kernel crashes on X startup with fglrx

[D. Hugh Redelmeier]

Binary package hint: xorg-driver-fglrx

System is an HP a6245n (C2Q6600, 6G RAM, integrated Intel graphics).
A pretty fresh install of 8.04 AMD64 + all offered updates.

I installed an Asus EAH 3650 Silent Magic video card after Ubuntu installation
ubuntu offered to install the proprietary AMD driver; I accepted.
xorg-driver-fglrx 1:7.1.0-8-3+2.6.24.12-16.34 was installed.

The system rebooted (crashed).
On reboot, it offered to fix things up (don't remember the actual question) I said yes.

System now works, using the VGA driver. The resolution is wrong (a limitation of the BIOS list of video modes).

I experiment:
"/etc/init.d/gdm stop" gets me a console with X turned off
To test flrgx: "startx -- -config xorg.conf.20080504125049"
At this point the system pauses and then reboots.

I expect that this is a kernel panic but the evidence is washed away by the reboot.

What tools are there to figure out panics? I've used kdump and crash on Fedora. Is there a howto for setting these up under 8.04?

[D. Hugh Redelmeier (hugh-mimosa)]

there are some warnings and errors in this log.

drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card0
drmOpenDevice: open result is -1, (No such device or address)
drmOpenDevice: open result is -1, (No such device or address)
drmOpenDevice: Open failed
(and lots of similar messages for card1 etc.)
(WW) fglrx(0): Failed to open DRM connection

(WW) fglrx(0): No DRM connection for driver fglrx.

(II) fglrx(0): driver needs X.org 7.1.x.y with x.y >= 0.0
(WW) fglrx(0): could not detect X server version (query_status=-3)
(EE) fglrx(0): atiddxDriScreenInit failed, GPS not been initialized.
(WW) fglrx(0): ***********************************************
(WW) fglrx(0): * DRI initialization failed! *
(WW) fglrx(0): * (maybe driver kernel module missing or bad) *
(WW) fglrx(0): * 2D acceleraton available (MMIO) *
(WW) fglrx(0): * no 3D acceleration available *
(WW) fglrx(0): ********************************************* *

This one appears with both the fglrx and vesa drivers:
(WW) fglrx(0): Failed to set up write-combining range (0xd0000000,0x10000000)

[Greg King (greg-james-king)]

This looks similar to the issue documented in this bug report:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-restricted-modules-2.6.24/+bug/224404