Help with ATI driver

[IgnorantGuru]

I followed the recommended https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI

No luck - blank screen. log says fglrx kernel module filed to load. Why would this be and what can I do?

'modprobe fglrx' returns "FATAL: error running install command for fglrx"

Card is a Radeon 9100. I want TV out hence the prop driver. I've attached xorg.log - thanks for any help.

(RANT: Small wonder fewer people use linux - every video installation is @#%&#^%*&^$ nightmare - they never get to the good stuff)
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[IgnorantGuru]

Re: Help with ATI driver

The following (which wasn't in the howto above but was at http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubu...r_.288.28.8.29 ) seems to have corrected the kernel module...

apt-get install linux-restricted-modules-$(uname -r)

However, still get a blank screen - boots into text mode. Attached a new log.

[allston]

Re: Help with ATI driver

i would either re-run this part

depmod -a
aticonfig --initial
aticonfig --overlay-type=Xv

or restore the previous working xorg.conf

ps lol what the "apt-get install linux-restricted-modules-$(uname -r)" was in the instructions HOW did you miss it.

pps you might have better luck putting this thread in the Hardware section.

[IgnorantGuru]

Re: Help with ATI driver

Added a

ln -s /usr/lib/dri /usr/li/xorg/modules/dri

as suggested. Seemed to have some effect in the log re dri, but still no screen.

Tried rerunning...

depmod -a
aticonfig --initial
aticonfig --overlay-type=Xv

first line - no ouput. Second line, reported 'nothing to do'. Third line saved a backup copy. Reboot and still a blank screen. Here the are current xorg.conf and log. Thanks.

[IgnorantGuru]

Re: Help with ATI driver

I realize I can go back to the pre-ati xorg.conf (which had very low resolution), but my objective here is to get tv out running - this is a low-tech htpc.

[allston]

Re: Help with ATI driver

hmm weird

may be see what aticonfig -f does

or may be aticonfig --help has more info

some other commands you can try
apt-get update
apt-get install build-essential

[IgnorantGuru]

Re: Help with ATI driver

Anyone have any idea what this part of the log is telling me? Seems to be the only section giving an error. Why can X not find a usable screen? Why is it telling me those VESA modes are supported (I'm aiming for 1024)? Do I even want VESA?

(II) fglrx(0): First detailed timing not preferred mode in violation of standard!(II) fglrx(0): redX: 0.000 redY: 0.000  greenX: 0.000 greenY: 0.000
(II) fglrx(0): blueX: 0.000 blueY: 0.000  whiteX: 0.000 whiteY: 0.000
(II) fglrx(0): Supported VESA Video Modes:
(II) fglrx(0): 640x480@60Hz
(II) fglrx(0): 800x600@60Hz
(II) fglrx(0): Manufacturer's mask: 0
(II) fglrx(0): End of Display2 EDID data --------------------
(EE) fglrx(0): PreInitDAL failed
(EE) fglrx(0): R200PreInit failed
(II) fglrx(0): === [R200PreInit] === end
(II) UnloadModule: "fglrx"
(II) UnloadModule: "ddc"
(II) UnloadModule: "fglrxdrm"
(II) Unloading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/linux/libfglrxdrm.so
(II) UnloadModule: "drm"
(II) UnloadModule: "vbe"
(II) UnloadModule: "int10"
(II) UnloadModule: "vgahw"
(II) Unloading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libvgahw.so
(EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration.

Also, fglrxinfo returns "unable to open display :0" Thanks for any suggestions.

[IgnorantGuru]

Re: Help with ATI driver

Followup - this DAL business appears to be some kind of bug in the driver (yeah - just imagine a bug in an ATI driver if you can), perhaps related to the new xorg 7.1. I find lots of references to it and requests for help, but thus far no one seems to have a clue what it's about. Also seems to apply to many distros.

Is it possible to downgrade xorg without a lot of headaches (I've about had it with this problem - I don't mind spending time understanding something, but I don't like spending time because ATI can't debug their crappy drivers).

