[Karmic] X freezes when attaching external monitor

[Marcerino]

Binary package hint: xserver-xorg-video-intel

On my laptop, Dell Latitude D430 with an intel 945 graphics card, the X server freezes when trying to activate an external screen. This problem is new on Karmic. The problem occurs when booting without external screen and then plugging in a screen (projector) and switching on, either via keyboard or the 'Display' utility in the 'System->Preferences' menu.

I collected a batch buffer dump and other debug info following these instructions:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Troubleshooting/Freeze#How%20to%20Get%20a%20Batchbuffer%20Dump%20%28-intel%20only%29
and the file is attached.

output from lspci:
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
 Subsystem: Dell Device 0201
 Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort+ >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 0
 Capabilities: <access denied>
 Kernel driver in use: agpgart-intel
 Kernel modules: intel-agp

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
 Subsystem: Dell Device 0201
 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 0
 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
 Region 0: Memory at eff00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
 Region 1: I/O ports at eff8 [size=8]
 Region 2: Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
 Region 3: Memory at efec0000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
 Capabilities: <access denied>
 Kernel driver in use: i915
 Kernel modules: i915

00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
 Subsystem: Dell Device 0201
 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 0
 Region 0: Memory at eff80000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
 Capabilities: <access denied>

[Vikram Dhillon (dhillon-v10)]

This issue was reported against karmic, so can you confirm if this issue exists with the most recent Lucid Lynx 10.04 Alpha release? ISO CD images are available at http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/lucid/ . Thanks in advance.

[Marcerino (mastervanleeuwen)]

Hi Vikram,

This concerns a laptop that I rely on for daily use, so I would not like to upgrade now to the alpha version of Lucid. However, if you think it is possible to upgrade just the driver and/or the x-server, let me know which packages to try.

[Marcerino (mastervanleeuwen)]

I have compiled the new xserver-xorg-video-intel (ubuntu Lucid package, based on 2.9.1) and installed it on my system, but that does not solve the problem. So if the underlying issue is in the driver, it will still be there in Lucid. Are there changes to xserver that may alleviate the problem? Did you have a look at my logfiles, batch buffer dump? Does that provide a hint?

[Marcerino (mastervanleeuwen)]

Some more tests show that the problem is most likely in the 'DRI' subsystem; if I add 'option "DRI" "Off"' to my /etc/X11/xorg.conf, the switching works. I also tried NoMTRR and AIGLX Off, as suggested here: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Troubleshooting/Freeze, but that doesn't help. 'DRI' seems to be the main culprit.

Also, the problem only occurs when switching using the 'Display' tool in System/Preferences (i.e. when X is running). If the monitor is connecting before logging in (during boot or during the process of logging out and going to the login screen), the external monitor is activated automatically and keeps working when X starts.

[Vikram Dhillon (dhillon-v10)]

@Marcerino: I didn't mean to actually upgrade to Lucid, the link was meant for you to get the LiveCD, boot from it and then see if the same problem persists that troubled you before :) If it does then we can move on to the next steps. Thanks.

[Marcerino (mastervanleeuwen)]

I tested with the Lucid LiveCD (Alpha 3) and the problem seems to be fixed in Lucid. Great! I will upgrade the system when Lucid is released.

[Chris Halse Rogers (raof)]

 status fixreleased

Marking bug as fixed based on latest comment.