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linux & bios shadow problem



I wonder if anyone has encountered this problem?

I installed linux ( slackware 2, core 1.2.13, Xfree 3.1.2 ) on my PC. 

Everything works fine until I try  startx, at which point the system gets completely stuck 

and the only thing that "works" is a hardware reset.

 I have a intel 486DX 33 on a "MDK" motherboard with 8MB RAM and a  trident 8900 SVGA.  

Further investigation yielded the following:

1) when I type startx I get all the usual messages about fonts resolution etc, the screen 

goes into graphic mode and then the PC suddenly gets stuck. No key combination works.

2) When I transferred the disk with the installation to a different

computer ( a 486 SLC with 8MB ramand same trident 8900 ) the Xwindows works fine.

3) When I release the "turbo" button I manage to enter Xwindows but if I do anything that requires

a screen update ( ls to a directory with more than a few files, top, eyes etc ) the PC goes stuck

again.

4) The motherboard has AMIBIOS. The memory count is always missing 384K , even when I disable all 

bios shadows. 'mem' in DOS always reports 384k adapter ram in use. I think this may have something

to do with it.

If anybody knows anything about this hardware problem, please help!

								Thanks
								
								Eli Borowitz


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