[SOLVED] Having big problems installing Catalyst drivers.

Ortulas · 03-30-2013, 03:03 PM

I've been struggling with this for 3 days now and was up till 6:30 this morning still going at it. After all afternoon today I'm finally admitting defeat haha.

I'm trying to install Catalyst drivers for a Radeon 5850 and just can't get it to work. I've tried 2 or 3 different guides, I've tried many fresh installs of Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 32 and 64bit, and Ubuntu 12.10 32 and 64bit. Also tried 3 or 4 different versions of Catalyst.

One thing that is common with every attempt is that fglrxinfo produces an error message like "X Error of failed request: BadRequest(invalid request code or no such operation". I've checked the catalyst install log a couple times and it said that fglrx wasn't installed.

On one attempt I tried installing fglrx from synaptic as suggested from a google search, but I still got that error message.

I've tried installing Catalyst via building deb files, and running the ATI graphical installer, but seem to get the same results from both.

The guides I was using told me to install a bunch of dependencies, and some extra ones for 64bit which I did. They also had me run ATI commands afterwards that created a new xorg.conf. After rebooting with the new xorg.conf, every time I ended up with either a really low resolution, or a blank screen.

I'm just not sure what to do and can't seem to turn up any answers, it's making me think I may be overlooking something.

Thanks so much for any help you can offer, I'm really stuck on this one.

Code:

Currently running Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 64bit
uname -r
3.5.0-26-generic

Code:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 15h (Models 10h-1fh) Processor Root Complex
00:02.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 15h (Models 10h-1fh) Processor Root Port
00:11.0 SATA controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson SATA Controller [AHCI mode] (rev 40)
00:12.0 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB OHCI Controller (rev 11)
00:12.2 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB EHCI Controller (rev 11)
00:13.0 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB OHCI Controller (rev 11)
00:13.2 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB EHCI Controller (rev 11)
00:14.0 SMBus: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson SMBus Controller (rev 14)
00:14.3 ISA bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson LPC Bridge (rev 11)
00:14.4 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson PCI Bridge (rev 40)
00:14.5 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB OHCI Controller (rev 11)
00:15.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Device 43a0
00:15.1 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Device 43a1
00:16.0 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB OHCI Controller (rev 11)
00:16.2 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB EHCI Controller (rev 11)
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 15h (Models 10h-1fh) Processor Function 0
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 15h (Models 10h-1fh) Processor Function 1
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 15h (Models 10h-1fh) Processor Function 2
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 15h (Models 10h-1fh) Processor Function 3
00:18.4 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 15h (Models 10h-1fh) Processor Function 4
00:18.5 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 15h (Models 10h-1fh) Processor Function 5
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI Cypress [Radeon HD 5800 Series]
01:00.1 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI Cypress HDMI Audio [Radeon HD 5800 Series]
04:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 09)

gradinaruvasile · 03-30-2013, 03:24 PM

Catalyst drivers work just fine on 64 bit installations. So you must have overlooked something that prevents the drivers module to build (the "fglrx" is the driver module that is compiled at install time). Most likely some i386 dependencies.

http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubu...allation_Guide

Ortulas · 03-30-2013, 04:47 PM

I went through the Installing Catalyst Manually (from AMD/ATI's site) portion of that wiki page. And everything went fine till I had to install the deb packages.

I've installed linux headers generic and when i run dpkg i get the output below. This seems to be the wall i keep hitting.

I also got an error from unity saying "fglrx(not installed) fglrx kernel module failed to build."

Code:

************:~/catalyst$ sudo dpkg -i fglrx*.deb
Selecting previously unselected package fglrx.
(Reading database ... 195016 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking fglrx (from fglrx_8.911-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb) ...
Selecting previously unselected package fglrx-amdcccle.
Unpacking fglrx-amdcccle (from fglrx-amdcccle_8.911-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb) ...
Selecting previously unselected package fglrx-dev.
Unpacking fglrx-dev (from fglrx-dev_8.911-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb) ...
Setting up fglrx (2:8.911-0ubuntu1) ...
update-alternatives: warning: forcing reinstallation of alternative /usr/lib/fglrx/ld.so.conf because link group x86_64-linux-gnu_gl_conf is broken.
update-alternatives: warning: forcing reinstallation of alternative /usr/lib/fglrx/ld.so.conf because link group x86_64-linux-gnu_gl_conf is broken.
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
Loading new fglrx-8.911 DKMS files...
Building only for 3.5.0-26-generic
Building for architecture x86_64
Building initial module for 3.5.0-26-generic
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 3.5.0-26-generic (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/fglrx/8.911/build/make.log for more information.
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
Processing triggers for ureadahead ...
Processing triggers for bamfdaemon ...
Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/bamf.index...
Setting up fglrx-amdcccle (2:8.911-0ubuntu1) ...
Setting up fglrx-dev (2:8.911-0ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-26-generic
Processing triggers for libc-bin ...
ldconfig deferred processing now taking place

Ortulas · 03-30-2013, 09:50 PM

I just tried installing Ubuntu 11.10 and I seem to have gotten the driver installed, it seems like fglrx is installed correctly as well. I made a new xorg.conf file and rebooted but I'm now getting a blank screen. When i run fglrxinfo i get "error: unable to open display (null)" but not sure if that's just because it's not getting far enough into the boot, or if it's more installation problems.

