I know there are may linux geeks here.

Could you direct me to a good forum, where I could get some help, starting using Linux ?? Something where a newbie asking stupid questions would not be throwed out ...
(Google gives too many URLs... which one to choose... ??..)

(I installed a SuSe 9 Linux.
Made some change to the display characteristics ... and I no longuer have anything on my display after a reboot ... I can reboot in RESCUE mode and arrive under bash... but how do I change my display back to a working status ? I don't know any linux command ... Maybe I should completly re-install the whole stuff ?)

No idea. I learned while reading the newsgroups (anyone remember those?). You can PM me questions if you want, and I'll try to help.

LinuxQuestions.org looks active and friendly, based on 10 minutes of experience. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have something better than forums. I really like O'Reilly books, particualrly Essential System Administration *blue spine, has an armadillo on the front. But then again, I don't do anything terribly spectacular with Linux.

Suse Linux should give you the option of performing a repair installation. It should allow you to skip some of the more time consuming tasks. Before you change your system it may be a good idea to get a live CD and test the changes there first (keep notes of the changes). That would keep your system in working condition.
I second the idea of using O'Reilly´s books as reference. You may have to invest some work to find one that suits your level of knowledge.

I learned Linux by spending all my free time asking silly questions or reading the silly questions of others at http://www.linuxnewbie.org which has since changed their name to http://www.justlinux.com/ . Of course this was several years ago so I'm sure their community has changed since I was there last. Both of these URLs work and both take you to the same place so use whichever suits your fancy. Hope this helps... it did for me.

try "X -configure" or "XFree86 -configure". Which everone of those works will end with a message like "your new settings file is /root/XFree.config.new" or something similar
type the same command that worked above with "-config /root/XFree.config.new" (or whatever was returned) argument. If you have any other problems PM or PM me with an AIM or yahoo screenname.

I can't help you! I went to 2 weeks of training on Linux and came away with a new appreciation as to how Bill Gates got to be a multi-billionaire!
One of the biggest problems is always hardware drivers. We recently needed Linux on a program PC at work for a project, the Linux would not see the Serial ATA hard drive! had to revert to an older IDE drive to get that Linux on the computer. Typical of the issues with Linux! I used to enjoy a good technical challenge, these days I don't! Good luck with the Linux, there are a few here that can assist, I'm sure!

Installing or administrating linux isn't for the inexperienced (windoze) user.

That said, my dad (who can barely type and still refers to his browser as "foxfire" despite numerous corrections), is using a linux machine. It doesn't crash, won't get "infected" and is trivial for me to remote administrate.

Linux... ya gotta want it. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

that's my view of Linux : it's not for the basic user but for experienced programmers.
Once the machine/system is up and running, with a KDE or GNOME etc.. desk, and all the other mousefriendly applications <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> it seems more stable than a Windows machine and then a basic user can use it.

I also had a 1 or 2 week training on linux ten years ago. Back home, I tried to install it on one of my machine... never succeded. And as we never used it at work, I just dropped the subject. The main "souvenir" I keep from that training, was that I was sent 15 years back in time, when learning machine language.... <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> and then I had a thought for all those people who had created third or fourth level languages.... what for ?!?


P.S. : I did leave a message on a forum... no answer up to now.
Re-install (and don't touch anything afterwards !) will be the motto of the day !!

That is so not necessary. Really, I'd be happy to help a fellow ETS member. PM if you want, and we'll fix stuff like this as it happens.

OK, but I wouldn't want to waste your time.

Will PM tomorrow. Right now, it's pretty late and I have to catch a train tomorrow, ... hum... this morning !!
+ I have to set up another computer to be able to connect on this forum and PM, all the while we try to put the Linux one back in shape.
TIA

Not a linux geek, but I use Suse,

try typing sax2 from bash

What's it do? (I don't use SuSe...)

that's the name of the monitor configuration program IIRC.
But when typed under bash, I only get a " command not found " message...

You need to type it in lowercase and you may have to be root. So try to type "su" first if you are not logged in as root.

I logged in as root and I did type it in lower case.... maybe I should be in some directory ....

Found some docs which suggest it's 'SaX2'. And remember, the commands in Unix are case sensitive.

O.K., enough time lost... Re-installation is under way .....

Darn. Sorry.

I'm surprised Suse isn't more forgiving. I've heard good things about it.

I guess it is ... I just don't know how to use it (especially what to do under sh or bash, to get to the proper config file and alter it back to "normal"...)

Sorry sax2 didn't work for you.

Suse has worked for me so I haven't had to "get under the hood" and learn what was happening.

re-installation is probably the smart thing to do.

I believe SaX2 stores the info in a file named XF86Config which is located in /etc/X11 , but I don't know what values you would need to set..

Good luck!

Before re-installing, I looked for the config file, but did not found /etc/x11 directory !?!.....
Now, looking for it again, I see a X11 (with a capital X, at the beginning of the list ....) and sure enough the config file is there .... <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> ..

Dumber than dumb ! I really need to get used to Linux ..... !! <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, I'm not sure I would have been able to modify the correct parameter...