Proprietary nVidia driver fails on Lenovo T510 laptop

[ethanbrown]

I attempted to enable the nVidia driver through the "System"=>"Administration"=>"Additional Drivers" panel. After the "Searching", "Installing" phase it requests a reboot. Although the Ubuntu boot splash displays, X never comes up, and it dumps you to the console login. The only way I was able to get X to come up was to remove /etc/X11/xorg.conf and reboot.

The card info (from lspci) is:
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation GT218 [NVS 3100M] (rev a2)

I'm including the Xorg
The stderr output from startx is:

I'm attaching the Xorg log as an attachment due to its size.

X.Org X Server 1.9.0
Release Date: 2010-08-20
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.24-28-server x86_64 Ubuntu
Current Operating System: Linux rover 2.6.35-25-generic #44-Ubuntu SMP Fri Jan 21 17:40:44 UTC 2011 x86_64
Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=78540c13-6a8a-4346-bad5-3dc9ada0dbf1 ro quiet splash
Build Date: 09 January 2011 12:14:27PM
xorg-server 2:1.9.0-0ubuntu7.3 (For technical support please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support)
Current version of pixman: 0.18.4
 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: Mon Feb 28 08:16:41 2011
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
(==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
(EE) No devices detected.

Fatal server error:
no screens found

Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
  at http://wiki.x.org
 for help.
Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.

 ddxSigGiveUp: Closing log
giving up.

xinit: No such file or directory (errno 2): unable to connect to X server

xinit: No such process (errno 3): Server error.

The xorg.conf configuration is:

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Default Screen"
 DefaultDepth 24
EndSection

Section "Module"
 Load "glx"
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "Default Device"
 Driver "nvidia"
 Option "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection

[Wayne Davison (wayned)]

I have a T510, and the nvidia driver loads fine for me (I'm testing the latest Natty). I do have the Display changed in the BIOS to tell the system that I have the nvidia graphics ("Discrete") rather than Optimus. Maybe your BIOS is set to Optimus?

However, once I have the nvidia driver going, the information for my displays is not right. The displays are reported fine under the nouveau driver, so there is something about the nvidia driver that makes things like xrandr unable to query things. For instance, the Monitor utility reports just a single display tagged with "Unknown" even with an external display plugged in.

Here is the xrandr info with the nvida driver (note the opening error and the use of "default"):

xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 175, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 1920 x 1080
default connected 1920x1080+0+0 0mm x 0mm
   1920x1080 50.0* 51.0 52.0 53.0
   1680x1050 54.0
   1600x1024 55.0
   1440x900 56.0
   1400x1050 57.0
   1360x768 58.0 59.0
   1280x1024 60.0 61.0
   1280x960 62.0
   1152x864 63.0 64.0 65.0 66.0 67.0 68.0
   1024x768 69.0 70.0 71.0 72.0 73.0 74.0
   960x720 75.0
   960x600 76.0
   960x540 77.0
   928x696 78.0
   896x672 79.0 80.0
   840x525 81.0 82.0 83.0 84.0 85.0
   832x624 86.0
   800x600 87.0 88.0 89.0 90.0 91.0 92.0 93.0 94.0 95.0 96.0
   800x512 97.0
   720x450 98.0
   720x400 99.0
   700x525 100.0 101.0 102.0 103.0
   680x384 104.0 105.0
   640x512 106.0 107.0 108.0
   640x480 109.0 110.0 111.0 112.0 113.0 114.0
   640x400 115.0
   640x350 116.0
   576x432 117.0 118.0 119.0 120.0 121.0 122.0 123.0
   512x384 124.0 125.0 126.0 127.0 128.0
   416x312 129.0
   400x300 130.0 131.0 132.0 133.0 134.0
   360x200 135.0
   320x240 136.0 137.0 138.0 139.0
   320x200 140.0
   320x175 141.0

And here is the xrandr information when I'm using the nouveau driver (note that it finds my external monitor and gets the labels right):

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 3840 x 1200, maximum 8192 x 8192
LVDS-1 connected 1920x1080+1920+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 344mm x 193mm
   1920x1080 60.0*+ 60.0 50.0
   1920x1080_60.00 60.0
   1680x1050 60.0
   1400x1050 60.0
   1280x1024 59.9
   1280x960 59.9
   1152x864 60.0
   1024x768 59.9
   800x600 59.9
   640x480 59.4
   720x400 59.6
   640x400 60.0
   640x350 59.8
VGA-1 connected 1920x1200+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 518mm x 324mm
   1920x1200 60.0*+
   1680x1050 60.0
   1400x1050 60.0
   1280x1024 75.0 60.0
   1440x900 59.9
   1280x960 60.0
   1152x864 75.0
...

