Blank Screen on Startup

[geekunit]

The PCBSD install seems to have gone well, but I just get a blank screen whenever I get to the login prompt.

I have two drives in my computer, the 1st running Windows XP (ad0) and the second one my newly installed PCBSD (ad1?)

I tried booting the install CD, choosing install, pressing alt+f2, and typing:
boo0cfg -v -o nopacket /dev/ad0

Still no luck. Any ideas?

[putu]

When I use the VIA graphic chipset onboard I have the same problem with you, PCBSD showed me a login prompt message.

Then I install PCBSD using another PC that using SIS graphic chipset it's working without a problem.

All I trying to say that maybe PCBSD doesn't support your Graphic Card, try SIS graphic chipset, or for the best try using NVDIA graphis card, cause PCBSD is working so well with NVDIA.

[dracheflieger]

The PCBSD install seems to have gone well, but I just get a blank screen whenever I get to the login prompt.

I have two drives in my computer, the 1st running Windows XP (ad0) and the second one my newly installed PCBSD (ad1?)

I tried booting the install CD, choosing install, pressing alt+f2, and typing:
boo0cfg -v -o nopacket /dev/ad0

Still no luck. Any ideas?

What login prompt? Is it graphical? or simply a black screen with white text? or is it the boot loader you to which you refer? Unless you specifically choose to have PC-BSD no login there should be no login screen.

[geekunit]

What login prompt? Is it graphical? or simply a black screen with white text? or is it the boot loader you to which you refer? Unless you specifically choose to have PC-BSD no login there should be no login screen.

I'm presented with F1 or F5 to boot, the second one being PCBSD. When I press it I see a PCBSD loading screen, followed by a few successful messages about loading services etc. It's not until after all this that I get a blank screen, when it looks (i'm guessing) like it's trying to initialize the graphics card for a log-in prompt.

My board has an SiS chipset, but no onboard graphics card. I'm using an older ATI 9550.

thanks

[dracheflieger]

As you begin PC-BSD at its ASCII screen, hit #4 for single user. Once at the shell prompt, hit <enter> to accept, then mount -u /
mount -a
and that will allow you to edit your video configuration file. Next
edit /etc/X11/XF86Config and scroll down near the bottom to find the 'Section Device' area and you will probably find ati in the Driver line. You can try changing that to vesa. Hit <esc> and save the file, then reboot now and see if that helps.

[Edward78]

I also can't boot from the HD, I have to use the CD ant idea how to boot PC-BSD of the HD from the CD?

[lars89]

Hi!
I've just downloaded yesterday PC-BSD but i'm having some troubles.

The installation process runned smoothly and everything was ok untill the login time.
When it shows a splash screen with "PC-BSD press any key to show details", after this is over, it hangs on a dark screen(everything is black and doesn't show anything). It does not react anymore and i have to manually reboot the machine.

I've tried dracheflieger tip but there is not a /etc/X11/XF86Config file.
The only file on /etc/X11 is xorg.conf - which, when i edit it, it says "new file" - that's wierd :P.

Can anyone help me on this? this is my first attempt on a BSD distro and so far, this is the only problem i've got (which maybe just me that am stupid and don't get it)

Anyway, thanks for taking to time to read this message, and if you can, please help me.

Regards,
lars89

[antik]

Anyway, thanks for taking to time to read this message, and if you can, please help me.

What's your hardware specs?

[Manz]

Many thanx to Dracheflieger: I replaced "ati" with "vesa" in XF86config and now PC-BSD boots (and I see something)!

Now I'm left with two questions: the installation recognized my graphics card correctly (ATI X700 mobile), but this resulted in a black screen anyway. Is this because it only read the "card type" stored in the firmware or whatever and was not able to find the correct driver?
VESA driver is running fast, luckily.

Second: does anyone have an idea on how to install, download, compile or whatever the correct driver?

Developers should highlight Dracheflieger's tip some way, it's too damn useful.

M

[putu]

Second: does anyone have an idea on how to install, download, compile or whatever the correct driver?

ATI doesn't support BSD

For best Video, Use NVDIA Graphic Card

And the Driver is already exist on http://www.pbidir.com

[dali]

I had the same problem as the guys above. The strange thing is, that PCBSD install. CDs bought from a vendor at the end of last year installed and booted on my INSPIRON 6000 without problems.

However, as I am a polyglote and both read and write several languages, the vendor version was not good for me, as making the OS work with additional languages, especially japanese, spanish and czech is extremely difficult for a grandpa whose computer literacy is in the low part of the medium bracket. Was advised to try a newer version, with supposedly much easier fitting of other languages into the system, and consequently have just downloaded PCBSD.
Installing without any problems, but upon upstart got stuck at the same line as the guys above, then performed the operation suggested by Dracheflieger, but the boot only moved a couple of lines, displaying:

Login: Jul 5 etd etc ..: X server for display :0 terminated unexpectedly.
Jul 5 etc etc ..: IO Error in XO per display
Jul 5 etc....: Unable to fire up local display :0; disabling

Any advice on how to move further?

[dantheman]

As dracheflieger posted, you need to change it to VESA mode. If you installed PC-BSD in VESA mode this is what you need to do.

As you begin PC -BSD hit SPACE at the ASCII Screen to stop the timer then hit the number 4 on your keyboard. Wait until the logo of PC-BSD shows. The hard-drive will then seem unresponsive(this happens when PC-BSD checks for the floppy drive(well it is on my pc)). Hit the space. It should show some grey text right at the bottom of the page. Hit the ENTER KEY!

Then type: mount -u /
Hit enter(sometimes you may have to enter this one twice if an error is shown)
then type : mount -a
hit enter
Now type the following : edit etc/X11/XF86Config
Hit enter
A primitive editor should now be on your screen.
Scroll down using the arrow keys (not the numpad arrows). Go right to the bottom to "Section : Devices". You should be able to find the data about your graphic card. For nvidia it should say Device : "nv" Or something similar
CHANGE nv TO vesa
For ATI graphics do the same change ati to vesa.
Now if your monitor or TFT does not support resolutions above 1024 by 960, you need to tell PC-BSD this.
Scroll back up the document to "Section Monitor".
You should see the following :
#Default bitrate 24 <-note from me...Dont alter this one!
Default bitrate 16

You may change the 16 to 24 if your monitor supports it...If unsure leave as 16...now scroll down further...this is the section for each bitrate type. Find you bit rate which you chose (or left at 16) and delete the screen resolutions which are above 1028 by 960. Make sure you line up the resolutions in the " " with the existing ones !!!!

Now this is the fun bit! Hit the escape key and save the file, then close the editor. Now at the prompt type reboot now and hit enter.

Your Pc should now reboot and hopefully you PC-BSD graphics will work!

Thanks to dracheflieger for his post and allowing me to get PC-BSD working!

Please reply with any problems, or if you have no idea what I was on about! ;)