Headless Dell Dimension 3100C

I'm setting up an old Dell Dimension 3100C Desktop PC as a webserver and would very much like to stick it in a cupboard somewhere and run it headless (don't mind hooking up KB and Mouse but really don't want to connect a monitor).

I've set the BIOS option to not report keyboard error and it will boot without these attached. But as soon as I disconnect the monitor and try to boot, it fails.

Obviously, since there's no monitor connected, I can't tell at what point it stalls; I just know I can't access it via TightVNC which I can when it boots normally.

Any ideas?

What OS do you have installed?

Sorry, should have said. It's Ubuntu 10.04 32 bit.

But I don't think it gets that far TBH.

Seems you are not the only one. Maybe one of these can point you in the right direction.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1452600

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1452600

My search with more links.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1452600

@Train
Thanks for the links. I had actually seen the first one already but hadn't tried any of the fixes - mainly because I didn't believe it was an Ubuntu issue.

I did give one of the fixes a go in the end (the one on page 3) and bugger me if it didn't work!

So thanks for pointing me back in the right direction.

Now I've got a headless unit :D

One small fly in ointment though - when I VNC in the screen res is only 640 x 480 which is a pain.

Those type of problems can be real hair pulls for sure.

Glad to see things are sorted out.

640 x 480, try a different VNC program.

Either re-think its location or consider using a KVM switch...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Train

640 x 480, try a different VNC program.

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Any suggestions? I'm using a Windows 7 machine to access the Ubuntu webserver.

I hope someone can post so help as i can not.

Solved.

I installed FreeNX server on the webserver and the client on my Windows machine and now all is well.

Thanks for the help.

Thanks for posting the fix.
Now if I can just remember that. :( :(