Bug 113536

Summary: mist hardware-detection during install - here: graphic cards
Product: [openSUSE] SUSE LINUX 10.0 Reporter: Thomas Lodewick <jbscout_berlin>
Component: OtherAssignee: Stefan Dirsch <sndirsch>
Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX QA Contact: E-mail List <qa-bugs>
Severity: Critical    
Priority: P5 - None CC: jbscout_berlin
Version: Beta 3   
Target Milestone: ---   
Hardware: PC   
OS: SUSE Other   
Whiteboard:
Found By: Beta-Customer Services Priority:
Business Priority: Blocker: ---
Marketing QA Status: --- IT Deployment: ---
Attachments: the xorg.conf
last Xorg-lofgile - see commends

Description Thomas Lodewick 2005-08-27 12:16:50 UTC
while installung beta3 the installer can't detect propper my graphic cards.
after the detection starts and the BIOS of the cards get on the monitor, I get
only a blinking textmode view, the system looks like hanging.

my cards are:
- 1. nvidia GForce FX 5200 at a Viemode 19'' monitor
- 2. nvidia VANTA / LE at a 17'' Conmark m-1795

after the 3. try to install and looking at the blinking screen I've also looked
at the HDs - they are still active. so I found a way to get the system running
(even not the right way):

1. wait until the HDs are not active while the screen is blinking
--> press enter
2. HDS get active, wait again till that ends
--> press enter
3. HDs are again actice, wait till that ends
--> press enter

KDM will start, but at the second monitor as its primary, and on the first
monitor at its secondary. there are no other TTYs active. trying to switch to it
doesn't work, of course.

every run of SAX2 at runlevel 3 crashed with the same results as above.
installing the nvidia-driver (via YOU or "by hand") didn't fix it - results are
the same.
when starting SAX via YAST I can see that both cards are detected as "GeForce FX
5200 (0x0322)"

I don't know if this is an error at SAX2, X11 or the nvidia-driver, so I don't
know exactly where to report that. I hope its ok here. I will also put the
xorg.conf-file. when other files are needed, please contact me.

regards,
JBScout // Thomas
Comment 1 Thomas Lodewick 2005-08-27 12:18:45 UTC
Created attachment 47858 [details]
the xorg.conf
Comment 2 Stefan Dirsch 2005-08-29 09:25:49 UTC
Already no real video signal during boot looks more like a hardware problem for
me. I propose to remove one gfx board (TNT) first to see if it's related to the
dual gfx board configuration.
Comment 3 Thomas Lodewick 2005-08-29 16:12:37 UTC
(In reply to comment #2)

I don't think so: the system can boot ! the installation starts as normal an the
prim screen (thats the FX500-card at 19'' monitor), it installs all packages,
restart, ask the root-PW, the users etc, the version-info, and even the
hardware-detection starts - till the both BIOS-signs from the cards are on the
screen. then it ends as written above.
I've installed the SUSE9.3pro with no problem. I can install the beta3 only if
there is ONE card installed - doesn't matter with one, both are working. but not
at the same time.

if there is anything I can do to get more info from the system - just let me
know ! I still don't know how to look for with files because I don't know it it
is a X11, a SAX2 or a driver-problem. and my skills into linux are not as deep
as needed, I think.

Comment 4 Stefan Dirsch 2005-08-29 20:55:30 UTC
Ok. I think I can understand now. This is happening when SaX2 needs to start   
an Xserver for initialization of the second gfx board to fetch informations   
about the second monitor. Anyway, the nv driver does seem to support your   
Multihead configuration - for whatever reasons. And you also write that the 
nvidia driver does not support it as well. What you might try is to switch the  
priority of PCI and AGP gfx boards. At least you should attach 
your /var/log/Xorg.0.log file.  
Comment 5 Thomas Lodewick 2005-08-29 21:21:06 UTC
Created attachment 48070 [details]
last Xorg-lofgile - see commends
Comment 6 Thomas Lodewick 2005-08-29 21:28:32 UTC
Comment on attachment 48070 [details]
last Xorg-lofgile - see commends

(In reply to comment #4)
I've just tried a new install of beta3. this times I've tried to stop the
autodetection of the hardware at the last step in the installer. result:
AGP-card (FX5200) is running as primary at monitor 19'' (VESA-Mode, I think);
the PCI-card (VANTA/LE) is't working. the "visual result" was as in my first
post (blinking ...).I could only make a reset after pressing STRG+D to flush
the HDs.
I've tried to install the NVidia-driver via yast - no result, same as while
installing the OS. I've also created a nvidia-bug-report.log. as needed, I can
attche that, too.
Comment 7 Thomas Lodewick 2005-08-29 21:30:36 UTC
(forgotten to change the status to ASSIGNEND)
Comment 8 Stefan Dirsch 2005-08-29 21:55:40 UTC
Stopping the autodetection resulted in a fbdev driver configuration. Ok, at 
least better than a broken multihead configuration. Unfortunately the latest 
nvidia driver no longer supported your TNT2/Vanta board, so you need to switch 
to an older version of nvidia driver. For installation instructions see our 
nvidia installer howto: 
 
http://www.suse.de/~sndirsch/nvidia-installer-HOWTO.html 
http://www.suse.de/~sndirsch/nvidia-installer-HOWTO.html#19 
 
I would try this first. Hopefully you're lucky. Anyway I hope you can 
understand that we cannot support each exotic Dualhead configuration. 
Comment 9 Thomas Lodewick 2005-08-29 23:56:41 UTC
(In reply to comment #8)

no, I don't get lucky. I can't install any older drivder, because I can't switch
to any text console, and even booting into a console doesn't work.

I understand that you / SUSE can't support each "exotic" dualhead configuration
- but it isn't so exotic as you call it. I've read a lot in web forums the last
days for nvidia + linux. and there are out a 'few more' people how use cards
with combinations of chipsets that aren't longer supported.

and esp. I can't accept that I have to deal with a main installer (YAST in
conjuction with SAX2) that isn't able to detect the config of the cards, and say
to me as user "hey - no longer supported with new driver, but I will install an
older one".

for the next tests I've just copied the Xorg.conf from my SuSE9.3 that runs in
dualboot on the same machine - and that works, after switching the driver from
"nvidia" to "nv". ok, no 3D-support, but I have the right card on the right
monitor, in high resolution, and fast as it needed my work. but still no text
console, no TTYs. but at the momend it is OK for me.

I don't wont to waste anyones time, so I will ask ones on the mailing list if
there is anything I can do.

thanks & regards,
JBScout aka Thomas Lodewick