Ubuntu

9.04: tried ATI driver; now have unviewable screen and can't reverse.

Asked by fox.esq

I have a 1400x900 LCD screen and it was working at that resolution just fine until after I connected my computer to my projector, then Ubuntu would only allow me to do some 4:3 ratio ~1200x~800 resolution for my LCD even after my projector was no longer connected. To solve the problem I downloaded the ATI catalyst and accompanying driver to more readily adjust my screen settings. When I rebooted, the screen that came up was of a distored picture of my background. No log-in screen came up or anything, and now it is just stuck on that. I've tried to boot up in safe mode and use the graphic fix but no luck. So far I have not found any way to get into Ubuntu and undo the driver. I have some important documents and files in my Ubuntu partition and can't simply reinstall.

Does someone know how to start up Ubuntu without engaging new drivers? My graphics card is a radeon x1650 btw.

Thanks!

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Vu Do Quynh
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Oscar (osh-nbit) said : 		#1

If the only problem is the distorted screen then you should be able to use ctrl-alt-f1 to go to console mode and work from there. If that works then just remove the radeon things and remove the xorg.conf (or write a VESA conf) and start from that.
Should work IMHO.

Or perhaps edit the grub line during startup and add "single" as a parameter to go into single user mode and remove the radeon stuff. Been a while since I worked with linux so I might be way off.

Give it a go and let me know what happens.

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fox.esq (brianfox-esq) said : 		#2

No, It didn't work. Keep in mind that I cannot even log into Ubuntu, I just go straight from the GRUB to distorted screens. The driver I installed was the one from the add/remove applications menu and I think it is the only one there available for ATI. I need some way to start up Ubuntu without the driver engaged; probably through that root thing. I'm going to need detailed, specific instructions and steps on what to type and when because I have no idea how to use command prompt and don't have the time or patience now to do so.

Thanks for your help,

Brian

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Best Vu Do Quynh (vu-do-quynh) said : 		#3

As a temporary and quick solution, you may already boot with a live CD that worked previously on your computer and then backup or access your needed data on the hard-disk. That's something you need to do anyway (having backup of your sensitive data).

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Oscar (osh-nbit) said : 		#4

Regarding the backup hint you got also. Very good idea. Critical data should NEVER reside in only one place.

That said.
http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/grub-boot-into-single-user-mode/
Boot into single user mode. Should not start graphic mode I think.

Then
apt-cache search radeon
Here you locate the radeon driver that you installed. Should be named radeon something and probably xorg something too.

apt-get remove radeon-thingy-you-found-above

cd /etc/X11
mv xorg.conf xorg.conf.todaysdate
If it's there.

Then reboot and boot normally. Could/Should work.

If that doesn't work then try the xorg.conf file from here:
http://nixcraft.com/linux-hardware/3242-x-org-vesa-1440x900-75hz-timing-example.html

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fox.esq (brianfox-esq) said : 		#5

Thanks Vu Do Quynh, that solved my question.

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fox.esq (brianfox-esq) said : 		#6

It's not exactly what I was hoping for. Someone really should look into how to solve this problem properly because it is potentially a major flaw! However, I was looking to upgrade to 9.10 so what I did was install Wubi in windows and that allowed me to access my Linux hard drive and move my stuff onto an external hard drive. I then uninstalled wubi and properly installed 9.10 over 9.04. It is annoying, though, having to spend the time transferring all my bookmarks and reinstall my favorite applications and adjusting again all my personal settings.