video=sisfb on menu.list / grub.cfg no longer works Ubuntu Lucid

[rich scadding]

Binary package hint: xserver-xorg-video-sis

Acer Aspire 3004 WLMI
VGA compatible controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter

Persistent colour depth problem on all Debian based distros used to be solved by adding "video=sisfb" as kernel argument on menu.list and later grub.cfg.

This no longer works which probably means that the sis framebuffer isn't auto loading.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Tue Mar 2 10:05:11 2010
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 "Lucid Lynx" - Alpha i386 (20100107)
Package: xserver-xorg-video-sis 1:0.10.2-1
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-14.20-generic
SourcePackage: xserver-xorg-video-sis
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-14-generic i686

[rich scadding (richs-lxh-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount)]

Adding "sisfb" to /etc/modules solves the problem

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Hi richs-lxh,

Thanks for including the attached files. Could you also include your /var/log/Xorg.0.log (or Xorg.0.log.old) from after reproducing the issue?

Please attach the output of `lspci -vvnn` too.

[This is an automated message. Apologies if it has reached you inappropriately; please just reply to this message indicating so.]

[rich scadding (richs-lxh-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi Bryce,

lspci -vnn

richs@ubull:~$ lspci -vvnn
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 760/M760 Host [1039:0760] (rev 03)
 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort+ >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 64
 Region 0: Memory at e0000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=32M]
 Capabilities: <access denied>
 Kernel driver in use: agpgart-amd64
 Kernel modules: sis-agp, amd64-agp

00:01.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SG86C202 [1039:0002]
 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap- 66MHz+ UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 99
 Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=68
 I/O behind bridge: 0000a000-0000afff
 Memory behind bridge: e2100000-e21fffff
 Prefetchable memory behind bridge: e8000000-efffffff
 Secondary status: 66MHz+ FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- <SERR- <PERR-
 BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR- NoISA+ VGA+ MAbort- >Reset- FastB2B-
  PriDiscTmr- SecDiscTmr- DiscTmrStat- DiscTmrSERREn-
 Kernel modules: shpchp

00:02.0 ISA bridge [0601]: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS963 [MuTIOL Media IO] [1039:0963] (rev 25)
 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle+ MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 0

00:02.1 SMBus [0c05]: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS961/2 SMBus Controller [1039:0016]
 Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 0
 Region 4: I/O ports at 8100 [size=32]
 Kernel driver in use: sis96x_smbus
 Kernel modules: i2c-sis96x

00:02.5 IDE interface [0101]: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 5513 [IDE] [1039:5513] (prog-if 80 [Master])
 Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device [1025:0083]
 Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 128
 Interrupt: pin ? routed to IRQ 16
 Region 0: [virtual] Memory at 000001f0 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=8]
 Region 1: [virtual] Memory at 000003f0 (type 3, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=1]
 Region 2: [virtual] Memory at 00000170 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=8]
 Region 3: [virtual] Memory at 00000370 (type 3, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=1]
 Region 4: I/O ports at 2000 [size=16]
 Kernel driver in use: pata_sis

00:02.6 Modem [0703]: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] AC'97 Modem Controller [1039:7013] (rev a0)
 Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device [1025:0083]
 Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort...

[rich scadding (richs-lxh-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount)]

And Xorg Old

X.Org X Server 1.7.5
Release Date: 2010-02-16
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.24-23-server i686 Ubuntu
Current Operating System: Linux ubull 2.6.32-14-generic #20-Ubuntu SMP Sat Feb 20 05:38:50 UTC 2010 i686
Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-14-generic root=UUID=1e37f76d-4163-40a4-9f82-413952392dbb ro video=sisfb quiet splash
Build Date: 19 February 2010 11:37:38AM
xorg-server 2:1.7.5-1ubuntu1 (buildd@)
Current version of pixman: 0.16.4
 Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
 to make sure that you have the latest version.
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
 (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
 (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Tue Mar 2 19:23:39 2010
(II) Loader magic: 0x81eee80
(II) Module ABI versions:
 X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
 X.Org Video Driver: 6.0
 X.Org XInput driver : 7.0
 X.Org Server Extension : 2.0
(++) using VT number 7

