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Asus M3N78-VM Hdmi + MythBuntu

post #1 of 36
11/2/08 at 10:49am
Thread Starter 
I've been playing around with Ubuntu in a VMware image and I'm thinking about converting my HTPC to Ubuntu 8.10 and Mythbuntu.

The only thing i'm not too sure about is whether or not my HDMI output will work. I have an Asus M3N78-VM Hdmi, and i'm using the HDMI out of the onboard GeForce 8200.

Does anyone know if this will work?

Thanks in advance!
Albert
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post #2 of 36
11/2/08 at 7:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by aurimza View Post

I've been playing around with Ubuntu in a VMware image and I'm thinking about converting my HTPC to Ubuntu 8.10 and Mythbuntu.

The only thing i'm not too sure about is whether or not my HDMI output will work. I have an Asus M3N78-VM Hdmi, and i'm using the HDMI out of the onboard GeForce 8200.

Does anyone know if this will work?

Thanks in advance!
Albert

I think it *should*, but there's really only one way to find out
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post #3 of 36
11/2/08 at 8:19pm
I'm trying to figure out how to set xorg.conf for dual-head. Nothing concrete yet.
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post #4 of 36
11/3/08 at 4:31am
I'm installing the same board into my htpc tommorrow night after my shift. I'm crossing my fingers for hdmi audio+video on a single cable.

I'm currently running Ubuntu Intrepid and am getting 1080p out of my nvidia 8800gt onto a sony xbr2 rear projection set.

I had to "crop" my display in the xorg.conf using a custom modeline to adjust for the overscan on my set. If you need help with your config, I can post mine so you can get an example.
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post #5 of 36
11/3/08 at 4:56am
Please do. There are hundreds of questions on The Internets about dual-head, but little hard source information. I was hoping for a description where they set up one of the mobos that has VGA and HDMI out with a recent (K)Ubuntu, but no such luck.

Ideally I'd like 1024x768 on VGA and 1280x720 on the HDMI, with different apps running on each, but will settle for different resolutions alone. I have a small VGA display built into the HTPC case, and a projector for main viewing. In xorg.conf it is not clear how to specify a default resolution for a specific output. How to specify an output.

I did find though that the resolution standards, have about 16 pixels of overscan built in on each side. So for a right-sized display and pixel perfection, it should take deducting ~32 pixels from each axis, and maybe adjusting pixel clock.
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post #6 of 36
11/3/08 at 1:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by quantumstate View Post

I'm trying to figure out how to set xorg.conf for dual-head. Nothing concrete yet.

You'll want to configure 2 separate X displays, each with its own "Device", "Screen", and "Monitor" sections in xorg.conf. The nvidia readme is a good place to start --> http://http.download.nvidia.com/XFre...ppendix-p.html

This will put your desktop on the first display, and the second display will be black until you send something to it (just like extended desktop in windoze). So, for example, if you wanted to play a movie with mplayer to your projector (second display), then you would do something like this:
Code:
user@office:~$ DISPLAY=:0.1 mplayer -f /path/to/video
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post #7 of 36
11/3/08 at 1:59pm
I've just discovered this, thanks mm.

But dawg, no Myth on my projector unless I send a movie on command-line. What's the use? I'd rather only have everything on my projector (which I cannot get the IGP to recognize because it doesn't respond to EDID). Trying it tho...

No one can explain the nature of these multiple video outputs on IGPs like the GeForce 9300 on Asus' P5N7A-VM. What are they, different channels? Or display devices? Or what? Is the VGA known to X as CRT-0? What do the DVI/HDMI/DP ports look like to X? All nVidia documentation describes only two video outputs, not 4!

Are we doing New Science here?
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post #8 of 36
11/3/08 at 2:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by quantumstate View Post

I've just discovered this, thanks mm.

But dawg, no Myth on my projector unless I send a movie on command-line. What's the use? I'd rather only have everything on my projector (which I cannot get the IGP to recognize because it doesn't respond to EDID). Trying it tho...

No one can explain the nature of these multiple video outputs on IGPs like the GeForce 9300 on Asus' P5N7A-VM. What are they, different channels? Or display devices? Or what? Is the VGA known to X as CRT-0? What do the DVI/HDMI/DP ports look like to X? All nVidia documentation describes only two video outputs, not 4!

Are we doing New Science here?

hehe

You can set defaults in configs for which display an app uses. I haven't done this in myth; but if, say, you start it from an icon, you can edit the properties and insert the DISPLAY part in the command that it runs. Or, you can have your projector be the first display, and your desktop would be there.

