The problem I’m facing is rather strange and it started occurring after I installed the official ATi drivers on my Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop which has the ATI x1300 mobility card.
The problem is simple:
Whenever I plug in/out my power adapter the display goes blank.
i hit Ctrl-Alt-F6 (to get into the console) and then Ctrl-Alt-F7 (to get back in the GUI) and this is the only way to get the display back without a reboot.
Any ideas, will be of great help.
P.S.: I’m a newbie to Linux. openSuSE v 11.0 (Fresh Install)
Possibly you have powersave settings which are set to power off the screen or switch to screensaver. Try switching off all powersave options for screensavers etc… and work from there
ok, here’s the thing. I’ve checked Screen Saver / Power Management / ATi Catalyst Control Panel for power saving options but the thing is everything’s fine. Secondly, even if you do assume that the power saving thing is messing up then why does the display not resume even when I move the mouse or press keys on the keyboard. Also, if there is a power save feature issue, it should only kick in when I remove my power adapter, not when I reconnect it.
For one thing - ATI = trouble
Aside from that. Add screensavers and desktop effects in the mix and it can be very problematic. I’m just saying disable all screensaving, desktop effects and only use ‘Performance’ setting even when in battery mode.
Unfortunately, I still don’t know what desktop environment you are using: kde3/4? gnome? so it’s difficult to point you in the right direction.
Make sure you backup your current working xorg.conf file first:
cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.working
Also worth checking if you have
Option “DPMS” “true”
in ‘Monitor’ section. This can cause problems for some hardware, (although doesn’t sound like the issue here). You can comment out with ‘#’ at beginning of line or remove if required.
well I tried everything you listed. plus, i deactived 3D hardware accleration and the desktop effects. Well, nothing works. KDE download shows over 2GB; I won’t download that at this connection speed.
well again one of those failed installations of SuSE. I removed the drivers for Ati card and I’m stuck at the console. The XServer can’t start no more. Th GDM says it’s incorrectly configured or Xserver is abesnt. Further sax2 give a command not found error.
I’ve given up.
I’ll get my Vista DVD and remove these partitios of SuSE and be happy with my Windows installation…
till I again get fed up of the Misro$oft s/w.
btw, I tried several forums/sites to get the Xserver / GDM / Ati drivers re installed (almost 4 hrs now) … no hope.
Topic Closed. Problem Unresolved … umm Resolved {Deleted SuSE}.
The driver on ATi site gives me a v7.1 rpm which solves this problem but if I enable Compiz effects the screen is all white.
If I install the driver in the update repos (v8.x), I’ll have the problem I’ve mentioned above.
I have experienced these problems on openSuSE 11.0 (GNome 2.22 and KDE 3.5/4)
Maybe I might update this after I install SuSE 11.2, not planning on installing SuSE 11.1
amey7 adjusted his/her AFDB on Monday 13 Jul 2009 15:46 to write:
>
> ok here’s the thing. anaylysis:
> 1. The driver on ATi site gives me a v7.1 rpm which solves this problem
> but if I enable Compiz effects the screen is all white.
That is very indicative of the GL module not being used and opengl selected
for the render option in compiz.
The same happens when you select the wrong one for kwin effects.
The quickest fix for that is to make sure you have mc installed ( a midnight
commander like file manager for the console )
Then reboot to runlevel 3 and use mc logged in as your user and rename the
…kde4 dir in you home dir note that is the “.” dir.
Then as root run init 5 this should get you back to a default login with a
default session.
Then you ask what to do next
Gotta go there is a thunderstorm coming over and my ups is no good.
–
Mark
Caveat emptor
Nullus in verba
Nil illegitimi carborundum
I also found another (possible) fix to this. Some guy on the forum threads who has the same problem with this same GPU wrote that if I change the driver value from “radeonhd” to “fglrx” it works fine.
The problem is my updates auto installed the 8.5 version from the ATi repo and now I’m facing the problem number 2.
>2. If I install the driver in the update repos (v8.x), I’ll have the >problem I’ve mentioned above.
>I have experienced these problems on openSuSE 11.0 (GNome 2.22 and KDE >3.5/4)
And I’m unable to reinstall the Ati driver i downloaded. It is a .run file which I have to use to get the .rpm file. For some reason the "sh ati.run --buildpkg <SuSE/SUSEversion*> shows failed to build.
– and hey thkx for the post in the middle of a “thunderstorm”
Uninstalling the ATI Linux Proprietary Driver
Uninstalling the ATI Linux Proprietary Driver is dependent on the mode of the initial
installation.
Automatic or Custom Driver Installations
If the ATI Proprietary Linux Driver was installed using either the Automatic or Custom
options, then do the following:
Launch the Terminal Application/Window and navigate to the /usr/share/ati folder.
With superuser permissions, enter the command “sh ./fglrx-uninstall.sh”.
Reboot your system.
You have now successfully uninstalled the ATI Linux Proprietary Driver.
amey7 adjusted his/her AFDB on Tuesday 14 Jul 2009 07:26 to write:
>
> I also found another (possible) fix to this. Some guy on the forum
> threads who has the same problem with this same GPU wrote that if I
> change the driver value from “radeonhd” to “fglrx” it works fine.
> The problem is my updates auto installed the 8.5 version from the ATi
> repo and now I’m facing the problem number 2.
>>2. If I install the driver in the update repos (v8.x), I’ll have the
>>problem I’ve mentioned above.
