Bug#257465: X with kernel 2.6.7 produces black screen then freezes computer
Package: xserver-xfree86
Version: 4.3.0.dfsg.1-5
Severity: grave
This problem appears to be similar to Bug #256356, though not I'm not
getting exactly the same symptoms. I just installed the new kernel
image 2.6.7-1-686, and also a new nvidia-kernel-source package. I guess
the problem is with X not with nvidia, because I haven't gotten the
usual sort of "I can't deal with this nvidia thing" errors that X has
given me on occasion before, and because lsmod showed the nvidia module
had loaded correctly, even though X wasn't working at all.
What happens is this:
- boot the computer with the 2.6.7 kernel
- everything looks normal until we are about to get the first X screen
- then the monitor goes completely black, and seems totally
unresponsive. ctrl-alt-backspace to try to restart x doesn't seem to do
anything, but ctrl-alt-1 gives me a text login prompt as usual.
- logging in at the text console allows me to run ps aux, producing
the output at the bottom of this email (maybe it's useful), There
seems to be some X stuff there, so maybe some things are working.
- trying to run startx from the text console, to see if it gives error
messages, produces the same black screen, and this time the computer
appears to be totally frozen with no response to the keyboard at all.
- after reading the bug report for #256356, I tried adding
Option "NoAccel" "True"
to my /etc/X11/XF86Config-4, but that didn't make any difference. My
symptoms seem slightly different to that bug report, so maybe that's
irrelevant anyway. My /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 is attached below incase it
helps.
Thanks,
Helen
__________________________________________________________________________
Output of "ps aux" after logging into text console:
USER PID %CPU %MEM VSZ RSS TTY STAT START TIME COMMAND
root 1 0.2 0.1 1528 528 ? S 17:27 0:00 init [2]
root 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SN 17:27 0:00 [ksoftirqd/0]
root 3 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 17:27 0:00 [events/0]
root 4 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 17:27 0:00 [khelper]
root 5 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 17:27 0:00 [kacpid]
root 39 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 17:27 0:00 [kblockd/0]
root 49 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 17:27 0:00 [pdflush]
root 50 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 17:27 0:00 [pdflush]
root 52 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 17:27 0:00 [aio/0]
root 51 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 17:27 0:00 [kswapd0]
root 53 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 17:27 0:00 [kpnpbiosd]
root 188 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 17:27 0:00 [kseriod]
root 304 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 17:27 0:00 [kjournald]
root 538 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 17:27 0:00 [scsi_eh_0]
root 769 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 17:27 0:00 [khubd]
root 865 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 17:27 0:00 [pccardd]
root 2256 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 17:27 0:00 [khpsbpkt]
root 2269 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 17:27 0:00 [knodemgrd_0]
daemon 2467 0.0 0.0 1640 440 ? Ss 17:27 0:00 /sbin/portmap
root 2625 0.0 0.1 2284 816 ? Ss 17:27 0:00 /sbin/syslogd
root 2628 0.0 0.2 2440 1448 ? Ss 17:27 0:00 /sbin/klogd
root 2643 0.0 0.1 1724 524 ? Ss 17:28 0:00
/usr/lib/laptop-net/ifd /usr/share/laptop-net/link-change eth0
Debian- 2706 0.0 0.3 4228 1596 ? Ss 17:28 0:00
/usr/sbin/exim4 -bd -q30m
root 2711 0.0 0.2 2768 1156 ? Ss 17:28 0:00
/usr/sbin/famd -T 0
root 2721 0.0 0.1 2264 712 ? Ss 17:28 0:00
/usr/sbin/inetd
root 2724 0.0 0.2 2536 1060 ? Ss 17:28 0:00
/usr/sbin/lisa
lp 2729 0.0 0.1 2492 884 ? Ss 17:28 0:00 /usr/sbin/lpd
root 2777 0.0 0.1 1548 688 ? Ss 17:28 0:00 /sbin/cardmgr
root 2784 0.0 0.2 3424 1448 ? Ss 17:28 0:00
/usr/sbin/sshd
root 2793 0.0 0.6 4768 3192 ? Ss 17:28 0:00
/usr/bin/X11/xfs -daemon
root 2865 0.0 0.2 2736 1436 ? S 17:28 0:00 /bin/bash
/etc/rc2.d/S20xprint posix_sh_forced start
root 2866 0.0 0.2 2736 1436 ? S 17:28 0:00 /bin/bash
/etc/rc2.d/S20xprint posix_sh_forced start
root 2867 0.0 0.4 8472 2112 ? S 17:28 0:00
/usr/bin/Xprt -ac -pn -nolisten tcp -audit 4 -fp
/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1,/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType,/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi,/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi,/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc
:64
root 2869 0.0 0.2 2736 1440 ? S 17:28 0:00 /bin/bash
/etc/rc2.d/S20xprint posix_sh_forced start
root 2919 0.0 0.1 1796 820 ? Ss 17:28 0:00
/usr/sbin/cron
root 2978 0.0 0.3 3216 1756 tty1 Ss 17:28 0:00 -zsh
root 2979 0.0 0.0 1528 480 tty2 Ss+ 17:28 0:00
