Cannot switch to virtual consoles (vt#)

[Robbie Williamson]

Each console screen is corrupted from the moment grub starts.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: nvidia-current 270.30-0ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.35-2.3-generic 2.6.35-rc2
Uname: Linux 2.6.35-2-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
.proc.driver.nvidia.gpus.0: Error: [Errno 21] Is a directory: '/proc/driver/nvidia/gpus/0'
.proc.driver.nvidia.registry: Binary: ""
.proc.driver.nvidia.version:
 NVRM version: NVIDIA UNIX x86_64 Kernel Module 270.30 Fri Feb 25 14:34:55 PST 2011
 GCC version: gcc version 4.5.2 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.5.2-6ubuntu5)
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,decor,mousepoll,vpswitch,regex,animation,snap,expo,move,compiztoolbox,place,grid,imgpng,gnomecompat,wall,ezoom,workarounds,staticswitcher,resize,fade,unitymtgrabhandles,scale,session,unityshell]
CompositorRunning: compiz
Date: Thu Mar 24 13:17:14 2011
DistUpgraded: Log time: 2009-12-10 12:09:42.506150
DistroCodename: natty
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DkmsStatus:
 nvidia-current, 270.30, 2.6.35-2-generic, x86_64: installed
 nvidia-current, 270.30, 2.6.38-7-generic, x86_64: installed
 virtualbox-ose, 4.0.4, 2.6.35-2-generic, x86_64: installed
 virtualbox-ose, 4.0.4, 2.6.38-7-generic, x86_64: installed
GraphicsCard:
 nVidia Corporation C77 [GeForce 8200] [10de:084b] (rev a2) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device [1025:0153]
JockeyStatus: xorg:nvidia_current - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (Proprietary, Enabled, In use)
MachineType: Acer Aspire X1200
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_US:en
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-2-generic root=UUID=3baa4110-0e2c-41ad-b660-cd6418ff8aff ro quiet console=tty6 splash vt.handoff=7
Renderer: Unknown
SourcePackage: nvidia-graphics-drivers
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to natty on 2010-05-25 (302 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 07/29/2008
dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies, LTD
dmi.bios.version: R01-A3
dmi.board.name: WMCP78M
dmi.board.vendor: Acer
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: 0000000000000000000000
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Acer
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologies,LTD:bvrR01-A3:bd07/29/2008:svnAcer:pnAspireX1200:pvrR01-A3:rvnAcer:rnWMCP78M:rvr:cvnAcer:ct3:cvr:
dmi.product.name: Aspire X1200
dmi.product.version: R01-A3
dmi.sys.vendor: Acer
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.4git20110322-0ubuntu5
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.23-1ubuntu5
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 7.10.1-0ubuntu3
version.nvidia-graphics-drivers: nvidia-graphics-drivers N/A
version.xserver-xorg: xserver-xorg 1:7.6~3ubuntu11
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati N/A
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.14.0-4ubuntu4
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20110107+b795ca6e-0ubuntu6

[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

Attaching a short video to explain the distortion

[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

I switched from my HDMI connection to my standard PC monitor connection and the same issue still exists.

[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

I have also verified that the GRUB menu DOES display correctly, when the left shift key is held down.

[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

Tried adding "vesafb.blah=1" to prevent plymouth vesafb driver from loading...no change.

[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

I even tried purging and re-installing the nvidia drivers...no change.

[Chris Halse Rogers (raof)]

You seem to be loading a pretty old kernel - 2.6.35-2-generic. Is that deliberate? Does it work in 2.6.38-7-generic?

[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

No...that's odd. I've been doing apt-get dist-upgrades...and my sources list points to natty. I'll check it out....very strange

[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

For some odd reason, apt-get dist-upgrade won't update my kernel...I'm going to have mvo take a look at this before doing so. Then I'll update, where I'm guessing this problem will go away.

[Robbie Williamson (robbiew)]

I *think* this machine may have gotten messed up when I was testing some nouveau backport kernels last year....anyway, everything working smoothly after running the right kernel.