[g41] When watching video, any window over video causes corrupt display and crash

[christobzr]

Binary package hint: ubuntu-desktop

When watching a video, be it in mplayer, totem or vlc, if a window or decoration passes over the video, the computer crashes with a corrupt display and forces logout. Sometimes the screen slowly flashes with a more and more corrupt display and a hard reboot is necessary.

Sometimes this happens without any video playing, but rarely (it's systematic for the video playing problem). Some video files have this problem at the same point, regardless of if there is a window over the video or not.

I have a new intel g41 mobo, with integrated graphics, intel dual processor and amd-64 ubuntu.

I watch a lot of videos, this happens several times a day, it's very annoying.

ProblemType: Package
Architecture: amd64
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.04
ErrorMessage: subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 2
Package: ubuntu-docs 9.04.6
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: ubuntu-docs
Title: package ubuntu-docs 9.04.6 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 2
Uname: Linux 2.6.28-11-generic x86_64

[lspci]
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation 4 Series Chipset DRAM Controller [8086:2e30] (rev 03)
     Subsystem: Intel Corporation Device [8086:d612]
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2e32] (rev 03)
     Subsystem: Intel Corporation Device [8086:d612]

[Sebastien Gregoire (seb-gregoire)]

Hi. I also have a G41 chipset, but I have a intel E7400 processor and running the 32 bits version of ubuntu. I do not know if this is related, but I also have sometimes a similar strange phenomenon. Have not tried with videos, but this happens while firefox was opened in fullscreen and only when a new webpage appears).
- screen flashes once from time to time, but no crash
- screen flashing once or more, screen become weirds and computer is blocked. Even ctrl-alt-F1 does not work any more, I am forced to reboot with ctrl-sysrq-B (after ctrl-sysrq S-E-I-U).
If this happens again, what I am supposed to attach as log ?

[christobzr (christobzr)]

Hi Sebastien,

This happens for me when playing a video (with XV) when any window (GUI window, popup menu, tooltip, notification...) is placed over the video window.

I am using the "intel" Xorg driver. Updating ubuntu has not helped. This bug is systematic.

What happens exactly when a window goes over a video is that the screen freezes, then goes black, then returns with some parts of the picture distorted with bright colours, then goes black again, then I get GDM and can log back in.

Sometimes GDM does not come up, but the screen contiuously alternates between black screen and more and more distorted, colourful screens. In this case I sometimes cannot get into a virtual text terminal, nor hit ctrl+alt+backspace (which is activated in my Xorg.conf), nor ctrl+alt+del, and must hit the case reset button.

[christobzr (christobzr)]

I think this is likely an Xorg issue...

[Sebastien Gregoire (seb-gregoire)]

I will try this evening to see if I have the same bug (I'am currently at
work).
By the way, if you have time, I'm trying to enable DRI and activate compiz
with my G41, with no success. See
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/66818

Did you succeed on your computer ? If you have any idea to help me...

Thanks a lot

2009/4/8 christobzr <email address hidden>

> I think this is likely an Xorg issue...
>
> ** Package changed: ubuntu-meta (Ubuntu) => xorg (Ubuntu)
>
> --
> When watching video, any window over video causes corrupt display and
> logout
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/353397
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in “xorg” source package in Ubuntu: New
>
> Bug description:
> Binary package hint: ubuntu-desktop
>
> When watching a video, be it in mplayer, totem or vlc, if a window or
> decoration passes over the video, the computer crashes with a corrupt
> display and forces logout. Sometimes the screen slowly flashes with a more
> and more corrupt display and a hard reboot is necessary.
>
> Sometimes this happens without any video playing, but rarely (it's
> systematic for the video playing problem). Some video files have this
> problem at the same point, regardless of if there is a window over the video
> or not.
>
> I have a new intel g41 mobo, with integrated graphics, intel dual processor
> and amd-64 ubuntu.
>
> I watch a lot of videos, this happens several times a day, it's very
> annoying.
>
> ProblemType: Package
> Architecture: amd64
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.04
> ErrorMessage: subprocess post-installation script returned error exit
> status 2
> Package: ubuntu-docs 9.04.6
> PackageArchitecture: all
> SourcePackage: ubuntu-docs
> Title: package ubuntu-docs 9.04.6 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess
> post-installation script returned error exit status 2
> Uname: Linux 2.6.28-11-generic x86_64
>

[christobzr (christobzr)]

I appogise in advance to those who take offence for being off topic.

I have had no success enabling desktop effects. For me also glxinfo | grep direct gives me that direct rendering is enabled. I tried quite a bit to enable desktop effects and eventually gave up. I do not recall all that I went trough exactly.

