[GRLUG] IBM NetVista not booting graphical environment

[john-thomas richards]

I am helping a friend with his non-profit's computer (he runs an inner-city
ministry that helps with job placement, tutoring for students, leadership
development, etc.).  The machine is an IBM NetVista, Pentium III processor,
and an nVidia card.  I attempted to install XP (he *needs* Quickbooks) for
him.  The install works fine until the machine reboots and attempts to load
the GUI.  When it does so, the monitor goes into sleep mode and requires a
hard reboot (the keyboard becomes unresponsive).  I thought this was odd
behavior so I got another *identical* machine (literally; he received a
donation of several identical machines from a local business) and tried
installing XP onto that blank drive (after formatting, of course).  Again the
monitor went into sleep mode.  I then booted the machine with a Knoppix CD.
The initial splash screen (complete with graphic and a "boot:" prompt) comes
up but when I type in "knoppix" to start Knoppix, the monitor again goes into
sleep mode and requires a hard reboot.  The behavior is identical with XP and
Knoppix on three machines.  I suspect it is an idiosyncracy with IBM hardware.
Any suggestions?
-- 
john-thomas
------
I love you, and because I love you, I would sooner have you hate me for
telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies.
Pietro Aretino, satirist and dramatist (1492-1556)