/sbin/getty 38400 tty2
root 2981 0.0 0.0 1528 480 tty3 Ss+ 17:28 0:00
/sbin/getty 38400 tty3
root 2982 0.0 0.0 1528 480 tty4 Ss+ 17:28 0:00
/sbin/getty 38400 tty4
root 2983 0.0 0.0 1528 480 tty5 Ss+ 17:28 0:00
/sbin/getty 38400 tty5
root 2984 0.0 0.0 1528 480 tty6 Ss+ 17:28 0:00
/sbin/getty 38400 tty6
root 3616 0.0 0.1 2400 880 ? Ss 17:28 0:00 dhclient
-e -pf /var/run/dhclient.eth0.pid -lf /var/run/dhclient.eth0.leases eth0
root 3659 0.0 0.1 2528 852 tty1 R+ 17:30 0:00 ps aux
_________________________________________________________________________________
helen:/root> cat /etc/X11/XF86Config-4
### BEGIN DEBCONF SECTION
# XF86Config-4 (XFree86 server configuration file) generated by dexconf, the
# Debian X Configuration tool, using values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the XF86Config-4 manual page.
# (Type "man XF86Config-4" at the shell prompt.)
#
# If you want your changes to this file preserved by dexconf, only make
changes
# before the "### BEGIN DEBCONF SECTION" line above, and/or after the
# "### END DEBCONF SECTION" line below.
#
# To change things within the debconf section, run the command:
# dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86
# as root. Also see "How do I add custom sections to a dexconf-generated
# XF86Config or XF86Config-4 file?" in /usr/share/doc/xfree86-common/FAQ.gz.
#
Section "Files"
# FontPath "unix/:7100" # local font server
# if the local font server has problems, we can fall back on these
# FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
# FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
# FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
# FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
# FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
# FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo"
# FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
# FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
EndSection
Section "Module"
Load "bitmap"
Load "dbe"
Load "ddc"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "record"
Load "speedo"
Load "type1"
Load "vbe"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "gb"
EndSection
Section "ServerFlags"
Option "AllowMouseOpenFail" "true"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Serial Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "Microsoft"
Option "Device" "/dev/ttyS0"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
Option "Emulate3Timeout" "70"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "PS/2 Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
Option "Emulate3Timeout" "70"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "USB Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Buttons" "5"
Option "CorePointer"
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "NVIDIA GeForce4 4200"
Driver "nvidia"
# BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
Option "UseFBDev" "true"
Option "NoLogo" "true"
Option "FlatPanelProperties" "aspect-scaled"
Option "UseEdidFreqs" "on"
VideoRam 65536
Vendorname "NVidia"
Boardname "GeForce3"
# put this in to try to get kernel 2.6.7 working
Option "NoAccel" "true"
# second monitor stuff
# Option "SecondMonitorHorizSync" "28-90"
# Option "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" "40-60"
# Option "TwinViewOrientation" "LeftOf"
# Option "ConnectedMonitor" "DFP,CRT"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
vendorname "[Dell Panel WUXGA]"
modelname "[Dell Panel WUXGA]"
Identifier "Dell Panel WUXGA"
DisplaySize 330 210
HorizSync 31.5-100
VertRefresh 30-90
Option "DPMS"
Modeline "1280x800" 67.26 1280 1312 1560 1592 800 801 804 830
Modeline "1280x800" 107.21 1280 1360 1496 1712 800 801 804 835
Modeline "1280x800" 123.38 1280 1368 1504 1728 800 801 804 840
Modeline "1280x800" 147.89 1280 1376 1512 1744 800 801 804 848
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "NVIDIA GeForce4 4200"
Monitor "Dell Panel WUXGA"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Virtual 0 0
# Modes "1280x800/60Hz" "1024x768" "800x600"
"640x480"
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
Virtual 0 0
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
Virtual 0 0
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
Virtual 0 0
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
Virtual 0 0
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
Virtual 0 0
EndSubSection
EndSection
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
# InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
# InputDevice "Generic Mouse"
InputDevice "Serial Mouse"
InputDevice "PS/2 Mouse"
InputDevice "USB Mouse"
EndSection
Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection
### END DEBCONF SECTION
#Section "InputDevice"
#Identifier "Keyboard"
# Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
# Option "XkbLayout" "gb"
# Driver "keyboard"
#EndSection
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