Ubuntu
xserver-xorg-driver-via package

Video Driver issues with Ubuntu 10.04

Asked by WinLinUser

Under Ubuntu 10.04 my DELL 1907FPt 19" LCD monitor runs 800x600 resolution and I need 1024x760 or 1280x1024 if possible.

MBoard = FOXCONN K8M890M2MA running the on-board graphics.

Details are:
alan@alan-desktop:~$ sudo lshw -C video; lsb_release -a; uname -a
[sudo] password for alan:
  *-display UNCLAIMED
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: K8M890CE/K8N890CE [Chrome 9]
       vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
       version: 01
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 66MHz
       capabilities: pm agp agp-3.0 bus_master cap_list
       configuration: latency=64 mingnt=2
       resources: memory:c0000000-cfffffff(prefetchable) memory:dd000000-ddffffff memory:de000000-de00ffff(prefetchable)
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS
Release: 10.04
Codename: lucid
Linux alan-desktop 2.6.32-23-generic #37-Ubuntu SMP Fri Jun 11 07:54:58 UTC 2010 i686 GNU/Linux
alan@alan-desktop:~$ ^C
alan@alan-desktop:~$

I can't make progress with Ubuntu till this is sorted.

All help is much appreciated guys.

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu xserver-xorg-driver-via Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
actionparsnip
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/104208

Revision history for this message
WinLinUser (winlinuser-gmail) said : 		#2

Hi Guys
The answer provided raised more issues
1. It was targeted at a version of Ubuntu I am not using
2. the instruction given in the linked reply contained the response -
   I dont have an option "Restricted driver manager" as you said.
   I am using ubuntu 9.04
This applies to me too.
3. Compiz does appear to be loaded on my machine under 10.04
4. The Video driver is the same - VIA Technologies, Inc. K8M890CE/K8N890CE [Chrome 9] (rev 11)
5. The two links provided -
     https://help.ubuntu.com/community/OpenChrome
     http://linux.via.com.tw/support/downloadFiles.action
confused me and were again targeted at v.8 and 9 of Ubuntu. I downloaded files and ran a command line as requested and it deleted some 30Mb of files??? I have no idea what files. The rest of the instructions may as well have been Chinese to me and I had no idea if I was doing damage or not. The solution suggested does not appear to provide a stable "fix" and the VIA file downloaded was a Beta which worries me.

From reading around, it appears that video issues are common, especially with VIA Tech hardware.

I appreciate the suggested answer given so far but I am nervous about trashing my system which I have just built. I also have very limited time to undertake this work,

Do I continue with what has been suggested or is there a simpler, more effective way of fixing my problem?

Revision history for this message
Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

The link shows how to compile the driver, so is release independent but you are right, via can be a real pain. You will need to form an xorg.conf to get the res you desire. I doubt you will get 3D acceleration though. Use this as a base:

http://ubuntuaddict.com/ubuntu-cannot-set-resolution-higher-then-800x600-10-04/

And build from there.

Revision history for this message
WinLinUser (winlinuser-gmail) said : 		#4

Well, I eventually figured out how to use the reference pages and
instructions you directed me to. All went well - until I had to download
the two files. This I did and they downloaded into the Downloads folder. I
ran the next command line entries and - failure. I gusee the path was
wrong. I tried to move the downloads into the etc/x11 folder to no avail.
At 22:50 after a 6:30 start to my day I quit.

On reboot the machine now presents a purple screen with 5 red dots and
nothing else. It appears to be dead and I have accomplished what I set out
not to do.
Guess I will have to reinstall from scratch - or try a different distro that
may cope with my video issues.

Thanks for trying - sorry my incompetence wone in the end.

Alan

On 14 July 2010 12:39, actionparsnip
<email address hidden>wrote:

> Your question #117508 on xserver-xorg-driver-via in ubuntu changed:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-driver-via/+question/117508
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> The link shows how to compile the driver, so is release independent but
> you are right, via can be a real pain. You will need to form an
> xorg.conf to get the res you desire. I doubt you will get 3D
> acceleration though. Use this as a base:
>
> http://ubuntuaddict.com/ubuntu-cannot-set-resolution-higher-then-
> 800x600-10-04/
>
> And build from there.
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-driver-via/+question/117508/+confirm?answer_id=2
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-driver-via/+question/117508
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

--
Best Wishes

Alan C

Revision history for this message
WinLinUser (winlinuser-gmail) said : 		#5

Hi Actionparsnip

I really appreciate your work so far, even if I failed to use your advice correctly.

Before I do a complete reinstall of 10:04 - My MB will accept PCI E cards. I can obtain a GeForce 8400GS NVidia card. Would this installation improve and simplify the entire situation as I know there are compatible drivers that work with Ubuntu?

What do you think? Would this give me the 1280x1024 resolution I desire?

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#6

Sure, nvidia are HUGELY supoprted by nvidia and the driver will simply be offered to you when you have a network connection

Revision history for this message
WinLinUser (winlinuser-gmail) said : 		#7

Actionparsnip

Many thanks :-D You have just made my life so much better for £35
expenditure.

Best Wishes
Alan

On 18 July 2010 18:20, actionparsnip
<email address hidden>wrote:

> Your question #117508 on xserver-xorg-driver-via in ubuntu changed:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-driver-via/+question/117508
>
> actionparsnip posted a new comment:
> Sure, nvidia are HUGELY supoprted by nvidia and the driver will simply
> be offered to you when you have a network connection
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

--
Best Wishes

Alan C