There is a new version of the ATI drivers out that comes with an installer. I just tried this on debian-unstable/Xorg 6.8.2 with kernel 2.6.12.5 last night and worked perfectly. This installer will either install the driver directly or make debian packages. It will also make packages for RedHat, SuSE, and Ubuntu. Anyone having problems with 8.14.13-2 you must try this out. No patches needed. No compiling problems.

Here is the link:

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/at...16.20-i386.run

Works for me too, no problems what so ever. I'm running Arch with Kernel 2.6.12-cko2-swsusp2 and xorg 6.8.2, GO ATI!

How do you install a "run" package in Debian?

Mmmm - you might do well to note that Gentoo "pulled" this driver.
Don't know why, but they are no longer offering it; was available for a while.

I'm using the previous driver on 2.6.12 successfully.

alsac: .run 'packages' are sh scripts. To install simply type as root

Oops... scripts - not packages. Got it!
Still learning. Hehehe since installing Debian, my brain's flooded with all sorts of commands. Getting the picture though.
Thanks cha0s!

Boy was that a mistake!


I just tried the that script and went through the config but then on re-boot the system wouldn't start X at all!
There were a whole slew of problems after re-boot. I thought I lost everything

Thankfully I backed up my XF86Config-4 before delving into this ... For a linux newb I'm still amazed I got through the X-less environment and restored my backed-up XF86Config file. Let this be a lesson. Backup, backup, backup! heh - even learned a few things. ... like there's no scrolling when in pure command-line mode. Couldn't see half the files listed in /usr/X11R6/bin so I just invoked ls -t f* and ls -t x* to see which files were changed last by this ATI config... Bah!

I'm still shaking from that ordeal! But now, more than ever, I want to get this working and get 3D support for my laptop. I barely got this thing to run properly at 1400x1050 after a lot of confusion and heartache - I don't want to lose what I've got now.

If anyone out there are willing to help out - I'm all ears. I'll post my system specs here and if there are any takers I'll post my XF86Config-4.0.log from the ATI install.

IBM T42,
15" sxga,
Mobility Radeon 9600 M10 (64MB)
Debian Sarge (3.1) - kernel: 2.6.8-2-686 (headers installed also)

alsac

Does anyone know if xcompmgr works well with the new drivers?

alsac: I recommend you update to Xorg, cant help you with XFree86 as I've never used it.

cha0s -

Still running XFree86 ... I tried this again and I had the same problem - xserver wouldn't start. This time, I took the time to read through the log file and do a little research. Learning more as I go along.

I think I'm getting myself on the right track here, however. There's more to installing thisATI driver, in terms of preparation, than one may assume. The problems I had thus far were three-fold:
1) kernel isn't compiled properly to handle fglrx (proprietary as opposed to open source);
2) fglrx wasn't compiled into the kernel as a module;
3) ATI's driver doesn't seem to like Debian's mouse config (should read /dev/psaux instead of default /dev/mouse in XF86Config)

Found this site a while ago (http://xoomer.virgilio.it/flavio.sta...installer.html) and those instructions were just overwhelming at first but I'm starting to piece things together. Call this a crash course on learning linux (commands, understanding what/where different components are ...) I'll be gone for a couple of days but my laptop's goin with me and I'll work on this. Let you all know if this works out.

Who knows, maybe I'll graduate from a to a yet!

alsac

BTW - I upgraded to kernel 2.6.11-1 and installed the kernel headers as well. Still XFree86 in that version. From what I've read, Xorg is only available in the unstable version of Debian - not sure if I want to venture there yet. Unless there's a way to install Xorg to run alongside XFree86...

Thats one reason why I think Debian sucks... I've never used Debian and I never will so I can't help you any more... good luck with that fglrx installation guide

Xorg in debian unstable is perfect...it was even updated in the unstable branch yesterday completely.

I must agree. Xorg unstable works perfectly.

Hmmm..

I suppose I'll get the driver to work with XFree86 first though. It's kinda fun to be doing this actually - I'm learning a whole lot about Linux and Debian as well. I could have given up already (thought crossed my mind) but what would be gained from that? The way I figure it, that's the beauty of Linux - you really learn the OS, like a puzzle...

What are the benefits/drawbacks of running Xorg over XFree86 though?