ati drivers will not enable

danipoak · 12-08-2007, 03:21 PM

ok i just did a minor upgrade on a really old pc. stuck an ati 9600 pro into it. booted the computer up, went into low graphics mode and once i was logged in, ubuntu picked up the card, downloaded the drivers, then told me to restart. i did the restart but the driver will not become enabled. i went into the restricted drivers menu, the driver is listed there with a check mark, however there is a red light saying "not enabled". i tried another restart again hoping that would get the driver enabled. when booting up xorg tries to start up a few times but then gives up. im now just looking at a command prompt. i tried to log in, it looks like it does the log in, but then brings me right back to the login prompt.

Acron_0248 · 12-08-2007, 04:51 PM

Hi,

It will be helpfull if you post the errors in xorg's log, you can try:

Code:

cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep EE

And post the result here

Or if you're in a hurry, edit the xorg.conf and change the driver in 'Section Device' to something like:

Code:

Driver   "ati"

or even

Code:

Driver   "vesa"

So you can back to the desktop

Regards

danipoak · 12-08-2007, 06:54 PM

ok so i can only get command prompt at the moment. i have the prompt to log in, do my username and password but i get: cannot execute /bin/bash: too many levels of symbolic links.
after this it takes me back to the login prompt.
is there a way to boot up off of a live cd and get into the system to do this?

Acron_0248 · 12-08-2007, 07:14 PM

You could access in single user mode which will take you to a single session using root so you can be able to modify the xorg.conf or see the xorg log file...

As far as I remember, ubuntu add that type of boot to grub, you should see something like 'Ubuntu XXXX Single Mode' or the like, if not and you don't know how to do that, when you're in the grub ready to press Enter to boot, press the E key to edit the line of the kernel, normally, something like:

Code:

kernel  /boot/vmlinuz ....

In the end of that line add Single and then press Enter, then, press B key to boot.

So, if you have something like:

Code:

kernel  /boot/vmlinuz real_root=/hda1 ro

Adding 'Single' will look like:

Code:

kernel  /boot/vmlinuz real_root=/hda1 ro Single

Regards

danipoak · 12-08-2007, 11:31 PM

ok here is the output of my error log:

Code:

X Window System Version 1.3.0
Release Date: 19 April 2007
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0, Release 1.3
Build Operating System: Linux Ubuntu (xorg-server 2:1.3.0.0.dfsg-12ubuntu8)
Current Operating System: Linux zosia 2.6.22-14-generic #1 SMP Sun Oct 14 23:05:12 GMT 2007 i686
Build Date: 29 September 2007
	Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
	to make sure that you have the latest version.
Module Loader present
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
	(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
	(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Thu Dec  6 16:17:39 2007
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
(==) ServerLayout "Default Layout"
(**) |-->Screen "Default Screen" (0)
(**) |   |-->Monitor "Failsafe Monitor"
(**) |   |-->Device "Failsafe Device"
(**) |-->Input Device "Generic Keyboard"
(**) |-->Input Device "Configured Mouse"
(WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist.
	Entry deleted from font path.
(==) FontPath set to:
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc,
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled,
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled,
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1,
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi,
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi,
	/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType
(==) RgbPath set to "/etc/X11/rgb"
(==) ModulePath set to "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
(**) Extension "Composite" is disabled
(II) Open ACPI successful (/var/run/acpid.socket)
(II) Loader magic: 0x81ea440
(II) Module ABI versions:
	X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.3
	X.Org Video Driver: 1.2
	X.Org XInput driver : 0.7
	X.Org Server Extension : 0.3
	X.Org Font Renderer : 0.5
(II) Loader running on linux
(II) LoadModule: "pcidata"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules//libpcidata.so
(II) Module pcidata: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
	compiled for 1.3.0, module version = 1.0.0
	ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 1.2
(++) using VT number 7

