Acer Aspire 5742z: xorg fails to start after install

[Melvin Garcia]

Binary package hint: xorg

I got a text based boot up and login prompt after installing Maverick on an Acer Aspire 5742z, the live session worked well (video wise). Every time I try to start x it simply fails. It works in low graphics mode.

I tried Natty Narwhal pre Alpha and got the same, live session works, actual install doesn't.

Forum discussions:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=10130066#post10130066
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=10130040#post10130040

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.10
Package: xserver-xorg 1:7.5+6ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.35-22.33-generic 2.6.35.4
Uname: Linux 2.6.35-22-generic x86_64
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed Nov 17 23:26:02 2010
GdmLog1: Error: command ['gksu', '-D', 'Apport', '--', 'cat', '/var/log/gdm/:0.log.1'] failed with exit code 1: cat: /var/log/gdm/:0.log.1: No such file or directory
GdmLog2: Error: command ['gksu', '-D', 'Apport', '--', 'cat', '/var/log/gdm/:0.log.2'] failed with exit code 1: cat: /var/log/gdm/:0.log.2: No such file or directory
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.10 "Maverick Meerkat" - Release amd64 (20101007)
MachineType: Acer Aspire 5742Z
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=/dev/sda6 ro single
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: xorg
XorgLog: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/var/log/Xorg.0.log'
dmi.bios.date: 08/11/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: Acer
dmi.bios.version: V1.04
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: Aspire 5742Z
dmi.board.vendor: Acer
dmi.board.version: V1.04
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Acer
dmi.chassis.version: V1.04
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAcer:bvrV1.04:bd08/11/2010:svnAcer:pnAspire5742Z:pvrV1.04:rvnAcer:rnAspire5742Z:rvrV1.04:cvnAcer:ct10:cvrV1.04:
dmi.product.name: Aspire 5742Z
dmi.product.version: V1.04
dmi.sys.vendor: Acer
glxinfo: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
system:
 distro: Ubuntu
 codename: maverick
 architecture: x86_64
 kernel: 2.6.35-22-generic

[787B (787b)]

This bug happens on my new 5742Z also.

However, updating the system immediately after install fixes the problem. From the command line that appears on the first boot after install I ran sudo apt-get update and sudo apt-get upgrade.

The screen went blank before the upgrade completed and I could not get it back using any combination of keys, but I left it running until all network and drive activity stopped, then shut down with a single press of the power button. When I rebooted X started normally and the machine seems to behave normally.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Weeeird. But sounds like it's sorted out. Perhaps something got futzed up during the initial install. If you can reproduce the problem from scratch with a fresh install, feel free to reopen this bug with the exact steps you use to reproduce it.