Release notes for 12.10 - some known problems with video drivers

[Aere Greenway]

On Tue, 2012-10-16 at 22:09 +0100, Yorvyk wrote:

> On 16/10/12 20:25, Aere Greenway wrote:
> > On Tue, 2012-10-16 at 11:42 +0100, Yorvyk wrote:
> >> Some of the legacy video drivers are currently non-functional and
> >> aren't likely to be resolved any time soon. If at all.
> >>
> >>
> >> Trident Cyberblade - xserver-xorg-video-trident
> >>
> >> This driver has a whole array of problems.
> >> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/+bugs?field.searchtext=trident&search=Search+Bug+Reports&field.scope=all&field.scope.target=
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> As the VESA driver doesn't work with this chip set the only solution is
> >> to remain with 12.04.
> >>
> >>
> >> Intel i810 - xserver-xorg-video-intel
> >>
> >> This driver currently segfaults on this chipset.
> >> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+bug/1060492
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> SiS M650/650 - xserver-xorg-video-sis
> >>
> >>
> >> This driver currently loops around the login screen for the M650 or
> >> produces a blank screen 650.
> >> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-sis/+bug/1034812
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> Workarounds
> >>
> >> Before upgrade from 12.04 blacklist or delete the video driver and
> >> use Xorg.conf or RandR to set the correct resolution etc. if
> >> necessary.
> >>
> >> A new install can only be accomplished from the alternate ISO.  On
> >>  reboot go to Recovery Mode and delete/blacklist video driver.  On
> >> reboot create suitable xorg.conf or use RandR to get correct
> >> resolution if necessary.
> >>
> >> There may be problems with other legacy video chips for which the
> >> blacklist/delete workaround may well work.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> > Yorvyk:
> >
> > In looking more carefully at your e-mail, I noticed a work-around,
> > which is good.
> >
> As I say the workaround does work but, depending on the monitor, can
> result in an unsuitable screen resolution.  So you'll have to brush up
> on your xorg.conf or RandR settings :/
> 
> 
> > I have a few more questions though.
> >
> > In the "Intel i810 - xserver-xorg-video-intel" case, is that only
> > for the i810 chipset, or is it for Intell graphics in general?  If
> > only the i810 chipset has the problem, my primary machine should be
> > okay, because it uses the i865 chipset.
> >
> I've tried an i865 and the results have been rather erratic.  I'm not
> convinced about the PSU in that machine though, so I'm reluctant to say
> what the results are. I've only seen the problem on i810 and not seen
> any reports for other chip sets so I don't know.  It may work on some 
> i810 based boards as this chip set was always a bit problematic with 
> different manufactures wiring it up in
> different ways.
> 
> 
> > Perhaps the quickest way to determine this, is download the
> > daily-build CD image, and try it out.  I assume if it has the
> > problem on my machine, the live-CD will not run successfully with the
> > intel graphics on my machine.
> >
> All my tests have shown the problem is reproducible with the live-CD and
> that the alternate ISO will install but on reboot will fail with the 
> segfault problem. So you'll have to reboot to recovery mode.  See my 
> post 'Recovery Mode Failure' to see the workaround for that problem.
> Looks like anybody with video problems is going to have fun with this 
> upgrade and is going to have to put in a bit of work to get things working.
> 
> 
> 
> 

Yorvyk:

Thank you very much for the additional information.  

Your initial e-mail on this problem had me worried, but it spurred me to
action (to do some testing of 12.10).  

I downloaded the current Lubuntu 12.10 build, and tried it in all 7
machines in my test-bed.  My test-bed includes a 450-megahertz
HP-Vectra, and a Compac P933 (933 megahertz).  

It worked on all of them - including my primary machine (which depends
on the Intel graphics) that I was worried about.  

Two of the machines depend on the xserver-xorg-video-intel package, and
both of them worked with no problems.  These two machines use the
following chipsets:  

Dell™ Dimension™ 1100, chipset= Intel 865 GV

Dell™ Dimension™ 8200, chipset= Intel 850 or 850E

The two other Dell machines use a Nvidia card for graphics, so I don't
know if their internal Intel graphics would have had a problem.  

Anyway, I do appreciate that you alerted me to a big potential problem,
and relieved that it turned out not to be a problem.  

The other machines tried were an Acer Aspire laptop, a Dell Optiplex
260, a Dell Optiplex 240, an HP Vectra 450 mHz, a Compaq P933.  

The live CD worked on all of them.  I am very much relieved!  

The only problem I encountered was that when I tried to run the system
profiler/benchmark tool, it presented 3 successive empty dialog boxes,
which I had to dismiss, not knowing what they were attempting to alert
me about.  This happened on all of the machines.  

-- 

Sincerely,
Aere
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