Linux Archive - switching between X and the console

I read your other posts (Corrected) on this issue. I too have the dreaded ATI
X200 Mobility version. This issue may not be ATI at all. There is a known
bug that has existed for the past two buntu version concerning not being able
to switch to a usable console (ALT+F#). There is also a fix posted for this
bug. The bug exists in NVidia video cards as well.

The synopsis on the launchpad appears to be that buntu intentionally broke a
working part of the OS to sort out an issue with power mgt. I am skeptical
of this, as I can not conceive of any sane developer doing this type of fix.

Here is the bug# and subject line:

[Bug 129910] Re: Blank ttys when using vesafb (vga=xxx)

The following is a slightly modified sample of one of the most recent posts
for correcting this problem. I fixed my issue by following the same basic
steps. Hope this helps.

Larry

<quote from launchpad>

I changed around the display settings in /etc/usplash.conf to be:
xres=1024
yres=768
Then installed the proprietary fglrx drivers (in the process of this I had
need of a terminal when X would not start, only to find that those would not
work either! Only booting recovery console would *get a working terminal
thankfully.)

Fixed it with the following steps:
sudo apt-get install hwinfo
sudo hwinfo --framebuffer
looked through supported vga modes and found one I liked:
Mode 0x0323: 1024x768 (+4096), 32 bits

sudo vim /boot/grub/menu.lst
found my kernel line and added vga=0x0323
sudo grub-update

sudo vim /etc/initramfs-tools/modules
inserted:
fbcon
radeonfb

sudo vim /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-framebuffer
un-blacklist the module by commenting out line:
#blacklist radeonfb
update the initramfs:
sudo update-initramfs -u -k all -v

Fixed with acceptable resolution and working usplash :D.

</quote from launchpad>

On Wednesday 13 February 2008 09:01:33 pm Constantinos Maltezos wrote:
> Okay, I wrote previously asking for advice on getting a black screen when I
> try to switch to the console. I also get a corrupted screen and I don't
> know if I mentioned it. I learned a little more and thought I'd share it.
>
> Well, it turns out the problem is the accelerated ATI driver. On my Compaq
> Presario V5000 laptop, I have an ATI Radeon Xpress 200 graphics chip. I
> found the following page with release notes:
>
> http://www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/linux_8.8.25.html
>
> According to this page, the updated driver they're talking about changes
> the following, among other things:
>
> "Display corruption is no longer seen when switching between X-Windows and
> the Linux text console, and back to X-Windows"
>
> Now, the ATI driver that adept downloads when you specify to download
> restricted stuff is version 8.37.6. So I downloaded the installer from
> ATI's web site. Unfortunately, the file it gave me had version 8.455.2
> and, as you can tell from the URL mentioned above, the issue is fixed in
> the mysteriously elusive 8.8.25.
>
> Now if I can figure out a way to write to ATI via email (their web site
> really isn't helping in this regard), I'll post here again with their
> answer. In the meantime, I'm going to their support forum and posting
> there, though I don't really expect anything out of that.
>
> Cheers

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