I tried switching back to the old xorg.conf file but that didn't seem to help.

I'm able to ctrl-alt-f2 and work on the command line, just wont go into unity.

gradinaruvasile · 03-31-2013, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ortulas

Code:

Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 3.5.0-26-generic (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/fglrx/8.911/build/make.log for more information.

What i said before - the driver does not build - and this is the MOST important step of them all. What is the contents of

Code:

/var/lib/dkms/fglrx/8.911/build/make.log

?

But - Why do you use such an old driver? The current stable driver for the Radeon 5800 series is 13.1 (Catalyst 9.1.11) - you can download it from AMD.
Also - you should try installing it directly, without the deb generation:

Code:

sudo ./drivername
sudo aticonfig --initial

Uninstalling is

Code:

/usr/share/ati/fglrx-uninstall.sh

cascade9 · 03-31-2013, 07:49 AM

Did you try jockey before doing things manually?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ortulas

I just tried installing Ubuntu 11.10 and I seem to have gotten the driver installed, it seems like fglrx is installed correctly as well.

11.10 is out of support, end of life.

Ortulas · 03-31-2013, 12:13 PM

Yeah when I install with jockey I get the same blank screen, but can ctrl-alt-f2 to the command line.

I was trying 11.10 to see if it was something in the 12.04 and 12.10 that was causing the issue, but obviously it wasn't. I'm back on 12.04 LTS 64bit now.

The monitor actually shows something like "Signal out of range" and then turns off. I remember having that happen before when the xorg file contained variables that were too high, but my xorgs don't seem to have any frequency's or resolutions in them.

I don't know if this helps, but when I ctrl-alt-f2 to the command line and run fglrxinfo I get "Error: unable to open display (null)" Hopefully that gives someone a hint as to what the issue is.

Ortulas · 03-31-2013, 10:45 PM

Here's where I'm at now, when I install the newest Catalyst drivers via jockey, or via the command line with "sudo apt-get install fglrx fglrx-amdcccle" I get no display on reboot. If I ctrl-alt-f2 and remove fglrx and fglrx-amdcccle, it reboots back into the desktop.

Does anyone have an idea on why it wont load the desktop with the drivers installed?

gradinaruvasile · 04-01-2013, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ortulas

Here's where I'm at now, when I install the newest Catalyst drivers via jockey, or via the command line with "sudo apt-get install fglrx fglrx-amdcccle" I get no display on reboot. If I ctrl-alt-f2 and remove fglrx and fglrx-amdcccle, it reboots back into the desktop.

Does anyone have an idea on why it wont load the desktop with the drivers installed?

DO you have them installed?

Why i ask this:

Installing the proprietary driver packages does the following:

1. It installs the proprietary drivers libraries
2. It compiles a kernel module named (fglrx in AMD's case). This is the effective driver.
If it does not build for some reason, YOU DONT HAVE THE DRIVER INSTALLED, reghardless of the status of the driver packages.
3. It creates an xorg.conf file that makes the X server use the fglrx driver. If the fglrx module is not built, the X server will look for it, not find it and you will either get a black screen or low resolution (fallback).

Ortulas · 04-01-2013, 11:27 AM

Hmm, well it seems like fglrx is getting installed, because I'm having to uninstall/purge it to be able to reboot back to the desktop. Also, i've removed fglrx and left the created xorg.conf file there and the desktop still loads. As long as fglrx is uninstalled, it seems to load fine.

It just seems like fglrx installs and the desktop wont load, then I remove fglrx and the desktop loads. I could be misinterpreting the signs though, are there any logs i should be checking for hints as to what's going on?

Ortulas · 04-01-2013, 05:26 PM

I've uploaded some log files and the xorg.conf file that aticonfig made. In the xorg log it seems like it was having issues finding a working resolution. Maybe some more experienced eyes will see the issue.

Ortulas · 04-01-2013, 06:44 PM

Problem solved, I feel like an idiot, but the damn catalyst drivers were setting the display too high for my spare monitor. Plugged it into a newer monitor and it's working like a charm. What a waste of a weekend, although i guess it's never a waste if you learn something, lol.