(II) PCI: PCI scan (all values are in hex)
(II) PCI: 00:00:0: chip 8086,2501 card 0000,0000 rev 04 class 06,00,00 hdr 00
(II) PCI: 00:01:0: chip 8086,250f card 0000,0000 rev 04 class 06,04,00 hdr 01
(II) PCI: 00:1e:0: chip 8086,2418 card 0000,0000 rev 02 class 06,04,00 hdr 01
(II) PCI: 00:1f:0: chip 8086,2410 card 0000,0000 rev 02 class 06,01,00 hdr 80
(II) PCI: 00:1f:1: chip 8086,2411 card 8086,2411 rev 02 class 01,01,80 hdr 00
(II) PCI: 00:1f:2: chip 8086,2412 card 8086,2412 rev 02 class 0c,03,00 hdr 00
(II) PCI: 00:1f:3: chip 8086,2413 card 8086,2413 rev 02 class 0c,05,00 hdr 00
(II) PCI: 01:00:0: chip 1002,4150 card 1002,0002 rev 00 class 03,00,00 hdr 80
(II) PCI: 01:00:1: chip 1002,4170 card 1002,0003 rev 00 class 03,80,00 hdr 00
(II) PCI: 02:0a:0: chip 1317,0985 card 1317,0574 rev 11 class 02,00,00 hdr 00
(II) PCI: 02:0b:0: chip 1102,0002 card 1102,8022 rev 07 class 04,01,00 hdr 80
(II) PCI: 02:0b:1: chip 1102,7002 card 1102,0020 rev 07 class 09,80,00 hdr 80
(II) PCI: 02:0c:0: chip 14f1,1036 card 13e0,0209 rev 08 class 07,80,00 hdr 00
(II) PCI: End of PCI scan
(II) Intel Bridge workaround enabled
(II) Host-to-PCI bridge:
(II) Bus 0: bridge is at (0:0:0), (0,0,2), BCTRL: 0x0008 (VGA_EN is set)
(II) Bus 0 I/O range:
	[0] -1	0	0x00000000 - 0x0000ffff (0x10000) IX[B]
(II) Bus 0 non-prefetchable memory range:
	[0] -1	0	0x00000000 - 0xffffffff (0x0) MX[B]
(II) Bus 0 prefetchable memory range:
	[0] -1	0	0x00000000 - 0xffffffff (0x0) MX[B]
(II) PCI-to-PCI bridge:
(II) Bus 1: bridge is at (0:1:0), (0,1,1), BCTRL: 0x0008 (VGA_EN is set)
(II) Bus 1 I/O range:
	[0] -1	0	0x0000c000 - 0x0000cfff (0x1000) IX[B]
(II) Bus 1 non-prefetchable memory range:
	[0] -1	0	0xff800000 - 0xff8fffff (0x100000) MX[B]
(II) Bus 1 prefetchable memory range:
	[0] -1	0	0xb6900000 - 0xf69fffff (0x40100000) MX[B]
(II) Subtractive PCI-to-PCI bridge:
(II) Bus 2: bridge is at (0:30:0), (0,2,2), BCTRL: 0x0002 (VGA_EN is cleared)
(II) Bus 2 I/O range:
	[0] -1	0	0x0000d000 - 0x0000dfff (0x1000) IX[B]
(II) Bus 2 non-prefetchable memory range:
	[0] -1	0	0xff900000 - 0xff9fffff (0x100000) MX[B]
(II) Bus 2 prefetchable memory range:
	[0] -1	0	0xf6a00000 - 0xf6afffff (0x100000) MX[B]
(II) PCI-to-ISA bridge:
(II) Bus -1: bridge is at (0:31:0), (0,-1,-1), BCTRL: 0x0008 (VGA_EN is set)
(--) PCI:*(1:0:0) ATI Technologies Inc RV350 AP [Radeon 9600] rev 0, Mem @ 0xe0000000/28, 0xff8f0000/16, I/O @ 0xc800/8, BIOS @ 0xff8c0000/17
(--) PCI: (1:0:1) ATI Technologies Inc RV350 AP [Radeon 9600] (Secondary) rev 0, Mem @ 0xd0000000/28, 0xff8e0000/16
(II) Addressable bus resource ranges are
	[0] -1	0	0x00000000 - 0xffffffff (0x0) MX[B]
	[1] -1	0	0x00000000 - 0x0000ffff (0x10000) IX[B]
