[Macbook Air 5,2] External monitor not working 12.04 - Display Port to VGA, xserver-xorg-lts-raring, Intel HD 4000 graphics

[M Ali]

After upgrading LTS kernel and X server from 12.04 to 12.04.03, my external monitor is no longer detected/driven. This worked perfectly under 12.04, and is therefore a major regression impacting common use cases. Does not affect the Display Port to DVI-D connection with the same display.

When the Display Port/VGA adapter is plugged in dmesg reports several:
    [drm:intel_dp_i2c_aux_ch] *ERROR* too many retries, giving up

When booting with the VGA adaptor connected, dmesg is flooded with these and the trackpad does not work.

I'm an experienced user but new to filing bugs. Feel free to ask for more information.

Work arounds:
Boot using 12.04 kernel (vmlinuz-3.2.0-54-generic) caveat: VGA works as 1024x768 or 800x600 out of the box but you dont need to know/find/add modlines.
or
Add the modline manually and enable using xrandr. This is less reliable, only works sometimes in my experience and the external monitor has some weird behaviour - no background and right click on the background appears only the primary display.
//copy the modline from HDMI1 (DVI-D label in xrandr) to DP1 (or manually create the modline for your display):
xrandr --addmode DP1 1920x1080
//connect the DP to VGA cable, removing the DP to DVI, run:
xrandr --output DP1 --above eDP1 --mode 1920x1080

Hardware: MacBook Air 5,2 Mid 2012
Display configuration: Apple Display Port to VGA adaptor
Ubuntu version: 12.04.3
with linux-lts-raring xserver-xorg-lts-raring xserver-xorg-video-intel-lts-raring.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: linux-image-3.8.0-31-generic 3.8.0-31.46~precise1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-31.46~precise1-generic 3.8.13.8
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-31-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version k3.8.0-31-generic.
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu17.5
Architecture: amd64
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: Cirrus Analog [Cirrus Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: shah 2374 F.... pulseaudio
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'PCH'/'HDA Intel PCH at 0xa0610000 irq 23'
   Mixer name : 'Intel PantherPoint HDMI'
   Components : 'HDA:10134206,106b5600,00100302 HDA:80862806,80860101,00100000'
   Controls : 37
   Simple ctrls : 10
Date: Sat Oct 19 11:34:54 2013
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=363970cc-f00e-4fc5-9ad4-85835761f881
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120823.1)
MachineType: Apple Inc. MacBookAir5,2
MarkForUpload: True
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-31-generic root=UUID=546e99ab-1217-4a80-9242-a78138929e8f ro crashkernel=384M-2G:64M,2G-:128M quiet i915.i915_enable_rc6=1 resume=/dev/sda6 noapic
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.8.0-31-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.8.0-31-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.79.7
SourcePackage: linux-lts-raring
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 11/27/2012
dmi.bios.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.bios.version: MBA51.88Z.00EF.B02.1211271028
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag#
dmi.board.name: Mac-2E6FAB96566FE58C
dmi.board.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.board.version: MacBookAir5,2
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: Mac-2E6FAB96566FE58C
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAppleInc.:bvrMBA51.88Z.00EF.B02.1211271028:bd11/27/2012:svnAppleInc.:pnMacBookAir5,2:pvr1.0:rvnAppleInc.:rnMac-2E6FAB96566FE58C:rvrMacBookAir5,2:cvnAppleInc.:ct10:cvrMac-2E6FAB96566FE58C:
dmi.product.name: MacBookAir5,2
dmi.product.version: 1.0
dmi.sys.vendor: Apple Inc.

[M Ali (m-ali-8)]

similar to this issue in 13.04 beta

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1165965

[M Ali (m-ali-8)]

Also received the two attached kernel warnings in dmesg, which seem related.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

M Ali, could you please test the latest upstream kernel available following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds ? It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Please do not test the daily kernel folder, but the one all the way at the bottom. Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please comment on which kernel version specifically you tested. If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tags:
kernel-fixed-upstream
kernel-fixed-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

where VERSION-NUMBER is the version number of the kernel you tested. For example:
kernel-fixed-upstream-v3.12-rc6

This can be done by clicking on the yellow circle with a black pencil icon next to the word Tags located at the bottom of the bug description. As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the following tags:
kernel-bug-exists-upstream
kernel-bug-exists-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug's Status as Confirmed. Please let us know your results. Thank you for your understanding.

