I think I just made a big mistake buying a new Lenovo laptop with AMD graphics and CPU

Installing from a good DVD verified and with correct md5sum it boots up but within a few seconds of selecting any of the boot options the screen goes black and stays that way.

The problem is clearly the video drivers and lots of people report difficulties. To sort them out I first have to install Mint. I guess I need some sort of parameter as a boot option. Can anyone help me with this?

ZB

If you pass 'nomodeset' to the kernel, does it work?

Adam

Yes. It boots to a command prompt.

Probably it is possible to install a driver from there. I am not sure how this would work. I need to install a driver that will work while booting from a CD. Once the installation is finished I guess I will to install the driver again.

The problem is that I have become too used to the point and click of Ubuntu and my command line skills are very rusty. If I download the drivers to a memory stick on another computer it will just be a matter of mounting the drive and running the installation. I hope

ZB

AMD produces drivers for their HD GPUs. However, I'm not sure if it's possible to install the drivers before the installer. I'm not sure why that would even be necessary, though. X should still work with the vesa drivers.

Adam

1 members found this post helpful.

I have an extract (well snipped) of the X log below.

I now have the machine booted off the dvd to a command line with sshd
running and an internet connection. All I have to do is work out how
to get the graphical installer to run.

Does it make any difference that I am installing the 64 bit version?

