Unable to install Ubuntu 7.04 -- Failed to start the X server

Thanks four your question.

We need more information to be able to help you. Please provide the output of the following console commands:

1) lspci | grep VGA
2) cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf
3) cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log

You might want to install the "alternate install" cd, in order to keep your changes later.

Hi Markus,
    Thanks for your response.

What command/switch do I use to view the output of commands 2) and 3) page by page ?

It might be the easiest to open them in a text editor. So run:

2) gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf
3) gedit /var/log/Xorg.0.log

an copy them to this question.

Hi Mark,
    I get the error "cannot open display":
Run "gedit --help" to see a full list of available command line options.

Please note that I get the "Failed to start the X server" before I reach the desktop from the Live CD. I've downloaded the ISO for the Alternate CD, and would try to install using that some time soon. Would you suggest trying something when installing using the Alternate CD ?

Hi,
  I've installed Ubunto 7.04 using the Alternate CD, and the setup did complete successfully. However, I ran into the same problem while trying to boot into Ubuntu from the HDD.

1) lspci | grep VGA --- gives me the output as "01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Radeon Mobility X1400"

When I try
2) gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf
3) gedit /var/log/Xorg.0.log

I get the error "cannot open display":
Run "gedit --help" to see a full list of available command line options."

You can't use gedit without a running X-server. You need to use nano or vi instead

Thanks Ralph,
    The output of "nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf" is as follows :-

/etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)

This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using values deom the debconf database.

Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf(5) manual page. (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)

This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only* if it has not been modified since the

last upgrade of the xserver-xorg package.

If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated again, run the following command :

sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
     FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
     FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
     FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
     FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
     FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
     FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
     FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
     # path to defoma fonts
    FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
            Load "i2c"
            Load "bitmap"
            Load "ddc"
            Load "dri"
            Load "extmod"
            Load "freetype"
            Load "glx"
            Load "int10"
            Load "vbe"
EndSection

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

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

Section "InputDevice"
              Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
              Driver "synaptics"
              Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
              Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
              Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
              Option "HorizScrollDelta" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Device "wacom"
 Identifier "stylus"
 Option "Device" "dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "stylus"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section
"Input Device"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "eraser"
 Option "Device" "dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "eraser"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "cursor"
 Option "Device" "dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "cursor"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Table PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "Generic Video Card"
 Driver "ati"
 BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section Monitor
 Identifer "Generic Monitor"
 Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Default Screen"
 Device "Generic Video Card"
 Monitor "Generic Monitor"
 DafaultDepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 1
  Modes "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 4
  Modes "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 8
  Modes "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 15
  Modes "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 16
  Modes "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 24
  Modes "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
 Identifier "Default Layout"
 Screen "Default Screen"
 InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
 Input Device "Configured Mouse"
 Input Device "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
 InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
 InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
 InputDevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
 Mode 0666
EndSection

Markus/Ralph,
   Do you need the entire output of "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" , or is there some spefiic sections.

Thanks.

The lines that have an (EE).

Also could you look if the /var/log/dmesg file has an error regarding the video adaptor.

Thanks

I have a few lines with (==), (**), (WW), and majority of them with (II).

The only line I see with (EE) is right at the bottom, and it says :-

(EE) No devices detected.

Allright, I might have found the reason for your problems.

It seems you card isn't support by the ATI open source driver, because of communication problems between ATI and the open source community. See http://www.phoronix.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-1185.html if your interessted in background information on this issue.

To solve your problem, you need to install the original ATI drivers. See https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI for help on doing that with the command line. You might also try to replace "ati" with "vesa". If X starts, it might be easier for you to follow the graphical installation of ATIs binary driver.

Maybe the problem was that no Hsyn or Vrefresh is asigned in monitor section of xorg.conf.
Try to replace section Monitor with:

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "Generic Monitor"
 Option "DPMS"
 HorizSync 28-80
 VertRefresh 43-75
EndSection

If you want a temporary graphical interface, use vesa driver.
Write in prompt: sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg
Select vesa driver and use the default settings in the rest of questions.

I have the exact same problem with my Dell Inspiro 9400 and the ATI Mobility Radeon X1400
If someone find a definite solution to this we will be gratefull.

Markus thanx for the last post. As I can understand there is no support yet for ATI X800 cards and upwards.
I hope this is solved soon...

There's no support in the open source ATI driver. You still may want to use the binary ATI driver. Have a look at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI on how install this driver.

If you need any help with that, please open a new question and describe your problems.

Markus, thanx for the help. My problem is quite the same.
After booting from the CD and selecting install Ubuntu, after a while I get the blue screen with the message:

"Failed to start the X server (your graphical interface). It is likely that it is not set up correctly. Would you like to view the X server output to diagnose the problem?"

All the rest are exaxtly the same as the posts Rahul Kohli.
I've tried what you suggested from https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI
but I am really new to this.
What do I do after executing those two commands ?

Open the restricted drivers manager included in 7.04 "System -> Administration -> Restricted Drivers Manager" and select "ATI accelerated graphics driver". This will hopefully enable fglrx in a painless way. If not, follow the instructions for Edgy.

Thanx very much Markus for the help and for your patience.
I finally managed to dual-boot Ubuntu with Vista but I had to follow the instructions for Edgy.
I was wandering though, now that I am actually running Ubuntu would it be better to download the Linux drivers for my Graphics Card from ATI ?

This depends on what is more important for you.
Do you want visual effects (compiz, beryl)? Do you want to run 3D applications? If yes, then the proprietary drivers.
Do you prefer to be able to restore from sleep/hybernate? Do you prefer stable and reliable drivers?
If yes the open source one.

As of today you can't have both I'm afraid (yes, I'm the happy owner of an X800XT too).

I too am having the same problems with my ATI Radeon X1400. I ran sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg and it updated my xorg.conf file but how do I get X to attempt to restart again?

I also went to https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI and ran the apt-get update but it said I had the latest drivers. So I too used the Edgy instructions and ran apt-get install xorg-driver-fglrx and it attempted to install but since I don't have network connectivity, it was "unable to fetch some archives...."

Can anyone push me in the right direction?

scgard2, you're not experiencing the same problems, since your using a different card. So please open a new question (https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+addquestion), telling what does not work and what you want to achieve. Thanks!

Hi
 I installed Ubuntu 7.04 but then went to http://www.howtoforge.com/ubuntu_feisty_beryl_ati_radeon to see how to get beryl but after i followed instructions and rebooted the computer i got that message what to do. thnx i appreciate it

btw my card is supported ATI Radeon 9250

sorry didnt read previous post ill move this

Hello all,
my problem is quite similar to the one exposed here. I have an AMD Turion 64x2 TL-50 with ATI Mobility Radeon X1300; when I tried to run the LiveCD,
the following message appears:

Failed to start the X server (your graphical interface). It is likely that it is not set up correctly. Would you like to view the X server output to diagnose the problem?

The output of (EE) in "nano /var/log/Xorg.0.log" is :
(EE) VESA(0): No matching modes.
(EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration.

I wanted to use the LiveCD to install Ubuntu in my laptop. Any clues ?

Thanks a lot,
Pablo

Hi Pablo,
    In case the set of instructions in earlier replies don't work for you, try this link which I ran into on another forum. I haven't been able to try it myself as yet, but would appreciate if you can check and reply if it works for you.

 http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=2420732

Good Luck!!
Rahul

Dear Rahul,
thanks a lot for your hint. I followed your suggestions and the one given by Ralph and Michele (https://answers.beta.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/8351)
and I have Ubuntu installed and running in my laptop.
best,