree, you will not install anything bad. Once an exploit is known to exist it is emailed to you in a nightly portaudit run (I believe this is on by default and if not, it should be and there should be some documentation regarding this on PC-BSD. If it doesn't exist then I'll ask that it be written and it should be implemented as sendmail comes on as a default. It should run its nightlies and send them to root.)

2 Open Office will read and write MS Office files for the most part and do it well. There exists in ports 'textproc/libwpd' that will allow importing and exporting of Word Perfect files. See http://libwpd.sourceforge.net/

3) Yes, I believe PBIs of both exist and I know they are in the ports tree.

4) nVidia has the most support and has native BSD binaries available for it...also drivers as PBIs

5) Many duel boot

[GoldfrappJenny]

So who will go for BSD where one has to used arcane commands and non-graphic interface.

For the daily jobs (surfing, writing texts, listing to music, games, etc) you don't need to access the command line at all.
In particular not with PC-BSD.

You may need the command line to perform rare, special tasks or to solve problems. But in those cases, tutorial and guides are there to help you.

1. IS it true that one does not require antispyware and antivirus or anti keylogger in PCBSD ? And is it because it is built into the OS or there is some mechanism to stop them?

It is simply because they don't exist. At least I have NEVER heard of spyware for PC-BSD. Of course browser cookies are existing, but I don't consider them as a threat :)

There is also a built-in paket filtering Firewall, combinded with the built-in protection denyhosts, and the Unix common security due to user accounts. Under windows you mostly will always be administrator (=root), in Unix you will do most stuff as user with limited rights which will prevent a lot of bad stuff.

2. IS there any package similar to MSoffice that can be used to open word files or wordperfect files?

OpenOffice. It's free and can be easily installed. In particular under PC-BSD. http://pbidir.com/search.php?str=openoffice

Just download the PBI, double click and there you go. :)

3. Can one use Opera or firefox browser of Linux on BSD?

Yes. Definitly.

Opera : http://pbidir.com/packages.php?code=422

Firefox : http://pbidir.com/packages.php?code=422

(please note : these PBIs will only work for PC-BSD)

4. Which graphic card is accepted by BSD so that I can build a system around that?

Most cards, except integrated graphics (on the motherboard) will work. However for extra performance I recommend a Nvidia grapic card as binary drivers are available for them.

http://pbidir.com/search.php?str=nvidia

>I hope I will be able to at least duelboot PCBSD on my PC.

No problem :)

[DarkStarAeon]

hey rocksolid,

I can answer a few of those....

1. I'm not sure about the security aspects, but because PC-BSD doesn't open .exe files like Windows does, that already makes it safer. I use the Firewall on my Cable Gateway, but I have no anti-virus program for PC-BSD and know of none.

2. OpenOffice will open your Word files, it's also free, see pbiDIR.

3. Yes, you can use Opera and Firefox, the Linux versions, see pbiDIR.

4. The good majority of nVidia GeForce cards will work. I use the 7300 LE.

5. I boot PC-BSD, Ubuntu 6.10, Windows XP, openSUSE 10.2, and Freespire 1.1 all on the same machine without any issues.

I'll tell you this though, it took less tweaks to get PC-BSD running for me than it did to get any Linux distro running. With PC-BSD it was mostly hardware issues, with Linux it ranged from hardware to software depending on which distro.

I have been using PC-BSD for a few months now and I absolutely love it. The pbi's are the coolest thing be far, sooo easy. But I find the system performs much better and faster than Linux, and it's without a doubt faster than Windows.
I have a 2.8 GHz dual core processor and 4 GB of RAM and my system is faster than it's ever been using PC-BSD.

My main issue is that hardware makers and software makers lack of support, but if I can remain patient, I'm sure that PC-BSD is going to gain a bigger share of the market. The pbi's make it as easy as WIndows to install programs, and that will attract people who don't know how to or want to use the commands.

I am trying to figure out how to promote PC-BSD to as many people as I can, unfortunately it's hard to promote to the PC Gamers, of which I know many, but I am not a gamer myself.

I hope you give PC-BSD a try, and will find it is for you. :D

[DarkStarAeon]

haha, whoops, you guys beat me to it.

[GoldfrappJenny]

1. I'm not sure about the security aspects, but because PC-BSD doesn't open .exe files like Windows does, that already makes it safer.

EXE is just an executable file format like ELF for unix. It's not more or less secure than the other one.
And BSD does open EXE files if you have WINE installed.

(However the malware will mostly still fail to do anything)

>I use the Firewall on my Cable Gateway, but I have no anti-virus
>program for PC-BSD and know of none.

There are anti-virus programms for BSD but they are meant as mail server daemon (if you operate your own mail server) that will scan incoming mails for windows viruses before processing them and forwaring them to the receipient. Nothing a normal user would deal with.

[DarkStarAeon]

Yeah I know about Wine, I just meant that on PC-BSD a trojan in exe form isn't going to download, install and run on your PC like it could on Windows, since most of those nasty buggers come in exe form.

Interesting, I didn't know that about the anti-virus for a mail server daemon, but yeah, not something I have to worry about thankfully. lol

[TerryP]

Once I had spyware try to install on my laptop (PC-BSD). WINE tried to install it, but being WINE it just crashed 20 minutes later without harming my WINE installation or my BSD system. You know my opinion of WINE hehe The Wino can't even get malware running xD

Windows Piracy is so high when there are good legal alternatives. Because it's no fun to steal if its freee !!!! At least thats what I think about why people would rather steal WinNT then use a FOSS OS.

[GoldfrappJenny]

I think the majority of people does not even know that BSD exists or what it is. Unfortunatly. :(

[DarkStarAeon]

I think the majority of people does not even know that BSD exists or what it is. Unfortunatly. :(

I think you're right. :(

How to change that is the real question.

[TerryP]

Maybe if more SPAM e-mail came from BSD Servers instead of Linux Servers ? :evil: b||b

[DarkStarAeon]

hahaha :lol:

[rocksolid]

Hi friends,

I have downloaded both Freebsd and PCbsd. Freebsd has the latest version which shows graphic screens in installation. Now, what is the compelling reason to go to PCBSD if Freebsd itself becomes fully Graphic driven?

Please suggest which one should I try first? I am also going to try Simple Mepis Linux 6.5 which is going leaps and bounds in development and recognises many peripherals.

The first thing the UNIX should remove is the nomenclature of HDD and this mounting and unmounting of partitions. I did not know that /root is the administrator till yesterday and that everything in Unix is a file. Anyway, I hope one day I will see BSD on my pc and I will be free of XP.
I think I will have to learn a lot of Unix while I unlearn some of XP!

[dracheflieger]

Hi friends,

I have downloaded both Freebsd and PCbsd. Freebsd has the latest version which shows graphic screens in installation. Now, what is the compelling reason to go to PCBSD if Freebsd itself becomes fully Graphic driven?

Please suggest which one should I try first? I am also going to try Simple Mepis Linux 6.5 which is going leaps and bounds in development and recognises many peripherals.

The first thing the UNIX should remove is the nomenclature of HDD and this mounting and unmounting of partitions. I did not know that /root is the administrator till yesterday and that everything in Unix is a file. Anyway, I hope one day I will see BSD on my pc and I will be free of XP.
I think I will have to learn a lot of Unix while I unlearn some of XP!

Welcome to the forums. Why don't you try them both? :lol: I mean really, what exactly would you expect someone to say on a PC-BSD forum :D

FreeBSD may have a graphical installer but what do you really want to do after it's installed from the command line? You would have to install some kind of window manager if you are coming from XP as FreeBSD just doesn't automagically install one (unless it's changed in the last year). PC-BSD is FreeBSD based (it is 6.1 patch 11 based while FreeBSD is at 6.2) It uses a 'PBI' system that is as easy to install software as it was in windows. Double click, type in the root password and follow the wizard. Or, if you install just FreeBSD then you will have to use either packages or ports, both of which I feel are superior to any of the numerous Linux installers you'll find amongst the hundreds of different Linux distributions.

Really, it's not a big deal. You'll find that most of the linux users here fled from linux to PC-BSD. It's not just a kernel wrapped with a bunch of GNU, it's a complete OS so try them all and let us know what you like.

[TerryP]

The first thing the UNIX should remove is the nomenclature of HDD and this mounting and unmounting of partitions. I did not know that /root is the administrator till yesterday and that everything in Unix is a file. Anyway, I hope one day I will see BSD on my pc and I will be free of XP.
I think I will have to learn a lot of Unix while I unlearn some of XP!


Windows XP has crappy (imho) ideas that seem to date back to like TOPS-10 or a few related OSes that followed it. I don't care much for the 'ad0s3a' bit but I rather find it useful. Because it tells me which hard drive, which slice (primary partition), and keeps track of which 'disklabel (bsd partition) it is. I remember having to be very careful with floppy disks on MS-DOS 2.x and the 'mount/unmount' thing is the same in Windows XP when using a USB stick, so I don't mind personally. Although hot swapping CD-ROM would be nice.

Some times I wonder, if I'm a file ^_^

[rocksolid]

I do know with my years experience that people shift to other OS because they feel other OS is a better offering. I really do not know why Linux have so many distros. I hope, down the line there will not be XorgPC-BSD, JennyPC-BSD, GibraltorPc-BSD and WINPC-BSD at the same time FreeBSD branching further.
Just today I read on Distrowatch that there is Muslim UBUNTU Linux released. I wont be surprised if there is OSAMABIN linux soon.
will come back with my experiance.

[GoldfrappJenny]

I really do not know why Linux have so many distros.

Nobody does for sure. But maybe because Linux is no OS, but rather a box of bricks and kids like to play with toys... :D

There are 73 discontinued distributions alone. (http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=discontinued). I really wonder why nobody is alarmed and scared due to this.

BTW : There are 339 active x86 Linux distros.... (http://distrowatch.com/search.php?categ ... tus=Active (http://distrowatch.com/search.php?category=All&origin=All&basedon=All&desktop=All&architecture=ix86&status=Active))

(not counting other processors)

But only 12 BSDs and 5 of them are LiveCDs and 2 are special BSD versions for routers and other small black boxes. FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD are left over, each with a crystal clear goal and purpose. + the two FreeBSD flavours DragonFlyBSD (which is aimed at Clusters) and our PC-BSD. Quite lucid. :)

I hope, down the line there will not be XorgPC-BSD, JennyPC-BSD, GibraltorPc-BSD and WINPC-BSD at the same time FreeBSD branching further.

JennyPC-BSD.... :D

NICE!!! Hehehe. ROFTL.

released. I wont be surprised if there is OSAMABIN linux soon. will come back with my experiance.

Oh, there will be a Linux construction kit Linux. Ideal for script kiddies. Click checkboxes to make your own OS and feel like a king. ;)

[TerryP]

Mm, think I saw some thing like that posted some where Jenny (Make your own LFS easy)

You also forgot DesktopBSD for PC-BSDs case, think theres a commercial OS based off OpenBSD as well.

Maybe we should ask Linus to rename his Kernel 'Legos' if we could help him secure permission to do so from the copyright holder xD

[GoldfrappJenny]

Ooopsss... DesktopBSD.... Sorry guys *wave*

[lily_pcb]

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You can have a try in http://www.qweas.com/download/graphics/ ... _maker.htm (http://www.qweas.com/download/graphics/icon_tools/easy_icon_maker.htm)
Enjoy yourself! :D :lol: :)