NVidia FX 5200 x BootSplash. A problem without a solution
 

I have already downloaded the 2.6.20 kernel, applied the necessary patches (the 2.6.20-7 kernel patch and the bootsplash patch as well), done all the settings in order to enable bootsplash as the following:

Device Drivers->Graphics Support->VGA-16 color support (*)
Device Drivers->Graphics Support->VESA VGA Graphics Support (*)
Device Drivers->Graphics Support->Bootsplash configuration->Bootup Splash Screen (*) Device Drivers->Graphics Support->Console Display Driver Support->Framebuffer Console Support (*)
Device Drivers->Graphics Support->Console Display Driver Support->Select Compiled-in Fonts(*)
Device Drivers->Graphics Support->Console Display Driver Support->VGA 8x8 font (*)
Device Drivers->Graphics Support->Console Display Driver Support->VGA 8x16 font (*)
Device Drivers->Block Devices->RAM Disk Support (*)
Device Drivers->Block Devices->Default Number of RAM Disk = 16
Device Drivers->Block Devices->Default RAM disk size (KBytes) = 4096
Device Drivers->Block Devices->Default RAM disk block size (bytes) = 1024
Device Drivers->Block Devices->Initial RAM file system and RAM disk (*)

I performed all steps related to kernel compilation, including the mkinitrd execution, the updating of /boot/initrd.gz file by using /sbin/splash (paulo@desenvolvimento:~$ su -c "/sbin/splash -s -f /etc/bootsplash/themes/current/config/bootsplash-1024x768.cfg >> /boot/initrd.gz " root) and the /etc/lilo.conf updating. Bellow is my lilo.conf file. Take a look:

# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig'
#
# Start LILO global section
boot = /dev/hda
message = /boot/boot_message.txt
prompt
timeout = 1200
# Override dangerous defaults that rewrite the partition table:
change-rules
reset
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
vga = 773
# Normal VGA console
# vga = normal
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k
# vga=791
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x32k
# vga=790
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
# vga=773
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x64k
# vga=788
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x32k
# vga=787
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x256
# vga=771
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x64k
# vga=785
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x32k
# vga=784
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x256
# vga=769
# End LILO global section
# Windows bootable partition config begins
other = /dev/hda1
label = Windows
table = /dev/hda
# Windows bootable partition config ends
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20.7
root = /dev/hda2
label = Linux-2.6.20.7
read-only
initrd = /boot/initrd.gz
append = "splash=silent"
image = /boot/vmlinuz
root = /dev/hda2
label = Linux
read-only
# Linux bootable partition config ends

Below is how my /boot directory looks like after everything is set up

paulo@desenvolvimento:/boot$ ls -l
total 6545
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 37 2007-04-19 17:43 README.initrd -> /usr/doc/mkinitrd-1.0.1/README.initrd
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 25 2007-04-19 22:51 System.map -> /boot/System.map-2.6.20.7
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 629105 2007-04-19 17:52 System.map-2.4.33.3
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 727355 2007-05-04 19:36 System.map-2.6.20.7
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 629105 2006-09-01 03:51 System.map-ide-2.4.33.3
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 512 2007-04-19 17:54 boot.0300
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 209 2007-04-19 17:54 boot_message.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 41810 2007-04-19 17:52 config
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 41810 2006-09-01 03:51 config-ide-2.4.33.3
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 5032 2006-08-08 02:34 diag1.img
drwxr-xr-x 8 root root 304 2005-09-12 01:36 initrd-tree/
-rw------- 1 root root 430724 2007-05-04 19:47 initrd.gz
-rw------- 1 root root 51712 2007-05-04 19:50 map
-r-------- 1 root root 1313255 2007-04-19 17:52 vmlinuz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1480544 2007-05-04 19:35 vmlinuz-2.6.20.7
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1313255 2006-09-01 03:51 vmlinuz-ide-2.4.33.3

This is how I execute the /sbin/splash command

paulo@desenvolvimento:/boot$ su -c "kinitrd -c -k 2.6.20.7 -f reiserfs -r /dev/hda2" root

It goes fine withou any problem!!!

The /var/log/dmesg file has the following information I would like to emphasize.

... ... ...
... ... ...
Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=Linux-2.6.20.7 ro root=302 splash=silent
bootsplash: silent mode.
... ... ...
checking if image is initramfs...it isn't (no cpio magic); looks like an initrd
Freeing initrd memory: 420k freed
... ... ...
vga16fb: initializing
vga16fb: mapped to 0xc00a0000
Console: switching to colour frame buffer device 80x30
fb0: VGA16 VGA frame buffer device
... ... ...
RAMDISK driver initialized: 16 RAM disks of 4096K size 1024 blocksize
... ... ...
RAMDISK: Compressed image found at block 0


My video card is a NVidia FX 5200 which driver is normally installed and working perfectly. Although all these efforts to make boot splash works, everything I have got is a 80x30 screen. Nothing more than this!!! :(
Is it possible I came across a problem without a solution? Any suggestion will be welcome.
Thanks in advance
Paulo

bootsplash can't run at that depth to the best of my knowledge. Try 791.

Hi, thanks for your reply. I have tried your suggestion, but the situation remains the same. I think there is another reason for the bootsplash's failure on my system. Again, thanks a lot.

Paulo Góes

Have geforce 5200 fx.
 

Bootsplash only worked at one setting for me for some reason. think it was 790 1024x768 32k. hope that helps, if not keep trying the different resolutions.

Yea, my dell came with a 5200 and I remember the same problem.. I thought 791 was what I used but it could be 790...

Also, you should only be trying to run the silent splash AFTER you succeed with verbose mode. It narrows the field somewhat in trying to pin point your problem.

comment out initrd and append along with possibly using 790, /sbin/lilo reboot. Stick with it...

Bingo!!!!! It worked!!! Now I have bootsplash working fine at 800x600x32k resolution. Thank you very much, to all of you.

Paulo Góes

Not sure what i did?
 

Glad you got it to work though :)