(--) PCI:*(0:1:0:0) 1039:6330:1025:0083 Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter rev 0, Mem @ 0xe8000000/134217728, 0xe2100000/131072, I/O @ 0x0000a000/128
(==) Using default built-in configuration (30 lines)
(==) --- Start of built-in configuration ---
 Section "Device"
  Identifier "Builtin Default sis Device 0"
  Driver "sis"
 EndSection
 Section "Screen"
  Identifier "Builtin Default sis Screen 0"
  Device "Builtin Default sis Device 0"
 EndSection
 Section "Device"
  Identifier "Builtin Default vesa Device 0"
  Driver "vesa"
 EndSection
 Section "Screen"
  Identifier "Builtin Default vesa Screen 0"
  Device "Builtin Default vesa Device 0"
 EndSection
 Section "Device"
  Identifier "Builtin Default fbdev Device 0"
  Driver "fbdev"
 EndSection
 Section "Screen"
  Identifier "Builtin Default fbdev Screen 0"
  Device "Builtin Default fbdev Device 0"
 EndSection
 Section "ServerLayout"
  Identifier "Builtin Default Layout"
  Screen "Builtin Default sis Screen 0"
  Screen "Builtin Default vesa Screen 0"
  Screen "Builtin Default fbdev Screen 0"
 EndSection
(==) --- End of built-in configuration ---
(==) ServerLayout "Builtin Default Layout"
(**) |-->Screen "Builtin Default sis Screen 0" (0)
(**) | |-->Monitor "<default monitor>"
(**) | |-->Device "Builtin Default sis Device 0"
(==) No monitor specified for screen "Builtin Default sis Screen 0".
 Using a default monitor configuration.
(**) |-->Screen "Builtin Default vesa Screen 0" (1)
(**) | |-->Monitor "<default monitor>"
(**) | |-->Device "Builtin Default vesa Device 0"
(==) No monitor specified for screen "Builtin Default vesa Screen 0".
 Using a default monitor configuration.
(**) |-->Screen "Builtin Default fbdev Screen 0" (2)
(**) | |-->Monitor "<default monitor>"
(**) | |-->Device "Builtin Default fbdev Device 0"
(==) No monitor specified for screen "Builtin Default fbdev Screen 0".
 Using a default monitor configuration.
(==) Automatically adding devices
(==) Automatically enabling devices
(WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist.
 Entry deleted from font path....

[rich scadding (richs-lxh-deactivatedaccount-deactivatedaccount)]

Basically, as long as the sisfb module is loaded at boot, and the kernel argument "video=sisfb" is added, the colour depth problem disappears. As yet, no proprietary driver available or planned by Sis, so no chances of 3D acceleration. At least with sisfb there is a usable screen.

[papukaija (papukaija)]

Sorry, you can not confirm your own bugs.

[aimwin (aim-mail)]

I am using
MOTHERBOARD
 Host bridge
  Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661FX/M661FX/M661MX Host (rev 11)
  Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 8113
 PCI bridge(s)
  Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS AGP Port (virtual PCI-to-PCI bridge)

I can get only 960 X 600, (I use Packard Bell monitor, work with much higher resolution in XP).
at maximum.

And that gave me problems with many program will not display full page, it was crop off. and cannot access the apply or submit buttom, since it is out side the screen.

I did accidentally got it work at 1280 X 720 some things in these range twice,
The first time after I install Fedora 12 and I found it can do the high resolution, so I switch to Ubuntu 10.04, and I did not work for lucid, so I reboot back to Fedora to confirm it worked.
Then reboot again to Lucid,
Yes it worked. So I try to set a better resolution, and reboot.
After that I cannot get it work on high resolution above 960 X 600 again, neither for Fedora 12,
and it always show error message, something along these > Xorg cannot load configuration < not exact.

And a few days after that it pop again with high resolution, but after reboot, never show up again.

I reinstall Lucid release, to replace the RC-Lucid on 30/4/2010, hope the upstream will fix the problems,
but I faced the same problems.

I googled and search for many hours finally try
sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg , from one of the post,

nothing happen, then I try the following

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1423381

and a few things from other posts.

None work.

So I report them here for help not for me but for all of us who has "SIS and Ubuntu"
Since I want more people to use ubuntu and lots of them using SIS, I want to make sure they are happy so more people will port to ubuntu.

Thank you in Advance to all the GURUs

The attached files in zip, since I can find only 1 attached file button.
sysinfo1 > from sysinfo program
lsmod, lshwCdisplay, lspciVVNN, lspci, Xorg.0.log, Xversion
also becasue of the above tutorial link, I included,
grub.cfg and modules - after grub updated,

[aimwin (aim-mail)]

I have found: a temporary solution.
----------------------
I load LiveCD ubuntu 10.04 release 29/04/2010
with MONITOR turning OFF.
After it stop (no blinking on any led) I turn on the monitor,
choose "Try Ubuntu without installation"
>>>> then imediatly turn off MONITOR.
WAIT TILL all LED stop blinking, which mean fully loaded.
Turn on the monitor, then I got high resolution.
-------------------
But After I order installation and reboot from hard disk,
Lucid fail to load in higher resolution than 960 X 600.

