Ubuntu

When X starts it returns blank screen (running nvidia drivers )

Asked by Ferox

When I boot up the system (a fresh i386 feisty fawn install running on an ASUS A6T laptop) it returns me a blank screen.

Searching for errors, I change to non-graphic terminal by Ctrl+Alt+F1 and I find in /var/log/syslog the following lines:

May 28 11:59:43 gemini kdm_greet[8303]: Can't open default user face
May 28 12:00:15 gemini kdm_greet[8303]: Internal error: memory corruption detected
May 28 12:00:21 gemini kdm_greet[8370]: Can't open default user face
May 28 12:00:48 gemini kdm_greet[8370]: Internal error: memory corruption detected
May 28 12:00:53 gemini kdm_greet[8437]: Can't open default user face
May 28 12:01:01 gemini kdm_greet[8437]: Internal error: memory corruption detected

If I turn back to "nv" drivers (manually editing the "xorg.conf" file) on the other hand, I get the log in prompt and I can run the system normally.

I've been using kubuntu since 6.06 release, through 7.04 beta version, up to the latest stable release, but never encountered such errors until now.

Does anyone have any idea of what's going on?

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Answered
For:
Ubuntu Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Ferox (cesare-b) said : 		#1

Logging in without nvidia dirivers ("nv" drivers in the xorg.conf) the error messages still remained

May 28 12:22:03 gemini kdm_greet[10389]: Internal error: memory corruption detected
May 28 12:22:07 gemini kdm_greet[10463]: Can't open default user face
May 28 12:22:40 gemini kdm_greet[10463]: Internal error: memory corruption detected

anyhow the system seems to run normally

Revision history for this message
Cesare Tirabassi (norsetto) said : 		#2

What is your video card model and the nvidia driver's version?
Have you checked that the nvidia drivers you are using support your card?
Have you installed drivers from 3rd sources or from the restricted drivers manager?

Revision history for this message
Ferox (cesare-b) said : 		#3

My video card is a Nvidia GeForce 7600, and it seems to be supported since 1.0-8756 driver release (see here: http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display_ia32_1.0-8756.html), while I'm using the latest Nvidia driver (1.0-9755).

I both tried to automatically install the drivers via the envy script, and manually download and install them with the same return.

I never experienced problems like that until now, and I guess something can have changed after some system upgrade via apt-get

Thanks a lot

Revision history for this message
Cesare Tirabassi (norsetto) said : 		#4

I think you should look at this then:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/Nvidia

I can only suggest you try with the restricted manager, even though it may not work properly after a manual installation.

Revision history for this message
Cesare Tirabassi (norsetto) said : 		#5

>I never experienced problems like that until now, and I guess something
>can have changed after some system upgrade via apt-get

Yes, an explanation is due. There has been a recent kernel update, and the video drivers need to be compiled with the same kernel you are using.
Using the restricted manager ensure this coherency, otherwise you have to compile the drivers after every kernel update yourself.

Revision history for this message
Ferox (cesare-b) said : 		#6

I started once again from a fresh kubuntu 7.04 i386 installation, I upgraded all the available packages via apt.

Since the kernel had been upgraded to 2.6.20-16 I rebooted the machine and then followed the instruction found here (Method 1)

http://doc.gwos.org/index.php/Latest_nvidia_feisty.

But when I restarted X I obtained the same results with a blank screen once again.

Revision history for this message
Cesare Tirabassi (norsetto) said : 		#7

Try this:

sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx-new=1.0.9755+2.6.20.5-16.28

Revision history for this message
Cesare Tirabassi (norsetto) said : 		#8

And to enable:

sudo nvidia-glx-config enable

Can you help with this problem?

Provide an answer of your own, or ask Ferox for more information if necessary.

To post a message you must log in.