Dell Latitude x300 (Intel 855GM) boot fail

johnbartley · 06-08-2011, 01:23 AM

I have a video problem w/ Katya on a Dell Latitude X300 using Intel 855GM graphics. Booted AOK from the USB flashdrive but once installed to the HD, it borks at boot; it stalls when checking the battery state.

I have to manually boot with failsafe X to get video, but then it's poky. Removing compiz and desktop composition did not help.

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...79/comments/54 describes a fix for Mint 10 but will that work with Mint 11 since the kernel for Katya is much newer, 2.6.38-8?

Tried asking for hlp in the Linux Mint forum at forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=90&t=74441 but no repliees, no suggestions and I keep getting sql 'too many connections' errors when trying to log in to the Mint forum yesterday and today, and the IRC channel for Mint support was earnest but didn't have any useful suggestions.

How may I solve this problem?

business_kid · 06-08-2011, 05:56 AM

We need some specific errors before we can make specific suggestions. 'Video a bit borky' isn't much use.

Can you compare the dmesg outputs of both boots and see what's going on (usually in /var/log/dmesg)

johnbartley · 06-08-2011, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by business_kid

We need some specific errors before we can make specific suggestions. 'Video a bit borky' isn't much use.

That isn't what I said. I said it stalls when checking the battery state.

dmesg and dmesg.0 are attached with .txt extension added as required by the forum programming.

business_kid · 06-09-2011, 03:13 AM

Just looking at those files, the kernel is having a real battle with pci, acpi, isa, eisa(!) and memory allocations.

When I see half that level of messing I build a kernel around the specific parts in the box, and go forward from there. That's what I'd advise.

johnbartley · 06-09-2011, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by business_kid

Just looking at those files, the kernel is having a real battle with pci, acpi, isa, eisa(!) and memory allocations.

When I see half that level of messing I build a kernel around the specific parts in the box, and go forward from there. That's what I'd advise.

Can you recommend a primer on the subject of kernel building? Not what I had intended to learn with this machine (just wanted to focus on my A+ studies this summer).

business_kid · 06-10-2011, 02:50 AM

Lazy way:

Make defconfig, then make menuconfig and alter it. You particularly need the chipset drivers for your southbridge compiled in. Ditto your file systems, and ide drivers. most other stuff is best as modules.

johnbartley · 06-10-2011, 11:43 AM

Business kid, perhaps you understand what you are talking about, but when someone asks for a primer, it means they do not understand the underlying tech and wish to study to learn more. But, then, you misquoted my original request as well, so I should not expect clear and lucid communication from you.