In the question that you referenced, the fact that glxgears maxes out at 200fps is apparently no indication of performance : http://qa-rockstar.livejournal.com/7869.html.

[Sebastien Gregoire (seb-gregoire)]

Also my apologizes for being off topic. I had answered via e-mail to not disturb this topic, but apparently it was not a good idea (sorry, I'm new on the launchpad).

I come back this evening with tests on my computer

[Sebastien Gregoire (seb-gregoire)]

I confirm this bug. I open a video in totem, anything going over the image (other window or even one of the totem menu) leads to a crash of the x-server (I go back to the login screen)

I also have a G41 chipset with a intel E7400 (32 bits version of Jaunty)

[christobzr (christobzr)]

Might I add that this could be bad, in that these chipsets have only just come out so a bug like this could go unnoticed through release, just at the same time as people begin to buy computers with these chipsets...

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Please attach the output of `lspci -vvnn`, and attach your /var/log/Xorg.0.log and Xorg.0.log.old files from after reproducing this issue. If you've made any customizations to your /etc/X11/xorg.conf please attach that as well.

You mentioned that it results in a crash, if this is the case please collect a full backtrace - see http://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Backtracing for directions. Also, attach the /var/log/gdm/:0.log* log files in case they have an error message we can analyze.

From the description it sounds like you have compiz (or kwin?) enabled. Can you test if you can reproduce it with that disabled? That would help isolate whether it is a compositing problem (which is what it sounds like at first glance).

If it does not go away with compiz disabled, next would be to test disabling DRI (Option "DRI" "off" in the Driver section in xorg.conf).

Another thing to test is to see if the problem occurs when using the x11 video driver instead of Xv in your original configuration (i.e. with compiz enabled or whatever). That would isolate the problem to the Xv extension.

[christobzr (christobzr)]

I have just tried twice to get a backtrace, but I have run into perhaps another issue.

First attempt, I logged into X with a failsafe terminal session. I issued "xterm &" to get a new terminal. Then "metacity & ; firefox &" to get the backtrace instructions on screen. "pgrep Xorg ; sudo gdb /usr/bin/Xorg 2>&1 | tee gdb-Xorg.txt" then in gdb "attach <num>". At this point the screen froze, I could not change virtual terminal, I could toggle numlock, but that was all. I hit the power button and waited for the machine to power down.

Second attempt, I worked from one Virtual Terminal, had lynx in another VT, ran gpm to copy paste the commands. I opened an X session with failsafe terminal, and in my first VT issued "pgrep Xorg ; sudo gdb /usr/bin/Xorg 2>&1 | tee gdb-Xorg.txt" then in gdb "attach <num>", this time this command generated output, I then issued "cont" ant pressed ctrl+alt+F7, but the screen went black, I could then not change VT, not even turn numlock on or off. I hit power switch and waited for machine to turn off.

I'm going to have another attempt now.

[christobzr (christobzr)]

The files attached above are just after a "standard crash". I do not have compiz enables to my knowledge (visual effects disables, no compiz process).

I have tried disabling DRI in the *Device* section of xorg.conf, same issue.

With X11 output instead of Xv in mplayer there is no problem - a window can be placed over video without issue (otherwise original configuration).

I tried with the "driver intel" line from the xorg.conf commented out, the issue persists, but I suspect it is still loading the intel driver (I could confirm this if necessary).

I have noticed that occasionally, after a crash, I no longer have access to virtual text terminals, but get a corrupt static gdm screen instead of text login, I can still log in with gdm however.

Please advise if there is anything else I can do.

[christobzr (christobzr)]

Is there any chance that this could be fixed for 9.04, or is it too late for that now ?

Is there any more I can do ?

[mcneillk (ken-mc-neill)]

I have this problem as well under Ubuntu 64bit 9.04 beta on an Intel G41 chipset. With G41, there are NO desktop effects possible (no DRI implemented). Trying to click any menu item while video is playing causes X to exit and logout user.

[mcneillk (ken-mc-neill)]

Tried to get a backtrace, but, it seems that X just logs out the user (a 'soft' crash?); I found this at the end of syslog:

Apr 17 08:30:43 Antec x-session-manager[4697]: WARNING: Detected that screensaver has left the bus
Apr 17 08:30:43 Antec gdm[4643]: WARNING: gdm_slave_xioerror_handler: Fatal X error - Restarting :0
Apr 17 08:30:44 Antec acpid: client connected from 6527[0:0]
Apr 17 08:30:46 Antec gdmgreeter[6546]: Gtk-WARNING: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "ubuntulooks",
Apr 17 08:30:46 Antec gdmgreeter[6546]: Gtk-WARNING: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "ubuntulooks",
Apr 17 08:30:52 Antec pulseaudio[6634]: pid.c: Stale PID file, overwriting.

