Which package to hold back from upgrading [screen resolution]

[arist]

I'd like to hold a package back from being upgraded. I know how to do it (apt-mark), the only question is which package. I'm using it 13.10, and when I do a full upgrade, the screen resolution is wrong, and there's no way to change it. I now have a new install. This is a old computer, an HP Mini, so I suspect the video chip set (Intel 945GSE) is too old for the upgraded system. There are almost 400 upgrades waiting, so I think I should I start upgrading. What is the package responsible for the wrong resolution? Is it the kernel? If so, should hold back all the linux-headers and all the linux-images? Is it the driver (i915)? Anything else it could be? What more information is needed?

I've learned a lot on this forum the past week, and I really appreciate all the help you folks have given me.

[GreyGeek]

The package xserver-xorg-video-intel contains both the i945 and the i915 drivers. Which one is in your mod listing?
If it is i915 you may have to remove it and install i945.

If you do "modinfo i945" (or whatever" you'll see the "param"s that you can set in a *.conf file in /etc/modprobe.d/ or, as a line in /etc/modules.
For example, i915 shows:

$ modinfo i915
filename:       /lib/modules/3.13.0-16-generic/kernel/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915.ko
license:        GPL and additional rights
description:    Intel Graphics
author:         Tungsten Graphics, Inc.
license:        GPL and additional rights
srcversion:     63980C4E997458CA1DA6937
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000162Dsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000162Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000161Dsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000161Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000160Dsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000160Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000162Esv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000162Bsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00001626sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00001622sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000161Esv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000161Bsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00001616sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00001612sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000160Esv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000160Bsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00001606sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00001602sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000155sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000157sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000F33sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000F32sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000F31sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000F30sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000D26sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000D16sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000D06sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000A2Esv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000A1Esv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000A0Esv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000A26sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000A16sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000A06sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000C26sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000C16sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000C06sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000426sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000416sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000406sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000D2Esv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000D1Esv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000D0Esv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000D2Bsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000D1Bsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000D0Bsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000D2Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000D1Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000D0Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000D22sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000D12sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000D02sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000A2Bsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000A1Bsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000A0Bsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000A2Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000A1Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000A0Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000A22sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000A12sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000A02sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000C2Esv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000C1Esv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000C0Esv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000C2Bsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000C1Bsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000C0Bsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000C2Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000C1Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000C0Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000C22sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000C12sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000C02sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000042Esv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000041Esv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000040Esv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000042Bsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000041Bsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000040Bsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000042Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000041Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000040Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000422sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000412sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000402sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000016Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000015Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000162sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000152sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000166sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000156sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000016Asv0000152Dsd00008990bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000126sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000116sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000106sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000010Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000122sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000112sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000102sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000046sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000042sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000A011sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000A001sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002E92sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002E42sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002E32sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002E22sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002E12sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002E02sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002A42sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002A12sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002A02sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d000029D2sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d000029C2sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d000029B2sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d000029A2sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002992sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002982sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002972sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d000027AEsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d000027A2sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002772sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002592sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000258Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002582sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002572sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000358Esv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00003582sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002562sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00003577sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
depends:        drm_kms_helper,drm,video,i2c-algo-bit
intree:         Y
vermagic:       3.13.0-16-generic SMP mod_unload modversions 
signer:         Magrathea: Glacier signing key
sig_key:        1A:EE:D8:17:C4:D5:29:55:C4:FA:C3:3A:02:37:FE:0A:93:44:6D:69
sig_hashalgo:   sha512
parm:           invert_brightness:Invert backlight brightness (-1 force normal, 0 machine defaults, 1 force inversion), please report PCI device ID, subsystem vendor and subsystem device ID to dri-devel@lists.freedesktop.org, if your machine needs it. It will then be included in an upcoming module version. (int)
parm:           modeset:Use kernel modesetting [KMS] (0=DRM_I915_KMS from .config, 1=on, -1=force vga console preference [default]) (int)
parm:           fbpercrtc:int
parm:           panel_ignore_lid:Override lid status (0=autodetect, 1=autodetect disabled [default], -1=force lid closed, -2=force lid open) (int)
parm:           powersave:Enable powersavings, fbc, downclocking, etc. (default: true) (int)
parm:           semaphores:Use semaphores for inter-ring sync (default: -1 (use per-chip defaults)) (int)
parm:           i915_enable_rc6:Enable power-saving render C-state 6. Different stages can be selected via bitmask values (0 = disable; 1 = enable rc6; 2 = enable deep rc6; 4 = enable deepest rc6). For example, 3 would enable rc6 and deep rc6, and 7 would enable everything. default: -1 (use per-chip default) (int)
parm:           i915_enable_fbc:Enable frame buffer compression for power savings (default: -1 (use per-chip default)) (int)
parm:           lvds_downclock:Use panel (LVDS/eDP) downclocking for power savings (default: false) (int)
parm:           lvds_channel_mode:Specify LVDS channel mode (0=probe BIOS [default], 1=single-channel, 2=dual-channel) (int)
parm:           lvds_use_ssc:Use Spread Spectrum Clock with panels [LVDS/eDP] (default: auto from VBT) (int)
parm:           vbt_sdvo_panel_type:Override/Ignore selection of SDVO panel mode in the VBT (-2=ignore, -1=auto [default], index in VBT BIOS table) (int)
parm:           reset:Attempt GPU resets (default: true) (bool)
parm:           enable_hangcheck:Periodically check GPU activity for detecting hangs. WARNING: Disabling this can cause system wide hangs. (default: true) (bool)
parm:           i915_enable_ppgtt:Enable PPGTT (default: true) (int)
parm:           enable_psr:Enable PSR (default: false) (int)
parm:           preliminary_hw_support:Enable preliminary hardware support. (int)
parm:           disable_power_well:Disable the power well when possible (default: true) (int)
parm:           enable_ips:Enable IPS (default: true) (int)
parm:           fastboot:Try to skip unnecessary mode sets at boot time (default: false) (bool)
parm:           enable_pc8:Enable support for low power package C states (PC8+) (default: true) (int)
parm:           pc8_timeout:Number of msecs of idleness required to enter PC8+ (default: 5000) (int)
parm:           prefault_disable:Disable page prefaulting for pread/pwrite/reloc (default:false). For developers only. (bool)

