Problem Installing Xorg 7

Recently installed Debian (ETCH) on a newly built computer. After installation and reboot received error msg "Failed to start the X server ....".

Details
- ATI Radeon® X1300 Pro Video Card
- Intel D975XBX v304 (975X Chipset)Motherboard
-

Successfully ran the following command extracted from another post:

apt-get update
apt-get dist-upgrade
apt-get install bzip2 build-essential
sudo apt-get install fakeroot
chmod +x ./ati-driver-installer-8.28.8.run

Attempted to run the following command and it failed:

fakeroot ./ati-driver-installer-8.28.8.run --buildpkg Debian/etch


REceived error msg:
MAKE: dh_testdir Command not found
make: *** [build] Error 127



IF the previous command had work I was then going to run the following commands:

• sudo dpkg -i fglrx-driver_8.29.6-1_i386.deb fglrx-kernel-src_8.28.8-1_i386.deb
• sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r)
  
• sudo apt-get install module-assistant
• cd /usr/src
• sudo m-a prepare
• sudo m-a a-i fglrx

Questions:
Can someone help me setup Xorg 7 on a Debian etch installation?

I saw simular issues on another post and they recomended I create a new post to deal with my specific problem.

Can someone help me please. I will monitor this post ...

Before installing the proprietary driver it woul be best to get X working with the xorg driver.

Make sure that the package xserver-xorg-video-ati is installed.

Edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf and change the section "Device" to read

Driver "ati"

Restart the computer and see what happens. If xserver does not start examine /var/log/xorg.0.log which is the log of the last X startup.

The error messages starting with (EE) are the ones you need to resolve.

Post them here and we can progress the matter.

Originally Posted by meligon Attempted to run the following command and it failed: fakeroot ./ati-driver-installer-8.28.8.run --buildpkg Debian/etch REceived error msg: MAKE: dh_testdir Command not found make: *** [build] Error 127

You need the debhelper package installed for the dh_testdir to be available for use.

fakeroot ./ati-driver-installer-8.28.8.run --buildpkg Debian/etch REceived error msg: MAKE: dh_testdir Command not found make: *** [build] Error 127 IF the previous command had work I was then going to run the following commands: * sudo dpkg -i fglrx-driver_8.29.6-1_i386.deb fglrx-kernel-src_8.28.8-1_i386.deb

Installing one version on top of antother is likely to confuse things. Also a good thing to keep in mind is that any time you upgrade the kernel, you have to get the kernel module working again. Whenever I set out to upgrade the ati driver, I like to first install the newest kernel I can get my hands on to make it last as long as possible. If you get it working, you might want to leave it alone, but if you wind up with another non-working mess, I'll give you my recommendations of how to clean it up in the next post.

Originally Posted by HappyTux You need the debhelper package installed for the dh_testdir to be available for use.

Successfully loaded the following:

• debhelper
• fakeroot ./ati-driver-installer-8.28.8.run --buildpkg
  Debian/etch
• sudo dpkg -i fglrx-driver_8.28.8-1_i386.deb fglrx-kernel-src_8.28.8-1_i386.deb

Received an erro loading the following command:
sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r)

Error received: "Couldn't find package linux-header-2.6.17-2-686"

Also tried the following command with the same error:
sudo apt-get install kernal-headers-$(uname -r)


Note to davcefai: my xorg.conf DEVICE setting looks like this:

Identifier "ATI ...."
Driver "ati"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"


Reviewing log.

Do I have to install the following?

• sudo apt-get install kernal-headers-$(uname -r)
• sudo apt-get install module-assistant
• cd /usr/src
• sudo m-a prepare
• sudo m-a a-i fglrx

.

Originally Posted by meligon Successfully loaded the following: debhelper fakeroot ./ati-driver-installer-8.28.8.run --buildpkg Debian/etch sudo dpkg -i fglrx-driver_8.28.8-1_i386.deb fglrx-kernel-src_8.28.8-1_i386.deb Received an erro loading the following command: sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r) Error received: "Couldn't find package linux-header-2.6.17-2-686" Also tried the following command with the same error: sudo apt-get install kernal-headers-$(uname -r) Note to davcefai: my xorg.conf DEVICE setting looks like this: Identifier "ATI ...." Driver "ati" BusID "PCI:1:0:0" Reviewing log. Do I have to install the following? sudo apt-get install kernal-headers-$(uname -r) sudo apt-get install module-assistant cd /usr/src sudo m-a prepare sudo m-a a-i fglrx .

Install the module-assistant and run the m-a prepare it will then download and link the headers properly once done repeat your previous step.

Originally Posted by HappyTux Install the module-assistant and run the m-a prepare it will then download and link the headers properly once done repeat your previous step.

Your command worked but still receiving the same error after running:sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r)

Error received: "Couldn't find package linux-header-2.6.17-2-686"


Guys I'm very new to this and just following your command. Thanks for your help.

Originally Posted by meligon Your command worked but still receiving the same error after running:sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r) Error received: "Couldn't find package linux-header-2.6.17-2-686" Guys I'm very new to this and just following your command. Thanks for your help.

Sorry you don't need to install the headers now the m-a prepare did that so it is on to then next steps which would be the cd /usr/src and then m-a a-i fglrx ones since the others have already been completed.

This is a "drop back and punt" scenario. Debian now has the version 8.28.8-2 ati driver in unstable, non-free. This package is designed by Debian developers rather than ATI developers, and, in the long run, will be better suited for upgrades than the newer ati driver from the ati website. It is designed for xorg 7.1, which is also in Sid. There is obviously a certain amount of integration between xorg and the fglrx driver, and that integration is handled differently by ati and Debian developers. The bottom line here is that I am suggesting that you install xorg 7.1, the fglrx driver, and the newest kernel from Sid.

This would be my procedure:

# updatedb
# locate fglrx

(Remove every file from your system with "fglrx" in the name. You can use dpkg --purge to get some of them, but it won't get them all. Basically what we want to accomplish here is a completely clean fglrx slate)

(Using a text editor, change etch[testing] to sid[unstable] in /etc/apt/sources.list. Also make sure the repo line includes "contrib non-free")

# aptitude update
# apt-cache search 2.6.18

(This will identify the newest kernel [linux-image-2.6.18-1-...])

# aptitude install linux-image-2.6.18-1-...
# aptitude install linux-headers-2.6.18-1-...
# aptitude remove --purge xorg
# aptitude remove --purge xserver-xorg
# aptitude remove --purge xserver-xorg-core (This one will probably be gone already. Just making sure.)

(Reboot. This will bring you to a login prompt using the new kernel. Login as root.)

# aptitude install xserver-xorg-core
# aptitude install xserver-xorg
# aptitude install xorg
# aptitude install fglrx-control
# aptitude install fglrx-kernel-src
# aptitude install fglrx-driver
# module-assistant prepare
# m-a a-i fglrx
# modprobe -v fglrx

(Using a text editor, check /etc/X11/xorg.conf to make sure the driver section looks something like this:

Section "Device"
        Identifier      "ATI Technologies, Inc. Radeon Xpress 200 (RS480)"
        Driver          "fglrx"
        BusID           "PCI:1:5:0"
EndSection

Change if necessary. Change sid[unstable] back to etch[testing] in /etc/apt/sources.list.)

# aptitude update

Reboot. Good luck.

Originally Posted by rickh This is a "drop back and punt" scenario. Debian now has the version 8.28.8-2 ati driver in unstable, non-free...

I will try your steps and let you know.

Just in case you stumble across missing files like "dh_testdir" again, do

aptitude update
aptitude install apt-file
apt-file update
apt-file --package-only search filename

This will show which package contains the missing file. A very useful command to know on a Debian system.

Thanks all.

Reinstalled Debian (Unstable version) and Xorg installed successfull for my ATI display card.

Thanks.

rickh:

Thanks for the guide,
Xorg 7.1 was added to Etch/Testing last night and effectively killed my fglrx driver built from ATI's 8.29.6 installer.
But i just followed your steps and am back up and running again

Does all things works in etch Testing ? Cause I follow all stuff and nothing... maybe because I'm whit stable one... please tell me.

zax: everything should work OK. However nobody can help you unless you give us information.

Post:

1. What exactly is happening, or not happening.
2. What is your graphics card.
3. Open your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file. Copy and paste the sections which start with "device = " (I think you cannot post attachments until you have reached a certain number of posts on this website. If you can then you can post the entire file)