video card died, new card boots to black

[gregconquest]

My video card developed problems, so I followed the suggestion in this thread:

Boot into recovery mode, then choose root, for a command prompt and enter

dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

but my ubuntu 10.04 32-bit system still won't boot. Shortly after the ubuntu logo comes up, before the login, my screen goes black and there is no more video signal.

What else can I do to reset the video configuration? The card only has this info on it:

msi n1996 APCB M6 94V-0

I could put the card back in the system, reboot, and then pre-configure the system to drop to the intel 865G on-board video, but the msi card has intermittent problems and will spontaneously re-boot several times during the first ten minutes of turning on the system.

Thank you for any help.
Greg

[squaregoldfish]

First off, you should be able to get to a console login (CTRL-ALT-F1) to help try to fix the problem. Can you do this? Assuming you can, there's a couple of things you can try.

Do you have an xorg.conf file in /etc/X11? If so, try moving it out of the way, and see if X will start properly. If it does, you can either leave it as it is if everything's fine, or begin to create a new xorg.conf with the correct settings for your new card.

Also, have a look in /var/log for the most recent Xorg.?.log - it may give you some clues as to what's going wrong.

Steve.

[gregconquest]

I've looked around, but no one says when you enter "CTRL ALT F1" to get a console. At the grub screen, it didn't work, so I chose "recovery mode". Then I get the Recovery Menu. Here "CTRL ALT F1" apparently does nothing, but F2 to F6 give me a black screen, and F7 gives me:

fsck from util-linux-ng 2.17.2
fsck from util-linux-ng 2.17.2
/dev/sda3: clean, ............
init: ureadahead-other main process (699) terminated with status 4
dosfsck 3.0.7, 24 Dec 2009,FAT32 LFN
init: ureadahead-other main process (713) terminated with status 4
/dev/sda7.....
init: ureadahead-other main process (724) terminated with status 4
* Starting AppArmor profiles
Skipping profile in /etc/apparmor.d/disable: usr.bin.firefox

* Setting Sensors limits
_

From the Recovery Menu back on F1, where I started, I can choose:

resume
clean
dpkg
failsafeX
grub 
netroot
root

root is what I chose before, and I get a command prompt. I seemed to have gone around the barn . . .

resume gives me a text login and then a ~$ prompt
clean says it is for making more space and seems irrelevant here
dpkg I already tried and it updated some packages but the boot failure was unaffected
failsafeX fails -- giving a near immediate black screen
grub seems irrelevant
netroot seems no better in this situation than root
root is where I was when I asked the original question.

I could boot from an ubuntu CD and perhaps get something else done . . .

[gregconquest]

OK. I've booted from an ubuntuCD.

This is my /etc/X11/xorg.conf:

# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings:  version 1.0  (buildd@palmer)  Sun Feb  1 20:21:04 UTC 2009

# xorg.conf (X.Org 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
# commented out by update-manager, HAL is now used
#Section "InputDevice"
#	Identifier	"Generic Keyboard"
#	Driver		"kbd"
#	Option		"XkbRules"	"xorg"
#	Option		"XkbModel"	"jp106"
#	Option		"XkbLayout"	"jp,jp"
#	Option		"XkbVariant"	"106,"
#	Option		"XkbOptions"	"grp:alt_shift_toggle,lv3:ralt_switch,grp_led:scroll"
#EndSection
# commented out by update-manager, HAL is now used
#Section "InputDevice"
#	Identifier	"Configured Mouse"
#	Driver		"vmmouse"
#EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Default Layout"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
# commented out by update-manager, HAL is now used and auto-detects devices
# Keyboard settings are now read from /etc/default/console-setup
#    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
# commented out by update-manager, HAL is now used and auto-detects devices
# Keyboard settings are now read from /etc/default/console-setup
#    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load           "glx"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

# commented out by update-manager, HAL is now used and auto-detects devices
# Keyboard settings are now read from /etc/default/console-setup
#Section "InputDevice"
#
#    # generated from default
#    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
#    Driver         "kbd"
#EndSection

# commented out by update-manager, HAL is now used and auto-detects devices
# Keyboard settings are now read from /etc/default/console-setup
#Section "InputDevice"
#
#    # generated from default
#    Identifier     "Mouse0"
#    Driver         "mouse"
#    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
#    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
#    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
#    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
#EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "VIZ L42JFHDTV1A"
    HorizSync       32.0 - 68.0
    VertRefresh     57.0 - 63.0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Configured Video Device"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    Option         "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce FX 5200"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Default Screen"
    Device         "Configured Video Device"
    Monitor        "Configured Monitor"
    DefaultDepth    24
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "TwinView" "0"
    Option         "TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder" "CRT-0"
    Option         "metamodes" "1280x720 +0+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Here is my var/log/Xorg.0.log:

X.Org X Server 1.7.6
Release Date: 2010-03-17
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.24-27-server i686 Ubuntu
Current Operating System: Linux HTPCubuntu 2.6.32-23-generic #37-Ubuntu SMP Fri Jun 11 07:54:58 UTC 2010 i686
Kernel command line: root=UUID=c9b07d02-ef3f-40d4-806b-ccb3c3b1e8fc ro quiet splash 
Build Date: 16 June 2010  09:31:32AM
xorg-server 2:1.7.6-2ubuntu7.2 (For technical support please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support) 
Current version of pixman: 0.16.4
	Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
	to make sure that you have the latest version.
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
	(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
	(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Fri Jul 16 19:35:33 2010
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
(==) Using config directory: "/usr/lib/X11/xorg.conf.d"
(==) ServerLayout "Default Layout"
(**) |-->Screen "Screen0" (0)
(**) |   |-->Monitor "Monitor0"
(**) |   |-->Device "Device0"
(**) Option "Xinerama" "0"
(==) Automatically adding devices
(==) Automatically enabling devices
(WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist.
	Entry deleted from font path.
(==) FontPath set to:
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc,
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled,
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled,
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1,
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi,
	/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi,
	/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType,
	built-ins
(==) ModulePath set to "/usr/lib/xorg/extra-modules,/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
(II) The server relies on udev to provide the list of input devices.
	If no devices become available, reconfigure udev or disable AutoAddDevices.
(II) Loader magic: 0x81f0e80
(II) Module ABI versions:
	X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
	X.Org Video Driver: 6.0
	X.Org XInput driver : 7.0
	X.Org Server Extension : 2.0
(++) using VT number 7

(--) PCI:*(0:0:2:0) 8086:2572:a0a0:042c Intel Corporation 82865G Integrated Graphics Controller rev 2, Mem @ 0xf0000000/134217728, 0xf8100000/524288, I/O @ 0x0000e000/8
(WW) Open ACPI failed (/var/run/acpid.socket) (No such file or directory)
(II) "extmod" will be loaded by default.
(II) "dbe" will be loaded by default.
(II) "glx" will be loaded. This was enabled by default and also specified in the config file.
(II) "record" will be loaded by default.
(II) "dri" will be loaded by default.
(II) "dri2" will be loaded by default.
(II) LoadModule: "glx"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/extra-modules/libglx.so
(II) Module glx: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
	compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
	Module class: X.Org Server Extension
(II) NVIDIA GLX Module  173.14.22  Sun Nov  8 21:42:44 PST 2009
(II) Loading extension GLX
(II) LoadModule: "extmod"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libextmod.so
(II) Module extmod: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
	compiled for 1.7.6, module version = 1.0.0
	Module class: X.Org Server Extension
	ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 2.0
(II) Loading extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
(II) Loading extension XFree86-VidModeExtension
(II) Loading extension XFree86-DGA
(II) Loading extension DPMS
(II) Loading extension XVideo
(II) Loading extension XVideo-MotionCompensation
(II) Loading extension X-Resource
(II) LoadModule: "dbe"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdbe.so
(II) Module dbe: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
	compiled for 1.7.6, module version = 1.0.0
	Module class: X.Org Server Extension
	ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 2.0
(II) Loading extension DOUBLE-BUFFER
(II) LoadModule: "record"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/librecord.so
(II) Module record: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
	compiled for 1.7.6, module version = 1.13.0
	Module class: X.Org Server Extension
	ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 2.0
(II) Loading extension RECORD
(II) LoadModule: "dri"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri.so
(II) Module dri: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
	compiled for 1.7.6, module version = 1.0.0
	ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 2.0
(II) Loading extension XFree86-DRI
(II) LoadModule: "dri2"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri2.so
(II) Module dri2: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
	compiled for 1.7.6, module version = 1.1.0
	ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 2.0
(II) Loading extension DRI2
(II) LoadModule: "nvidia"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so
(II) Module nvidia: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
	compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
	Module class: X.Org Video Driver
(II) NVIDIA dlloader X Driver  173.14.22  Sun Nov  8 20:43:40 PST 2009
(II) NVIDIA Unified Driver for all Supported NVIDIA GPUs
(II) Primary Device is: PCI 00@00:02:0
(EE) No devices detected.

Fatal server error:
no screens found

Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support 
	 at http://wiki.x.org
 for help. 
Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.

 ddxSigGiveUp: Closing log

I'll try renaming xorg.conf and reboot now . . .

[gregconquest]

Yahoo! That worked! Removing xorg.conf fixed the problem. Thank you, squaregoldfish.

Is there anything else I should do to follow up on this? It is working fine, though the colors are overexposed in videos.

Greg

[squaregoldfish]

If X is working well, then you don't need the xorg.conf. However, there may be specific drivers for your hardware that could improve things. Look at Hardware Drivers in the Control Center, and if it suggests a driver for you install it. Otherwise leave well alone!

I'm not sure how you'd fix your colours, unless your monitor needs tweaking a bit? Try messing with the contrast and brightness.

Steve.

[gregconquest]

Thanks for the help, Steve. I won't worry about the coloration issue for now. I have another computer, an acer AspireRevo R3610 nettop that I'm dual-booting Japanese Windows 7 Home Premium and Ubuntu 64 10.04. I use this one for my HTPC now, and the colors and all look great on it.

You've been a great help.
Greg