[ethanbrown (ethandbrown)]

Thanks Wayne. It was rather frustrating when I was researching this
to find that no one else seemed to be having trouble. Do you think
the problem is with the Lenovo BIOS issues or with nVidia? I'll try
the BIOS "Discrete" option when I get some time.

--Ethan

On Thu, Mar 10, 2011 at 9:25 AM, Wayne Davison <email address hidden> wrote:
> I have a T510, and the nvidia driver loads fine for me (I'm testing the
> latest Natty).  I do have the Display changed in the BIOS to tell the
> system that I have the nvidia graphics ("Discrete") rather than Optimus.
> Maybe your BIOS is set to Optimus?
>
> However, once I have the nvidia driver going, the information for my
> displays is not right.  The displays are reported fine under the nouveau
> driver, so there is something about the nvidia driver that makes things
> like xrandr unable to query things.  For instance, the Monitor utility
> reports just a single display tagged with "Unknown" even with an
> external display plugged in.
>
> Here is the xrandr info with the nvida driver (note the opening error
> and the use of "default"):
>
> xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
> Screen 0: minimum 320 x 175, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 1920 x 1080
> default connected 1920x1080+0+0 0mm x 0mm
>   1920x1080      50.0*    51.0     52.0     53.0
>   1680x1050      54.0
>   1600x1024      55.0
>   1440x900       56.0
>   1400x1050      57.0
>   1360x768       58.0     59.0
>   1280x1024      60.0     61.0
>   1280x960       62.0
>   1152x864       63.0     64.0     65.0     66.0     67.0     68.0
>   1024x768       69.0     70.0     71.0     72.0     73.0     74.0
>   960x720        75.0
>   960x600        76.0
>   960x540        77.0
>   928x696        78.0
>   896x672        79.0     80.0
>   840x525        81.0     82.0     83.0     84.0     85.0
>   832x624        86.0
>   800x600        87.0     88.0     89.0     90.0     91.0     92.0     93.0     94.0     95.0     96.0
>   800x512        97.0
>   720x450        98.0
>   720x400        99.0
>   700x525       100.0    101.0    102.0    103.0
>   680x384       104.0    105.0
>   640x512       106.0    107.0    108.0
>   640x480       109.0    110.0    111.0    112.0    113.0    114.0
>   640x400       115.0
>   640x350       116.0
>   576x432       117.0    118.0    119.0    120.0    121.0    122.0    123.0
>   512x384       124.0    125.0    126.0    127.0    128.0
>   416x312       129.0
>   400x300       130.0    131.0    132.0    133.0    134.0
>   360x200       135.0
>   320x240       136.0    137.0    138.0    139.0
>   320x200       140.0
>   320x175       141.0
>
> And here is the xrandr information when I'm using the nouveau driver
> (note that it finds my external monitor and gets the labels right):
>
> Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 3840 x 1200, maximum 8192 x 8192
> LVDS-1 connected 1920x1080+1920+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 344mm x 193mm
>   1920x1080      60.0*+   60.0     50.0
>   1920x1080_60.00   60.0
>   1680x1050      60.0
>   1400x1050      60.0
>   1280x1024      59.9
>   1280x960       59.9
>   1152x864       60.0
>   1024x768       59.9
>   800x600        59.9
>   640x480        59.4
>   72...

[ethanbrown (ethandbrown)]

Hi Wayne--

I tried reconfiguring the BIOS to use Discrete. When I attempt to
enable desktop effects, after I get the "searching for driver" dialog
I get the message "Desktop effects could not be enabled." I also
tried enabling the "OS Detection" setting in BIOS, but no joy. Do
you think it worthwhile to purge and reinstall all of the nvidia
packages?

