GroovyArcade computer monitor setup with ArcadeVGA?

[snarfies3]

I am trying to set up GroovyArcade for the first time.  I have an ArcadeVGA 3000 card, and a standard CRT computer monitor connected to the DVI port (using a VGA adapter).

I can install GroovyArcade to the HD, that part works just fine.  But I don't know what monitor to select in the setup process - I have tried several.  There is no (obvious) option for a standard computer monitor, and nothing I have tried works.  I have tried "LCD," as well as several of the VESA GRT modes.  No matter what I select, once I boot from the HD I wind up with a black screen.

[Calamity]

Hi snarfies3,

For a CRT PC monitor, the vesa presets are the best suited. You can use the arcade_31 setting too, but it's quite more limited.

Make sure to read these posts, newer AVGA models may need some grub tweaking:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,131463.0.html
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,131544.0.html

[snarfies3]

Thanks, but I don't fully understand.

1) I take it there's no pre-selectable mode to do what I'm trying to do?  It would seem to be the most super-obvious thing to have, but...

2) I think, based on what you've linked, I need to make manual adjustments in the "video grub" menu.  However, I can't access that.  If I do it from the CD, I'm told I can only adjust that from a HD installation.  Obviously, I can't do it from the HD, it gives me a nice blank screen to work with.

[snarfies3]

I need assistance, please.

If I install GroovyArcade with the ArcadeVGA 3000, and select a VESA mode, I am forced into 15khz output after the initial boot screen.  I gather I can configure GroovyArcade not to do so.  I am not in the same room as what I'm trying to build, but the menus that seem relevant tell me that I can't access them from a bootable CD.  Fine, but I don't have the option to get to them later once I'm booting from the HD.

[Calamity]

Hi snarfies3,

Check the guide in my signature, it's for usb pendrive installing but the video stuff will apply to any installation.

Well, basically you have TWO different video setups you need to consider:

1.- The video setup in grub's menu. This one applies from boot time to the gasetup screens included. If you are using a CRT PC monitor then you must use the 31 kHz option when booting from the live-cd. This option gets saved and is applied later when you install to harddrive.

2.- The video setup in gasetup menu. This one applies just to the X enviroment: desktop, frontends, and emulators. Here is were the VESA setting is used.

Grub options (the ones used on boot) can be modified later from a submenu in Gasetup named Video Grub or something like that. Of course, you need to have video to access there.

If you have some Linux skills you can boot your system from the live-cd, then edit your hd installation grub's config files to add a longer timeout so you can edit manually edit the options on next boot. Basically removing the "640x480ec" mode from the kernel line should be enough.

If you have the chance to do this, also make sure to remove the "splash" param, this will disable the splash screen. This can be required in many systems as the splash screen crashes the video driver for some reason. BTW, do you reach the point when the splash screen is shown on boot, or you get out of video before? If you can see the splash screen, then press escape as soon as it shows, this will prevent it from crashing.