Ubuntu

ATI graphics card not detected

Asked by tyrolian

I am sort of a beginner and I am having trouble getting Ubuntu 7.10 to install with working graphics.

Current Operating System: Linux ubuntu1 2.6.22-14-generic #1 SMP Sun Oct 14 23:05:12 GMT 2007 i686
Graphics card: ATI 9600XT
Motherboard: ASUS A8V Deluxe
Screen: NEC Multisync LCD 1810

  When installing from the Live-CD, it gets to a point where it says the the screen and graphics card cannot be detected and would I like to try some options. It doesn't matter what I do after that, it just stops installing with a blank screen. I can type <cntrl><alt><f1> or something and get a prompt but I am not sure what to do with it.

  I then tried installing from the alternate-CD and had better luck. About half the time it boots up in a working 1280-1024 resolution and the rest of the time it is all fuzzy and barely readable. I can fix it by attempting to change screen resolution (which does not work) but sometimes will revert to a working 1280-1024 resolution. All other resolutions:640-480, 800-600, 1024-768 look badly corrupted, like they have lost horizontal-sync. Also, the booting splash screen and the shut-down splash screen are randomly and independently in working or fuzzy 1280-1024 resolution. When I open "Screen and Graphics Preferences" it recognizes the NEC Multisync LCD1810 and the resolution is 1280x1024@60Hz. The graphics card is identified as (ATI Radion (fglrx)) but the driver is "vesa - Generic VESA-compliant video cards".

   If I go to the "Restricted Drivers Manager and enable the "ATI Accelerated Driver", it installs OK but when booting I get the old "screen and graphics card cannot be detected" message. It does boot up, though, in a failsafe mode with a resolution of 800x600. When I open "Screen and Graphics Preferences" it recognizes the screen as "Plug 'n' Play" and the resolution is 800x600@73Hz. The graphics card is identified as (ATI Radion (fglrx)) and the driver is "vesa - Generic VESA-compliant video cards".

  I tried running ENVY to install the proprietary drivers. It install OK but I get the same failsafe mode.

  I also tried using: "sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg". This recognized the ATI 9600XT and installed but again ended up booting in failsafe mode.

 Tried setting Option "DRI" "off" in xorg.conf but no change.
 Tried setting Option "BusType" "PCI" in xorg.conf but no change.
 Tried setting BIOS AGP speed from 8X to 4X... no change.
 Tried setting BIOS AGPfastwrite = off... no change.
 Tried changing the monitor to a Viewsonic PS790 CRT, no noticeable change.

Any other ideas? Let me know what log files would be useful. Thanks.

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Olivier (olivier-lacroix) said : 		#1

Hi !

I am not sure the fglrx driver is your best option. The open driver should do. Please post here the following file

/etc/X11/xorg.conf

Revision history for this message
tyrolian (dfyler) said : 		#2

Here is the xorg.conf file that works most of the time at 1280x1024 resolution:

# xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by failsafeDexconf, using
# values from the debconf database and some overrides to use vesa mode.
#
# You should use dexconf or another such tool for creating a "real" xorg.conf
# For example:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg
Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "Module"
# Disable "dbe"
# Disable "dri"
# Disable "glx"
# Disable "vbe"
 Load "glx"
 Load "GLcore"
 Load "v4l"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
 Driver "kbd"
 Option "CoreKeyboard"
 Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
 Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
 Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Configured Mouse"
 Driver "mouse"
 Option "CorePointer"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
 Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
 Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
 Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "Failsafe Device"
 Boardname "vesa"
 Busid "PCI:1:0:0"
 Driver "vesa"
 Screen 0

EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "Failsafe Monitor"
 Vendorname "NEC"
 Modelname "NEC MultiSync LCD1810"
 Horizsync 31.0-80.0
 Vertrefresh 56.0-76.0
  modeline "640x480@60" 25.2 640 656 752 800 480 490 492 525 -vsync -hsync
  modeline "640x480@72" 31.5 640 664 704 832 480 489 491 520 -vsync -hsync
  modeline "640x480@75" 31.5 640 656 720 840 480 481 484 500 -vsync -hsync
  modeline "800x600@56" 36.0 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625 +hsync +vsync
  modeline "800x600@72" 50.0 800 856 976 1040 600 637 643 666 +hsync +vsync
  modeline "800x600@75" 49.5 800 816 896 1056 600 601 604 625 +hsync +vsync
  modeline "800x600@60" 40.0 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync
  modeline "832x624@75" 57.284 832 864 928 1152 624 625 628 667 -vsync -hsync
  modeline "1024x768@75" 78.8 1024 1040 1136 1312 768 769 772 800 +hsync +vsync
  modeline "1024x768@70" 75.0 1024 1048 1184 1328 768 771 777 806 -vsync -hsync
  modeline "1024x768@60" 65.0 1024 1048 1184 1344 768 771 777 806 -vsync -hsync
  modeline "1152x864@75" 108.0 1152 1216 1344 1600 864 865 868 900 +hsync +vsync
  modeline "1280x1024@75" 135.0 1280 1296 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
  modeline "1280x960@60" 102.1 1280 1360 1496 1712 960 961 964 994 -hsync +vsync
  modeline "1280x1024@60" 108.0 1280 1328 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
  modeline "1280x960@75" 129.86 1280 1368 1504 1728 960 961 964 1002 -hsync +vsync
  modeline "1400x1050@60" 122.61 1400 1488 1640 1880 1050 1051 1054 1087 -hsync +vsync
  modeline "1600x1200@60" 162.0 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
 Gamma 1.0
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Default Screen"
 Device "Failsafe Device"
 Monitor "Failsafe Monitor"
 Defaultdepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 24
  Modes "1280x1024@60" "1280x960@75" "1280x960@60" "1400x1050@60" "1280x1024@75" "1600x1200@60" "1152x864@75" "1024x768@60" "1024x768@70" "1024x768@75" "832x624@75" "800x600@60" "800x600@75" "800x600@72" "800x600@56" "640x480@75" "640x480@72" "640x480@60"
 EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
 Identifier "Default Layout"
  screen 0 "Default Screen" 0 0
 Inputdevice "Generic Keyboard"
 Inputdevice "Configured Mouse"
EndSection
Section "device" #
 Identifier "device1"
 Boardname "vesa"
 Busid "PCI:1:0:0"
 Driver "vesa"
 Screen 1
EndSection
Section "screen" #
 Identifier "screen1"
 Device "device1"
 Defaultdepth 24
 Monitor "monitor1"
EndSection
Section "monitor" #
 Identifier "monitor1"
 Gamma 1.0
EndSection
Section "ServerFlags"
EndSection

Revision history for this message
Olivier (olivier-lacroix) said : 		#3

your device section should look like this :

Section "Device"
  Identifier "Failsafe Device"
  Busid "PCI:1:0:0"
  Driver "ati"
EndSection

Revision history for this message
Olivier (olivier-lacroix) said : 		#4

and there is a bunch of stuff wich is not needed anymore. I think you shoul try with the following xorg.conf (not sure anyway)

Section "InputDevice"
  Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
  Driver "kbd"
  Option "CoreKeyboard"
  Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
  Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
  Option "XkbLayout" "us"
 EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Identifier "Configured Mouse"
  Driver "mouse"
  Option "CorePointer"
  Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
  Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
  Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
  Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
 EndSection

Section "Device"
   Identifier "ATI"
   Busid "PCI:1:0:0"
   Driver "ati"
 EndSection

Section "Monitor"
  Identifier "NEC"
  Vendorname "NEC"
  Modelname "NEC MultiSync LCD1810"
  Horizsync 31.0-80.0
  Vertrefresh 56.0-76.0
   modeline "640x480@60" 25.2 640 656 752 800 480 490 492 525 -vsync -hsync
   modeline "640x480@72" 31.5 640 664 704 832 480 489 491 520 -vsync -hsync
   modeline "640x480@75" 31.5 640 656 720 840 480 481 484 500 -vsync -hsync
   modeline "800x600@56" 36.0 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625 +hsync +vsync
   modeline "800x600@72" 50.0 800 856 976 1040 600 637 643 666 +hsync +vsync
   modeline "800x600@75" 49.5 800 816 896 1056 600 601 604 625 +hsync +vsync
   modeline "800x600@60" 40.0 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync
   modeline "832x624@75" 57.284 832 864 928 1152 624 625 628 667 -vsync -hsync
   modeline "1024x768@75" 78.8 1024 1040 1136 1312 768 769 772 800 +hsync +vsync
   modeline "1024x768@70" 75.0 1024 1048 1184 1328 768 771 777 806 -vsync -hsync
   modeline "1024x768@60" 65.0 1024 1048 1184 1344 768 771 777 806 -vsync -hsync
   modeline "1152x864@75" 108.0 1152 1216 1344 1600 864 865 868 900 +hsync +vsync
   modeline "1280x1024@75" 135.0 1280 1296 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
   modeline "1280x960@60" 102.1 1280 1360 1496 1712 960 961 964 994 -hsync +vsync
   modeline "1280x1024@60" 108.0 1280 1328 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
   modeline "1280x960@75" 129.86 1280 1368 1504 1728 960 961 964 1002 -hsync +vsync
   modeline "1400x1050@60" 122.61 1400 1488 1640 1880 1050 1051 1054 1087 -hsync +vsync
   modeline "1600x1200@60" 162.0 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
  Gamma 1.0
 EndSection