>>I have experienced these problems on openSuSE 11.0 (GNome 2.22 and KDE
>>3.5/4)
>
> And I’m unable to reinstall the Ati driver i downloaded. It is a *.run
> file which I have to use to get the .rpm file. For some reason the "sh
> ati.run --buildpkg <SuSE/SUSE-version-> shows failed to build.
>
> – and hey thkx for the post in the middle of a “thunderstorm”
>
>
Personally I would not create the rpm, this is only of value if you need it
for installing on other machines with the same soft/hardware installed just
use the install script, don`t choose to compile the distro specific package
( rpm ), do not let it check online for a newer whatever and then just Ok,
Ok Ok… if it throws error while compiling then refer to the readme to
make sure you have all the required libs, sources, apps installed and if it
still fails then holler here.
And yes you will also get the white screen if you try and use the radeonhd
or the radeon driver as they do not have the hardware Opengl 3D capabilities
of the propriety drivers ( yet ) plus ( and this is something that is not
stressed enough:
Once you have the fglrx installed if you do not un-install using the ATI
script or the rpm if you use that then your system will not be able to use
the opensource drivers
Reason: The propriety drivers replace certain libs with ones that are “not”
compatible with the other drivers and back the older ones up if the ATI`s
are not removed correctly then you do not replace the files with the default
ones that you had before and problems arise.
The way to fix this if it happens is to re-install the ATI drivers again and
then use the script as caf has pointed out
If you choose the xrender option when using the opensource drivers then it
“should” work but then all the drawing will use the CPU and not the GPU.
So you will have a really terrible experience.
HTH
–
Mark
Caveat emptor
Nullus in verba
Nil illegitimi carborundum
I don’t know if I can do a direct install of the run file coz in the installation readme it is given: create a Distro Specific rpm. The question is pretty simple here with my current settings:
Why does the display go blank when I plug my AC adapter in/out of the Laptop. I’ve tried all the power features management and stuff, but no use. Is there any method to override the function that switches the display mode when an interrupt declares a change of power source or something?
Also, I think these driver render the video much better so I plan to keep them. Thx.
As an additional info, the last time I had installed SuSE 11 the rpm file did get created on this very machine. I donno why it is not happening now.
amey7 adjusted his/her AFDB on Tuesday 14 Jul 2009 11:36 to write:
>
> I don’t know if I can do a direct install of the run file coz in the
> installation readme it is given: create a Distro Specific rpm. The
> question is pretty simple here with my current settings:
>
> Why does the display go blank when I plug my AC adapter in/out of the
> Laptop. I’ve tried all the power features management and stuff, but no
> use. Is there any method to override the function that switches the
> display mode when an interrupt declares a change of power source or
> something?
The simple answer from me is that I honestly do not know, I have never
experienced this behaviour here.
I am no use I am afraid.
The only thing I can suggest is that when it blanks can you blindly input
your password and press enter?
Does that bring the screen back?
Or do you need to switch vt and back?
Just wondering if it “is” a powersave feature that is not working right by
not displaying the password dialogue due to the ATI drivers.
I do seem to remember that happening sometime in the distant past.
–
Mark
Caveat emptor
Nullus in verba
Nil illegitimi carborundum
Hey, I am really thankfull that you did all you could to help me. And yes, thanks to everyone who has so far put in an effort to sort me out here.
The thing is i can input characters and even my media player continues! The display simple goes out and I have to reveive it by switching to console (Ctrl+Alt+F6) and back (Ctrl+Alt+F7). Btw I can also see the console when I switch. Do you think I should report this as a bug or verify if the problem exists in the further release.
Just an off the mark question; If I do a network upgrade to SuSE 11.1 will it do? And typically how much is the download size. I’ve more or less updated my system with all the possible updates in the Package Installer (for my installed software).
Finally a THANKS to everyone who has helped / tried to help!
amey7 adjusted his/her AFDB on Tuesday 14 Jul 2009 16:06 to write:
> Just an off the mark question; If I do a network upgrade to SuSE 11.1
> will it do? And typically how much is the download size. I’ve more or
> less updated my system with all the possible updates in the Package
> Installer (for my installed software).
>
Ummm… that is a big question.
I would say no don`t do it, network installs are OK, but upgrades can go
horribly wrong. Just a normal upgrade with a DVD can make the system
impossible to run smoothly and a network upgrade can be interrupted by loads
of things, server down, server slow due to demand, power outage like we
nearly had here during a thunder storm, some berk with a digger going
through the cable etc… etc… which would leave you with a partly upgraded
system without a nice shiny disk to carry on and no other option but to
format and install the older one.
If you have the bandwidth and the connection then grab the CD or DVD and try
an upgrade from that, at least if it goes pear shaped you will have the new
version to install afterwards.
> Finally a THANKS to everyone who has helped / tried to help!
>
>
Hey no probs that is why we all come here.
Take care.
–
Mark
Caveat emptor
Nullus in verba
Nil illegitimi carborundum
ok, I’ve installed openSuSE 11.1 (KDE4) from live CD and the problem is more intensifed. When I do install the ATi drivers I can’t get a display. Even SaX2 configuration gives a blank display.
I’ve given up on my Laptop, ATi and SuSE combination.
That leaves me with two options.
Try a different distro on Laptop
Install SuSE on my desktop (which fortunately has a nVidia chipset – the GeForce 8800GT )