If you'll notice, each "Device" entry in the sample nvidia xorg.conf uses the same PCI device despite the fact that different displays are connected to different physical ports. The driver will detect what is connected to where. See this, also --> http://http.download.nvidia.com/XFre...ppendix-r.html
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post #9 of 36
11/4/08 at 6:56am
Thread Starter 
I think i will be installing it over the weekend. Got a spare HDD lying around, so I'll install it on there and test. If it doesn't work, easy to revert back to my Vista install .

I'll report back on my findings!
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post #10 of 36
11/4/08 at 7:34am
Whelp, the referenced non-twinview mode doesn't work. After a little hacking I got the projector to work, but at no more than 640x480, despite all my overrides. And the CRT doesn't work at all.
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post #11 of 36
11/4/08 at 7:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by quantumstate View Post

Whelp, the referenced non-twinview mode doesn't work. After a little hacking I got the projector to work, but at no more than 640x480, despite all my overrides. And the CRT doesn't work at all.

Did you try this:
Quote:


Option "IgnoreEDID" "boolean"

Disable probing of EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) from your monitor. Requested modes are compared against values gotten from your monitor EDID (if any) during mode validation. Some monitors are known to lie about their own capabilities. Ignoring the values that the monitor gives may help get a certain mode validated. On the other hand, this may be dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. Default: false (use EDID).

Also, are you *sure* that the CRT isn't working? If you configured it as the second display, it will just be black until you send something to it.

If you post your X log and xorg.conf, maybe I can help:
Code:
user@office:~$ cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf /var/log/Xorg.0.log > x.txt
and attach x.txt
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post #12 of 36
11/4/08 at 8:57am
Also, what are the make and model numbers of your display devices? I'll see if I can find timings and modelines.

P.S. I'm not partisan when it comes to helping people with linux. I help everyone that I can to the best of my ability -- it's my way of showing gratitude to the open source community.

P.P.S. It may be tomorrow before I can get to you, because I'm getting drunk today just in case Obama wins.
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post #13 of 36
11/4/08 at 9:12am
Well the CRT is blank in non-twinview mode, which is what you'd described, but that's not useful for me. I want the projector on LVDS and CRT on VGA for the case display -- the projector to run Myth and the case display to run whatever rinky-dink app.

Ya, used both of these:
\tOption\t\t"UseEDID" "FALSE"
\tOption\t\t"IgnoreEDID"
... and in each case the logfile warned they are depreciated but accepted them.

So to sum up, in non-twinview mode yes I've finally bashed into making the projector work (which does not respond to EDID), however it can never go above 640x480. I need 1280x720, and did manual overrides for this in xorg.conf. CRT is blank, and probably working in that respect, although this is not what the docs describe and it is of no real use this way. Twinview mode does not work.

I am suspicioning the problem is driver shortcomings, so is hopeless. I can't believe no one has solved this yet, with HDMI mobos having been out for a year.

Projector is an Optoma H78DC3, and only comes up in 640x480 for DFP-0. DFP-1, DFP-2, DFP-3, DFP-4, LVDS, and TV result in no signal for the projector at all.

Myth may be an impossible hope given the above, and given that it refuses to do a channel scan. When I run mythtv-setup and set Schedules Direct, I tell it to fetch my lineups and that works fine. It gets my antenna locals and Dish Network channels. However a Channel Scan does not work, nor does getting channels from my lineups. And when I hit Next and go back to this page, my two lineups are gone and in their place is "PC98105". (my zip code) WTF?

P.S. - I've noticed you are not partisan in helping ppl. Impressive and unusual.

P.P.S - I got drunk yesterday because I know Obama will win. You may be surprised to know that I am not a supporter. No, I believe that both of the Party candidates are bought and sold, and nothing will change (for the better) no matter which of them wins. I've been working for (and donating to) Nader ever since he announced. Yeah, he has no chance, but I believe he is the right man and don't care what the pundits or majority think. Obamanites will be sorely disappointed in about a year, if they're still paying attention.

 

xorg.conf.no-twinview.zip 1.193359375k . file
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post #14 of 36
11/4/08 at 9:45am
You may want to try an older nvidia driver as the newer ones appear to ignore xorg.conf overrides. Case and point: I have a 24" Soyo monitor whose native resolution is 1920x1200. The linux nvidia driver does not report a 1920x1080 resolution. I was previously able to get around this by providing a modeline and telling the driver not to use EDID. Using the exact same xorg.conf file no longer works after updating, however; so my conclusion is that the newer driver sucks.

P.S. It's interesting that you support Nader who is a strong supporter of fair tax. I'm conservative across the board, so I always vote Republican; but I know for a fact that fair tax is the way to go, and I'm sorely disappointed that "my guy" doesn't support it.

