2/14 How can I get my Pentium machine (with PCI & ISA slots), to boot with
a MDA (monochrome display adapter) card and monitor as the
default console? This computer is going to run debian, live in the
basement, and I do not need anything other than text console. I
like the amber-colored display, the fact that it does not flicker,
and the monitor being small and light. Any ideas? I can't find
anything with google. I think this might be a BIOS issue.
\_ Install an MDA card, disable the builtin VGA card via BIOS.
\_ There is no built-in VGA card, I have been using a Matrox
VGA PCI card. If I remove it, will it boot using the installed
ISA MDA card if, in the BIOS, there is a "Video" menu:
VGA/CGA, EGA, MONO. Do I change this to MONO?
\_ There is no built-in VGA card, I have been using a Matrox VGA
PCI card. I have installed an ISA MDA card. In the BIOS,
there is a "Video" menu: VGA/CGA, EGA, MONO. If I change
this to MONO, remove the matrox card, and it doesn't work,
can I boot up again with my matrox video card with the BIOS in
"MONO" mode without messing up my matrox card and VGA monitor?
\_ Hey Thanks!! That worked. I'm logged in to soda on an amber
screen monochrome monitor. Way cool. Old school meets new school
I took the matrox out, so now I can use it in another computer.
\_ Do you really want/need a display? A simpler option might be
to configure lilo/grub and the kernel to redirect output to
com0 or com1.
\_ Yeah, I think I want a display, but what sort of
device are you invisioning on the com port? |