Cannot get normal graphical session running after install

[Brian DeLacey]

I cannot get the Hardy Beta graphical session running on an HP Compaq Presario SR1620NX (Sempron 2GHz, 512MB RAM, 160GB HDD) with ATI Radeon Xpress 200G Series integrated video.

The installation works fine, but then I cannot log on. When I enter my username and password, it attempts to switch to the desktop, but ends up putting me right back into the login screen. The same thing happens when attempting to run the live CD. This leads to the upper part of the screen showing color variations and just bleeding away the top of the login screen.

I previous reported bug #145670 on Gutsy - that was fixed by the release date. I can run the released version of Gutsy 7.10 fine on the problematical HP Compaq Presario SR1620NX.

I have installed Ubuntu 8.04 beta on several other machines without any problems - including an eMachines T4010 and a Dell Inspiron 700m.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Hi Brian,

Looks like this bug was filed against Ubuntu rather than against Xorg, so I didn't notice it until today; sorry about the delay in response, I've corrected the package.

The problem you're describing is X crashing on the main X session, but works properly with the gdm-controlled X login session. This generally means that the driver basically works with your hardware, but there is a configuration issue on this particular hardware. Please attach your /etc/X11/xorg.conf and /var/log/Xorg.0.log files for me to take a look at.

It looks like the PCI ID for an ATI Radeon Xpress 200G is 1002:5954. Can you confirm this (it can be found in lspci -vvnn). Looking in the driver source there are some code paths unique to this hardware for features it does not support, which could explain why you've seeing a crash on it while other systems work properly. With the Xorg.0.log in hand hopefully there will be an error message and/or a backtrace that indicates what the issue is.

[Brian DeLacey (bdelacey)]

Hi Bryce,

Thanks for getting back on this ... sorry just to get back to you now, it
somehow got buried in my archived email (and then tax day snowed me under
yesterday.) Super explanation thank you! I'll check and get bcak.

On Mon, Apr 14, 2008 at 3:07 PM, Bryce Harrington <email address hidden>
wrote:

> Hi Brian,
>
> Looks like this bug was filed against Ubuntu rather than against Xorg,
> so I didn't notice it until today; sorry about the delay in response,
> I've corrected the package.
>
> The problem you're describing is X crashing on the main X session, but
> works properly with the gdm-controlled X login session. This generally
> means that the driver basically works with your hardware, but there is a
> configuration issue on this particular hardware. Please attach your
> /etc/X11/xorg.conf and /var/log/Xorg.0.log files for me to take a look
> at.
>
> It looks like the PCI ID for an ATI Radeon Xpress 200G is 1002:5954.
> Can you confirm this (it can be found in lspci -vvnn). Looking in the
> driver source there are some code paths unique to this hardware for
> features it does not support, which could explain why you've seeing a
> crash on it while other systems work properly. With the Xorg.0.log in
> hand hopefully there will be an error message and/or a backtrace that
> indicates what the issue is.
>
>
> ** Changed in: xserver-xorg-video-ati (Ubuntu)
> Sourcepackagename: None => xserver-xorg-video-ati
> Importance: Undecided => High
> Assignee: (unassigned) => Bryce Harrington (bryceharrington)
> Status: New => Incomplete
>
> --
> Cannot get normal graphical session running after install
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/213753
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

--
Brian

[Brian DeLacey (bdelacey)]

Bryce,

Yes, the PCI ID is 1002:5954.

I tested it again with April 17th morning build. I had similar problems -
after providing my UN and PW, the desktop attempted to start but then quit
and returned to the login screen. In the earlier build, I could switch to a
command line terminal, but in the April 17th build the system hangs when
attempting to do this.

As a workaround, I was able to boot up the system and click on the OPTIONS
menu at the startup screen. Clicking on the OPTIONS menu and choosing
"Sessions", I picked the "Failsafe GNOME" option, and changed to that
session. Then, the Desktop appeared. A message in the menu appeared
notifying me that there was a restricted driver available (for the video). I
installed that restricted driver and restarted the machine. I was then able
to enter my UN and PW and safely start up a normal Ubuntu session using the
newly installed video driver.

- Brian

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Okay, if you'd like us to look into why it crashed for the default -ati open source driver, please attach your /var/log/Xorg.0.log and a full backtrace from a crash (see http://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Backtracing).

[Brian DeLacey (bdelacey)]

Hi Bryce,

Thanks for your note - I'd like to help, and I'd like to get this up and
running on the newest version.

I'm just trying to figure out how I can do this (and you can do this)
without taking days of time.

The machine I have is a stock Dell 530N which they must have sold a few of
since it was bundled with Ubuntu. Is this bug on their radar? I'd hope
they'd have a vested interest in this.

I looked at the directions and I'm trying to figure out how I can handle
this most easily - since the machine is my main production Ubuntu desktop,
I'm a bit hesitant to take it down for the day.

If I could boot off the CD and somehow capture the log, that would be
easiest (since I know it crashes on the Live CD too) - but I can't see how I
could modify the various configs (on the CD) to make that work?

Brian

On Wed, May 28, 2008 at 3:50 PM, Bryce Harrington <email address hidden>
wrote:

> Okay, if you'd like us to look into why it crashed for the default -ati
> open source driver, please attach your /var/log/Xorg.0.log and a full
> backtrace from a crash (see http://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Backtracing).
>
> ** Changed in: xserver-xorg-video-ati (Ubuntu)
> Assignee: Bryce Harrington (bryceharrington) => (unassigned)
>
> --
> Cannot get normal graphical session running after install
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/213753
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

--
Brian

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

I've added a section on how to boot/reconfigure the LiveCD environment to get backtraces, please have a look and let me know if you have more questions: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Backtracing

[Brian DeLacey (bdelacey)]

Hi Bryce,

This looks really helpful. Thanks for taking time to document it. I'll work
to keep in synch with the builds.

I have it working when I boot off an installed drive, but it does not work
with the LiveCD of 8.04.

I'm working with Ubuntu on Intel's new Atom motherboard. I tried booting off
the 8.04 LiveCD (with one USB external hard drive and no internal hard drive
- SSH properly installed.) However, when I try to access the Ubuntu SSH
server from Putty running on Windows, I get no response.

In contrast, SSH works fine if I boot Ubuntu from an external USB (with NO
internal hard drive and NO CD drive) and then PUTTY in from Windows.

Brian

On Tue, Jul 29, 2008 at 5:34 PM, Bryce Harrington <<email address hidden>
> wrote:

> I've added a section on how to boot/reconfigure the LiveCD environment
> to get backtraces, please have a look and let me know if you have more
> questions: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Backtracing
>
> --
> Cannot get normal graphical session running after install
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/213753
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

[Brian Murray (brian-murray)]

Thanks for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. In the development cycle for Intrepid there have been some vast improvements in the open source ati video driver and we could use your help testing them. Could you please download the latest Alpha CD image of Intrepid and test this particular bug just using the Live CD? You can find the latest image at http://www.ubuntu.com/testing . Your testing can help make Ubuntu and the open source ati driver even better! Thanks in advance.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

We're closing this bug since it is has been some time with no response from the original reporter. However, if the issue still exists please feel free to reopen with the requested information. Also, if you could, please test against the latest development version of Ubuntu, since this confirms the bug is one we may be able to pass upstream for help.