EDIT: OK, I just saw your attachment. Give me a while to parse though it...

WTF??? Sorry, double-post not intended.

hehe...double-post redeted
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post #15 of 36
11/4/08 at 10:08am
Pls. for to post /var/log/Xorg.0.log
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post #16 of 36
11/4/08 at 10:50am
Hmm...
Code:
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "DFP-0:1280x720"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): 
(WW) NVIDIA(0): Unable to validate any modes; falling back to the default mode
(WW) NVIDIA(0):     "nvidia-auto-select".
(WW) NVIDIA(0): 
(II) NVIDIA(0): Validated modes:
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "nvidia-auto-select"
(II) NVIDIA(0): Virtual screen size determined to be 640 x 480
(WW) NVIDIA(0): Unable to get display device DFP-0's EDID; cannot compute DPI
(WW) NVIDIA(0):     from DFP-0's EDID.
... but CRT-0 gives the same error, and I know it provides EDID.

I switched from the nVidia 177 driver to 173, but still 640x480. These are the only two versions jockey-kde offers.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mythmaster View Post
I'm conservative across the board, so I always vote Republican;
Well I am a gentleman so will not ask you directly, but I can not understand how people can still see Republicans as 'conservative'. Spend, and spend, and borrow, and spend, and spend... until we reach national financial collapse. I know some ppl here can't bear to face these things, but I read this morning that this year's deficit will be $ONE TRILLION!! A tenth of all our national debt for all time, which was already an unpayable $33,000 for each man, woman, and child!! Not to mention all major Iraq contracts given out without bidding, exclusively to a small group of corporations, owned or controlled by Administration officials. At least Clinton left us with the first budget surpluses in 40 years...

Just doesn't make sense how people still think they're conservative.

 

xorg.conf.zip 1.0810546875k . file

 

Xorg.0.log.zip 3.8046875k . file
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post #17 of 36
11/4/08 at 10:52am
OK. I see some "maybe" problems in your xorg.conf, but I still need to see your /var/log/Xorg.0.log
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post #18 of 36
11/4/08 at 11:31am
(log is above)

I've just found an account of a person who had this exact symptom (640x480) on their projector, and solved it by adding HorizSync and VertRefresh. Trying...

Also whoah, just found an xorg.conf for my very projector with all metrics. Hope it's right.
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post #19 of 36
11/4/08 at 11:45am
OK...here we go:
Code:
(WW) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Unable to read EDID for display device CRT-0
(WW) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Unable to read EDID for display device DFP-0
Also, the posted xorg.conf file doesn't have Option "IgnoreEDID" "true".

As for the driver version, you may have to install manually. This one --> http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_d..._96.43.05.html should be old enough, yet new enough. If not, check here and try others --> http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display_archive.html

Quote:
Well I am a gentleman so will not ask you directly, but I can not understand how people can still see Republicans as 'conservative'. Spend, and spend, and borrow, and spend, and spend... until we reach national financial collapse. I know some ppl here can't bear to face these things, but I read this morning that this year's deficit will be $ONE TRILLION!! A tenth of all our national debt for all time, which was already an unpayable $33,000 for each man, woman, and child!! Not to mention all major Iraq contracts given out without bidding, exclusively to a small group of corporations, owned or controlled by Administration officials. At least Clinton left us with the first budget surpluses in 40 years...

Just doesn't make sense how people still think they're conservative.

As I mentioned before, spending is WAY out of control and needs to be reigned in, but there are reasons for this. Only a Republican is capable of cutting spending. Obama wants to increase spending by $1 trillion. Yes, Clinton balanced the budget in a time of peace, but he also promised tax cuts to the middle class and retracted them when he was elected.

Conservative:

* Government should be as small as possible
* Women don't have the right to murder their unborn children unless their health is at risk
* "Gay marriage" is an oxymoron
* Carry a big-ass stick and don't be afraid to use it
* Don't over-tax people that create jobs for everyone else
* Free market because socialism doesn't work
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post #20 of 36
11/4/08 at 11:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by quantumstate View Post

(log is above)

I've just found an account of a person who had this exact symptom (640x480) on their projector, and solved it by adding HorizSync and VertRefresh. Trying...

Also whoah, just found an xorg.conf for my very projector with all metrics. Hope it's right.

Cool...let me know. I haven't searched for timings for your hw yet, but this is what I was getting at.
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post #21 of 36
11/4/08 at 1:16pm
Well I have experimented for hours, but just can not solve this:
Code:
(II) LoadModule: "ramdac"
(II) Module "ramdac" already built-in
(EE) Screen 0 deleted because of no matching config section.
(II) UnloadModule: "nvidia"
(II) UnloadModule: "wfb"
(II) UnloadModule: "fb"
(EE) Device(s) detected, but none match those in the config file.

