Switching users (switch user) blank screen on fglrx (ATI driver)

[Luis Mondesi]

Binary package hint: gdm

On Feisty, when switching users on a system running an ATI (Radeon 9700pro) using the fglrx driver, the system goes into a blank screen and you can never return to a console.

CTRL+F# does not work, so you cannot go to a text console either. The only thing that works is to ssh into the box from another one and restart the system. Killing gdm and X would freeze the system.

I tested on an Intel-based GPU system and this problem did not happen. Its possible that this problem affects Nvidia users as well, though I have no way to confirm this. Some in the #ubuntu-devel IRC talked about this issue for Nvidia cards (pitti on IRC #ubuntu-devel).

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

looks like a bug of the closed source ATI driver

[Mike Dahlgren (dahlgren)]

The new 8.35.5 driver may fix this. Release notes:

The screen no longer turns black if the X-Server is terminated from the text console. This condition was known to occur only on certain laptop configurations. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26829.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

I've packaged the fglrx driver, and put the debs up for testing on Gutsy:

    http://people.ubuntu.com/~bryce/Testing/

I notice in the changelog, that the new fglrx has fixes for this exact
problem. Josh Andler has this bug with fglrx and has confirmed that
with these debs, it goes away. Still, additional testing on Gutsy would
be much appreciated.

These are the packages I installed in my tests: fglrx-control, xorg-driver-fglrx, fglrx-kernel-source, linux-restricted-modules-common, linux-restricted-modules-2.6.22

Also turn off Composite if you have it on (fglrx doesn't support it).
fglrxinfo and glxgears are useful to verify its working

[Mircea Deaconu (mirceade)]

Just confirming the bug regarding the old drivers.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

This bug was fixed in newer versions of fglrx, which is now available
in Gutsy.

There are no plans to add fglrx 8.37.6 to Feisty officially, but I've
created .debs for Feisty users needing this fix. These are available
at http://people.ubuntu.com/~bryce/Testing/fglrx-8.37.6-Feisty/
Despite being unofficial, please feel welcome to report new bugs with
these packages to launchpad.

Please help spread word and help fellow users in installing it!

[Spohl (bernfresse)]

I still have this problem now in Gutsy., only with fglrx.

Starting Gnome
Switch User
System freeze

Monitor is still active, but black. With Strg+Alt+Entf I get a PC-speaker "peep". The only way is to reboot the system.

[Frantisek Vacek (w4tch0)]

A workaround for this always was to set AlwaysRestartServer=true /etc/gdm/gdm.conf in the [Daemon] section. Try that to see if it helps.
You can also do this by adding this to the /etc/gdm/gdm.conf-custom file:
[Daemon]
AlwaysRestartServer=true

[Spohl (bernfresse)]

Thx, but that doesnt change anything. Still the same freeze. Not that
problem for me, I just thought i could be fixed.
Again the ATI/AMD users are the idiots.

Am Montag, den 15.10.2007, 10:46 +0000 schrieb Frantisek Vacek:
> A workaround for this always was to set AlwaysRestartServer=true /etc/gdm/gdm.conf in the [Daemon] section. Try that to see if it helps.
> You can also do this by adding this to the /etc/gdm/gdm.conf-custom file:
> [Daemon]
> AlwaysRestartServer=true
>
--
Warum offene Formate und freie Software so wichtig sind:
http://fuckup.twoday.net/stories/2456131/

[ScislaC (scislac)]

By any chance are people still affected by this on Gutsy running xserver-xgl? XGL can only run one session at a time, and if you have it installed, it automatically attempts to use it for all sessions.

[mcdomms (mcdomms)]

I can confirm the bug in the last release of the driver from ATI (8.42.3) with Gutsy.
Shall we install the 8.37.6 version of the driver? Is there any chance they (and I mean ATI) fix this?

[Kuba Paszkowski (kuba-paszkowski)]

Well i have the same problem with my nvidia card (GeForce4 MX440) using restricted drivers and default in gutsy compiz-fusion. When I want to switch user, the screen goes to black and nothing happend. It seems that every thing is working in background - mpd is playing music. The only choice is to press ie. Ctrl+F1 (notice that screen is black) and press ctrl+alt+del to restart machine gently. Log's doesnt show anything interesting. Is there any solution for nvidia users?
I have tried to edit and set AlwaysRestartServer=true but this does not help!

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Hi lemsx1,

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. You reported this bug a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering is this still an issue for you? Can you try with the latest development release of Ubuntu? (ISOs are available from cdimage.ubuntu.com)

If it remains an issue, could you also attach a new /var/log/Xorg.0.log?
Thanks in advance.

