Ubuntu
xserver-xorg-video-ati package

Buggy 12.04, graphics, etc.

Asked by ken brockman

a fresh install of 12.04 on a brand new quad core amd, 8 gig ram 500 gig HD, on board graphics. I had been running 11.10 Ubuntu on my old box, since it was released last Oct. Ran great, 2 or 3 minor bugs in 6 months. 12.04 is a nightmare by comparison. Graphics flicker and disappear, Microsoft wireless keyboard and mouse, kept dropping the signal, cario-dock doesn't work well, the apps menu is all screwed up and software center keeps opening on it's own.

I had put it aside for a week or so and today downloaded mucho updates and upgrades, I know a new release is prone to be a tad buggy and had hoped that the updates may have addressed some of the issues, but it is still the same mess.

Is there any way to down grade this computer to the older version11.10? I had spend the better part of a day and a half to reload all of my apps and tweaks and would like to avoid going through it again if i could.

Oh Compiz-config is buggy as well and the window shade function doesn't work either.

How about a dual install? This way If they get 12.04 to where it is at least usable I could keep it, and switch back once it's ready for prime time.

thank

Ken

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ken brockman
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Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

What video chip do you use?

Revision history for this message
ken brockman (krush1954) said : 		#2

 According to Catalyst Control Center: ATI Radeon HD 4250 256 meg shared system ram DDR3
SOftware: Driver Packaging Version 8.96.7-120312a-135598C-ATI 2D Driver Version 8.96.4
OpenGL: provider AMD, Renderer ATI Radeon HD 4250, Version 3.3.11627 Compatibility Profile Context.

Aaccording to System Settings, details, under Graphics it states. driver VESA: RS 880

I hope this helps, if not perhaps you could advise me on which software to install to get the info that you might need.

Thanks for your time and efforts.

Ken

Revision history for this message
ken brockman (krush1954) said : 		#3

I tried using xdiagnose to tweak the graphics by using some work arounds, but after I close it, ( xdiagnose ), then open it again, the settings that i had applied, ( Disable PAT memory, extra graphics debug msgs ), have been unchecked.

Not sure if that is another bug or the way it's suppose to behave?

Revision history for this message
ken brockman (krush1954) said : 		#4

using the console and entering the command:
 lspci -v -s 01:05.0

I get this output:

01:05.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI RS880 [Radeon HD 4250] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
 Subsystem: Biostar Microtech Int'l Corp Device 1706
 Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
 Memory at c0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
 I/O ports at e000 [size=256]
 Memory at fea00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
 Memory at fe900000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1M]
 Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled]
 Capabilities: <access denied>
 Kernel driver in use: fglrx_pci
 Kernel modules: fglrx, radeon

Revision history for this message
ken brockman (krush1954) said : 		#5

After extensive research on Google, I seem to have found the answer. I had to uninstall the newest ATI catalyst drivers and install an earlier version, 2 or three revisions back. It seems to have taken care of the graphic issues at least. They now seem much improved. No more flickering and troubles with the menu being scrambled. Software center has stopped popping open ever time i had opened the Application Menu as well.

I've heard it said that: "God helps helps them, who help themselves".

Amen.