Fatal server error:
no screens found
It's supposed to be related to assignment of the PCI address in the Device section, but that is correct. (worked before)

Changing the driver with jockey really muggered with my xorg.conf, removing all my commented lines! The temerity! Now I've lost all my notes, etc.

 

Xorg.0.log.zip 3.8046875k . file

 

xorg.conf.zip 1.0810546875k . file
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post #22 of 36
11/4/08 at 3:00pm
OK, I just started over with xorg.conf after jockey royally muggered things up, but it still simply does not work. Never get anything more than 640x480 no matter what, and a blank screen on CRT.

I am very reluctant to install a driver direct from nVidia, as it is out of the package chain and will mess up symlinks. In any case my graphics chip (nVidia GeForce 9300, on Asus P5N7A-VM) was just released and I'll need the newest drivers to support it.

However it appears the newest driver (177) is busted, and so I can't use Linux for my HTPC. Looks like it's Sage on Winduhs for me, even as I've used Debian exclusively for eleven years.

If it's Linux, or TV, TV wins.


Of course I have responses for each of your conservative talking points, which may blow your mind, but for here I'll just ask, do you really think Republicans have actually exhibited those values, in practice? Be honest with yourself. Under Reagan the federal government ballooned 40%. Under Bush not so much, but his and Congress' 2000-2006 profligacy is unmatched in all of world history.
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post #23 of 36
11/5/08 at 3:41am
Presidents don't spend the money... congress does...

Clinton presided during the dotcom boom... THAT is what balanced the budget.....
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post #24 of 36
11/5/08 at 4:22am
I've found that there is a nvidia-glx-96 package in Kubuntu repositories, so tried it. Won't even start. (Running Kubuntu 8.10 final, so likely incompatible)
Code:
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers//nvidia_drv.so
dlopen: /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers//nvidia_drv.so: undefined symbol: miZeroLineScreenIndex
(EE) Failed to load /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers//nvidia_drv.so
(II) UnloadModule: "nvidia"
(EE) Failed to load module "nvidia" (loader failed, 7)
(EE) No drivers available.

Fatal server error:
no screens found
And jimwhite, Congress authorizes the money. But did you know that the president makes the budget?

The main point I am trying to show you is the difference between what Republicans say, and what they actually do. If you are honest with yourself, there's a vast divergence. 'Conservative' has had nothing to do with 'Republican' for many years, except in propaganda.

No, it was not the dotcom boom that balanced the budget. It was Al Gore's Streamlining Government Initiative, which few seem to be aware of since the Talking Heads never mentioned it.
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post #25 of 36
11/5/08 at 4:48am
I used the online modeline calculator to adjust for the reduced window size and shifting the display up/down left/right. Also, if your display responds to EDID but you don't want to use the default modes apply some of the following:

Code:
Section "Device"
Identifier\t"Device0"
Driver\t"nvidia"
VendorName\t"NVIDIA"
BoardName\t"8800GT"
Option\t"NoLogo" "TRUE"
Option\t"AllowDDCCI" "FALSE"
Option\t"UseEDIDFreqs" "FALSE"
Option\t"ExactModeTimingsDVI" "TRUE"
Option\t"ModeValidation" "NoVesaModes, NoDFPNativeResolutionCheck, NoVirtualSizeCheck, NoPredefinedModes"
I've attached my xorg.conf with the magic sony 1080p xbr2 rear projection modeline

 