Thanks,

--Ethan

On Thu, Mar 10, 2011 at 10:43 AM, Ethan Brown <email address hidden> wrote:
> Thanks Wayne.  It was rather frustrating when I was researching this
> to find that no one else seemed to be having trouble.  Do you think
> the problem is with the Lenovo BIOS issues or with nVidia?  I'll try
> the BIOS "Discrete" option when I get some time.
>
> --Ethan
>
> On Thu, Mar 10, 2011 at 9:25 AM, Wayne Davison <email address hidden> wrote:
>> I have a T510, and the nvidia driver loads fine for me (I'm testing the
>> latest Natty).  I do have the Display changed in the BIOS to tell the
>> system that I have the nvidia graphics ("Discrete") rather than Optimus.
>> Maybe your BIOS is set to Optimus?
>>
>> However, once I have the nvidia driver going, the information for my
>> displays is not right.  The displays are reported fine under the nouveau
>> driver, so there is something about the nvidia driver that makes things
>> like xrandr unable to query things.  For instance, the Monitor utility
>> reports just a single display tagged with "Unknown" even with an
>> external display plugged in.
>>
>> Here is the xrandr info with the nvida driver (note the opening error
>> and the use of "default"):
>>
>> xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
>> Screen 0: minimum 320 x 175, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 1920 x 1080
>> default connected 1920x1080+0+0 0mm x 0mm
>>   1920x1080      50.0*    51.0     52.0     53.0
>>   1680x1050      54.0
>>   1600x1024      55.0
>>   1440x900       56.0
>>   1400x1050      57.0
>>   1360x768       58.0     59.0
>>   1280x1024      60.0     61.0
>>   1280x960       62.0
>>   1152x864       63.0     64.0     65.0     66.0     67.0     68.0
>>   1024x768       69.0     70.0     71.0     72.0     73.0     74.0
>>   960x720        75.0
>>   960x600        76.0
>>   960x540        77.0
>>   928x696        78.0
>>   896x672        79.0     80.0
>>   840x525        81.0     82.0     83.0     84.0     85.0
>>   832x624        86.0
>>   800x600        87.0     88.0     89.0     90.0     91.0     92.0     93.0     94.0     95.0     96.0
>>   800x512        97.0
>>   720x450        98.0
>>   720x400        99.0
>>   700x525       100.0    101.0    102.0    103.0
>>   680x384       104.0    105.0
>>   640x512       106.0    107.0    108.0
>>   640x480       109.0    110.0    111.0    112.0    113.0    114.0
>>   640x400       115.0
>>   640x350       116.0
>>   576x432       117.0    118.0    119.0    120.0    121.0    122.0    123.0
>>   512x384       124.0    125.0    126.0    127.0    128.0
>>   416x312       129.0
>>   400x300       130.0    131.0    132.0    133.0    134.0
>>   360x200       135.0
>>   320x240       136.0    137.0    138.0    139.0
>>   320x200       140.0
>>   320x175       141.0
>>
>> And here is the xrandr information when I'm usin...

[Wayne Davison (wayned)]

What session are you using when you login? The Classic Desktop one w/o "No Effect"? Or the Ubuntu Desktop one? Also, verify that your xorg.conf still mentions the nvidia driver. I have no problem getting effects going, I just can't get multiple monitors going.

[ethanbrown (ethandbrown)]

Hi Wayne--

Currently it's "No Effect". When I bring up my "Administration" =>
"Additional Drivers" dialog it says the nVidia driver is installed and
being used. This is going to sound really strange, but there is no
/etc/X11/xorg.conf file. There is a "save" version that I made when
backing up the config when I was dealing with the "X won't come up"
problem. I removed xorg.conf in hopes it would be re-installed. I
just figured it had been since my desktop is up and running. Here's a
directory listing of /etc/X11:

ethan@rover:X11$ ls -1
app-defaults
cursors
default-display-manager
fonts
rgb.txt
X
xinit
xkb
xorg.conf.save
Xreset
Xreset.d
Xresources
Xsession
Xsession.d
Xsession.options
Xwrapper.config

I didn't even know X would come up without an xorg.conf file!

