No desktop environment or window manager, just X with the mouse

[Lars Noodén]

The only thing that the graphical display shows is the mouse pointer. It moves around just fine, thoug the immediate square area surrounding the mouse has bad graphics. Except for the mouse area, the screen is black.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
Package: xorg 1:7.7+1ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-13.14-powerpc-smp 3.5.3
Uname: Linux 3.5.0-13-powerpc-smp ppc
ApportVersion: 2.5.1-0ubuntu4
Architecture: powerpc
Date: Thu Sep 6 20:20:31 2012
InstallationMedia: Lubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Alpha powerpc (20120904)
SourcePackage: xorg
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Bartosz Kosiorek (gang65)]

Please attach the Xorg.0.log file.

[Bartosz Kosiorek (gang65)]

The openchrome only supports the x86 and x86_64. The VIA Technologies doesn't have any PowerPC architectures.
Here is complete list of chipset and architectures made by VIA technologies:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_VIA_chipsets

[2blue (arild-lindseth)]

lubuntu Quantal Qetzal Beta 1
iBook G4, 1.42Ghz, 512MB RAM

I am in the Beta 1 version and have a related issue. When I boot live CD I boot up into a somewhat coarse pixelled desktop image (not too bad though). Installer launches but window shows only a faint outline and nothing inside the frames. I can launch terminal window and type within it fine. When I boot live cd with the line "live video=ofonly" it is better, and installer launches with graphics within the frames. .Graphics are at least working (installer haults and freezes entire system though, but probably a different bug).

[ԜаӀtеr Ⅼарсһуnѕkі (wxl)]

Bartosz, this was filed because we confirmed this was not related to openchrome.

Looking at Lars' X.org.0.log:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-openchrome/+bug/1041625/comments/12
I see (among other issues):
[ 72.053] (EE) Failed to load module "fglrx" (module does not exist, 0)
and I also find no current fglrx for ppc:
http://packages.ubuntu.com/search?arch=powerpc&keywords=fglrx

so maybe this is an X issue after all?

[2blue (arild-lindseth)]

this is the Xorg log I get in live CD

[ 163.756]
X.Org X Server 1.12.99.905 (1.13.0 RC 5)
Release Date: 2012-08-21
[ 163.756] X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
[ 163.756] Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.35-30-powerpc64-smp ppc Ubuntu
[ 163.756] Current Operating System: Linux lubuntu 3.5.0-13-powerpc-smp #14-Ubuntu SMP Wed Aug 29 16:49:33 UTC 2012 ppc
[ 163.756] Kernel command line: ro ramdisk_size=1048576 file=/cdrom/preseed/lubuntu.seed boot=casper quiet splash --
[ 163.756] Build Date: 26 August 2012 03:50:02PM
[ 163.756] xorg-server 2:1.12.99.905-0ubuntu3 (For technical support please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support)
[ 163.756] Current version of pixman: 0.26.0
[ 163.756] Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
 to make sure that you have the latest version.
[ 163.756] Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
 (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
 (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[ 163.757] (==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Thu Sep 6 20:23:28 2012
[ 163.773] (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
[ 163.909] (==) No Layout section. Using the first Screen section.
[ 163.909] (==) No screen section available. Using defaults.
[ 163.909] (**) |-->Screen "Default Screen Section" (0)
[ 163.909] (**) | |-->Monitor "<default monitor>"
[ 163.910] (==) No monitor specified for screen "Default Screen Section".
 Using a default monitor configuration.
[ 163.910] (==) Automatically adding devices
[ 163.910] (==) Automatically enabling devices
[ 163.910] (==) Automatically adding GPU devices
[ 164.290] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist.
[ 164.290] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 164.290] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/" does not exist.
[ 164.290] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 164.290] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/" does not exist.
[ 164.290] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 164.290] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1" does not exist.
[ 164.290] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 164.290] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi" does not exist.
[ 164.290] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 164.290] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi" does not exist.
[ 164.290] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 164.291] (WW) The directory "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType" does not exist.
[ 164.291] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 164.291] (==) FontPath set to:
 /usr/share/fonts/X11/misc,
 built-ins
[ 164.291] (==) ModulePath set to "/usr/lib/powerpc-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules,/usr/lib/xorg/extra-modules,/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
[ 164.291] (II) The server relies on udev to provide the list of input devices.
 If no devices become available, reconfigure udev or disable AutoAddDevices.
[ 164.291] (II) Loader magic: 0x2074c614
[ 164.291] (II) Module ABI versions:
[ 164.291] X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
[ 164.291] X.Org Video Driver: 13.0
[ 164.291] X.Org XInput driver : 18.0
[ 164.291] X.Org Server Extension : 7.0
[ 164.293] (--) PCI:*(0:0:16...

[2blue (arild-lindseth)]

This is a bit more tidy http://paste.ubuntu.com/1189685/

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Ben Collins (ben-collins)]

Try booting the ISO with "live video=ofonly" I've had to do this with my iMac G5 as well.

Note, this bug may be a kernel bug, but I've assigned it to the radeon Xorg driver for now. I'll look into later.

[Greg Faith (gregfaith)]

I can get the live session to with the small window following mouse by just typing my login password after I think the login screen should be ready. The graphic are not good at all but I can get to the live session.

Tried the live video=of only and get great graphics but the session freezes after moderate use.

[2blue (arild-lindseth)]

Ubuntu Quantal 12.10 PowerPC, Daily Build 13. of September.
iBook G4 1.42 Ghz.

I tried the daily build of Ubuntu 12.10 PPC just now and it is even worse than Lubuntu. It boots into a desktop with warped version of Ubuntu purply back ground, and the only thing there is a moving cursor; no menu, no taskbar or other regular desktop function. I booted into live CD both directl and live video=offonly mode.

Does it sound like the same xorg issue?

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

On the the 2012-09-12 lubuntu desktop image X seems to work for me now. Though when the shutdown menu is activated, the screens colors go all wonky.

[ojordan (ojordan12345)]

The radeon driver no longer supports UMS. Because of the current PowerPC kernel config (radeonfb is built in) KMS drm cannot be activated. You are falling back to the fbdev driver in 8 bit mode (hence the poor colors).

One way to activate KMS is using the video=ofonly parameter (this disables radeonfb). If this causes freezing then you should combine it with radeon.agpmode=-1 (forces PCI mode).

I've said the same thing on this ubuntu forums thread http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2053596

These solutions have also been documented in the PowerPC FAQ for a long time now https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCFAQ#What_yaboot_parameters_should_I_use_for_graphics_problems.3F and https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCFAQ#Radeon_cards

[ojordan (ojordan12345)]

I'm not sure why ubiquity can't cope with 8 bit colours.....possibly something that might be worth looking into?

[ojordan (ojordan12345)]

This is the bug for ubiquity https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+bug/1040544

[ojordan (ojordan12345)]

Not just a ubiquity problem. I notice the network applet windows do something similar.

[ojordan (ojordan12345)]

Most of these comments refer to Bug #1040526 and as such I'm making it a duplicate of that bug. There are known and working solutions for the live/desktop ISOs (although a change to the kernel config and boot message should be made IMHO).

If you still have the original problem on an installed system then please comment on Bug #1044180 .