[Bug 333812] [NEW] Switch from X11 to console: black or corrupted display

[Thomas Waldmann]

Public bug reported:

Binary package hint: xserver-xorg-video-intel

Bug happens with Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid x86 desktop with all updates as of
today on a Thinkpad SL500

First method (non fatal):
-------------------------------
booting into ubuntu
see splash screen animation.
when gdm login screen is reached (before logging in), try to switch to VT1 using Ctrl-Alt-F1
you get a mostly black screen, with some strange animated effect at the top (like one line of distorted characters running through)
If you switch back (Ctrl-Alt-F7) and try again, you get a working VT1.
If you try again and again, switching is always working.
If you reboot, it will not work for the first time, but for subsequent switches.

Second method (fatal):
------------------------------
You have booted and are logged in.
You tell it to shutdown.
You are logged off, screen goes mostly dark and shows the same strange animated effect as above.
Screen flickers sometimes like if it tries to switch video mode, but doesn't succeed - system is stuck in an endless loop.

(this effect does not happen always, but if you retry 10 or 20 times,
you'll get it)

Third method (fatal)
--------------------------
Boot system.
See splash screen animation.
Then it tries to switch video mode for the gdm login, but screen goes black and stays black.
Hitting Num-Lock doesn't toggle the Num-Lock LED, so system is dead.
You have to press power button 4 seconds to force machine off.

(this effect does not happen always, but if you retry many times, you'll
sporadically get it)

What didn't help
--------------------
I tried removing "quiet splash" to get text messages instead of splash screen animation, no change.
I tried turning off compiz effects ("normal" -> "disabled").

What helped
----------------
Driver "vesa" in xorg.conf and system behaves normal (but slow, of course). 8-(

Software packages:
-------------------------
ii  xserver-xorg-video-intel                     2:2.4.1-1ubuntu10.3                          X.Org X server -- Intel i8xx, i9xx display driver
ii  linux-image-2.6.27-11-generic                2.6.27-11.27                                 Linux kernel image for version 2.6.27 on x86/x86_64

lspci output:
----------------
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 07)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 07)

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 07)
	Subsystem: Lenovo Device 20e4
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
	Memory at fdc00000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4M]
	Memory at d0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
	I/O ports at 5c00 [size=8]
	Capabilities: [90] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
	Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 3

00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 07)
	Subsystem: Lenovo Device 20e4
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
	Memory at fdb00000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1M]
	Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 3

** Affects: xserver-xorg-video-intel (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

-- 
Switch from X11 to console: black or corrupted display
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/333812
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