(II) OS-reported resource ranges:
	[0] -1	0	0x00100000 - 0x3fffffff (0x3ff00000) MX[B]E(B)
	[1] -1	0	0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
	[2] -1	0	0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
	[3] -1	0	0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
	[4] -1	0	0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
	[5] -1	0	0x00000000 - 0x000000ff (0x100) IX[B]
(II) PCI Memory resource overlap reduced 0xf8000000 from 0xfbffffff to 0xf7ffffff
(II) Active PCI resource ranges:
	[0] -1	0	0xff9e0000 - 0xff9effff (0x10000) MX[B]
	[1] -1	0	0xff9ffc00 - 0xff9fffff (0x400) MX[B]
	[2] -1	0	0xf8000000 - 0xf7ffffff (0x0) MX[B]O
	[3] -1	0	0xff8e0000 - 0xff8effff (0x10000) MX[B](B)
	[4] -1	0	0xd0000000 - 0xdfffffff (0x10000000) MX[B](B)
	[5] -1	0	0xff8c0000 - 0xff8dffff (0x20000) MX[B](B)
	[6] -1	0	0xff8f0000 - 0xff8fffff (0x10000) MX[B](B)
	[7] -1	0	0xe0000000 - 0xefffffff (0x10000000) MX[B](B)
	[8] -1	0	0x0000dfe0 - 0x0000dfe7 (0x8) IX[B]
	[9] -1	0	0x0000dff0 - 0x0000dff7 (0x8) IX[B]
	[10] -1	0	0x0000df80 - 0x0000df9f (0x20) IX[B]
	[11] -1	0	0x0000d800 - 0x0000d8ff (0x100) IX[B]
	[12] -1	0	0x0000efa0 - 0x0000efaf (0x10) IX[B]
	[13] -1	0	0x0000ef80 - 0x0000ef9f (0x20) IX[B]
	[14] -1	0	0x0000ffa0 - 0x0000ffaf (0x10) IX[B]
	[15] -1	0	0x0000c800 - 0x0000c8ff (0x100) IX[B](B)
(II) Active PCI resource ranges after removing overlaps:
	[0] -1	0	0xff9e0000 - 0xff9effff (0x10000) MX[B]
	[1] -1	0	0xff9ffc00 - 0xff9fffff (0x400) MX[B]
	[2] -1	0	0xf8000000 - 0xf7ffffff (0x0) MX[B]O
	[3] -1	0	0xff8e0000 - 0xff8effff (0x10000) MX[B](B)
	[4] -1	0	0xd0000000 - 0xdfffffff (0x10000000) MX[B](B)
	[5] -1	0	0xff8c0000 - 0xff8dffff (0x20000) MX[B](B)
	[6] -1	0	0xff8f0000 - 0xff8fffff (0x10000) MX[B](B)
	[7] -1	0	0xe0000000 - 0xefffffff (0x10000000) MX[B](B)
	[8] -1	0	0x0000dfe0 - 0x0000dfe7 (0x8) IX[B]
	[9] -1	0	0x0000dff0 - 0x0000dff7 (0x8) IX[B]
	[10] -1	0	0x0000df80 - 0x0000df9f (0x20) IX[B]
	[11] -1	0	0x0000d800 - 0x0000d8ff (0x100) IX[B]
	[12] -1	0	0x0000efa0 - 0x0000efaf (0x10) IX[B]
	[13] -1	0	0x0000ef80 - 0x0000ef9f (0x20) IX[B]
	[14] -1	0	0x0000ffa0 - 0x0000ffaf (0x10) IX[B]
	[15] -1	0	0x0000c800 - 0x0000c8ff (0x100) IX[B](B)
(II) OS-reported resource ranges after removing overlaps with PCI:
	[0] -1	0	0x00100000 - 0x3fffffff (0x3ff00000) MX[B]E(B)
	[1] -1	0	0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
	[2] -1	0	0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
	[3] -1	0	0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
	[4] -1	0	0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
	[5] -1	0	0x00000000 - 0x000000ff (0x100) IX[B]
(II) All system resource ranges:
