Bug#603035: kfreebsd-i386: broken display
Package: installation-reports
Severity: normal
-- Package-specific info:
Boot method: usb stick
Image version: daily mini.iso (20101107)
Date: 20101107
Machine: VIA Nehemia CPU, VIA graphics chipset
Partitions: <df -Tl will do; the raw partition table is preferred>
Base System Installation Checklist:
[O] = OK, [E] = Error (please elaborate below), [ ] = didn't try it
Initial boot: [O]
Detect network card: [ ]
Configure network: [ ]
Detect CD: [ ]
Load installer modules: [ ]
Detect hard drives: [ ]
Partition hard drives: [ ]
Install base system: [ ]
Clock/timezone setup: [ ]
User/password setup: [ ]
Install tasks: [ ]
Install boot loader: [ ]
Overall install: [ ]
Comments/Problems:
I ran the installation process from a usb stick. GRUB displays fine, I
pick "Default install". After the ramdisk and kernel are loaded, I can
see briefly about half a page of kernel information, but the remainder
of the kernel boot messages are shrunk to a single line. The boot
proceeds to the first install dialog, which is unreadable, see:
http://imgur.com/u5dLql&0aTCB?full
Here are the results of my experimentations on this machine:
- I changed grub's display mode, to see if the use of gfxterm was
the root cause of the problem. Setting "output_terminal text"
does not solve the problem.
- I installed FreeBSD 8.1 (no problem encountered) to see if
FreeBSD's kernel was unable to use my graphic card properly, but
the dispaly is fine.
- I tried to install using a serial console, but it failed (I can
get grub's I/O on the serial console, but not the install
process). Is it feasible?
- I tried to cheat and boot FreeBSD's kernel as it is on my disk
to bypass the kernel used in mini.iso, but I get a kernel panic.
My guess is that kfreebsd's kernel in the install images differs from
upstream in such a way that it no longer supports my graphic card
properly. Graphics are provided by an onboard VIA chip, I'll provide
more information about it later.
Laurent.
Reply to: