Screen flicker approx. every 30 seconds

Bug #727979 reported by Lucas Reece
66
This bug affects 12 people
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
Upower
Fix Released
Medium
xserver-xorg-driver-ati
Invalid
Undecided
Unassigned
openSUSE
New
Undecided
Unassigned
upower (Debian)
Fix Released
Unknown
upower (Ubuntu)
Fix Released
Medium
Martin Pitt
Natty
Fix Released
Medium
Martin Pitt
xserver-xorg-video-nouveau (Ubuntu)
Invalid
Undecided
Unassigned
Natty
Invalid
Undecided
Unassigned

Bug Description

Binary package hint: xorg

Booting from the live CD and subsequently after installing, the screen flickers to black and back every 30 seconds or so.

Using daily build of Natty (2011-03-02).

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: xorg 1:7.6~3ubuntu9
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-5.32-generic 2.6.38-rc6
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-5-generic i686
Architecture: i386
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
CompositorRunning: compiz
DRM.card0.VGA.1:
 status: connected
 enabled: enabled
 dpms: On
 modes: 1280x1024 1280x1024 1152x864 1024x768 1024x768 800x600 800x600 640x480 640x480 720x400
 edid-base64: AP///////wAQrCSgTE5ZMC0QAQNoJh547sr2o1dHniMRT1SlSwBxT4GAAQEBAQEBAQEBAQEBMCoAmFEAKkAwcBMAfDERAAAeAAAA/QA4Sx9QDgAKICAgICAgAAAA/wBITTA3MDZCNjBZTkwKAAAA/ABERUxMIEUxOTdGUAogAPE=
Date: Wed Mar 2 19:11:15 2011
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: natty
DistroVariant: ubuntu
GraphicsCard:
 ATI Technologies Inc RV516 [Radeon X1300/X1550 Series] [1002:7183] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0302]
   Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0303]
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Alpha i386 (20110302)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Dell DM061
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_GB:en
 LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-5-generic root=UUID=14233ea6-5c49-447c-b3a6-2b9c132deb9b ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
Renderer: Unknown
SourcePackage: xorg
Symptom: display
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 05/24/2007
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 2.4.0
dmi.board.name: 0WG864
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.type: 6
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvr2.4.0:bd05/24/2007:svnDellInc.:pnDellDM061:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0WG864:rvr:cvnDellInc.:ct6:cvr:
dmi.product.name: Dell DM061
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.4-0ubuntu3
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.23-1ubuntu3
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 7.10.1~git20110215.cc1636b6-0ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg: xserver-xorg 1:7.6~3ubuntu9
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.0-0ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.14.0-4ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20110107+b795ca6e-0ubuntu5

Revision history for this message
Lucas Reece (lucasreece) wrote :
Revision history for this message
Bryce Harrington (bryce) wrote :

I see this is a fresh install; is this a new system or have you had linux or other things installed on it previously? If so, did you notice the black blinks then too? Had you been running natty prior to this install, and did you see it then?

affects: xorg (Ubuntu) → xserver-xorg-video-ati (Ubuntu)
Changed in xserver-xorg-video-ati (Ubuntu):
status: New → Incomplete
Revision history for this message
Lucas Reece (lucasreece) wrote :

Bryce,

Thanks for the rapid response.

No, the system is about 4 years old now. I've installed many distro's on it in the past (#buntu's, openSUSE, Mandriva, PCLinuxOS, Fedora, Mint, Debian etc. etc.) and have never had this screen flicker before. It's the first time have tried Natty.

Hope that helps.

Revision history for this message
Lucas Reece (lucasreece) wrote : Re: [Bug 727979] Re: Screen flicker approx. every 30 seconds
Download full text (3.5 KiB)

Bryce,

I've responded to this on the launchpad site.

It's only the second time I've filed a bug so hope I've done the right
thing. Apologies if not.

Lucas.

On 3 March 2011 00:56, Bryce Harrington <email address hidden> wrote:

