Tried nomodeset no luck, figured after getting to the install menu hitting escape gets you to the boot: line as suggested by another user but does the same thing after the start of install. Not a quitter but looking like I'm gonna use untangle on this piece of hardware just cant spend anymore time on this ..

Googling round, try the "nomodeset" cheatcode instead of "vga=xxx". Note if any of these cheatcodes work you will probably need to enter it every time you boot until you change grub2.

What is the motherboard?

You can see the disk running the install you just cant see anything on the monitor eventually it stops loading waiting on some input but you cant see anything to input anything..

Hitting tab at the initial install screen pulls up a command line with a Linux install command already typed in. It just does the normal install and graphics goes to no signal and the monitor goes to sleep while the install is going on. If delete that line and type linux text it does the normal install and again the monitor says no signal and goes to sleep

That is right, and remove the incoming rule.

BTW the subnets 192.168.0.0/24 and 192.168.1.0/24 are not the best if you ever want to use VPN's. You risk networking issues if you ever connect a router as a WAP or any other device which comes with a default IP as it is often in one of these two subnets and you can get IP clashes.

Thanks, I understand all that, just some firewalls have goofy additional steps. In this case I have port 25 open for incoming at the moment but sounds like I need to use port forwarding. So for example in the COS GUI port forward 25 to to internal port 25 to 192.168.1.25 (mail01 Server)

By default the firewall is open to all outgoing traffic, but please try to understand the firewall (iptables) concept. The incoming firewall is for traffic destined for ClearOS. Port Forwarding is for traffic from the WAN through ClearOS to some device on the LAN. They are mutually exclusive. In your case for exchange you *probably" want port forwarding. The reason I say probably is because the mail server can be configured in ClearOS to do its spam and virus filtering then pass the mail through to a mail server behind it but this is a slightly more advanced set up than simple port forwarding. If you wanted this set up, you'd open incoming tcp:25 rather than port forward it.

Ok I'll try that. As I familiarize my self with routing on Clear OS I will have an exchange server on my network behind the CLearOS router. What rules do I need on this particular device. I know out going needs port 25 do I only need the section incoming service 25?

7.3 has a text mode install - tedious and slow, but works - done two installations this way now...

https://www.clearos.com/clearfoundation/social/community/installation-for-blind-or-visually-impaired-without-sighted-assistance#reply-186631

It is probably something to do with the motherboard and the standard drivers included in ClearOS. There may be some other grub switch/cheatcode which can be used.

What is the m/b model?

No luck with grub vga edits.. very frustrating.. tried 3 different monitors, just seems to be a bug

10 4 thank you.. I'll keep you posted..

When you boot up a text screen will come up indicating what you are about to boot to (iirc, ClearOS Installation, ClearOS Recovery and something else). You get a few seconds to hit any key to stop the countdown to boot. Then you have to select the line you want with the arrow keys then hit something. I think it is "e" to edit the boot line, but it tells you on the screen. Go to the end of the line and add "vga=791" without the quotes and then do whatever the screen says you need to do to continue with the boot.

I'll be trying a fresh install at the weekend so I'll see if I can note the exact commands.

Ok two questions, cant remember how I get to grub and what is the exact command.. Thanks ton for your help..

When you have the grub screen you get a few seconds to hit any key to change the kernel line. Can you try adding "vga=791" or "vga=788" or "vga=785" to the kernel line? (VGA modes)