	[0] -1	0	0x00100000 - 0x3fffffff (0x3ff00000) MX[B]E(B)
	[1] -1	0	0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
	[2] -1	0	0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
	[3] -1	0	0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
	[4] -1	0	0xff9e0000 - 0xff9effff (0x10000) MX[B]
	[5] -1	0	0xff9ffc00 - 0xff9fffff (0x400) MX[B]
	[6] -1	0	0xf8000000 - 0xf7ffffff (0x0) MX[B]O
	[7] -1	0	0xff8e0000 - 0xff8effff (0x10000) MX[B](B)
	[8] -1	0	0xd0000000 - 0xdfffffff (0x10000000) MX[B](B)
	[9] -1	0	0xff8c0000 - 0xff8dffff (0x20000) MX[B](B)
	[10] -1	0	0xff8f0000 - 0xff8fffff (0x10000) MX[B](B)
	[11] -1	0	0xe0000000 - 0xefffffff (0x10000000) MX[B](B)
	[12] -1	0	0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
	[13] -1	0	0x00000000 - 0x000000ff (0x100) IX[B]
	[14] -1	0	0x0000dfe0 - 0x0000dfe7 (0x8) IX[B]
	[15] -1	0	0x0000dff0 - 0x0000dff7 (0x8) IX[B]
	[16] -1	0	0x0000df80 - 0x0000df9f (0x20) IX[B]
	[17] -1	0	0x0000d800 - 0x0000d8ff (0x100) IX[B]
	[18] -1	0	0x0000efa0 - 0x0000efaf (0x10) IX[B]
	[19] -1	0	0x0000ef80 - 0x0000ef9f (0x20) IX[B]
	[20] -1	0	0x0000ffa0 - 0x0000ffaf (0x10) IX[B]
	[21] -1	0	0x0000c800 - 0x0000c8ff (0x100) IX[B](B)
(II) LoadModule: "glx"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//libglx.so
(II) Module glx: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
	compiled for 1.3.0, module version = 1.0.0
	ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 0.3
(==) AIGLX enabled
(II) Loading extension GLX
(II) LoadModule: "v4l"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers//v4l_drv.so
(II) Module v4l: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
	compiled for 7.2.0, module version = 0.1.1
	ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 1.1
(II) LoadModule: "extmod"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//libextmod.so
(II) Module extmod: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
	compiled for 1.3.0, module version = 1.0.0
	Module class: X.Org Server Extension
	ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 0.3
(II) Loading extension SHAPE
(II) Loading extension MIT-SUNDRY-NONSTANDARD
(II) Loading extension BIG-REQUESTS
(II) Loading extension SYNC
(II) Loading extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
(II) Loading extension XC-MISC
(II) Loading extension XFree86-VidModeExtension
(II) Loading extension XFree86-Misc
(II) Loading extension XFree86-DGA
(II) Loading extension DPMS
(II) Loading extension TOG-CUP
(II) Loading extension Extended-Visual-Information
(II) Loading extension XVideo
(II) Loading extension XVideo-MotionCompensation
(II) Loading extension X-Resource
(II) LoadModule: "dbe"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//libdbe.so