I did tried many times with,
turning off the MONITOR at the same as CPU-Box computer.
I waited till I think it fully boot into Ubuntu, then turn on the monitor.
It failed.
----------------------------------------
Then I finally tried and successfully get back higher resolution by

1. I have successfully fool Fedora 12 to load into 1152 x 864 (4:3)
by
       1.1 turn off computer, turn monitor off too, and turn on just computer.
       1.2 Once, a few minutes, guess that you are at the Grub menu, turn on the monitor, and l pick to boot into Fedora 12 ,
        >>> after press enter, immediately turn off monitor.
       1.3 I let Fedora 12 to load completely (while leaving MONITOR OFF)
       1.4 Turn on monitor and I got 1024 x 768 or 1152 x 864, I cannot remember (just so happy) but finally I set it to 1152 x 864.
        So it is ok with high resolution until now.

2. I fool Ubuntu 10.04 (30/04/2010 -fresh re-install from LiveCD), and no update by
       2.1 After successfully fool Fedora 12 for high resolution, choose restart, (not shutdown), and do not turn off the MONITOR.
       2.2 wait till it reboot into grub menu and choose to boot into Ubuntu Lucid
       2.3 Yes got 1152 x 864.

I have include the same kinds of files

sysinfo1 > from sysinfo program
lsmod, lshwCdisplay, lspciVVNN, lspci, Xorg.0.log, Xversion
---------------but I did not change any thing from standard installation ----
I include these two files for comparison to the previous post.

grub.cfg and modules
===============================

Conclusion for the moment.
Lucid did work ok with SIS for high resolution temporary.
but detection of the Packard Bell monitor made it falled back to choose lower resolution for our Lucid Hard disk installed version.

Fedora can be fool with the above procedure but not Lucid.

the help "is need" to make Lucid stupid like Fedora 12
So I can or may be someone else too ?? , can use SIS for higher resolution until the fixed arrive.

Or the problems lies on the Packard Bell monitor ??
I will be trying with other monitor and will let you know.

I am working to promote UBUNTU not Fedora, so please help.

[aimwin (aim-mail)]

Problems identified.

Lucid hang up on first boot (or it took too long to go to desktop)
>>> with new MONITOR <<<
After recovery > reconfigure hardware menu in the recovery mode.

The high resolution work ok with Samsung Syncmaster 913v
 with 1280x1024(5:4)

And Lucid boot up, after a few restart, very fast, faster than on Packard Bell monitor.

But suspend function worked but have to wake with power on button plus press key board, and it could hibernate but upon reboot, it will show desktop as it is fresh booted. But with network card disable. (which is the same symptom as when hibernation failed on my notebook.

Fedora 12 did not fail to boot into desktop when first use this new sumsung monitor.

Conclusion
=========

XP never fail to work with Packard Bell monitor.
Fedora 12 fail to have higher resolution than 900x600. But can be fool by turning the monitor off till it fully boot into Desktop.

Lucid failed to do better than 900x600 but can sometimes be fool if boot Fedora 12 into high resolution first and reboot into Lucid without power off the Packard Bell monitor.

I hope it will help the Gurus to improve Ubuntu with 2 days of my effort to solve the issue.

[aimwin (aim-mail)]

I finally found another easy way to work around to get high resolution 1152 x 864 (4:3)

1. After power up. At GNU GRUB menu, choose "recovery mode" choice,

2. Wait until it load the new menu,
    scroll down to pick the choice load with safe mode graphic, don't press enter yet, go to next step.

3. >>>> very important >>>> turn off your monitor, obviously this doesn't apply to Notebook.

4. then press enter key, and wait for two minutes or so.
5. turn on the monitor, hopefully you should see the mouse pointer smaller then before (in higher resolution).

6. just choose the choice to reconfigure graphic card now and choose restart x server.

7. I hope you got a higher resolution than what your default boot will make it for you.

8. I managed to have continue high resolution now, almost every time, when I turn on my computer.

    >>>> BUT I HAVE TO LEAVE MONITOR TURN OFF until Ubuntu has fully loaded 2-4 minutes depend on your hardware.
 If you failed to do so, start step 1 again.

Dear Gurus of Ubuntu

1. I am willing to try anything to have a permanent fix.
So I will post to
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=9231489

2. If you have newer version of Lucid for me to try let me know, I will help to see if we can improve our Lucid.

Thank you

[yeti (utu)]

I have a similar SiS video card and kernel 2.6.32-22 .
With Lucid I get my best performance by adding the following:

'video=sisfb:mode:1024x768x32,rate:70,mem:4096'

between 'ro' and 'quiet splash' in the grub menu entry.
Leave off the quote marks, be precise with punctuation.

Hope that works for others.

[Janet (bugzilla-kerridis)]

After the update from Lucid to Maverick "video=sisfb" seems to be ignored. I cannot change the grub resolution anymore, I cannot have a background picture in grub and Plymouth is nothing but a lot of colored stripes.

[Mörgæs (moergaes)]

Closing due to age.

If a similar bug appears in Lubuntu 14.04, which contains an important fix for SIS cards, please open a new report.