i recently upgraded to a 2.6.8 kernel and i decided to compile it with support for a bootsplash (or so i thought?). the trouble is that though i'm pretty sure i've done everything just as i was supposed to, what with compiling the kernel with the right options, downloading a bootsplash theme, creating an initrd image for the splash, and editing my menu.lst, i get no splash.

i type dmesg and get see this as part of the output:

Kernel command line: root=/dev/hda1 ro vga=791 splash=silent
bootsplash: silent mode.

here's the output from dmesg | grep vesafb:

vesafb: abort, cannot reserve video memory at 0xf8000000
vesafb: framebuffer at 0xf8000000, mapped to 0xe9806000, size 3072k
vesafb: mode is 1024x768x16, linelength=2048, pages=9
vesafb: protected mode interface info at c000:4471
vesafb: scrolling: redraw
vesafb: directcolor: size=0:5:6:5, shift=0:11:5:0

is there a problem there that might have something to do with my lack of a bootsplash?

i can post the entire dmesg output if that would help identify the problem.

my system has 630 MB of main memory and my video card has 16 MB.

Did you enable all of these options in your kernel when you built it?

Code maturity level options --->[*] Prompt for development and/or incomplete code/drivers
Processor type and features --->[*] MTRR (Memory Type Range Register) support
Block Devices --->[*] Loopback device support[*] RAM disk support
(4096) Default RAM disk size[*] Initial RAM disk (initrd) support
Graphics Support --->[*] Support for frame-buffer devices[*] VESA/VGA graphics support
Console Display Driver Support --->[*] VGA text console[*] Video mode selection support[*] Frame-buffer Console Support[*] Select compiled in fonts[*] VGA 8x8[*] VGA 8x16
Bootsplash Configuration --->[*] Bootup splash screen

and disable
Graphics support --->
Logo Configuration --->
[ ] Bootup logo

yes, i built the kernel with those options compiled in. doesn't work. i'm running debian sarge with a 2.6.8 kernel source i got from debian. my graphics card is a Rage 128 Ultra TF.

this looks problematic:

dmesg ->

aty128fb: Found Intel x86 BIOS ROM Image
aty128fb: Rage128 BIOS located
aty128fb: Rage128 TF Ultra AGP [chip rev 0x4] 16M 128-bit SDR SGRAM (1:1)
fb0: ATY Rage128 frame buffer device on Rage128 TF Ultra AGP
aty128fb: Rage128 MTRR set to ON
vesafb: abort, cannot reserve video memory at 0xf8000000
vesafb: framebuffer at 0xf8000000, mapped to 0xe9806000, size 3072k
vesafb: mode is 1024x768x16, linelength=2048, pages=9
vesafb: protected mode interface info at c000:4471
vesafb: scrolling: redraw

Hi
I think I have seen that before myself. Have you disabled the frame buffer device for your Rage card - you must enable either vesafb or rage support, but you cannot have both.

L

ah... no i haven't. i suspected that it was something like that. how exactly do i disable the rage fb support? will it adversely effect anything?

There should be an option in the Kernel config file. Should be under Device Drivers->Graphics Support->ATI Rage128.

It should not affect anything.

L

i thought it might be that. i disabled it and i'm recompiling right now. hopefully it will work. thanks for the help.

/crosses fingers

that did it!

thanks.