> I see this is a fresh install; is this a new system or have you had
> linux or other things installed on it previously? If so, did you notice
> the black blinks then too? Had you been running natty prior to this
> install, and did you see it then?
>
>
> ** Package changed: xorg (Ubuntu) => xserver-xorg-video-ati (Ubuntu)
>
> ** Changed in: xserver-xorg-video-ati (Ubuntu)
> Status: New => Incomplete
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/727979
>
> Title:
> Screen flicker approx. every 30 seconds
>
> Status in “xserver-xorg-video-ati” package in Ubuntu:
> Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
> Binary package hint: xorg
>
> Booting from the live CD and subsequently after installing, the screen
> flickers to black and back every 30 seconds or so.
>
> Using daily build of Natty (2011-03-02).
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
> Package: xorg 1:7.6~3ubuntu9
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-5.32-generic 2.6.38-rc6
> Uname: Linux 2.6.38-5-generic i686
> Architecture: i386
> CompizPlugins: No value set for
> `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
> CompositorRunning: compiz
> DRM.card0.VGA.1:
> status: connected
> enabled: enabled
> dpms: On
> modes: 1280x1024 1280x1024 1152x864 1024x768 1024x768 800x600 800x600
> 640x480 640x480 720x400
> edid-base64:
> AP///////wAQrCSgTE5ZMC0QAQNoJh547sr2o1dHniMRT1SlSwBxT4GAAQEBAQEBAQEBAQEBMCoAmFEAKkAwcBMAfDERAAAeAAAA/QA4Sx9QDgAKICAgICAgAAAA/wBITTA3MDZCNjBZTkwKAAAA/ABERUxMIEUxOTdGUAogAPE=
> Date: Wed Mar 2 19:11:15 2011
> DistUpgraded: Fresh install
> DistroCodename: natty
> DistroVariant: ubuntu
> GraphicsCard:
> ATI Technologies Inc RV516 [Radeon X1300/X1550 Series] [1002:7183]
> (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
> Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0302]
> Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0303]
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Alpha i386 (20110302)
> MachineType: Dell Inc. Dell DM061
> ProcEnviron:
> LANGUAGE=en_GB:en
> LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
> SHELL=/bin/bash
> ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-5-generic
> root=UUID=14233ea6-5c49-447c-b3a6-2b9c132deb9b ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
> Renderer: Unknown
> SourcePackage: xorg
> Symptom: display
> UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
> dmi.bios.date: 05/24/2007
> dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
> dmi.bios.version: 2.4.0
> dmi.board.name: 0WG864
> dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
> dmi.chassis.type: 6
> dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
> dmi.modalias:
> dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvr2.4.0:bd05/24/2007:svnDellInc.:pnDellDM061:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0WG864:rvr:cvnDellInc.:ct6:cvr:
> dmi.product.name: Dell DM061
> dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
> version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.4-0ubuntu3
> version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.23-1ubuntu3
> version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx
> 7.10.1~git20110215.cc1636b6-0ubuntu2
> version.xserver-xorg: ...

Read more...

Revision history for this message
Lucas Reece (lucasreece) wrote :

Aah, I see what's happened. Sorry about that.

Bryce Harrington (bryce)
Changed in xserver-xorg-video-ati (Ubuntu):
status: Incomplete → Confirmed
importance: Undecided → Medium
Revision history for this message
Lucas Reece (lucasreece) wrote :

Please ignore this. Should have been openSUSE.

Changed in suse:
status: New → Invalid
bugbot (bugbot)
tags: added: flicker
Revision history for this message
renbag (renbag) wrote :

I have the same problem with a Radeon X1300 card and it can be fixed using the 'radeon.modeset=0' kernel option, so I guess it is related to KMS.
The problem was not present in ubuntu 10.04 and started to show in 10.10. It is still present in 11.04 alpha 3.

Revision history for this message
Jeremy Bícha (jbicha) wrote :

This bug is about the -ati video drivers. If you are having a problem with the -nouveau drivers, please open a new bug.

Changed in xserver-xorg-video-nouveau (Ubuntu):
status: New → Invalid
Revision history for this message
jmunin (jmunin) wrote :

I have the same problem with a nvidia GeForce Go 7300 card in 11.04 alpha 3 (Nouveau), but not in the laptop screen, else tv out.

Revision history for this message
Jeremy Bícha (jbicha) wrote :

I have the flickering issue with Maverick & Natty with my desktop using a Radeon X1600. I tried the radeon.modeset=0 boot option which stopped the flickering but my screen displays about an inch off-center. My monitor is a standard 1280x1024 LCD and I am using a VGA cable.

Revision history for this message
Sergio bh (kde-bhf) wrote :

I have the same problem with a Radeon X1250 card.
The problem was not present in ubuntu 10.10. It is still present in 11.04 last update

Revision history for this message
Silvio-frischi (silvio-frischi) wrote :

I have the same problem on natty64 with VGA video projectors.

I tested it with two computers with two different drivers (xf86-video-ati, xf86-video-nouveau).
I tested it with three different video projector.
I tested it with three different VGA cables.
I tested it with kernels 2.6.35, 2.6.37, 2.6.38
I tested it with libdrm(i.e. libkms) 2.4.21, 2.4.23 (remark here i didn't reboot)

And it always flickered (with exception 3. projector see below).

Remark with two of three projectors I used addmode since the drivers didn't recognize the native resolution of the beamer.

Everything always worked well if I used my old Gentoo (2.6.33 - but with KMS,ati and with addmode)

With the 3. projector in natty it worked properly because it recognized the native resolution. But if I
added an other resolution to it and changed to that it flickered again.

so it's possible It has some thing to do with --addmode

I think this worked on Maverik but I'm not sure since I didn't use --addmode much
Did any of the others here use addmode?

Revision history for this message
Bryce Harrington (bryce) wrote :

It is interesting others are seeing similar problems, which may or may not be the same bug, but for purposes of this bug report we're only going to focus on Lucas' issue since he is the original reporter.

