M2A-VM HDMI ATI Integrated X1250 Linux Driver Support [Linux Media Center]

[chiques]

Hello Everyone,
I have a M2A-VM HDMI motherboard with Kubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn). Installing Kubuntu seems to go smoothly up to the point where I can boot to the KDE desktop x server. I've tested Linux Media Center and it seemed to install correctly as I was able to see the setup screens as described in the installation instructions. My problem is I need to load ATI drivers in order to take advantage of the on board ATI X1250 Radeon Xpress video card. I notice that ATI currently has a Linux driver version 8.42.3 (http://ati.amd.com/support/drivers/l...ux-radeon.html). I have downloaded and copied this file in my "/home/user/drivers" directory. I also "chmod 777 /8.42.3" in order to run "./8.42.3.run". I switch over to the terminal using Alt+F1, log in and use the "sudo su" log in.

So it seems to install successfully. I reboot running "reboot" and when it attempts to launch the KDE desktop the system hangs (or appears to hang) with a black screen. I question it being a hang issue because I can push "Alt+F1" and it switches over to a terminal. Obviously the driver install caused something with the video configuration to get "misconfigured". So my question is:

How do I begin to troubleshoot this video card driver problem? Any tutorials or sites would be greatly appreciated.

[opie]

Re: M2A-VM HDMI ATI Integrated X1250 Linux Driver Support [Linux Media Center]

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI

this gives info on a number of options for installing different drivers for ati cards.

Have you restored your system configuration so you can boot into the gui or are you still stuck at a black screen?

[chiques]

Re: M2A-VM HDMI ATI Integrated X1250 Linux Driver Support [Linux Media Center]

Hi opie,
Thanks for responding. Yes, I ran a complete install (formatted, reinstalled) and verified KDE will boot. I then read a tutorial out there which explains how to copy, backup and restore the "xorg.conf" file (very cool). I backed up my xorg.conf file by making a copy. I installed my ATI drivers and sure enough, I can break my system by making it boot (or at least idle) on a black screen. I'm guessing the system thinks it has successfully booted to KDE. I verified this because if I use "Ctrl+Alt+F1" I get directly into the terminal. If I use "Ctrl+Alt+F7" I can get back into the "black screen". Right now I can restore my system's xorg.conf file and get it back to "stock". Please see my "before" and "after" xorg.conf files below.
BEFORE INSTALLING DRIVERS

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf(5) manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
# path to defoma fonts
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "i2c"
Load "bitmap"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "stylus"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "stylus"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "eraser"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "eraser"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "cursor"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "cursor"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Generic Video Card"
Driver "vesa"
BusID "PCI:1:5:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "SF150"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Generic Video Card"
Monitor "SF150"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

AFTER INSTALLING ATI DRIVERS

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf(5) manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen 0 "aticonfig-Screen[0]" 0 0
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection

Section "Files"

# path to defoma fonts
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "i2c"
Load "bitmap"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "stylus"
Driver "wacom"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "stylus"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "eraser"
Driver "wacom"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "eraser"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "cursor"
Driver "wacom"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "cursor"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "SF150"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "aticonfig-Monitor[0]"
Option "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
Option "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
Option "DPMS" "true"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Generic Video Card"
Driver "vesa"
BusID "PCI:1:5:0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "aticonfig-Device[0]"
Driver "fglrx"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Generic Video Card"
Monitor "SF150"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]"
Device "aticonfig-Device[0]"
Monitor "aticonfig-Monitor[0]"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

[chiques]

Re: M2A-VM HDMI ATI Integrated X1250 Linux Driver Support [Linux Media Center]

Heres is my "lspci" output when KDE boots successfully.

00:00.0 Host bridge: ATI Technologies Inc Unknown device 7910
00:01.0 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc Unknown device 7912
00:07.0 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc Unknown device 7917
00:12.0 SATA controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 Non-Raid-5 SATA
00:13.0 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI0)
00:13.1 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI1)
00:13.2 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI2)
00:13.3 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI3)
00:13.4 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI4)
00:13.5 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB Controller (EHCI)
00:14.0 SMBus: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 SMBus (rev 13)
00:14.1 IDE interface: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 IDE
00:14.2 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 Azalia
00:14.3 ISA bridge: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 PCI to LPC Bridge
00:14.4 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 PCI to PCI Bridge
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] HyperTransport Technology Configuration
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Address Map
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] DRAM Controller
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Miscellaneous Control
01:05.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Unknown device 791e
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 01)
03:07.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): VIA Technologies, Inc. IEEE 1394 Host Controller (rev c0)

[chiques]

Re: M2A-VM HDMI ATI Integrated X1250 Linux Driver Support [Linux Media Center]

So I have 2 questions:

1. How do I know if I have fglrx installed? I've ran a "man fglrx" but I receive an error. I don't have internet access on this machine so everything I would need to install is coming from the ATI driver I installed and/or the Live CD

2. What can I do to the file shown "after" the ATI driver install to force the fglrx to be used?

I'm sorry for being a noob...

[opie]

Re: M2A-VM HDMI ATI Integrated X1250 Linux Driver Support [Linux Media Center]

"I can break my system by making it boot (or at least idle) on a black screen. I'm guessing the system thinks it has successfully booted to KDE. I verified this because if I use "Ctrl+Alt+F1" I get directly into the terminal. If I use "Ctrl+Alt+F7" I can get back into the "black screen""

Actually you haven't broken the system. ctrl-alt-f1 is taking you to the first virtual terminal. X window is generally in the 7th virtual terminal. The OS is still running. The kernel is still fine and there hasn't been a crash but X window isn't loading because of some driver or configuration issue.

Whether we can solve the problem or not is another matter.

"What can I do to the file shown "after" the ATI driver install to force the fglrx to be used?"

I'm not sure why the driver installation left the old screen and vesa driver sections in the xorg file. we will clean that up a bit.

You can run
kdesu kate so you can modify that file and save it. I would save another backup of your good xorg.conf somewhere in your home directories in case something gets mixed up before you proceed with any of this.


Remove the device section that has driver "vesa". Revove the whole section from section to Endsection. I would move the bus:Id line from this section and put it in the other device section after driver "fglrx".

Remove the whole section monitor with identifier SF150.

Remove the whole section Screen that includes
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Generic Video Card"
in it.

Then open a terminal window with kmenu-system-konsole

and paste

kdesu kate /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common

Enter your user password. Think of kdesu as sudo for graphical applications. YOu need this so you load the file as root and can save it.

In this file you will either have a
DISABLED_MODULES=" "
line or you will have to make one.
NOTE: all lines beginning with the # sign are comments so the diabled module line with that sign in front of it is not the real line. If after the comments section there is not a diabled modules line create it as follows:
DISABLED_MODULES="fglrx"

If there is already a line just add a space and fglrx after whatever else is there but before the final doublequote.

Once you are done you can rename your good xorg.conf to something else and and rename the bad file xorg.conf.

If you can boot into the gui at this point then paste the results of

fglrxinfo