The output of lspci -vvnn would also be worth having.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

[This is an automated message]

As of Intrepid (8.10), we have a dedicated package 'fglrx-installer' for fglrx bugs, which now includes a process for upstreaming bugs to AMD.

  http://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/fglrx-installer

To transition your bug into the new fglrx-package, we need your help. Please do the following:

 a. Verify the bug occurs in Intrepid.
     (Intrepid ISOs: http://cdimage.ubuntu.com)
 b. If you haven't already, please include in the bug:
     * Your /var/log/Xorg.0.log
     * The output of `lspci -vvnn`
     * Steps to reproduce the issue
 c. Click 'Also affects distribution'
 d. Set 'Source Package Name' to 'fglrx-installer'
 e. Click Continue

Thank you. This will assist us in reviewing and upstreaming your fglrx bug, as appropriate.

[We'll expire the fglrx bugs in l-r-m-* in a month or so.]

[seamus1089 (s-holden1)]

Hi,

This is not precisely the reply that you are looking for (since its not on 8.10), but I would like to identify that remains an issue, at least for 8.04 (my install is a gnome desktop on top of kubuntu) with the xorg fglrx driver for an ati fire gl card. System hard locks on switch user. Ideally I would prefer to stick with the LTS version, hence the delayed switch.

xorg and lspci outputs attached

Let me know if any further info is required

Thanks

[kantor (kantorzsolt)]

Hi guys,
I have almost the same problem. I say almost because as I read above this problem was fixed, but I still have a similap problem. And I think the problem is with GDM, and here is the explanation:
If I install the amd fglrx drivers (the problem is the same with the latest 9.2 and prior drivers) and if I use GDM the screen goes black and freezes when I want to log off or switch user. Ok, but If I use the KDM with the same configuration I can log off without problem from gnome.
Hints: if I install the ubuntu fglrx drivers there is no such problem (no freeze) , and with prior Ubuntu versions hardy, gutsy there is no problem too. I have this problem only in Intrepid Ibex.
I tried all the suggested things on the forums and what I read, like modifying the authatieventsd.sh or adding AlwaysRestartServer=true line to gdm.conf but nothing works.
My video card is ati radeon x1200 (on a laptop).
I'm desperate because I would like to use GDM with gnome, but I can use only KDM if I want to log off from gnome

[Sergio Zanchetta (primes2h)]

The 18 month support period for Gutsy Gibbon 7.10 has reached its end of life -
http://www.ubuntu.com/news/ubuntu-7.10-eol . As a result, we are closing the
linux-restricted-modules-2.6.22 task. It would be helpful if you could test the
new Jaunty Jackalope 9.04 release and confirm if this issue remains -
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/releasenotes/904overview. If the issue still exists with the Jaunty
release, please update this report by changing the Status of the "linux (Ubuntu)"
task from "Incomplete" to "New". Thanks in advance.

[John Rose (johnaaronrose)]

Still applies to Jaunty (kernel 2.6.28-11). I'm now using open source driver (rather than fglrx) and it occurs on the second user switch.

[Alek Kowalczyk (alek-kowalczyk)]

I confirm on Radeon 3200 with fglrx and compiz on Jaunty.
Switching user after longer time of computer inactivity sometimes (30% reproducibility?) renders screen black.
There is a slight difference because I can see the mouse cursor and I can switch to text console and kill -9 compiz.real process. After killing compiz everything works fine.

[Alek Kowalczyk (alek-kowalczyk)]

Switching to New - see my previous comment

[kantor (kantorzsolt)]

I tend to think that GDM has a problem, because if I use KDM I can logout and the screen doesn't goes blank, this problem appears only with GDM. And as I tested this issue was there in previous Ubuntu versions too.

[kantor (kantorzsolt)]

somebody could fix this ? because as I observed this bug is ignored

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

I've posted a new version of the -fglrx driver to our xorg-edgers PPA,
would you mind testing it either on Jaunty or Karmic and see if it
resolves this bug?

Get fglrx 8.620 here:

  https://edge.launchpad.net/~xorg-edgers/+archive/ppa

[Alek Kowalczyk (alek-kowalczyk)]

Bryce,
I've just installed the driver from the location you've provided. ATI CC says it's version 8.62.4 - is it the correct one?
I'll send feedback in a few days.

[Alek Kowalczyk (alek-kowalczyk)]

Bryce,
Your version of the driver seems to work fine on my Radeon 3200.
Since I had installed the driver I have observed no X hangs when switching user after some inactivity (the PC was online whole week).
Thanks!

Only dehibernation still hangs X, but that's a story for another bug...

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Excellent, thanks for testing. Since we now have this version of -fglrx in Karmic we can consider this bug sorted.