Just as a follow up, I just finished installing Mandrake 7.0 on the same
computer. It works fine, in other words, it installs the generic VGA
driver, completes the install, and boots.
So, the problem seems to exist with Mandrake 7.2 and 8.0, not with 7.0,
and uncertain about 7.1 (I don't have a copy).
Randy Kramer
Randy Kramer wrote:
>
> <Sorry for the cross post. I posted this information (in a different
> form) to cooker a few days ago and have seen no response. My main
> intent in writing this is to solicit help from the newbie list, but I'm
> sending this to cooker because this may be easier to understand than the
> earlier post. I believe there is a problem in the installation script
> for beta 3 of Mandrake 8.0 that should be fixed. It appears that the
> same problem exists in the Mandrake 7.2 installation.>
>
> During attempts to install Mandrake 7.2 and beta 3 of 8.0 on a new
> system, just after I make the selection of XFree (i.e., XFree86 3.3.6 or
> 3.3.6 with experimental 3D support), I get the following error:
>
> An error occurred
> Can't call method "set_active" on an undefined value
>
> X is not configured and the installation does not complete. I have not
> found a way to ask that the generic VGA driver be installed because the
> installation stops before I reach the step of actually choosing a
> driver. (I have installed Mandrake 7.2 on several other systems.)
>
> The system (described below) uses an SiS 630 video chip, and there is
> some question about which XFree drivers support this chip (see below).
>
> As a newbie I'd like to find the simplest way around the problem. I'm
> hoping that there is a way to specify that I want to use the generic VGA
> (or SVGA) driver and get a successful install of X (during the Mandrake
> installation), even if it is not optimal.
>
> Is there some way to do that? Can I pass an option to the installer so
> that it uses the generic VGA driver, or a magic keystroke combination so
> that I can select a driver before choosing between XFree86 3.3.6 or
> 3.3.6 with experimental 3D support? Something else?
>
> Thanks,
> Randy Kramer
>
> Other Information:
>
> The system:
>
> The system uses a Matsonic 8308 motherboard with on-board video, sound,
> and ethernet; a 700 MHz Duron; 192 MB RAM. The on board ethernet is
> disabled in order to use a 10 MHz Coax ethernet (Realtek 8029). The
> Matsonic 8308 is based on an SiS chipset with an SiS 630 video chip and
> "SiS 630 GUI Accelerator plus 3D".
>
> Aside: The system is set up as a dual boot system with Windows 98.
> Everything works fine in Windows 98, so I don't suspect a hardware
> defect.
>
> XFree86 drivers for the SiS 630:
>
> During the install for beta 3 of 8.0 I am presented with options to
> install XFree86 3.3.6 or 3.3.6 with experimental 3D support, but not an
> option to install XFree86 4.0.3. The system uses an SiS 630 video chip,
> and I suspect that I do not get an option to install XFree86 4.0.3
> because the installer believes that the SiS 630 is not supported by a
> 4.0.3 driver.
>
> There is some confusion about whether the 4.0.3 driver supports the SiS
> 630 or not, and I have sent an email to XFree86.org asking them to
> clarify. (Based on their web pages, it looks like there may be a driver
> for 3.3.6 and 4.0.2, but that support for the SiS 630 is not present in
> the driver for 4.0.3.)
