Problem with Slackware 11 Intel 915GM Graphics card with Kernel 2.6.20.8
 

I have a problem with a dell notebook equiped with Intel 915GM Graphics card. There are several threads about this card, but while everyone complain about not being able to get a higher resolution, i just can't make X work, even with a low resolution.

When i run startx, i get the following:

(II) I810: Driver for Intel Integrated Graphics Chipsets: i810, i810-dc100,i810e, i815, i830M, 845G, 852GM/855GM, 865G, 915G, E7221 (i915), 915GM, 945G, 945GM
(II) Primary Device is: PCI 00:02:0
(WW) I810: No matching Device section for instance (BusID PCI:0:2:1) found
(--) Chipset 915GM found
(II) I810(0): initializing int10
(WW) I810(0): Bad V_BIOS checksum
(II) I810(0): Primary V_BIOS segment is: 0xc000
(EE) I810(0): unknown type(0xffffffff)=0xff
(II) I810(0): VESA BIOS not detected
(EE) I810(0): VBE initialization failed.

I can't start X. I'm with a new kernel compiled by myself ( probably the reason of the problem ). Some adviced to download a new module from
http://dri.freedesktop.org/ . I did download i915-20060403-linux.i386.tar.bz2 from http://dri.freedesktop.org. But when a I try to compile, here's the output:

make DRM_MODULES=i915.o modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/root/i915-20060403-linux.i386/drm/linux-core'
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.20.8/source SUBDIRS=`pwd` DRMSRCDIR=`pwd` modules
make[2]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.20.8'
CC [M] /root/i915-20060403-linux.i386/drm/linux-core/drm_auth.o
In file included from /root/i915-20060403-linux.i386/drm/linux-core/drm_auth.c:36:
/root/i915-20060403-linux.i386/drm/linux-core/drmP.h:44:26: linux/config.h: No such file or directory
make[3]: *** [/root/i915-20060403-linux.i386/drm/linux-core/drm_auth.o] Error 1
make[2]: *** [_module_/root/i915-20060403-linux.i386/drm/linux-core] Error 2
make[2]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.20.8'
make[1]: *** [modules] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/root/i915-20060403-linux.i386/drm/linux-core'
make: *** [i915.o] Error 2

I do have kernel-headers installed. In my kernel config, I have Device Drivers--->Character devices---><M> Direct Rendering Manager (XFree86 4.1.0 and higher DRI support) enabled as module, with Intel I810 and i915 driver as modules too. Any tips?

It appears that make cannot find your config.h for your kernel.
Do you have a /usr/src/linux/include/linux/config.h?

If it isn't in there, try 'make prepare' on the kernel source.

1st you oughta be able to get X running sans fancy, non-vanilla i915 modules.

might I ask for some more info rather? can you please most the output of:

also please try this:
that'll prove at some level your X11 is working, and we know its not broken.

i have 2 machines w/intel chipsets and have never had to do more than the i915resolution hack, where did you find such advice?

if you're building an external module you might check that:
has .config and include directory. then you should be able to compile that module from anywhere.. no?

{edit} also please post output of lspci -v

...and have you looked at dell bios updates? I don't normally recommend those but I just flashed #2 in my sig and it said it included VBIOS update. dunno if that would really help tho'

No, I don't have!
I did, but it still isn't there.
It has .config and include directory.
Here's the output of lsmod:
The output of modprobe -l:
The .config has :
Did not work. Heres the output:

I don't know about Dell Bios Updates. But i'll check dell.com. Heres the output of lspci -v:

This might be a problem:
go to graphics, and disable framebuffer support, then go back to char devices and make AGP modular.

I don't think thats your #1 problem, though to enable DRI later you will need that AFAIK. And my intel chipsets really dont like to be used as framebuffers. You want these modules:
you can only have them if you don't compile in framebuffer support. (You can leave as a module if you want)
I'm not sure, but this seems bad to me:
there may be something to the bios update.

do you have 915resolution and can you post output of:
it seems your mobo/chipset combination may be the problem... there is an option in the driver section to specify the starting segment of your VBIOS but thats pretty much beyond me..

I'm just wondering if 915res can correctly get your vbios. though it seems lspci identifying it w/o trouble, I just checked lspci on my 945GM lappy and the only difference I see is this line:

-but- 915resolution also detects an offset(?) $269, but I think that is for the mode table, not the start addr of the vbios id. :(

maybe the kernel is the only problem?

just made the connection between your other thread and this problem..

One thing about the gentoo kernels is they have some different options in them than vanilla sources. Did you double check all the menus in your current kernel? also check for fbsplash options in your config. These will only be problematic if you've got vanilla sources compiling with a gentoo .config. But make oldconfig should find those and ask about them (?)

Did you perchance lsmod from the gentoo cd? did you emerge xorg (and get X running) on gentoo?

another idea would be to try a livecd or something like Ubuntu that sets everything up for you, then copy the xorg.conf and lsmod stuff from there.

I'll try to disable the framebuffers in the kernel. I made a full install of gentoo and emerged xorg-x11, but didn't get X working. As I remember, the error message from startx was the same. I copied the .config and made make oldconfig. I'll follow your advices and post the results here tomorrow ( it' dawn here in brazil now, i don't wanna try anything while not fully awake ). BTW, thanks for your attention, bioe007.

you're far more prudent than i... i tend to break things really good when not fully awake :D

don't mention it - just please don't assume I'm some great guru here, I'm fairly n00b to linux myself. Just happen to have similar chipsets.
<I try to only 'help' on topics that I have direct experience with & I've spent many a late night messing up.. er I mean, with my slack lappy trying to get i945gm working.>

what are you getting/using in your xorg.conf? can you post that too when you get a chance? It doesn't _seem_ to be the source of this problem but.....

Can you install huge26.s + modules, then try and boot + startx with the xorg.vesa-conf?

have you checked for a bios upgrade yet? as above I did mine and there was a note about the vbios being included. at this point i'd say its worth a try. xorg.conf-vesa should run on just about anything.

another option for the kernel, I can send you the .config for my latitude (D820) which I think should still work for yours (is yours SMP/SATA?) iirc you have ich6?

<edit> just found this for ubuntu on latitude 120l
and for ref mine:
and heres a page that makes no sense to me whatsoever... but I figure if you're in Brazil maybe?

and another one, that has an example .config just a little ways down the page.

hth

Hello,

Search at the dell website, i found that the lastest bios released is A09, and mine is A08. Went to windows, download the file and installed. The system booted normally. Now on Linux, the same problem arises.

I removed the framebuffer from the kernel and left the agpgart as module. I wasn't able to boot without vga=normal ( and old problem coming back ). Again, the same problem with X.

Here's the xorg.conf:
I'll download the latest ubuntu and post xorg.conf, lsmod and dmesg here. I did not install with huge26, but with test26. Will try using huge26 now. My laptop doens't have SATA, but I think your .config may be of great help.

in your device section have you tried: Option "DDC" "Off"

I tried a Kubuntu live CD with kernel 2.6.15.
lsmod Output:
dmesg output:

Now the xorg.conf:

X working, mouse working, baterry status working.
Even the wifi worked out-of-the-box. Ubuntu is getting better, but if it works, slackware can work too! Will try that option on device now.

No, didn't work.