[Bug 41355] Re: s3switch segfaults on the thinkpad [patch]

[Hans-Juergen Mauser]

Hello Rolf,

thanks for replying. Well, this piece of software is not of any kind
which must be updated regularly just for updating's sake. It is a real-
mode VGA register accessing tool for a graphics hardware that is about
10 years old, but very common in a lot of laptops built around 2000 to
2004. So updates are only really necessary if some constraints change,
like just recently the VM86 macros and some header files. The original
programmer of this tool seems to have stopped his efforts around about
2003.

In fact, this tool should even be included in the xserver-savage package
as it is the simplest way for using the TV output which usually cannot
be accessed by pressing the Fn key combination for LCD/CRT switching -
this virtually never allows switching the TV output on.

I think it is possible to manage at least a rudimentary maintenance of
this package. I have three laptops using this hardware, so I just need
it for myself and spend the time improving it independently of any
public demand - but I'd like to give the results back to the community.

As mentioned before, for optimised work for this tool, changes in the
savage driver are also useful or even necessary, as weird behaviour
might result otherwise. For example, the s3switch tool writes its
changes directly to the VGA registers, but the savage driver does not
notice this in its current version. In case of a resolution change or
switch to VT, it reverts to the settings taken during start-up of the X
server as it thinks it has to "restore" the settings.

I have a prototype version running here which collaborates quite well
and even manages to get the video scaling correct for a single output.
As overlaying is quite different in this driver from regular graphics
and laptop LCD expansion has to be taken into account, there are a lot
of details to obey.

I'm also hoping for Tormod Volden who already encouraged me towards
improving the savage driver, which in turn just longs for matching the
s3switch tool...


Thanks and best regards,

Hans-Juergen

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Title:
  s3switch segfaults on the thinkpad [patch]

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