--Ethan

On Fri, Mar 11, 2011 at 7:34 AM, Wayne Davison <email address hidden> wrote:
> What session are you using when you login?  The Classic Desktop one w/o
> "No Effect"?  Or the Ubuntu Desktop one?  Also, verify that your
> xorg.conf still mentions the nvidia driver.  I have no problem getting
> effects going, I just can't get multiple monitors going.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/726638
>
> Title:
>  Proprietary nVidia driver fails on Lenovo T510 laptop
>
> Status in “nvidia-graphics-drivers” package in Ubuntu:
>  New
>
> Bug description:
>  I attempted to enable the nVidia driver through the
>  "System"=>"Administration"=>"Additional Drivers" panel.  After the
>  "Searching", "Installing" phase it requests a reboot.  Although the
>  Ubuntu boot splash displays, X never comes up, and it dumps you to the
>  console login.  The only way I was able to get X to come up was to
>  remove /etc/X11/xorg.conf and reboot.
>
>  The card info (from lspci) is:
>  01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation GT218 [NVS 3100M] (rev a2)
>
>  I'm including the Xorg
>  The stderr output from startx is:
>
>  I'm attaching the Xorg log as an attachment due to its size.
>
>  X.Org X Server 1.9.0
>  Release Date: 2010-08-20
>  X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
>  Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.24-28-server x86_64 Ubuntu
>  Current Operating System: Linux rover 2.6.35-25-generic #44-Ubuntu SMP Fri Jan 21 17:40:44 UTC 2011 x86_64
>  Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=78540c13-6a8a-4346-bad5-3dc9ada0dbf1 ro quiet splash
>  Build Date: 09 January 2011  12:14:27PM
>  xorg-server 2:1.9.0-0ubuntu7.3 (For technical support please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support)
>  Current version of pixman: 0.18.4
>        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: Mon Feb 28 08:16:41 2011
>  (==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
>  (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
>  (EE) No devices detected.
>
>  Fatal server error:
...

[Wayne Davison (wayned)]

I revisited this issue recently, and discovered that I have to use the nvidia-settings program to get dual screen going with the proprietary display driver, since xrandr doesn't work. So, once I discovered that, I simply configured my 2nd display as a "Separate X Screen" (in the "Configure" popup) and chose "Enable Xinerama". Then dual monitors is finally working for me with the nvidia graphics card (and best drivers) enabled.

[ethanbrown (ethandbrown)]

I've also found nvidea-settings is necessary, for example, when I''m hooking
up to a projector. I should note that I had to use the driver I downloaded
from nVidia, I was unable to get the Ubuntu-provided proprietary driver to
work.

On Mon, Apr 11, 2011 at 5:03 PM, Wayne Davison <email address hidden> wrote:

> I revisited this issue recently, and discovered that I have to use the
> nvidia-settings program to get dual screen going with the proprietary
> display driver, since xrandr doesn't work. So, once I discovered that,
> I simply configured my 2nd display as a "Separate X Screen" (in the
> "Configure" popup) and chose "Enable Xinerama". Then dual monitors is
> finally working for me with the nvidia graphics card (and best drivers)
> enabled.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/726638
>
> Title:
> Proprietary nVidia driver fails on Lenovo T510 laptop
>
> Status in “nvidia-graphics-drivers” package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> I attempted to enable the nVidia driver through the
> "System"=>"Administration"=>"Additional Drivers" panel. After the
> "Searching", "Installing" phase it requests a reboot. Although the
> Ubuntu boot splash displays, X never comes up, and it dumps you to the
> console login. The only way I was able to get X to come up was to
> remove /etc/X11/xorg.conf and reboot.
>
> The card info (from lspci) is:
> 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation GT218 [NVS 3100M]
> (rev a2)
>
> I'm including the Xorg
> The stderr output from startx is:
>
> I'm attaching the Xorg log as an attachment due to its size.
>
> X.Org X Server 1.9.0
> Release Date: 2010-08-20
> X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
> Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.24-28-server x86_64 Ubuntu
> Current Operating System: Linux rover 2.6.35-25-generic #44-Ubuntu SMP Fri
> Jan 21 17:40:44 UTC 2011 x86_64
> Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
> root=UUID=78540c13-6a8a-4346-bad5-3dc9ada0dbf1 ro quiet splash
> Build Date: 09 January 2011 12:14:27PM
> xorg-server 2:1.9.0-0ubuntu7.3 (For technical support please see
> http://www.ubuntu.com/support)
> Current version of pixman: 0.18.4
> 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: Mon Feb 28 08:16:41 2011
> (==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
> (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
> (EE) No devices detected.
>
> Fatal server error:
> no screens found
>
> Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
> at http://wiki.x.org
> for help.
> Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional
> information.
>
> ddxSigGiveUp: Closing log
> giving up.
>
> xinit: No such file or directory (errno 2): unable to connect to X
> server
>
> xinit: No such process (errno...