The "alias" listings are the devices that the driver was written for. You can find that for your device by

:/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0$ [FONT=courier new][B]cat vendor[/B][/FONT]
0x8086
jerry@jerry-Aspire-V3-771:/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0$ [B][FONT=courier new]cat device[/FONT][/B]
0x0154
jerry@jerry-Aspire-V3-771:/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0$

While my device code is "154" it is close enough to the "152" device to work perfectly well.

Here is how you use the "param" variables. Notice the powersave parameter:

parm: powersave:Enable powersavings, fbc, downclocking, etc. (default: true) (int)

It defaults to "true" but since it is an interger variable false=0 and true=1.
Here is what it contains now:

[FONT=courier new][B]sudo cat /sys/module/i915/parameters/powersave[/B][/FONT]
:$1

So, if I wanted to turn off downclocking I would add the following line in the file /etc/modules
options i915 powersave=0

or put it in, say, greygeek.conf in /etc/modules.d/

This is described farily well in the following man pages:
http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/...be.conf.5.html

[arist]

The package xserver-xorg-video-intel contains both the i945 and the i915 drivers. Which one is in your mod listing?
If it is i915 you may have to remove it and install i945.

A lot of useful information here.

modinfo i945
ERROR:  Module i945 not found.

Why should I replace i915 with this?

cat vendor  0x8086
cat device  0x27ac

Closest thing to this in modinfo i915 is 27AE. I have no idea if that's close enough.


There are actually two problems. One is the resolution problem when the system is completely upgraded, and the other is that the netbook will not resume when it has been suspended. It's just a black screen and no combination of ctr-alt keys does anything. This problem exists without upgrading.

I take you to be saying that I should modify the parameters to solve the resolution problem, and then upgrade, instead of holding back a package. If so, I will need to know which parameters to modify. Here are all of them:

parm:           invert_brightness:Invert backlight brightness (-1 force normal, 0 machine defaults, 1 force inversion), please report PCI device ID, subsystem vendor and subsystem device ID to dri-devel@lists.freedesktop.org, if your machine needs it. It will then be included in an upcoming module version. (int)
parm:           modeset:Use kernel modesetting [KMS] (0=DRM_I915_KMS from .config, 1=on, -1=force vga console preference [default]) (int)
parm:           fbpercrtc:int
parm:           panel_ignore_lid:Override lid status (0=autodetect, 1=autodetect disabled [default], -1=force lid closed, -2=force lid open) (int)
parm:           powersave:Enable powersavings, fbc, downclocking, etc. (default: true) (int)
parm:           semaphores:Use semaphores for inter-ring sync (default: -1 (use per-chip defaults)) (int)
parm:           i915_enable_rc6:Enable power-saving render C-state 6. Different stages can be selected via bitmask values (0 = disable; 1 = enable rc6; 2 = enable deep rc6; 4 = enable deepest rc6). For example, 3 would enable rc6 and deep rc6, and 7 would enable everything. default: -1 (use per-chip default) (int)
parm:           i915_enable_fbc:Enable frame buffer compression for power savings (default: -1 (use per-chip default)) (int)
parm:           lvds_downclock:Use panel (LVDS/eDP) downclocking for power savings (default: false) (int)
parm:           lvds_channel_mode:Specify LVDS channel mode (0=probe BIOS [default], 1=single-channel, 2=dual-channel) (int)
parm:           lvds_use_ssc:Use Spread Spectrum Clock with panels [LVDS/eDP] (default: auto from VBT) (int)
parm:           vbt_sdvo_panel_type:Override/Ignore selection of SDVO panel mode in the VBT (-2=ignore, -1=auto [default], index in VBT BIOS table) (int)
parm:           reset:Attempt GPU resets (default: true) (bool)
parm:           enable_hangcheck:Periodically check GPU activity for detecting hangs. WARNING: Disabling this can cause system wide hangs. (default: true) (bool)
parm:           i915_enable_ppgtt:Enable PPGTT (default: true) (int)
parm:           preliminary_hw_support:Enable preliminary hardware support. (default: false) (int)
parm:           disable_power_well:Disable the power well when possible (default: true) (int)
parm:           enable_ips:Enable IPS (default: true) (int)

The only one that looks to me like it could be responsible for the resolution is this one:

modeset:Use kernel modesetting [KMS] (0=DRM_I915_KMS from .config, 1=on, -1=force vga console preference [default]) (int)

There seem to be many candidates for the suspend problem, too many for me to choose between them.

Any suggestions?

[SteveRiley]

i915 is the kernel module for all Intel graphics chips except the 810 and the GMA500. Your 945GSE is covered by the i915 module.

xserver-xorg-video-intel is the X driver for all Intel graphics chips. If anything, it would be this driver that you need to hold back.

[arist]

I held back xserver-xorg-video-intel and did all the upgrades, then rebooted. The resolution is fine. Thanks for your help.

[SteveRiley]

Glad you got everything sorted.