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English Forums => 25.1, 25.4 Production Series => Topic started by: ChrisBedford on July 11, 2025, 10:18:29 PM

Title: Local console (VGA) loses sync as soon as my new install boots
Post by: ChrisBedford on July 11, 2025, 10:18:29 PM
Hi there

I've been running into reliability issues with my existing home gateway router so I'm trying to replace it with a "Giada" micro system - not entirely sure what processor it's based on, but the standard VGA install image {x}-vga-amd64.img.bz2 has installed and booted fine on it before when I was doing a feasibility test. And by "before" I mean ver 21.something IIRC - whatever was current at the time, several months ago.

So now I'm trying it for real and again, it boots the live image, runs the installation and reports 100% complete, and then after I pull the install flash drive and reboot, the text that normally reports all the stages of bootup is crammed, microscopically and of course unreadably, into the top couple of inches of the monitor and repeated several times across its width - exactly as you might expect when running an old Windows machine set for high res but with a low-res or low-refresh rate monitor plugged in, i.e. video signal appears to have lost sync. Just without the warning message that monitors used to give about trying to run it past its design limits.

The computer has only an HDMI output. I've tried connecting it two different monitors, using the native HDMI port and using an HDMI-VGA adaptor into the native VGA ports. Same result every time.

This ring any bells for anyone? Am I doing something wrong?

P.S. [Edit] perhaps I should mention that I can't get a LAN connection to the dashboard, otherwise I wouldn't be whining here. I don't get an IP address - "An error occurred while rewing interface Ethernet : unable to contact your DHCP server" - I know there is one, the config is a clone of the current installation.
Title: Re: Local console (VGA) loses sync as soon as my new install boots
Post by: patient0 on July 12, 2025, 07:02:00 AM
First, you would need to know what the hardware is you are using. If there is a need for hardware specific settings, this information is vital.

At least you will want to know the CPU type, amount of memory and maker and model of the network adapter. For that check:


Additionally a photo of the scramble screen is helpful.

Quoteperhaps I should mention that I can't get a LAN connection to the dashboard, otherwise I wouldn't be whining here. I don't get an IP address
After the installion you would have to setup the WAN and LAN interfaces. You may don't get to do that since you can't read the screen.
Title: Re: Local console (VGA) loses sync as soon as my new install boots
Post by: ChrisBedford on July 12, 2025, 11:54:12 PM
Thanks, Patient0

Yeah, turns out the computer is intel-based but it's an old model (the AMI BIOS is date 2016) that isn't supported anymore so I doubt I'm going to waste any more time on it. It only has 2 GB of RAM (non upgradeable) and at one point I got a warning message that opnS wants more than that... and I'm not entirely sure I'm getting the same results every time I try e.g. rebooting to get to the point where I could potentially run those commands you suggested. It also gives off a disconcerting "something's running a bit hot" smell so maybe it's time to look for another machine to run it on.

Thanks for your time 🌞

Oh PS I did take a picture of the screen - even cropped it to remove background, and in my mind I had posted it - but apparently not. So enjoy 😝