Ubuntu
xserver-xorg-video-ati package

Both displays dead after choosing 'Multi-Desktop'

Asked by Andrew Farenci

Ubuntu 10.10 AMD64 with ATI Raedon HD4600, with proprietary video driver FGLRX. It's an HP Elite 9270t (with the questionable Truckee MoBo). Intel i7 920 cpu, 12 GB ram.

I have two 1080p monitors connected, one rotated left. After choosing 'Multiple Desktops' both analog and digital video signals went dead. I'm not sure any more if that happened when I exited ATI's Catalyst Control Center or when I rebooted. But whenever I boot now, after the BIOS messages the video feeds go dead.

I don't have VNC running on it, so I can't access it from another machine either. I am unable to access the Public folder over the network.

Before choosing Multi-Desktop the workstation worked fine with either monitor, and both monitors in cloned or extended desktop mode.

Any suggestions on how to get it back. I can boot with a "Live CD" and access the file system. I haven't tried to modify any root files yet. Don't know what the ramifications of that would be. i.e. taking ownership to update?, returning ownership?

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Andrew Farenci (ubuntu-farenci) said : 		#1

I was able to recover by:

- booting off Live CD
- deleting /etc/x11/xorg.conf
- going to Additional Drivers to first delete and then add back "fglrx"

The /etc/x11/xorg.conf file that hung the system follows:

Section "ServerLayout"
 Identifier "amdcccle Layout"
 Screen 0 "amdcccle-Screen[5]-0" 0 0
 Screen "amdcccle-Screen[5]-1" 1920 0
EndSection

Section "Module"
 Load "glx"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "0-DFP2"
 Option "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
 Option "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
 Option "DPMS" "true"
 Option "PreferredMode" "1920x1080"
 Option "TargetRefresh" "60"
 Option "Position" "0 0"
 Option "Rotate" "normal"
 Option "Disable" "false"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "0-CRT2"
 Option "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
 Option "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
 Option "DPMS" "true"
 Option "PreferredMode" "1920x1080"
 Option "TargetRefresh" "60"
 Option "Position" "0 0"
 Option "Rotate" "right"
 Option "Disable" "false"
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "Default Device"
 Driver "fglrx"
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "amdcccle-Device[5]-0"
 Driver "fglrx"
 Option "Monitor-DFP2" "0-DFP2"
 BusID "PCI:5:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "amdcccle-Device[5]-1"
 Driver "fglrx"
 Option "Monitor-CRT2" "0-CRT2"
 BusID "PCI:5:0:0"
 Screen 1
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Default Screen"
 DefaultDepth 24
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "amdcccle-Screen[5]-0"
 Device "amdcccle-Device[5]-0"
 DefaultDepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
  Viewport 0 0
  Depth 24
 EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "amdcccle-Screen[5]-1"
 Device "amdcccle-Device[5]-1"
 DefaultDepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
  Viewport 0 0
  Depth 24
 EndSubSection
EndSection
.II

Revision history for this message
Andrew Farenci (ubuntu-farenci) said : 		#2

It's possible that the problem was caused by making two change, each requiring a reboot to take affect, without rebooting between the changes. I don't recall doing that, but after fixing it, I ended up with the same problem by doing just that.

Revision history for this message
Theodotos Andreou (theodotos) said : 		#3

It's hard too tell what caused it. If you found a fix use it and keep it fixed. :)

Revision history for this message
Andrew Farenci (ubuntu-farenci) said : 		#4

My solution was to uninstall the proprietary driver and go with the default. It's handling my configuration perfectly.

I haven't been able to recreated the problem where both video feeds go dead, but FGLRX has been consistent in its behavior. You can configure it for Multi-Desktop and it will work, but if you reboot without first setting it back to clone or single monitor it will hang.

Can you help with this problem?

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