(II) Module dbe: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
	compiled for 1.3.0, module version = 1.0.0
	Module class: X.Org Server Extension
	ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 0.3
(II) Loading extension DOUBLE-BUFFER
(II) LoadModule: "freetype"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules//fonts/libfreetype.so
(II) Module freetype: vendor="X.Org Foundation & the After X-TT Project"
	compiled for 1.3.0, module version = 2.1.0
	Module class: X.Org Font Renderer
	ABI class: X.Org Font Renderer, version 0.5
(II) Loading font FreeType
(II) LoadModule: "record"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//librecord.so
(II) Module record: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
	compiled for 1.3.0, module version = 1.13.0
	Module class: X.Org Server Extension
	ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 0.3
(II) Loading extension RECORD
(II) LoadModule: "dri"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//libdri.so
(II) Module dri: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
	compiled for 1.3.0, module version = 1.0.0
	ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 0.3
(II) Loading extension XFree86-DRI
(II) LoadModule: "fglrx"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers//fglrx_drv.so
(II) Module fglrx: vendor="FireGL - ATI Technologies Inc."
	compiled for 7.1.0, module version = 8.37.6
	Module class: X.Org Video Driver
	ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 1.0
(II) LoadModule: "kbd"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input//kbd_drv.so
(II) Module kbd: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
	compiled for 1.3.0, module version = 1.2.1
	Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
	ABI class: X.Org XInput driver, version 0.7
(II) LoadModule: "mouse"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input//mouse_drv.so
(II) Module mouse: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
	compiled for 1.3.0, module version = 1.2.1
	Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
	ABI class: X.Org XInput driver, version 0.7
(II) v4l driver for Video4Linux
(II) Primary Device is: PCI 01:00:0
(II) ATI Proprietary Linux Driver Version Identifier:8.37.6
(II) ATI Proprietary Linux Driver Release Identifier: LGDr8.37g1                           
(II) ATI Proprietary Linux Driver Build Date: May 25 2007 14:25:03
(II) ATI Proprietary Linux Driver Build Information: autobuild-rel-r6-8.37.1.1.2.3-driver-lnx-x86-x86_64-346145
(WW) fglrx: No matching Device section for instance (BusID PCI:1:0:0) found
(EE) No devices detected.

