Hi, I am trying to set up a console only Slackware system on an old
laptop that will meet my basic needs such as WWW, emailing , IM,
Word-Processing, etc.

I got all the programs that I want to use but when I try to actually
start using the console, I realized that the resolution is only 60hz
and the grey fonts on black background hurts my eyes. So how do I tweak
my console to make it suit me better? I want 85hz resolution @
1024x768, a white background, with black text.

Thanks again for the help I recevied!

El Fri, 12 May 2006 05:01:41 -0700, Jack escribió:

> Hi, I am trying to set up a console only Slackware system on an old
> laptop that will meet my basic needs such as WWW, emailing , IM,
> Word-Processing, etc.
>
> I got all the programs that I want to use but when I try to actually
> start using the console, I realized that the resolution is only 60hz
> and the grey fonts on black background hurts my eyes. So how do I tweak
> my console to make it suit me better? I want 85hz resolution @
> 1024x768, a white background, with black text.
>
> Thanks again for the help I recevied!

In order to get the white background try with:
http://www.bootsplash.org/
http://www.bootsplash.de/
There is a white slackware theme (but i forgot its name).

Good Luck!

Jack <wk1989@gmail.com> trolled:
> Hi, I am trying to set up a console only Slackware system on an old
> laptop that will meet my basic needs such as WWW, emailing , IM,
> Word-Processing, etc.

> I got all the programs that I want to use but when I try to actually
> start using the console, I realized that the resolution is only 60hz
> and the grey fonts on black background hurts my eyes. So how do I tweak
> my console to make it suit me better? I want 85hz resolution @
> 1024x768, a white background, with black text.

Your old laptop probably doesn't support 85Hz and 1024X768. But if
it does, the only way you will get that in text mode is through
activating the framebuffer.

cordially, as always,

rm

On Fri, 12 May 2006 05:01:41 -0700, Jack wrote:

> Hi, I am trying to set up a console only Slackware system on an old
> laptop that will meet my basic needs such as WWW, emailing , IM,
> Word-Processing, etc.
>
> I got all the programs that I want to use but when I try to actually
> start using the console, I realized that the resolution is only 60hz
> and the grey fonts on black background hurts my eyes. So how do I tweak
> my console to make it suit me better? I want 85hz resolution @
> 1024x768, a white background, with black text.

Terminology tweak: 60Hz is the refresh rate, the resolution is the
1024x768, or whatever. Most LCDs are good at 60Hz. The LCDs on most
laptops (especially older ones) will burn out at 85Hz. And even if they
didn't burn out, you wouldn't see any difference.

As rm said, you need to look at using the framebuffer console. Your
version of lilo may be able to do that for you.
--
mark south; echo znexfbhgu2000@lnubb.pb.hx|tr a-z n-za-m
"I can trace my ancestry back to a protoplasmal primordial atomic
globule. Consequently, my family pride is something inconceivable."
-- Gilbert & Sullivan, The Mikado

Could you tell me how to enable the framebuffer console?

Here is my lilo.conf, which line do I need to uncomment? And also, it
seems that you can't set the resolution here...

# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig'
#
# Start LILO global section
boot = /dev/hda
message = /boot/boot_message.txt
prompt
timeout = 1200
# Override dangerous defaults that rewrite the partition table:
change-rules
reset
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
vga = 773
# Normal VGA console
# vga = normal
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k
# vga=791
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x32k
# vga=790
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
# vga=773
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x64k
# vga=788
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x32k
# vga=787
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x256
# vga=771
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x64k
# vga=785
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x32k
# vga=784
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x256
# vga=769
# End LILO global section
# Windows bootable partition config begins
other = /dev/hda1
label = Windows
table = /dev/hda
# Windows bootable partition config ends
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz
root = /dev/hda3
label = Linux
read-only
# Linux bootable partition config ends

Jack <wk1989@gmail.com> trolled:
> Here is my lilo.conf, which line do I need to uncomment? And also, it
> seems that you can't set the resolution here...

> # LILO configuration file
> # generated by 'liloconfig'
> #
> # Start LILO global section
> boot = /dev/hda
> message = /boot/boot_message.txt
> prompt
> timeout = 1200
> # Override dangerous defaults that rewrite the partition table:
> change-rules
> reset
> # VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
> vga = 773

Comment the above line. Your notebook probably doesn't support it, and
will ignore the framebuffer as a result, giving you standard VGA.

> # Normal VGA console
> # vga = normal

The above is a standard vga console. This is what we would be
running if we were in your shoes. But you say it is hard on your
eyes?

> # VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k
> # vga=791
> # VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x32k
> # vga=790
> # VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
> # vga=773
> # VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x64k
> # vga=788
> # VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x32k
> # vga=787
> # VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x256
> # vga=771
> # VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x64k
> # vga=785
> # VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x32k
> # vga=784
> # VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x256
> # vga=769

You should probably try to uncomment the above line and see how
things go with vga=769. If that works, then you can try 784, etc.
But if you are just going to be using text mode then 256 colors (the
last number in the specification) is plenty.

Also you have to make sure that the framebuffer is enabled in the
kernel. We believe that the standard kernel supplied with slackware
does have the framebuffer enabled.

Don't forget to run "lilo" after you make the changes in the
lilo.conf file.

cordially, as always,

rm

Thanks for the help, Realto. I tried " vga=791 " and it works, but I
still have an unanswered question, that's how do I change the refresh
rate of the console?

On Fri, 12 May 2006 15:10:55 -0700, Jack wrote:

> Thanks for the help, Realto. I tried " vga=791 " and it works, but I
> still have an unanswered question, that's how do I change the refresh
> rate of the console?

Why the concern with the refresh rate on the console? If you are seeing a
flickering on the console, you probably have an issue with your hardware.

Yeah I guess you're right, maybe it's just a psychological thing. I
have yet another question, how do I change the fonts that's displayed
in the console? Sorry for asking this many questions in one thread.