Debian Multimedia :: Cannot Get X To Start (or Even To Configure)

I have been trying to install Squeeze from the 6.0.1a KDE CD-1 plus the Debian repos. I just cannot get X to work. I get similar bad results to those mentioned by other users having similar problems, but none of the suggested fixes works.

Basic hardware information:
Desktop PC, whole 40 GB disk used for install
Graphics card: none Video controller on motherboard: VIA Technologies S3 UniChrome VGA controller (about 8 years old)
Monitor: Samsung Syncmaster 1280 x 1024 (about 8 years old)

Some things I've already tried: in rescue mode, as root, in /etc/X11X -configuremove file to /etc/X11/xorg.conf basically everything mentioned in threads in past two months regarding users who cannot get X to work reinstalling 100x with every choice for the installer I can think of

What happens: when doing the install, contrary to expectation, I am never prompted for any of the hardware information which the documentation at debian.org says I should have on hand (is that a good sign or a bad sign?)

No matter how I try to do the install,I always seem to get a nongraphical installation, so I try this: as root:apt-get install xorg in /etc/X11X -configthen move generated file (which looks like X didn't try to create an actual configuration file) to /etc/X11/xorg.config as non-root user:startx I get black screen (or a tiny tiny konsole at upper left) and system hangs

How can I tell whether this an X misconfiguration? How can I fix it? How can I tell whether I simply need a driver? Where do I look? How can I tell whether my hardware is simply incompatible with Squeeze? What do I need to replace? Do I need to get a new monitor in order to use Squeeze? Do I need to buy a new motherboard with newer video controller? Do I need to buy a graphics card? Which?