xorg.conf.zip 1.30078125k . file
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post #26 of 36
11/5/08 at 6:53am
Here is the core symptom with the nvidia 173 and 177 driver:
Code:
(II) NVIDIA(0): Assigned Display Device: DFP-0
(WW) NVIDIA(0): Error while parsing offset information in mode description
(WW) NVIDIA(0):     "1280x720p-75Hz"
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1280x720p-75Hz"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1280x720p"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): 
(WW) NVIDIA(0): Unable to validate any modes; falling back to the default mode
(WW) NVIDIA(0):     "nvidia-auto-select".
(WW) NVIDIA(0): 
(II) NVIDIA(0): Validated modes:
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "nvidia-auto-select"
(II) NVIDIA(0): Virtual screen size determined to be 640 x 480
(WW) NVIDIA(0): Unable to get display device DFP-0's EDID; cannot compute DPI
(WW) NVIDIA(0):     from DFP-0's EDID.
(==) NVIDIA(0): DPI set to (75, 75); computed from built-in default
Interestingly when I set the X driver to vesa, it at least gives me 1024x768 on the projector. Here's what happens in the log:
Code:
II) VESA(0): Monitor0: Using hsync range of 27.00-96.00 kHz
(II) VESA(0): Monitor0: Using vrefresh range of 50.00-160.00 Hz
(II) VESA(0): Not using mode "1280x720_60" (no mode of this name)
(II) VESA(0): Not using mode "1280x720p" (no mode of this name)
(II) VESA(0): Not using built-in mode "1024x768" (no mode of this name)
(II) VESA(0): Not using built-in mode "800x600" (no mode of this name)
(II) VESA(0): Not using built-in mode "640x480" (no mode of this name)
(II) VESA(0): Not using built-in mode "640x400" (no mode of this name)
(II) VESA(0): Not using built-in mode "320x400" (no mode of this name)
(II) VESA(0): Not using built-in mode "320x240" (no mode of this name)
(II) VESA(0): Not using built-in mode "320x200" (no mode of this name)
(WW) VESA(0): No valid modes left.  Trying less strict filter...
(II) VESA(0): Monitor0: Using hsync range of 27.00-96.00 kHz
(II) VESA(0): Monitor0: Using vrefresh range of 50.00-160.00 Hz
(II) VESA(0): Not using mode "1280x720_60" (no mode of this name)
(II) VESA(0): Not using mode "1280x720p" (no mode of this name)
(--) VESA(0): Virtual size is 1024x768 (pitch 1024)
(**) VESA(0):  Built-in mode "1024x768"
(**) VESA(0):  Built-in mode "800x600"
(**) VESA(0):  Built-in mode "640x480"
(**) VESA(0):  Built-in mode "640x400"
(**) VESA(0):  Built-in mode "320x400"
(**) VESA(0):  Built-in mode "320x240"
(**) VESA(0):  Built-in mode "320x200"
(==) VESA(0): DPI set to (96, 96)
(II) VESA(0): Attempting to use 85Hz refresh for mode "1024x768" (118)
(II) VESA(0): Attempting to use 85Hz refresh for mode "800x600" (115)
(II) VESA(0): Attempting to use 85Hz refresh for mode "640x480" (112)
(II) VESA(0): Attempting to use 85Hz refresh for mode "640x400" (13e)
When nothing else is plugged into the mobo the projector shows POST and X, but when CRT is plugged in as well it takes all precedence.
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post #27 of 36
11/5/08 at 7:54am
LOL, I had to take a nap, and I'm still getting drunk today for obvious reasons. Promise I'll be back to help, quantumstate. Hang in there.
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post #28 of 36
11/5/08 at 9:11am
Holy sh1t, I've got it! After 3 full days of torture in the Black Art of X!

I meticulously grafted in the differences from scarycall's xorg.conf into mine, and suddenly xorg obeyed me! The very key was in Devices:
Code:
\tOption\t"ExactModeTimingsDVI" "TRUE"
\tOption\t"AllowDDCCI" "FALSE"
\tOption\t"UseEDIDFreqs" "FALSE"
\tOption\t"ModeValidation" "NoVesaModes, NoDFPNativeResolutionCheck, NoVirtualSizeCheck, NoPredefinedModes"
... which I narrowed it down to the first line here making all the difference in the world. Now have that showstopper out of the way for all posterity. Thanks for your help mythmaster (kept me going), and especially scarycall (never would have found it without you).

I now have a very nice 1280x720 display on my projector, although I think I'll use a pixel checkerboard to adjust the clock for pixel perfection.

However my other consoles are blank (, etc), and plugging in the CRT is blank as well. I guess mythmaster's way of directing apps to another display would work, but for now I am moving forward with trying to solve my MythTV Scan Channels problem so I can at least start to get TV.

Attached is my current xorg.conf as my contribution to the Community.

 

xorg.conf.zip 1.0810546875k . file
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post #29 of 36
11/5/08 at 9:41am
After reading this single thread I've decided not to attempt a Myth box and stick with Vista.

Why would I want to spend so much time tweaking? I don't have time for that. I have to go make more money so I can be patriotic and pay more taxes...

mythmaster - dems won't get it until THEY stop drinking the koolaide and have someone explain world history in the context of results NOT intentions. I'm unaffiliated and voted for the lesser of two evils. Looks like I'm getting more evil than I wanted .
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post #30 of 36
11/5/08 at 11:32am
OK. I'm still wasted and downloading all things "Scooby Doo" right now.

Congrats to quantumstate on your success. I have a gig around lunch tomorrow, and I'll be back afterwards to have a closer look at your situation.

@Audixium: Please don't give up on linux prematurely. quantumstate's experience is unique.
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