Purple dots after exiting X

Nygard · n00b Joined: 27 Apr 2002 Posts: 8

After I quit X, my console cursor is gone. Instead, I have a row of four blinking purple squares where the cursor ought to be. They move as I type, scroll around in vi, whatever. I mean, they behave just like the cursor should. It's just four wierd purple dots.

NVidia GeForce II, with driver 2880 + GLX
Kernel 2.4.19

Anybody else having this problem? I don't know why it happens to start with, and I don't know how to get rid of the dots and get my cursor back. Any ideas?

BradN · Posted: Sun May 19, 2002 4:08 am Post subject:

What kind of console are you using? Text, vesa framebuffer...?

hudsonhauck · Posted: Sun May 19, 2002 4:21 am Post subject:

I have the same problem except I have 2 purple dots instead of 4 and I have a GeForce3 Ti200. I am also on 2.4.19. They don't seem to be harmful, but I would like to know.
_________________
Matthew Hauck
http://matthauck.blogspot.com/

Nygard · n00b Joined: 27 Apr 2002 Posts: 8

I think I'm using a framebuffer console, but I'm not completely sure. How would I check that?

BradN · Posted: Mon May 20, 2002 12:59 am Post subject:

if you run the kernel with "vga=normal" it'll force text mode for it - if it doesn't change then you were probably in text mode before. If there are problems using the vesa framebuffer, try looking at the available options for it in the kernel documentation. Maybe there's some cursor related options. Otherwise you have to compile in vesa framebuffer support I believe, and pick a mode for it to use in the kernel command line if I remember. I'm on win98 right now so I can't be of much more help at the moment

I've used both modes on my GeForce 2 MX without problems (the vesa framebuffer can be speed up considerably by setting a couple extra options)

Nygard · n00b Joined: 27 Apr 2002 Posts: 8

BradN: thanks.

Turns out I was using the fb console. Turned that off in the kernel and now the problem goes away.

The random hangs when leaving X have stopped, too. :wink: