screen is black after one move from x to virtual console, back to x, then to console
 

After upgrading my Debian from Lenny to Squeeze a few things don't work properly. Most disturbing is that after one switch from graphic screen (x, Gnome) to the virtual consoles this can be observed:
1) The virtual consoles show only a small font. It doesn't change when I use 'dpkg-reconfigure console-setup'. Otherwise everything seems to function properly, but then
2) I return to x (with Alt+F7), and if I again want to reach the virtual consoles (with Alt+String+F3, this is a laptop) the screens are persistently black; nothing works, except Alt+F7, which allows me to go back to the x-screen. In this graphic screen it is possible to use the consoles without problem.
3) I have some trouble shutting-down the computer. The screen disappears, everything goes black, but the computer goes on and does not shut down until I press the power-button, forcing the shut-down process. If I press the keys which would bring the computer to a halt through the virtual consoles, I can bring it to stop allthough the screen remains black throughout the whole process. I press: Alt+Strg+F3 to reach the consoles, there 'root + password', Enter, halt, Enter... Nothing at all appears on the screen, but after a while the computer stops.

I had that problem and it was because:
console-setup needs either kbd or console-tools. Check for error messages about a package missing when running `dpkg-reconfigure console-setup`
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SaneInstallerKeyboard

The rest of your problems i would not know.

Sounds like a vga drver issue. Squeeze now uses kernel mode setting for video drivers by default. Do you know what graphics chipset your machine has?

Personally I've had some blank tty problems with the current squeeze kernel (2.6.32-30) and found that newer kernels work better. You should of course try all other options first but if all else fails a newer kernel just may be the quickest fix, if you don't want to go building your own from source, you may want to try a liquorix kernel. http://liquorix.net/

Also I think a 2.6.37 kernel is close to being released into unstable. There was a trunk kernel in there about a week ago which I use on both my systems but it has recently been removed.

screen is black; chipset
 

Thanks. But I am not able to follow you entirely.
What I read in xorg.conf is: Identifier "ATI Technologies Inc Radeon Mobility M6 LY"

and :Driver "ati"

VGA does not appear at all.

Raúl

black screen
 

Thanks. But no, kbd-compat is installed, as well as console-tools. And there is no error messages appearing.

Raúl

Well you're certainly using the wrong driver. You may not need xorg.conf at all.

Run the following command as root, reboot (usually a good idea with KMS) and try again:

In the unlikely event that it breaks X log in as root and run this

Then post the output of this:

No xorg.conf
 

Yes, I copied xorg.conf into xorg.conf.ati and removed the original, as you suggested. I rebooted and, as you supposed, there is no xorg.conf any more. Everything seems to work as before (so it wasn't needed?), but the problem is still there. I can get to the consoles just once; the second time a just get solid black (but somehow working commands).

Thanks for your help.


Raúl

The font-size problem without error messages sounds strange... No further idea.

Not sure if Squeeze uses gdm3.
If so: try to replace it by gdm.
If not, remove gdm.
At minimum you will be sure the login-manger is _not_ the problem and hunt for other culprits.
I guess it is not the problem, but the check will take a few minutes only.

Have a short look at /etc/inittab.

adding or something similar as an option to kernel/linux line of boot loader sometimes helps

So, I am afraid I not much of an expert. What I didnow was to boot with the lenny-kernel 2.6.26, which was still on Grub, instead of 2.6.32. That did the trick, now everything works, but it is unsatisfactory to have to use an old kernel from Lenny instead of the new one from Squeeze (and now I have problems with wlan, so I use the cable). So if you can think of something better, please tell me.

Raúl

No, I am afraid I not much of an expert. What I did now was to boot with the lenny-kernel 2.6.26, which was still on Grub, instead of 2.6.32. That did the trick, now everything works, but it is unsatisfactory to have to use an old kernel from Lenny instead of the new one from Squeeze (and now I have problems with wlan, so I use the cable). So if you can think of something better, please tell me.

Raúl

If your now using gub2, when the grub prompt comes up move your cursor to the end of the linux line of the kernel you want to use, type in the changes and boot. If you still using grub legacy then hit the e to edit the kernel line. If it works, let us know which grub your using so the changes can be made permanent.

I would advise that you install the new 2.6.37-1- kernel from unstable. I have found that newer kernels than the squeeze kernel solve most fbcon issues.

Installing the kernel won't break your system, if it doesn't help with this problem it can be removed again.

Post the output of the following

Yes, that could be a good idea. Here is my actual /sources.list :

#
# deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux 5.0.3 _Lenny_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 20090905-08:48]/ lenny contrib main

# deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux 5.0.3 _Lenny_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 20090905-08:48]/ lenny contrib main

deb http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian/ lenny main non-free contrib
deb-src http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian/ lenny main non-free contrib


# SQUEEZE open
deb http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian/ squeeze main non-free contrib
# deb-src http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian/ squeeze main non-free contrib
deb http://security.debian.org/ squeeze/updates main contrib non-free
# deb-src http://security.debian.org/ lenny/updates main contrib non-free
# SQUEEZE close

#deb http://volatile.debian.org/debian-volatile lenny/volatile main contrib non-free
#deb-src http://volatile.debian.org/debian-volatile lenny/volatile main contrib non-free

#deb http://www.backports.org/debian lenny-backports main contrib non-free

The kernel I am now using is 2.6.26-2-686; the other one on grub is 2.6.32-5-486.

With the Lenny version the console has no problems, either regarding the font-size or the visibility. And I can stop the computer with the gnome-button (with the squeeze kernel both buttons lead to a 'reboot', so that I must go to the black consoles and stop there with 'halt', typing in the dark).

Raúl