Steve

mint@mint /var/log $ cat Xorg.0.log
[ 126.220]
X.Org X Server 1.10.4
Release Date: 2011-08-19
[ 126.220] X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
[ 126.220] Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.24-29-server x86_64 Ubuntu
[ 126.220] Current Operating System: Linux mint 3.0.0-12-generic
#20-Ubuntu SMP Fri Oct 7 14:56:25 UTC 2011 x86_64
[ 126.220] Kernel command line: file=/cdrom/preseed/mint.seed
boot=casper initrd=/casper/initrd.lz quiet splash -- nomodeset
BOOT_IMAGE=/casper/vmlinuz
[ 126.221] Build Date: 29 September 2011 02:45:13AM
[ 126.221] xorg-server 2:1.10.4-1ubuntu4 (For technical support
please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support)
[ 126.221] Current version of pixman: 0.22.2
[ 126.221] Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
[ 126.221] Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[ 126.221] (==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Sun Apr 15
10:30:13 2012
[ 126.225] (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
[ 126.795] (==) No Layout section. Using the first Screen section.
[ 126.795] (==) No screen section available. Using defaults.
[ 126.795] (**) |-->Screen "Default Screen Section" (0)
[ 126.795] (**) | |-->Monitor "<default monitor>"
[ 126.795] (==) No monitor specified for screen "Default Screen Section".
Using a default monitor configuration.
[ 126.795] (==) Automatically adding devices
[ 126.795] (==) Automatically enabling devices
[ 126.797] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist.
[ 126.797] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 126.797] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/" does not exist.
[ 126.797] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 126.797] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/" does not exist.
[ 126.797] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 127.243] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi" does not exist.
[ 127.243] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 127.243] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi" does not exist.
[ 127.243] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 127.244] (==) FontPath set to:
/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1,
/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType,
built-ins
[ 127.244] (==) ModulePath set to
"/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules,/usr/lib/xorg/extra-modules,/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
[ 127.244] (II) The server relies on udev to provide the list of
input devices.
If no devices become available, reconfigure udev or disable AutoAddDevices.
[ 127.244] (II) Loader magic: 0x7e0220
[ 127.244] (II) Module ABI versions:
[ 127.244] X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
[ 127.244] X.Org Video Driver: 10.0
[ 127.244] X.Org XInput driver : 12.3
[ 127.244] X.Org Server Extension : 5.0
[ 127.245] (--) PCI:*(0:0:1:0) 1002:9647:17aa:3971 rev 0, Mem @
0xe0000000/268435456, 0xf0200000/262144, I/O @ 0x00002000/256
[ 127.245] (II) Open ACPI successful (/var/run/acpid.socket)
[ 127.245] (II) LoadModule: "extmod"
[ 127.502] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libextmod.so
[ 127.664] (II) Module extmod: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 127.664] compiled for 1.10.4, module version = 1.0.0
[ 127.664] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
[ 127.664] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 5.0
[ 127.664] (II) Loading extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
[ 127.664] (II) Loading extension XFree86-VidModeExtension
[ 127.664] (II) Loading extension XFree86-DGA
[ 127.664] (II) Loading extension DPMS
[ 127.664] (II) Loading extension XVideo
[ 127.664] (II) Loading extension XVideo-MotionCompensation
[ 127.664] (II) Loading extension X-Resource
[ 127.664] (II) LoadModule: "dbe"
[ 127.665] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdbe.so
[ 127.768] (II) Module dbe: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 127.768] compiled for 1.10.4, module version = 1.0.0
[ 127.768] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
[ 127.768] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 5.0
[ 127.768] (II) Loading extension DOUBLE-BUFFER
[ 127.768] (II) LoadModule: "glx"
[ 127.769] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libglx.so
[ 128.057] (II) Module glx: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 128.057] compiled for 1.10.4, module version = 1.0.0
[ 128.057] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 5.0
[ 128.062] (==) AIGLX enabled
[ 128.062] (II) Loading extension GLX
[ 128.062] (II) LoadModule: "record"
[ 128.248] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/librecord.so
[ 128.320] (II) Module record: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 128.320] compiled for 1.10.4, module version = 1.13.0
[ 128.320] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
[ 128.320] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 5.0
[ 128.320] (II) Loading extension RECORD
[ 128.320] (II) LoadModule: "dri"
[ 128.321] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri.so
[ 128.724] (II) Module dri: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 128.724] compiled for 1.10.4, module version = 1.0.0
[ 128.724] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 5.0
[ 128.724] (II) Loading extension XFree86-DRI
[ 128.724] (II) LoadModule: "dri2"
[ 128.897] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri2.so
[ 128.899] (II) Module dri2: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 128.899] compiled for 1.10.4, module version = 1.2.0
[ 128.899] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 5.0
[ 128.899] (II) Loading extension DRI2
[ 128.899] (==) Matched fglrx as autoconfigured driver 0
[ 128.899] (==) Matched ati as autoconfigured driver 1
[ 128.899] (==) Matched vesa as autoconfigured driver 2
[ 128.899] (==) Matched fbdev as autoconfigured driver 3
[ 128.899] (==) Assigned the driver to the xf86ConfigLayout
[ 128.899] (II) LoadModule: "fglrx"
[ 128.901] (WW) Warning, couldn't open module fglrx
[ 128.901] (II) UnloadModule: "fglrx"
[ 128.901] (II) Unloading fglrx
[ 128.901] (EE) Failed to load module "fglrx" (module does not exist, 0)
[ 128.901] (II) LoadModule: "ati"
[ 128.901] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/ati_drv.so
[ 129.072] (II) Module ati: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 129.072] compiled for 1.10.2.902, module version = 6.14.99
[ 129.072] Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[ 129.072] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 10.0
[ 129.072] (II) LoadModule: "radeon"
[ 129.072] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/radeon_drv.so
[ 129.849] (II) Module radeon: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 129.849] compiled for 1.10.2.902, module version = 6.14.99
[ 129.849] Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[ 129.849] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 10.0
[ 129.920] (II) LoadModule: "vesa"
[ 129.920] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/vesa_drv.so
[ 130.459] (II) Module vesa: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 130.459] compiled for 1.10.2, module version = 2.3.0
[ 130.459] Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[ 130.459] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 10.0
[ 130.459] (II) LoadModule: "fbdev"
[ 130.459] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/fbdev_drv.so
[ 130.614] (II) Module fbdev: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 130.614] compiled for 1.10.0, module version = 0.4.2
[ 130.614] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 10.0
[ 130.614] (II) RADEON: Driver for ATI Radeon chipsets:


Long list of Radeos snipped

[ 130.616] (II) VESA: driver for VESA chipsets: vesa
[ 130.616] (II) FBDEV: driver for framebuffer: fbdev
[ 130.616] (++) using VT number 7