Section "Screen"
  Identifier "Default Screen"
  Device "ATI"
  Monitor "NEC"
  Defaultdepth 24
  SubSection "Display"
   Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024@60" "1280x960@75" "1280x960@60" "1400x1050@60" "1280x1024@75" "1600x1200@60" "1152x864@75" "1024x768@60" "1024x768@70" "1024x768@75" "832x624@75" "800x600@60" "800x600@75" "800x600@72" "800x600@56" "640x480@75" "640x480@72" "640x480@60"
  EndSubSection
 EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
  Identifier "Default Layout"
  Screen "Default Screen"
  Inputdevice "Generic Keyboard"
  Inputdevice "Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Revision history for this message
tyrolian (dfyler) said : 		#5

  I tried saving that as my xorg.conf file and it did not work. It stops during boot and behaves just like the other times I tried using ati drivers. It says it cannot detect my screen or graphics card. I tried configuring the card at that point and I also tried simply to continue. Either way it just boots up in failsafe mode at 800x600 resolution.
  I also tried removing some of the modelines because I know the NEC 1810 screen can't handle anything greater that 1280x1024. This didn't help though.

Revision history for this message
Olivier (olivier-lacroix) said : 		#6

Try to delete the xorg.conf (backup it). Normally, the Xserver should be able to find its way to display something. From what you said, I doubt it will succeed, but who knows...

I would recommand you to fill a bug about that.

If you like playing a bit, you might want to try the newer xserver version available for the development version. This issue may have been resolved upstream.

Tell me if what I've said does not make any sense for you

Revision history for this message
tyrolian (dfyler) said : 		#7

Well, I tried deleting xorg.conf. I still get the same old problem of it booting in failsafe mode.

Where can I get this development version of xserver? Do I just install the Hardy version?

Revision history for this message
Olivier (olivier-lacroix) said : 		#8

Open the /etc/apt/sources.list file doing in the terminal

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

change the "gutsy" to "hardy" then save and close.

open synaptic, reload, and search for xserver-xorg-video-ati. mark for upgrade, hit apply after verifying that only xserver stuff is upgraded (you dont want to upgrade to a full hardy version...).

after that, open the same source.list file and undo your changes.

I hope it will help.

Revision history for this message
Olivier (olivier-lacroix) said : 		#9

Be sure to not hit "upgrade all" or whatever it is called in synaptic, or you will get the hardy alpha1 on your computer.

Revision history for this message
tyrolian (dfyler) said : 		#10

I tried upgrading to the Hardy xserver to your instructions. It insisted on upgrading about 25 other files but it works OK. A couple of the games are broken but everything else works like before.

My graphics problem is still there though. I can only get 1280x1024 resolution with the VESA driver and sometimes it is sharp and sometimes fuzzy. If I try booting with any other ATI driver the graphics go into failsafe mode.

One thing that works better is the Screens and Graphics Preferences Window. It doesn't just abort like the old version when testing a graphics driver. It shows a corrupted screen for 15 seconds and then comes back to say that the driver failed. A funny thing is I can make it test the VESA driver it says it is already using and it still shows a corrupted screen for 15 seconds and then comes back to a working screen and says the test failed.

Anyway, I guess I will go fill out a bug report. Thank you for all your help Olivier. I will leave a message if I find a solution to this problem.

Revision history for this message
Launchpad Janitor (janitor) said : 		#11

This question was expired because it remained in the 'Open' state without activity for the last 15 days.