Please Help; Monitor Disappears, Can't Run Linux w/o a Monitor... Options

[cagey cretin]

I have a problem that has plagued me for the past two years: I haven't been able to install Linux.

I have 3 CD-set ISOs for Madrake 9_1 and Redhat 9; both eyield the same result (after the install process).

After the initial re-boot, my screen goes dead. As if it has powered
down. All my hardware meets with redhats HCL seal of approval, and was found by the OS as it was installing. I actually made it through the install process of all the OSes I tried. Upon re-boot, after listing all
services at start up, my monitor goes blank. All the tests during
install to see if the settings worked, did in fact work.

The monitor goes into sleep mode, by appearances.

Someone on another forum suggested trying another monitor. I did; I still fail to get Linux up and running.

Over the last two years I have used these books:

* Linux Bible (Hungry Minds)
* Building a Linux Internet Server (New Riders)
* RHCE Certification Study Guide (Osbourne/Syngress)
* Mastering RedHat 6.0 (Sybex)
* Redhat 9 Documentation PDF
* Redhat 7.1 Documentation PDF
* Mandrake 9.1 Documentation PDF
* Mandrake 7 Documentation PDF

Let me get this out now:

I have shit for brains, I don't know what I am doing, etc.

I would still appreciate any pointers/thoughts.

Joe Wilk

[Joey]

If nano isnt installed try pico or vi

Do you have a multi processor system? If not, why are you using an SMP kernel?

init level 3 will load linux into the console mode.

init level 5 loads XFree86 on boot up. If this doesnt work but 3 does then theres definitely a configuration problem with XFree86.