Screen goes blank with startx or X -config

rafaelbfs

rafaelbfs

I have enabled dbus and hald in rc.conf.
I have also created the config file with Xorg -configure.

But when I try to test it with:

Code: 
X -config /etc/xorg.conf.new -retro
OR...
Code: 
startx

The screen goes blank and pressing Ctrl+Alt+Fn or Ctrl+C or Ctrl+Alt+Backspace doesn't return to command line and I have to hit power button. I'm using a Toshiba Satellite A70-S249 notebook with an ATI-Radeon 9000 Series.
 
What version of Xorg (and more specifically xserver) do you have?
Also what version of FreeBSD on what architecture?
 
You could look at your Xorg log file. Lines that begin with (EE) indicate errors.
Something like this should work: more /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep '(EE)'
 
@stonecoldsed

More is a pager, use cat. Or just grep.
Code: 
cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep '(EE)'
grep '(EE)' /var/log/Xorg.0.log
 
It is a i386 FreeBSD 8.0

Code: 
Xorg -version
Shows:
X.org X Server 1.6.1

Is there a newer version? How can I update?

grep found no error line in the Xorg log. The only one it found was the legend line.
However grepping for (WW) showed:

Code: 
(WW) AllowEmptyInput is on, ...
(WW) Disabling Mouse0
(WW) Disabling Keyboard0
 
rafaelbfs said:
It is a i386 FreeBSD 8.0

Code: 
Xorg -version
Shows:
X.org X Server 1.6.1

Is there a newer version? How can I update?
Click to expand...

Yes, xorg 7.5 with xorg-server 1.7.5,1 is available. Update ports and install x11/xorg.

grep found no error line in the Xorg log. The only one it found was the legend line.
However grepping for (WW) showed:

Code: 
(WW) AllowEmptyInput is on, ...
(WW) Disabling Mouse0
(WW) Disabling Keyboard0
Click to expand...

I suspect those are normal for that version. Besides, even if X doesn't have mouse and keyboard drivers, you should still be able to use ctrl-alt-f1. (AllowEmptyInput is at default there, please don't change it.)

The Radeon 9000 is really old, but I've got an old Dell notebook here with one that works adequately. I've also got a much newer Toshiba that hates FreeBSD a lot and only works with ACPI disabled.
 
... you should still be able to use ctrl-alt-f1. (AllowEmptyInput is at default there, please don't change it.)
Click to expand...
Did you read my first post?
Ctrl+Alt+Fn, where n from 1 to 12, doesn't work, only Power button works.

Yes, xorg 7.5 with xorg-server 1.7.5,1 is available. Update ports and install x11/xorg.
Click to expand...
Sory about the long delay:
I have portsnap extract'd the entire ports collection then I ran portmanager -U, it took about 10 hours to upgrade the whole ports colection.
When I run make install on xorg port it does show installing X.org-7.5
But the version of xorg-server is still 1.6.1. Howcome?
 
rafaelbfs said:
Did you read my first post?
Ctrl+Alt+Fn, where n from 1 to 12, doesn't work, only Power button works.
Click to expand...

Yes, I read your post, but think you missed something in mine:
"Besides, even if X doesn't have mouse and keyboard drivers, you should still be able to use ctrl-alt-f1."

In other words, even with the warnings, ctrl-alt-f1 should work, and that it doesn't means it's probably not a misconfiguration but a true lockup.

I have portsnap extract'd the entire ports collection then I ran portmanager -U, it took about 10 hours to upgrade the whole ports colection.
When I run make install on xorg port it does show installing X.org-7.5
But the version of xorg-server is still 1.6.1. Howcome?
Click to expand...

Forgot to do a 'portsnap fetch' first?
 
"Besides, even if X doesn't have mouse and keyboard drivers, you should still be able to use ctrl-alt-f1."
Click to expand...
Sorry, I missed the "should".

Forgot to do a 'portsnap fetch' first?
Click to expand...
I didn't, I've fetched first.
Now xorg is 7.5 and xserver is 1.7.5. I have upgraded both through portupgrade.
I have also upgraded xorg-drivers , and radeonhd.

But After running Xorg -configure
X -config on the new .conf file still locks up the system.
 
rafaelbfs said:
Now xorg is 7.5 and xserver is 1.7.5. I have upgraded both through portupgrade.
I have also upgraded xorg-drivers , and radeonhd.
Click to expand...

Making progress. Try radeon instead of radeonhd, it supports all the same hardware but seems a lot more solid.

For reference, here's the xorg.conf for that Dell with a Radeon 9000:http://laptop.bsdgroup.de/freebsd/index.html?action=show_config&config=xconfig&laptop=12937

But After running Xorg -configure
X -config on the new .conf file still locks up the system.
Click to expand...

Is it still a hard lockup? If you try # Xorg -config xorg.conf.new -retrodo you get any graphic output?
 
Is it still a hard lockup? If you try # Xorg -config xorg.conf.new -retro do you get any graphic output?
Click to expand...

No output, same blankscreen with no possibility to escape.

Bad news the driver in the created xorg.conf is already set to "radeon"
The BoardName is "RS300M AGP [Radeon Mobility 9100IGP]"
I have just added AccelMethod line which was the only one missing, regarding the Card section.
The screen still goes blank.
 
rafaelbfs said:
No output, same blankscreen with no possibility to escape.

Bad news the driver in the created xorg.conf is already set to "radeon"
The BoardName is "RS300M AGP [Radeon Mobility 9100IGP]"
I have just added AccelMethod line which was the only one missing, regarding the Card section.
The screen still goes blank.
Click to expand...

http://www.mail-archive.com/dri-devel@lists.sourceforge.net/msg29327.html is old, but it's easy to add Option "DRI" "Off" to the Device section for testing. (If that works, please report it to the freebsd-xorg mailing list. That's also the place to ask for more help if it doesn't work, the developers are there.)

The only other thing that comes to mind is increasing the amount of video RAM if the BIOS allows it. sshing in from another machine and tailing the Xorg.0.log file might let you see how far it gets when starting X.
 
Thank you
Code: 
Xorg -config /root/xorg.conf.new -retro
Shows no more blank screens and the cursor moves.
Now it is time to install a Gnome or KDE.
I've had to return to "radeon" as "radeonhd" doesn't support my videocard.
I guess I won't be able to run any fancy compiz graphics with DRI disabled?
 
Shows no more blank screens and the cursor moves.
Click to expand...

Excellent!

I guess I won't be able to run any fancy compiz graphics with DRI disabled?
Click to expand...

It might run, just not be fast enough to use--but I haven't tried it.

If DRI works on Linux, then it may be possible to get it working on FreeBSD also (freebsd-xorg mailing list).

Editing posts is only allowed after you have ten posts, I think.
 
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