[M Ali (m-ali-8)]

thanks for the lanunchpad guide.

I tested kernel v3.12-rc6-saucy the external monitor using DP to VGA just works!

There are still error the messages:
[drm:intel_dp_i2c_aux_ch] *ERROR* too many retries, giving up
but never the less it detects the screen and resolutions for xrandr and so on fro the DP to VGA adapter.

However, the mainline builds gon't support my hardware well, trackpad and keyboard did not working.

I also tried the saucy kernel from:
https://launchpad.net/~canonical-kernel-team/+archive/ppa
which still has the issue.

[M Ali (m-ali-8)]

> However, the mainline builds [don't] support my hardware well, trackpad and keyboard did not [work].

Actually I was mistaken, keyboard/mouse worked but was laggy, fixed after switching to and from tty with ctrl+alt+f1 followed by ctrl+alt+f7.

To get the wireless working in the latest kernel I had to remove the broadcom-sta driver and install bcmwl-kernel-source_6.20.155.1+bdcom-0ubuntu6_amd64.deb (from google).

To get v3.12-rc6-saucy wifi working I also has to use the patch from post #9 in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/bcmwl/+bug/1197586 to the folder /var/lib/dkms/bcmwl/6.20.155.1+bdcom/build/patches . Then rebuild the wireless module using dkms using: sudo dkms autoinstall -m bcmwl -v 6.20.155.1+bdcom -k 3.12.0-031200rc6-generic .

[Antonio Censi (accensi)]

Already posted on LP #1165965

Tested with kernel 3.11.5 from mailine.

accensi@ACC-MacBookAir:~$ uname -a
Linux ACC-MacBookAir 3.11.5-031105-generic #201310132235 SMP Mon Oct 14 02:35:52 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

It works ok.

...ACC-MacBookAir:~$ xrandr -q
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 3286 x 1080, maximum 32767 x 32767
eDP1 connected 1366x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 256mm x 144mm
   1366x768 60.0*+
   1360x768 59.8 60.0
   1024x768 60.0
   800x600 60.3 56.2
   640x480 59.9
VGA1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP1 connected 1920x1080+1366+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 477mm x 268mm
   1920x1080 60.0*+
   1680x1050 60.0
   1280x1024 75.0 60.0
   1152x864 75.0
   1024x768 75.1 60.0
   800x600 75.0 60.3
   640x480 75.0 60.0
   720x400 70.1
HDMI2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
VIRTUAL1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

DisplayPort is detected and there is no messages like "[drm:intel_dp_i2c_aux_ch] *ERROR* too many retries, giving up"

Probably 3.11.4 would work too, as upstream DRM changes related to error message above were applied on it:
drm/i915/dp: increase i2c-over-aux retry interval on AUX DEFER

Will complete other tests (on boot, after suspend, after hibernate, etc) later.

Thanks

[M Ali (m-ali-8)]

Thanks I've checked
mali@jupiter:~$ uname -a
Linux jupiter 3.11.5-031105-generic #201310132235 SMP Mon Oct 14 02:35:52 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

It works fine, no problems with VGA to DVI, as a bonus wifi and trackpad work without issue.

p.s. there was a missing step in my insrutions to compile bcmwl-6.20.155.1+bdcom on kernel 3.12.0
after downlading 0008-add-support-to-linux-3.12.0.patch to /usr/src/bcmwl-6.20.155.1+bdcom/patches
you must also edit /usr/src/bcmwl-6.20.155.1+bdcom/dkms.conf and add the line
PATCH[7]="0008-add-support-to-linux-3.12.0.patch" on line 15

[penalvch (penalvch)]

M Ali, this bug was reported a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering if this is still an issue? If so, could you please test for this with the latest development release of Ubuntu? ISO images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ .

If it remains an issue, could you please run the following command in the development release from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal), as it will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report:

apport-collect -p xorg-lts-raring REPLACE-WITH-BUG-NUMBER

Thank you for your understanding.

Helpful bug reporting tips:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs

[M Ali (m-ali-8)]

Christopher, I no longer have this laptop, however I was able to test it with a friends' 5,2 machine on Live USB- the latest kernel in raring works as does the trusty live cd with external vga.

thanks for helping to resolve the matter.