[ 130.616] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/radeon_drv.so
[ 130.616] (II) [KMS] drm report modesetting isn't supported.
[ 130.616] (WW) Falling back to old probe method for vesa
[ 130.616] (WW) Falling back to old probe method for fbdev
[ 130.616] (II) Loading sub module "fbdevhw"
[ 130.616] (II) LoadModule: "fbdevhw"
[ 130.617] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libfbdevhw.so
[ 130.618] (II) Module fbdevhw: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 130.618] compiled for 1.10.4, module version = 0.0.2
[ 130.618] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 10.0
[ 130.618] (EE) open /dev/fb0: No such file or directory
[ 130.618] (II) RADEON(0): TOTO SAYS 00000000f0200000
[ 130.618] (II) RADEON(0): MMIO registers at 0x00000000f0200000: size 256KB
[ 130.618] (II) RADEON(0): PCI bus 0 card 1 func 0
[ 130.618] (II) RADEON(0): Creating default Display subsection in
Screen section
"Default Screen Section" for depth/fbbpp 24/32
[ 130.618] (==) RADEON(0): Depth 24, (--) framebuffer bpp 32
[ 130.618] (II) RADEON(0): Pixel depth = 24 bits stored in 4 bytes
(32 bpp pixmaps)
[ 130.618] (==) RADEON(0): Default visual is TrueColor
[ 130.618] (II) Loading sub module "vgahw"
[ 130.618] (II) LoadModule: "vgahw"
[ 130.619] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libvgahw.so
[ 130.968] (II) Module vgahw: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 130.968] compiled for 1.10.4, module version = 0.1.0
[ 130.968] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 10.0
[ 130.968] (II) RADEON(0): vgaHWGetIOBase: hwp->IOBase is 0x03d0,
hwp->PIOOffset is 0x0000
[ 130.968] (==) RADEON(0): RGB weight 888
[ 130.968] (II) RADEON(0): Using 8 bits per RGB (8 bit DAC)
[ 130.968] (--) RADEON(0): Chipset: "SUMO" (ChipID = 0x9647)
[ 130.968] (EE) RADEON(0): Chipset: "SUMO" (ChipID = 0x9647) requires KMS
[ 130.968] (II) UnloadModule: "radeon"
[ 130.968] (II) Unloading radeon
[ 130.968] (II) UnloadModule: "vgahw"
[ 130.968] (II) Unloading vgahw
[ 130.968] (EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration.
[ 130.968]
Fatal server error:
[ 130.968] no screens found
[ 130.968]

No. I really don't know why Xorg is failing to start here. Maybe run 'Xorg -configure' and then edit the xorg.conf file that is created so that it specifies just the 'vesa' driver.

Adam

1 members found this post helpful.

It seems that I have a switchable graphics card system. From what I could ascertain, none of the bundled fglrx and radeon supports that yet. I will have to download the proprietary driver. Here is a link where somebody managed to get it going on a Z575 with Maveric Meerkat
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1942151

I have not tried it yet but I suspect that I can switch off some of the fancy stuff in the BIOS and then install successfully.

ZB

Your Xorg log file shows just one video PCI device, so I'm doubtful this is a hybrid graphics system. It may, however, be one of the new APU (CPU & GPU in one) devices. They are supported by both fglrx and the open source radeon driver, but probably require very new versions of them.

Adam

1 members found this post helpful.

That makes sense. I am not really a geek. I have used Linux for over ten years but as an ordinary user. This hardware stuff is over my head.

The output of lshw is at http://pastebin.com/tMQt9ZFh and the relevant section is this:
*-cpu
description: CPU
product: AMD A6-3420M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics
vendor: Hynix Semiconductor (Hyundai Electronics)
physical id: 31
bus info: cpu@0
version: AMD A6-3420M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics
slot: Socket FS1
size: 800MHz
capacity: 1500MHz
width: 64 bits
clock: 100MHz

I think I might be able to turn off something in the BIOS but do not want to reboot until I have something firm. It is a pain to reconfigure the network, sshd etc every time I boot up from the CD.

ZB

The HD6520G is in fact integrated in one of those APUs. Those need newer Xorg drivers as Mint 12 has, but possibly the proprietary drivers from the repo will work.
Try it this way:
1. Boot from the live-disk in text mode with the nomodeset option.
2. Launch the following commands:I don't know if startx will work on the live-system, maybe you have to try

Fantastic, the install is running now, thanks a lot to both adamk75 and TobiSGD

It responded to startx and I did not need service gdm restart,

ZB