Kreuger Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 So since I upgraded my laptop (which is an IBM Thinkpad X30) to Ibex, I've been having weird display problems. At first I thought it was my theme but I've switched to others and after a few minutes they go crazy too. Here's a screenie, one with a different theme and one other showing the Neowin forums so you can see the font problem better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren89 Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 display driver problem maybe? try checking for the latest updates... what graphic card is your thinkpad running? edit: could this be suited to your problem also? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lechio Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 That X is really messed up... The graphics controller is an Intel 830 for that model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreuger Posted November 11, 2008 Author Share Posted November 11, 2008 Yeah I know what the card is. What do I do to fix it? Do I just use sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lechio Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 At the ubuntu forums they suggest pressing "CTRL+ALT+F1" and then returning back to the X session. That will make the X repaint the screen. It's not a fix, and nothing is said about how to go and fix it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreuger Posted November 11, 2008 Author Share Posted November 11, 2008 (edited) I asked on there and nobody bothered to reply. I tried the reconfigure thing then hit CTRL ALT BACKSPACE and relogged in and so far it seems to have fixed it. Edit: Didn't help. So I tried your way and it doesn't last long. Is it possible the graphics card is dying? Edit 2: By the way, could this be suited to your problem also? Seems similar and there's no fix there either, other than what Lechio said. Edited November 11, 2008 by Kreuger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lechio Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 What I've said does same thing, it's not a fix. It just repaints things, it will not correct the problem. No, the card is OK. It's a problem with the X server/card drivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreuger Posted November 11, 2008 Author Share Posted November 11, 2008 (edited) Well also according to that page, it's Firefox causing the problem and when I Firefox is also when it happens to me. So I grabbed the 3.1 beta and Im trying it out. So far, it's fine. So I'm wondering what's wrong with Firefox that's causing it. I think I'm gonna have to go visit Launchpad. Edit: Well now the 3.1 beta is doing it too. I don't know what to do anymore. I dont want to have to redraw the GUI every 5 or 10 minutes. There's gotta be more information somewhere Edit 2: According to the release notes, there is a bug in the driver related to compiz but it seems to imply that the driver should work okay with the desktop effects disabled (and mine are). Edited November 11, 2008 by Kreuger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreuger Posted November 11, 2008 Author Share Posted November 11, 2008 I guess I should add my xorg.conf, maybe that will help? # xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)# # This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using # values from the debconf database. # # Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page. # (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.) # # This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only* # if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg # package. # # If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated # again, run the following command: # sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg Section "Files" EndSection # commented out by update-manager, HAL is now used #Section "InputDevice" # Identifier "Generic Keyboard" # Driver "kbd" # Option "CoreKeyboard" # Option "XkbRules" "xorg" # Option "XkbModel" "pc105" # Option "XkbLayout" "us" #EndSection # commented out by update-manager, HAL is now used #Section "InputDevice" # Identifier "Configured Mouse" # Driver "mouse" # Option "CorePointer" # Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice" # Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2" # Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5" # Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true" #EndSection # commented out by update-manager, HAL is now used #Section "InputDevice" # Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad" # Driver "synaptics" # Option "SendCoreEvents" "true" # Option "Device" "/dev/psaux" # Option "Protocol" "auto-dev" # Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "0" #EndSection # commented out by update-manager, HAL is now used #Section "InputDevice" # Driver "wacom" # Identifier "stylus" # Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom" # Option "Type" "stylus" # Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY #EndSection # commented out by update-manager, HAL is now used #Section "InputDevice" # Driver "wacom" # Identifier "eraser" # Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom" # Option "Type" "eraser" # Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY #EndSection # commented out by update-manager, HAL is now used #Section "InputDevice" # Driver "wacom" # Identifier "cursor" # Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom" # Option "Type" "cursor" # Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY #EndSection Section "Device" Identifier "Intel Corporation 82830 CGC [Chipset Graphics Controller]" Driver "intel" BusID "PCI:0:2:0" EndSection Section "Monitor" Identifier "Generic Monitor" Option "DPMS" HorizSync 30-70 VertRefresh 50-160 EndSection Section "Screen" Identifier "Default Screen" Device "Intel Corporation 82830 CGC [Chipset Graphics Controller]" Monitor "Generic Monitor" DefaultDepth 24 EndSection Section "ServerLayout" Identifier "Default Layout" Screen "Default Screen" # commented out by update-manager, HAL is now used # InputDevice "Generic Keyboard" # commented out by update-manager, HAL is now used # InputDevice "Configured Mouse" # Uncomment if you have a wacom tablet # InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents" # InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents" # InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents" # commented out by update-manager, HAL is now used # InputDevice "Synaptics Touchpad" EndSection By the way, when I run CTRL ALT F1 now, it brings me to a terminal and I can login but when I run startx, it says it's already running on this display so I end up having to restart the laptop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lechio Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 By the way, when I run CTRL ALT F1 now, it brings me to a terminal and I can login but when I run startx, it says it's already running on this display so I end up having to restart the laptop. No, you don't run startx, just press "CTRL+ALT+F7" to get back to X. Another driver should work, besides the one you have from Intel. Try to reconfigure the X server and choose to use a different driver to see if that solves it. sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg Then restart the X server. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadgeek9 Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Just try CTRL-ALT-BACKSPACE. That restarts X manually and puts you back to the logon screen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreuger Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 Another driver should work, besides the one you have from Intel. Try to reconfigure the X server and choose to use a different driver to see if that solves it. When I did that before, it didnt ask me anything video related, just mostly about the keyboard. What if I change it to vesa or something in the xorg conf by hand?Just try CTRL-ALT-BACKSPACE. That restarts X manually and puts you back to the logon screen. Thanks but I knew that already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lechio Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Yap, try it with different drivers to see if it is related to the driver. Change that section on the file and restart the X server. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreuger Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 Well I tried vesa and that didn't work. Other than nvidia, Im not sure what else to try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lechio Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Try frame buffer. Put "fbdev" in the device section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadgeek9 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Try frame buffer. Put "fbdev" in the device section. Isn't there a boot option that allows him to boot with the Framebuffer driver without playing with anything? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lechio Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Yap, it's passed at boot time to the kernel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreuger Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 I assume I'll have to edit the grub line at boot. What do I add? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lechio Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 (edited) https://wiki.ubuntu.com/FrameBuffer Consult the page above, it shows how to enable/change it at boot time. It's has simple as adding "vga=??" to the "/boot/grub/menu.lst", replacing "??" with the appropriate number. EDIT: After that done run: sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg And select "yes" when it asks if the framebuffer should be used. Don't know if this will be a solution, never tested this before. Edited November 12, 2008 by Lechio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 The "Intel" driver replaced the old "i810" driver (and a whole bunch of other Intel drivers), but I think it's still available. Try that instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreuger Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 (edited) When I try other drivers the laptop isn't even useable. The desktop shows for a second then fades to green and it has all kinds of grainy lines and a bunch of other crap. I keep having to drop back to a terminal and resetting the xorg.conf. I havent tried the framebuffer yet though And select "yes" when it asks if the framebuffer should be used. This made no difference so should I even bother with the boot option? I also noticed it seemed to get worse when I was running on battery power. Edited November 13, 2008 by Kreuger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreuger Posted November 15, 2008 Author Share Posted November 15, 2008 I guess all that's left for me to do is try a fresh install. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreuger Posted December 6, 2008 Author Share Posted December 6, 2008 (edited) Well now I have a fresh install and it's still doing it. This makes me believe it's gotta be the graphics card dying and not related to the software. Edit: I don't get it. It's fine, I start Firefox and it messes up. So I dont know what to think. Is Firefox running too hard on my system or something? Edited December 6, 2008 by Kreuger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astnbomb Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 Well now I have a fresh install and it's still doing it. This makes me believe it's gotta be the graphics card dying and not related to the software.Edit: I don't get it. It's fine, I start Firefox and it messes up. So I dont know what to think. Is Firefox running too hard on my system or something? Looks to me from the screenshots that your card is either dying or running too hot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redvamp128 Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 Try connecting it to a normal monitor - I think those thinkpads have the normal VGA connector-- a function switch key could tell you if it could just be your LCD going bad ... if it still does this then possibly - run a memtest-- I ran into a thinkpad in the past that once I changed the memory it fixed that issue. If IBM (LENVO) hasn't changed it -- there should be an option on boot in the bios for a memory check- also there should be one on the grub menu. Also alternatively-- just to see if it is a IBEX issue-- I would download a puppy linux and do the install of puppy with the option of Co-Exist- I have one system where I installed puppy linux inside a directory on an Ubuntu partition- (just had to manually edit the menu.1st file) This could tell you if it is an IBEX issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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