I know the older ati driver worked under SUSE, but I have no idea how to install it or if it would get along with the fglrx kernel module - seems like a lot of trouble. Just going to put the SUSE image back on the partition, and maybe leave a little room for a Kubuntu partition if I want to try it again.

I really think the easiest solution is to throw this ATI card in the garbage and get a cheap NVidia card. But its an old machine so I didn't want to put money into it. But if it saves time, I guess it's worth it.

[podunk]

Re: Help with ATI driver

ATI cards are hell. I got an old version of the driver to work with my 9200 - 8.25? ATI says specifically they don't support TV out on "older" cards.

A low end Nvidia can be had for 39 bucks.

[IgnorantGuru]

Re: Help with ATI driver

I agree. Barring some radical improvement at ATI, I won't be purchasing anything they make. I have had much better success with nvidia.

If anyone knows of a basic nvidia card with tv-out that gets along with kubuntu pls let me know what it is. I'm not a gamer - just want the tv-out.

I was thinking of throwing a little more memory in that machine anyway (currently has 128M). A 750MHz processor so with more memory I think it will run more decently.

[IgnorantGuru]

Re: Help with ATI driver

Also, what about cards that have nvidia chipset but are 3rd party?

[podunk]

Re: Help with ATI driver

I've only tried twice - but I have never had a card that worked well with TV out, I'm sure they're out there. I sort of doubt they're cheap.

You realize you're way under spec to be running Kubuntu? I'm sure the minimum RAM is 256. With memory prices being what they are now days I think you would be pleasantly surprised is you bought a 512 stick and installed it.

[IgnorantGuru]

Re: Help with ATI driver

You realize you're way under spec to be running Kubuntu?

Does this mean I can't run it on my Apple ][e (64K used to go a long way)

Actually it ran okay but slow. I also ran SUSE 10.0 on there, which also ran slow. Not sure if I'm going to continue to use that machine - but if I do I think you're right about the memory upgrade.

As for TV Out, I decided to go with this...
http://www.aitech.com/site2/products/webcable.htm

$60 from provantage.com inc shipping. According to some of the MythTV discussions it provides good quality. No drivers, no software, no xorg.conf dreams disturbing my sleep. Just connect it to the vga and you've got tv out.

If these guys can do this with a $50 box, why can't the video card manufacturers do it without so much fuss? IMO this is how hardware and software should work - you plug it in and it works. Naive perhaps, but an evolved system is not necessarily complex - in fact complexity is a sign of a primitive design.

[podunk]

Re: Help with ATI driver

That does look simple and cheap. Let me know how it works please!

I'd sort of imagine that translating bits to colors would be a bit more complex than translating colors to colors.

Of course complexity costs more also. Reading the bottom line instead of a game - running a 25% margin the profit on a 100 buck card is quite a bit more than on a 50 buck card. So, if you happen to be an ATI stock holder complexity is good! :-D

[IgnorantGuru]

Re: Help with ATI driver

Got the Web Cable Plus today. Mostly positive. The video quality is about exactly the same as I get from the TV-OUT on my ATI Radeon 9100. It is slightly better than the TV-OUT on my laptop (ATI Radeon Mobility X300). Very easy to setup - no software or drivers. You just plug everything together.

Only drawback is you're limited to 1024x768@70Hz max. But if you don't mind running your computer at that, or switching back and forth, it seems to be a good alternative to pricey video cards and video driver nightmares.

For my purposes it didn't gain me much. In the last few days I put Kubuntu on the system again, but I found out that I can't play AVIs full screen with the X11 overlay (and I can't use the Xv overlay because of the buggy ATI driver). I can't use another overlay that did resize (can't remember which one) because the 750MHz processor can't keep up with the decoding. So for now my best solution on that machine seems to be to leave SUSE on it (the older ATI driver is already installed and working), and just use the ATI TV-Out (which allows me 1280x1024@75Hz on the desktop). I also ordered a cheap ($10) 128MB memory stick - we'll see if it works.

Unless ATI fixes their bug I can't use their newer driver. I even tried installing the older driver but it wasn't happy (version mismatch).

But I did well - have Kubuntu running well on 2/3 machines I tried it on. Haven't tried it on the laptop yet - I need a rest!