Fatal server error:
no screens found

danipoak · 12-08-2007, 11:34 PM

dont know if this will help any either but here is my xorg file. i noticed that driver is already set to ati, however the board name is for a radeon 8500 where as i in actual fact have a 9600 pro. i dont know if any of this matters though. thanks!

Code:

# xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by failsafeDexconf, using
# values from the debconf database and some overrides to use vesa mode.
#
# You should use dexconf or another such tool for creating a "real" xorg.conf
# For example:
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg
Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "Module"
	Load		"glx"
	Load		"GLcore"
	Load		"v4l"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Generic Keyboard"
	Driver		"kbd"
	Option		"CoreKeyboard"
	Option		"XkbRules"	"xorg"
	Option		"XkbModel"	"pc105"
	Option		"XkbLayout"	"us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Configured Mouse"
	Driver		"mouse"
	Option		"CorePointer"
	Option		"Device"	"/dev/input/mice"
	Option		"Protocol"	"ImPS/2"
	Option		"ZAxisMapping"	"4 5"
	Option		"Emulate3Buttons"	"true"
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"Failsafe Device"
	Boardname	"vesa"
	Busid		"PCI:1:0:1"
	Driver		"fglrx"
	Screen	0
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"Failsafe Monitor"
	Vendorname	"Plug 'n' Play"
	Modelname	"Plug 'n' Play"
  modeline  "640x480@60" 25.2 640 656 752 800 480 490 492 525 -vsync -hsync
  modeline  "640x480@72" 31.5 640 664 704 832 480 489 491 520 -vsync -hsync
  modeline  "640x480@75" 31.5 640 656 720 840 480 481 484 500 -vsync -hsync
  modeline  "640x480@85" 36.0 640 696 752 832 480 481 484 509 -vsync -hsync
  modeline  "800x600@56" 36.0 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625 +hsync +vsync
  modeline  "800x600@72" 50.0 800 856 976 1040 600 637 643 666 +hsync +vsync
  modeline  "800x600@75" 49.5 800 816 896 1056 600 601 604 625 +hsync +vsync
  modeline  "800x600@85" 56.3 800 832 896 1048 600 601 604 631 +hsync +vsync
  modeline  "800x600@60" 40.0 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync
  modeline  "832x624@75" 57.284 832 864 928 1152 624 625 628 667 -vsync -hsync
  modeline  "1024x768@85" 94.5 1024 1072 1168 1376 768 769 772 808 +hsync +vsync
  modeline  "1024x768@75" 78.8 1024 1040 1136 1312 768 769 772 800 +hsync +vsync
  modeline  "1024x768@70" 75.0 1024 1048 1184 1328 768 771 777 806 -vsync -hsync
  modeline  "1024x768@60" 65.0 1024 1048 1184 1344 768 771 777 806 -vsync -hsync
  modeline  "1024x768@43" 44.9 1024 1032 1208 1264 768 768 776 817 +hsync interlace +vsync
  modeline  "1152x864@75" 108.0 1152 1216 1344 1600 864 865 868 900 +hsync +vsync
  modeline  "1280x960@60" 102.1 1280 1360 1496 1712 960 961 964 994 -hsync +vsync
  modeline  "1280x1024@60" 108.0 1280 1328 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
  modeline  "1400x1050@60" 122.61 1400 1488 1640 1880 1050 1051 1054 1087 -hsync +vsync
	Gamma	1.0
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Device		"Failsafe Device"
	Monitor		"Failsafe Monitor"
	Defaultdepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth	24
		Virtual	1400	1050
		Modes		"800x600@85"	"800x600@60"	"800x600@75"	"832x624@75"	"800x600@72"	"1024x768@85"	"800x600@56"	"1024x768@75"	"640x480@85"	"1024x768@70"	"640x480@75"	"1024x768@60"	"640x480@72"	"1024x768@43"	"640x480@60"	"1152x864@75"	"1280x960@60"	"1280x1024@60"	"1400x1050@60"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier	"Default Layout"
  screen 0 "Default Screen" 0 0
	Inputdevice	"Generic Keyboard"
	Inputdevice	"Configured Mouse"
EndSection
Section "device" #  
	Identifier	"device1"
	Boardname	"ATI Radeon 8500"
	Busid		"PCI:1:0:0"
	Driver		"ati"
	Screen	0
	Vendorname	"ATI"
	Option		"MergedFB"	"off"
EndSection
Section "screen" #  
	Identifier	"screen1"
	Device		"device1"
	Defaultdepth	24
	Monitor		"monitor1"
EndSection
Section "monitor" #  
	Identifier	"monitor1"
	Gamma	1.0
EndSection
Section "ServerFlags"
EndSection
Section "Extensions"
	Option		"Composite"	"0"
EndSection

Acron_0248 · 12-09-2007, 12:22 AM

Ok, look at this lines carefully:

Code:

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"Failsafe Device"
	Boardname	"vesa"
	Busid		"PCI:1:0:1"
	Driver		"fglrx"
	Screen	0
EndSection

Section "device" #  
	Identifier	"device1"
	Boardname	"ATI Radeon 8500"
	Busid		"PCI:1:0:0"
	Driver		"ati"
	Screen	0
	Vendorname	"ATI"
	Option		"MergedFB"	"off"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Device		"Failsafe Device"
	Monitor		"Failsafe Monitor"
	Defaultdepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth	24
		Virtual	1400	1050
		Modes		"800x600@85"	"800x600@60"	"800x600@75"	"832x624@75"	"800x600@72"	"1024x768@85"	"800x600@56"	"1024x768@75"	"640x480@85"	"1024x768@70"	"640x480@75"	"1024x768@60"	"640x480@72"	"1024x768@43"	"640x480@60"	"1152x864@75"	"1280x960@60"	"1280x1024@60"	"1400x1050@60"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Your xorg.conf have two sections called 'device', but only one its been called which is controlled by the section 'screen' at the line that says:

Code:

Device    "Failsafe Device"

So, the xorg is calling the configuration by the name "Failsafe Device" which is using the driver fglrx which is the driver giving you problems

What, for now, you'll have to do is edit the 'Device' line in section 'screen' to use 'device1'. Your section 'screen' will look like this:

Code:

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Device		"device1"
	Monitor		"Failsafe Monitor"
	Defaultdepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth	24
		Virtual	1400	1050
		Modes		"800x600@85"	"800x600@60"	"800x600@75"	"832x624@75"	"800x600@72"	"1024x768@85"	"800x600@56"	"1024x768@75"	"640x480@85"	"1024x768@70"	"640x480@75"	"1024x768@60"	"640x480@72"	"1024x768@43"	"640x480@60"	"1152x864@75"	"1280x960@60"	"1280x1024@60"	"1400x1050@60"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

With that configuration you would be able to enter the desktop again using the ati driver, not the fglrx.

About the problem, the name 'ATI Radeon 8500' is nothing, but it could be, I mean, the name you put regarding to your video card in the xorg.conf doesn't mean anything to it, but, it could be meaning that ubuntu is not reading the right specs from your card, so, it thinks that is a radeon 8xxx series instead of a 9xxx series.

If that's happening, could explain the problem also, the problem is this, the driver fglrx is saying to you that doesn't find any supported card. AFAIK, the lastest fglrx only support 9500 and newer, but, if the system is telling that you've an 8xxx series, the driver will complaing that didn't find any supported card.

It would be great if you give us a deeper background of your systems, for instance, what card the system had before? which version of ubuntu is?

Regards

danipoak · 12-09-2007, 03:46 PM

ok well its a pretty old system like 7 years now. its a p3 800mhz, and it was running a nvidia TNT2 card in it before. 32mb. im not really sure about anything else int he system, its just a really old dell computer. about editing this xorg.conf file, how would i go about doing that since i am on a live cd, ill need to get the right permissions somehow. i know where to find it, just dont know how to open it so i can edit it. right now its read only.

Acron_0248 · 12-09-2007, 11:07 PM

While using the liveCD, create a dir in /mnt (for example mkdir /mnt/ubuntu), after that, mount the ubuntu partition in that directory and then chroot to it. Something like this:

Code:

mkdir /mnt/ubuntu
mount -t file_system /dev/hdx /mnt/ubuntu 
chroot /mnt/ubuntu

Ubuntu normally use reiserfs by default, so it would be mount -t reiserfs, but if that's not the case, be sure to change 'file_system' according with your partition, and also, change hdx or sdx for whatever the device in your system is.

After the chroot part, you'll be able to edit de file using nano for instance.

Regards

danipoak · 12-10-2007, 08:04 PM

ok im aobut 99.9% sure the hd is ext3. im all clear on how to use the commands and everything and i should be able to do it once i get this cleared up. how do i tell the exact name of the hard drive? its on the desktop of the live cd just titled "disk" i thought normally linux referred to hard drives as hda1 hda2 rather then hd1 or hd2 but i for sure could be wrong. its been awhile since i partioned the drive so i just dont remember what is what. my guess is that it would be hda1 but when i try to mount that i get this:

Code:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/hd1 /mnt/ubuntu
mount: special device /dev/hd1 does not exist

so its got to be something else.

Acron_0248 · 12-10-2007, 09:31 PM

Well, the "x" was just a variable that in your case could be a1 b1 c2 d3, I mean, hda1 hdb2 hdc3, etc...(just examples), you were gonna replace that using the proper device name of your installation

While in the cli, you can type:

Code:

fdisk -l

You should have something like:

Code:

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/hda1   *           1        2607    20940696   83  Linux
/dev/hda2            2608        2806     1598467+  82  Linux swap
/dev/hda3            2807        5423    21021052+  83  Linux

"This is also an example, in your system may be different!"