Sometimes two different X bugs can have symptoms that are indistinguishable, particularly so with flickers. If you are certain you have Lucas' bug, stay tuned. If you think there's any chance your bug might differ it is important that you file a separate bug report, else it is possible when a fix comes for Lucas, your issue will remain unfixed.

Revision history for this message
Bryce Harrington (bryce) wrote :

Lucas Reece - I've forwarded this bug upstream to http://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=36005 - please subscribe yourself to this bug, in case they need further information or wish you to test something. Thanks ahead of time!

Changed in xserver-xorg-video-ati (Ubuntu):
status: Confirmed → Triaged
Changed in xserver-xorg-driver-ati:
importance: Unknown → Medium
status: Unknown → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
Bryce Harrington (bryce) wrote :

Upstream says something outside X is probably polling every 30 sec looking for monitors. This is unnecessary since the kernel automatically fires events when a monitor gets connected/disconnected.

Best guess is a daemon like upowerd or keventd is running. Look in `ps aux` to see if you have one of these running, and see if you shut it down or kill it if the bad behavior stops. If not, look for other daemons, services, or clients you might be running which could be polling for monitors and try killing them off one by one to narrow what is causing the issue for you.

Changed in xserver-xorg-video-ati (Ubuntu):
status: Triaged → Incomplete
Revision history for this message
nigelT (nigel-tuck) wrote :

Hi, I have the same screen flicker every 30 seconds using an ati 9200se dual card on an install from the Natty liveCD. The flicker coincides with four entries in the syslog which are monitor edid errors (see attached file). VGA-1 which the error refers to is not listed when I use xrandr

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 2048 x 768, maximum 4096 x 4096
VGA-0 connected 1024x768+1024+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm
   1024x768 60.0*
   800x600 60.3 56.2
   848x480 60.0
   640x480 59.9
DVI-0 connected 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm
   1024x768 60.0*
   800x600 60.3 56.2
   848x480 60.0
   640x480 59.9
S-video disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

Revision history for this message
Joachim Beckers (jbeckers) wrote :

Bryce, upstream is right. I had this bug on a fresh install of natty beta 2 and it was fixed by:
# ps aux | grep upowerd
root 1177 0.2 0.1 77616 4236 ? Sl 19:19 0:03 /usr/lib/upower/upowerd
root 4604 0.0 0.0 11544 1040 pts/0 S+ 19:47 0:00 grep --color=auto upowerd
# kill 1177

Guess this is a upower bug then?

Changed in upower:
importance: Undecided → Unknown
status: New → Unknown
Revision history for this message
Joachim Beckers (jbeckers) wrote :
Changed in upower (Debian):
status: Unknown → Fix Released
Changed in upower:
importance: Unknown → Medium
status: Unknown → Confirmed
Bryce Harrington (bryce)
affects: xserver-xorg-video-ati (Ubuntu) → upower (Ubuntu)
Changed in upower (Ubuntu):
status: Incomplete → Triaged
Revision history for this message
Bryce Harrington (bryce) wrote :
Revision history for this message
Bryce Harrington (bryce) wrote :

@Martin, I'm not sure how you'd like to see this fixed. I'm attaching a debdiff that cherrypicks the patch; I've not tested this myself. Alternatively, you may want to consider just pulling 0.9.9 which includes this patch.

I've not gotten this to build locally in pbuilder, so am reticent to just upload it myself. Not sure why it's failing, but it also happens same with the unpatched 0.9.8-3 so I suspect my debdiff is ok.

dpkg-checkbuilddeps: Unmet build dependencies: libgudev-1.0-dev libusb-1.0-0-dev (>= 1.0.0) libimobiledevice-dev (>= 0.9.7)
dpkg-buildpackage: warning: Build dependencies/conflicts unsatisfied; aborting.
dpkg-buildpackage: warning: (Use -d flag to override.)
E: Failed autobuilding of package

If anyone else would like to test the fix, I've dropped it into my ppa at:
https://launchpad.net/~bryce/+archive/builds

Changed in upower (Ubuntu):
assignee: nobody → Martin Pitt (pitti)
milestone: none → ubuntu-11.04
Revision history for this message
Martin Pitt (pitti) wrote :

0.9.9 are just bug fixes, so I'll sync 0.9.9-4 from sid after beta-2.

Changed in upower (Ubuntu):
status: Triaged → Fix Committed
Changed in xserver-xorg-driver-ati:
importance: Medium → Undecided
status: Confirmed → New
status: New → Invalid
tags: added: patch
Revision history for this message
Martin Pitt (pitti) wrote :

I synced 0.9.9-4 from Debian.

Changed in upower (Ubuntu Natty):
status: Fix Committed → Fix Released
Changed in upower:
status: Confirmed → Fix Released
Revision history for this message
Sergio bh (kde-bhf) wrote :

It is working.
A little, great work.
Thank you

Revision history for this message
Joachim Beckers (jbeckers) wrote :

Yeah, thanks guys.
Works perfectly on the family computer here. That's four new happy users. :-)

Curtis Hovey (sinzui)
no longer affects: suse
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