Ubuntu
xserver-xorg-video-intel package

Poulbo (GMA500) running Sony Vaio P-Series microlaptop with screen resolution problem at startup

Asked by W. Park on 2012-06-04

Running Ubuntu 12.04 on Vaio VPCP11SKX, late model Sony Vaio P-Series microlaptop. Trial on USB boot worked well, so I loaded onto hard drive. On startup, the screen turned black, but found a reference to a method for changing a setting (TTY) which now allwos me to see the screen on startup. Unfortunately, it will randomly choose to display on a quarter (upper left) or half (upper) screen. Only by logout when half the screen is displayed will the whole display work. Checking system settings for graphics results in an "unknown" If the screen shows quarter display, I have to restart until upper half displays. Then I can logout and get whole display to work at the 1600x768 resolution.

I had hoped 12.04 would work as well as it did on the trial version via USB boot. Once I get throught the steps, the system works great -so much better than the Windows 7 that was mucked up with Sony proprietary software.

Question information

Language:
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Status:
Expired
For:
Ubuntu xserver-xorg-video-intel Edit question
Assignee:
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Last query:
2012-07-02
Last reply:
2012-07-18
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : #1

Can you give the output of:

sudo lshw -C display; lsb_release -a; uname -a

Thanks

W. Park (docpark) said : #2

On 06/04/2012 06:00 AM, actionparsnip wrote:
> sudo lshw -C display; lsb_release -a; uname -a
 docpark@docpark-VPCP11SKX:~$ sudo lshw -C display; lsb_release -a; uname -a
[sudo] password for docpark:
   *-display
        description: VGA compatible controller
        product: System Controller Hub (SCH Poulsbo) Graphics Controller
        vendor: Intel Corporation
        physical id: 2
        bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
        version: 06
        width: 32 bits
        clock: 33MHz
        capabilities: pm msi vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
        configuration: driver=gma500 latency=0
        resources: irq:18 memory:94200000-9427ffff ioport:6070(size=8)
memory:80000000-8fffffff memory:94280000-942bffff
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Release: 12.04
Codename: precise
Linux docpark-VPCP11SKX 3.2.0-24-generic-pae #39-Ubuntu SMP Mon May 21
18:54:21 UTC 2012 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

--

Sent from my Ubuntu running Sony Vaio PX11 microlaptop

Jörg Böcker (joerg-boecker) said : #3

Hi,
I have the same problem with a poulbo chip on an asus computer. The following work around helps me:
- switch to console (ctrl+alt+F2)
- login
- type: sudo service lightdm restart

good luck.

Ragnarrb (ragjar) said : #4

Hi,

Tnx Jörg, that helped me out of the dark screen. After the restart of lightdm in console, the logon screen apeared, and I managed to log in.

But: How to make this "sticky", because the same thing happens after a shutdown / restart.

(Acer Aspire One D751h with gma500)

W. Park (docpark) said : #5

agreed with Ragnarrb, I can get initial boot to occur to upper half of screen, after login, then logout -it will bring the whole screen live. When bootup occurs into upper left quarter of screen, I have to restart until I get the upper half of the screen. Wish it would all stay whole, just like the splash screen which goes to the whole screen, and just the trial OS runninf off of a flash drive.

Also, if anyone has a solution for playing back video. If I had that, it would make the Sony Vaio P Unbuntu a worthy successor to the Psion netbook and Psion Series 5.

Ragnarrb (ragjar) said : #6

Hi,

I solved it in my environment by a combinition of several tips arround the web (sorry, no ref as I cant remember. Struggeling with shortTimeMemory :-) )

1:
Create file /etc/grub.d/01_915resolution with lines:
   echo insmod 915resolution
   echo 915resolution 58 1366 768 32

make it executable with:
   chmod +x /etc/grub.d/01_915resolution

2:
In file /etc/default/grub, assign value 1366x768x32 to variables GRUB_GFXMODE and GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX:
GRUB_GFXMODE=1366x768x32
GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=1366x768x32

update the grub.cfg with : sudo update-grub

This solved my issue.

W.Park: For your video issue: I dont know, but might be a codec issue?

Ragnar...

Launchpad Janitor (janitor) said : #7

This question was expired because it remained in the 'Open' state without activity for the last 15 days.