If you remember that it was hda or hdb, and the partition number, great, that's what you're gonna use

If your partition is hda1, use that as the command you put:

Code:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/hda1 /mnt/ubuntu

Regards

danipoak · 12-10-2007, 09:43 PM

heh, always have to run into some sort of problem. i have it all mounted now, drives were sda and not hda. the problem now is with the command chroot.

Code:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo chroot /mnt/ubuntu
chroot: cannot run command `/bin/bash': Too many levels of symbolic links

thanks.

Acron_0248 · 12-10-2007, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danipoak

heh, always have to run into some sort of problem.

But without them, where would be the fun

So, for what I know, the problem seem to be that you have and endless loop throught symlinks, I mean, a link that point to itself, like sh linked to bash and bash linked to sh.

You could try something like:

Code:

chroot /mnt/ubuntu /usr/bin/env -i HOME=/root "TERM=$TERM" PS1='\u:\w\$ ' PATH=/bin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/usr/sbin /bin/bash

Also, you can check the symlinks with something like:

Code:

ls -l /bin

To see if bash is linked to something that references to itself.

Now, if you have access to root using the livecd (I mean the root user of the liveCD) you can try to use it to edit the file without chrooting, I told you the chroot stuff because in some liveCD the root use a password and I have known people that go mad with this since they don't know the root pass ^^ and to avoid that, I told you to chroot.

Regards

danipoak · 12-15-2007, 04:05 PM

OK, sorry had no time the last few days to work on things. I just did things kind of the lazy way. I started up nautilus as root and just made my way to the xorg file and edited that way. I am now booted up on the hard drive, I have a GUI. The graphcis certainly look weird though. And the restricted drivers menu still says the driver is not in use. Are you familiar with ubuntu at all? To me it seems like this would be a rather simple fix at this point to just get ubuntu to start using the driver, I mean it's already installed and everything. I tried posting this problem on the ubuntu forums, but those are the worst forums ive ever used, nobody helps anybody!

Acron_0248 · 12-15-2007, 05:20 PM

Hi,

Yes, I'm familiarized with ubuntu

It's normal that the systems tells you that the driver isn't being used "if you change the system to use the driver ati instead of fglrx"

I'm also familiarized with the problem of the fglrx which, from the begging is:

Code:

(WW) fglrx: No matching Device section for instance (BusID PCI:1:0:0) found
(EE) No devices detected.

Fatal server error:
no screens found

This line: "(WW) fglrx: No matching Device section for instance (BusID PCI:1:0:0) found" is where the problem start and the driver is basically telling you that can't find any hardware that could be supported.

¿Simple fix? maybe, you could try to install some legacy driver of ati from the repos, but it shouldn't be necessary since you're video card is supported by the latests ati drivers. If it is a bug in the package, you could also try to downloading the ati driver from ati's page and install that driver instead those that are in ubuntu repository.

Also, it can be a problem with how the card is reported by the system, you could try this modifications if that's the case:

Code:

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"Test"
	Boardname	"vesa"
	Busid		"PCI:1:0:0"
	Driver		"fglrx"
	Screen	0
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Device		"Test"
	Monitor		"Failsafe Monitor"
	Defaultdepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth	24
		Virtual	1400	1050
		Modes		"800x600@85"	"800x600@60"	"800x600@75"	"832x624@75"	"800x600@72"	"1024x768@85"	"800x600@56"	"1024x768@75"	"640x480@85"	"1024x768@70"	"640x480@75"	"1024x768@60"	"640x480@72"	"1024x768@43"	"640x480@60"	"1152x864@75"	"1280x960@60"	"1280x1024@60"	"1400x1050@60"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

And no, it's not the same that your current xorg configuration has since I'm using a different bus identification for the device.

Regards