Need working Xorg.conf on clamshell iBook

[adric22]

I have an iBook Indigo (366 mhz) and I'm trying to install Ubuntu. The live-CD wouldn't work so I used the alternate install CD and got everything installed but I can't get X up and running. I have spent hours searching the web for information on getting a working Xorg.conf but can't find one. However, I have seen people mention running Ubuntu on the clamshell so I know it must be possible.

No matter what I put in the Xorg.conf, it comes up to a screen telling me I'm in a very low graphics mode, but most of the text is unreadable.

[adric22]

No matter what I put in the Xorg.conf, it comes up to a screen telling me I'm in a very low graphics mode, but most of the text is unreadable.

Okay.. Solved part of my own problem. I found the solution. (posted below)

But now the problem is that Xfce loads up and logs in, but any application I open immediately closes with no explanation. However, if I start my session with the terminal-only mode, I can launch any application (Even firefox) from the command line and it works fine.


Here is my Xorg.conf file for future use:

Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "ati"
Option "UseFBDev" "false"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Option "NoInt10" "true"
DefaultDepth 16
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 16
EndSubSection
EndSection

[stream303]

No matter what I put in the Xorg.conf, it comes up to a screen telling me I'm in a very low graphics mode, but most of the text is unreadable.

Sounds like you are trying to install Intrepid 8.10?

Part of the problem may have to do with Xubuntu or XFCE4 itself. I'd try Ubuntu first as a reference, or see the threads about the apps not starting... In any case, PcmanFM makes a fine file manager that doesn't seem to barf after install.

With all the changes to the X server, I found that verbatim copying or super minimal xorg.conf files lead you straight to low graphics mode.

I found that the following works - change the values to your machine's specs. At least Intrepid won't balk at the xorg.conf, but you still have to get most of the values right:

# THIS IS FOR MY 20" G5 iMAC - change accordingly!
# FPDithering is only for nv driver and lcd screens

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
HorizSync 28-84
VertRefresh 43-60
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1680x1050"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Module"
Disable "glx"
Disable "dri"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Driver "nv"
Option "FPDither" "true"
EndSection

Try this by substituting the right horizontal and vertical freqs, your driver, and driver options, display resolution etc, and let the new X server in Intrepid handle the rest.

If it doesn't immediately go into low graphics mode, at least the syntax for a workable xorg.conf seems ok - you just have to find the right specs for the clamshell. Be sure to see the PPC forum archive read-only threads!

[eraker]

I've got clamshell with a working version of gnome. For some reason I decided to upgrade recently from Feisty to Hardy, but when I did the upgrade totally screwed up the window-manager and session-manager, so I'm now running "xubuntu" with gnome/metacity. It works fine and looks great, but anyway...

I don't know if it will help, but here's my working Xorg.conf (bold shows my edits) on a clamshell with the following graphics:

VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Rage Mobility L AGP 2x (rev 64)


# /etc/X11/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(5) 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"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
# path to defoma fonts
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "i2c"
Load "bitmap"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
Option "XkbOptions" "lv3:lwin_switch"
EndSection

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

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "HorizScrollDelta" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "stylus"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "stylus"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "eraser"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "eraser"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "cursor"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "cursor"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "ATI Technologies Inc Rage Mobility L AGP 2x"
Driver "ati"
BusID "PCI:0:16:0"
Option "UseFBDev" "true"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
HorizSync 59-63
VertRefresh 43-75
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "ATI Technologies Inc Rage Mobility L AGP 2x"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

[coolaj86]

You can't install using 8.10 of any type because you're missing an important library, but you can upgrade to it afterwards and then install the missing piece: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1003273

You should be able to install using 8.04 just fine and I don't think that the new version of Xorg oven uses Xorg.conf anymore except as an override.

[OT]
How much RAM do you have in there? I've got an iBook with a 256 add-on and I'm looking to put in the 512 but I'm not sure whether to get high or low-density.