You can see gdm restarting... Anyone else have these traces?

[christobzr (christobzr)]

With the "vesa" driver in the xorg.conf, the problem no longer exists. This driver won't let me use the desired resolution however. The "i810" driver does not work at all.

It would be interesting to see if somebody with a G41 chipset does not have this problem...

Intel last month brought out two more G41 based motherboards. MSI has four new G41 based boards, six in total, Gigabyte makes five...

I'm guessing few people use these boards with ubuntu, less maybe with the non default intel driver, that could mean many affected in the months to come, as more and more of these boards are bought.

[Daniel H. (danielhartmann)]

I have a Intel GM965/GL960, 32bit, no Compiz and get exactly the same error (e.g. when a tooltip from the window manager or another window overlays the video).

When using mplayer like this 'mplayer -vo x11' to avoid 'xv' there is no problem.

[Juan Sebastián Marulanda (juanchito2006)]

I'm using Intel GMA X3500 on Jaunty, performance is worse than in Intrepid and video playback closes my session unexpectedly in most cases.

[Daniel H. (danielhartmann)]

The packages mentioned here seem to fix my problem:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+bug/345119/comments/41

[balgior (balgior)]

Hi! Same problem here with ubuntu 9.04 i386, intel G965, no desktop effects enabled. The only difference is that all the above apply only to the 2nd user that logs in. The 1st one has no issue at all... If x11 is selected instead of xv when playing a video then the problem disappears for the 2nd user.

[Yani Raafezaj (ytraaf)]

I have a Dell Inspiron 1525, with an Intel Mobile GM965/GL960 graphics controller. I have had a lagging display since upgrading to Jaunty (32-bit), but do not have Compiz enabled. ( Actually, I can't enable desktop effects at all.) Today I experienced the window over video crash.

I've attached my xorg.conf and the output of the "lshw -C display" and "lspci -vvnn" commands.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Hmm, unfortunately until someone can collect a full backtrace on this issue there isn't much we can do on this.

Fwiw, there are newer versions of -intel available at these two ppas:
  https://edge.launchpad.net/~ubuntu-x-swat/+archive/x-updates/
  https://edge.launchpad.net/~xorg-edgers/+archive/ppa

[Setting to incomplete until someone can provide a usable backtrace]

[Lars Ljung (larslj)]

Judging from christobzr's Xorg.0.log.old this is a duplicate of bug #358365, there is a full backtrace in that bug report.

[Sebastien Gregoire (seb-gregoire)]

Hi. With the last version of the driver available at https://edge.launchpad.net/~ubuntu-x-swat/+archive/x-updates/ (update from today), I do not have a crash any more when viewing video in totem and going into the menu. I have not tested all the cases to be sure that the bug is not present any more, but it's in any case better than before.

[christobzr (christobzr)]

I have installed the updates and the issue seems resolved.

This is MARVELLOUS, this evening I had planned on installing a new system as the problem was just too annoying.

Thanks !

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Ah, thanks. I've put 2.7.0 into Karmic so we can consider this fixed now.

[christobzr (christobzr)]

Hum, the problem has come back, don't know why... The problem seemed to be systematic before, perhaps it was slightly intermittent, perhaps I somehow reverted to the old libraries... I'll look into it.

[christobzr (christobzr)]

Ok, so, here's where we're at : the problem seemed to go away after I installed the updated libraries, but the other day when I put a video into full screen in totem I experienced the crash again.

I tried my best to reproduce the crash today, but I couldn't and it seems to be working fine now. I had done an apt-get update since having experienced the last crash, during which these libraries were updated, so perhaps this fixed everything.

I forgot to mention in my original bug report that I had a particular video which after 30 seconds of playing triggered the crash, regardless of any window superposition - this is also fixed.

BTW, thanks to Intel for open sourcing their drivers, their cards might not be the fastest out there but they work very well for many uses and their drivers seem really great (the problems I am experiencing are on their very latest chips, for which the drivers are not yet stable). Apparently they are currently helping to lead the way for all other xorg drivers, helping to develop components that could eventually be used to improve the development of all open source graphics drivers. Unfortunately, for the time being, these Intel graphics chips are only available on motherboards, not on PCIe/AGP/PCI boards... Of course they also harm free software other ways, but credit where credit's due :)

All the best !