thinkpad x30 graphics display issue

[rad_sci_guy]

Hi everyone

I have an IBM thinkpad x30 laptop running Ubuntu Hardy on it. I tried switching to Intrepid and later tried Jaunty but I find that although the system does work correctly I have an issue with the graphics. Specifically I can see a bit of pixelation on the login page and on the desktop wallpaper.

I used to have this problem with Hardy but I was able to resove the display problem by going to "screens and graphics" in the menu and selecting "LCD Panel 1024x768" in the Screen 1 tab. After restarting the display manager i have a smoothed out login screen and desktop wallpaper. This option is no longer available in the Intrepid or Jaunty editions. The same thing happens in Xubuntu and Kubuntu version of those releases.

Does anyone else have this problem and know how to correct it? I really would like to upgrade to the newer Ubuntu versions but the pixelation on the graphics is a bit annoying.

In case it helps the laptop is using Intel graphics i830 chipset. I use the "i810" graphics driver in Hardy, but this too is no longer available in Intrepid and Jaunty. I can only select "Intel" drivers.

[rad_sci_guy]

Can anyone offer any help?

[iponeverything]

Strange .. I have Ibex on my wife's X30 and there are no issues like the one you describe.

[napetesy]

Hello,
I had also problem with "graphics" elements on a Thinkpad X30 with i830 graph. card after upgrade to Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty.
I followed solution https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/jaunty/+source/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+bug/304871/comments/42

My /etc/X11/XvMCConfig contain libXvMC.so.1 and I have not change it as suggested because I do not experience any problems.

I hope it helps.

EDIT: More clear solution is probably to follow official Ubuntu workaround Reverting the Jaunty Xorg intel driver to 2.4 (https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReinhardTartler/X/RevertingIntelDriverTo2.4)

[Zarok]

I have an even weirder issue. When I start surfing around, my browser starts to look like this (http://nikita.tnnet.fi/~sammy75/ubuntu.jpg). Those letters turning into blocks also happens on the OS screen itself, not just on firefox. I tried XFCE and Gnome, and the same happens. I tried the new driver install from the guide posted above, but the issue remains. Any ideas how on earth I could fix that? It makes it completely unuseable. Intrepid worked fine, so its a new issue with Jaunty.

[jwee5467]

Zarok, i have the same problem. Would really like a solution.

[napetesy]

Can you post here your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file?
Second, can you post result of this command: dpkg -l | grep xorg-video-intel

[jwee5467]

here is my xorg.conf

# 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.
#
# Note that some configuration settings that could be done previously
# in this file, now are automatically configured by the server and settings
# here are ignored.
#
# 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 "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

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

For the terminal command:

"xserver-xorg postinst warning: overwritting possibly-customised configuration file; backup in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.20090508062726

[napetesy]

here is my xorg.conf

# 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.
#
# Note that some configuration settings that could be done previously
# in this file, now are automatically configured by the server and settings
# here are ignored.
#
# 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 "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

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

For the terminal command:

"xserver-xorg postinst warning: overwritting possibly-customised configuration file; backup in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.20090508062726


This is "plain" config file (same as it would be empty). Anyway let's do some work. I don't know how experienced you are so use your way or just copy paste my commands.

Open terminal window. First we will make a backup copy of our xorg.conf file:

sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf-working_backupThen lets make a new xorg.conf file (according to https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/jaunty/+source/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+bug/304871/comments/42)

sudo echo 'Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Driver "intel"
Option "XvMC" "true" # /etc/X11/XvMCConfig should contain "libIntelXvMC.so.1"
Option "DRI" "false"
Option "ModeDebug" "true"
Option "FallbackDebug" "true"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
EndSection' > /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Check your xorg.conf file

cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf which should give you this

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Driver "intel"
Option "XvMC" "true" # /etc/X11/XvMCConfig should contain "libIntelXvMC.so.1"
Option "DRI" "false"
Option "ModeDebug" "true"
Option "FallbackDebug" "true"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
EndSectionLogout and login back and tell us the result. If you would not be able to get X Window working switch to terminal console (CTRL+ALT+F2 or ALT+F2) login there and type command
sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf-working_backup /etc/X11/xorg.conf restart computer and you would be in the original configuration.

There was some misunderstanding so can you try once more to post result of command
dpkg -l | grep xorg-video-intel

[Zarok]

dpkg -l | grep xorg-video-intel gives a couple lines about driver versions:
rc xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9 X.org server -- intel i8xx, i9xx display driver
and
ii xserver-xorg-video-intel-2.4 2:2.4.1-1ubuntu11-ppa1 -- intel i8xx, i9xx display driver , the latter I installed myself trying to troubleshoot this issue with the bug fixes earlier.

I created that aforementioned xorg.conf, it shows image like it should, but the pixellation and weird fonts and whatnot haven't disappeared, after I browse the internet for a while it still goes like the jpg I posted earlier. :/

[napetesy]

dpkg -l | grep xorg-video-intel gives a couple lines about driver versions:
rc xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9 X.org server -- intel i8xx, i9xx display driver
and
ii xserver-xorg-video-intel-2.4 2:2.4.1-1ubuntu11-ppa1 -- intel i8xx, i9xx display driver , the latter I installed myself trying to troubleshoot this issue with the bug fixes earlier.

I created that aforementioned xorg.conf, it shows image like it should, but the pixellation and weird fonts and whatnot haven't disappeared, after I browse the internet for a while it still goes like the jpg I posted earlier. :/

xorg.conf as posted previously worked for me with
xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9 X.org server -- intel i8xx, i9xx display driver which you are not using write now. So try to reinstal it with original Ubuntu xorg-video-intel driver instead ppa driver and previously posted xorg.conf. What is the result?

This worked for me but I observed lower performance. Lately I found that way with downgrade to 2.4.1 intel driver. This is the one you are using now. But I (had to - not sure as I don't have my X30 with me) modify xorg.conf file to contain:

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Option "AccelMethod" "XAA"
Option "ForceEnablePipeA" "true"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

At this moment I do not observe any problems with graphics.

[Zarok]

Wee, rolling back to the original ubuntu-included driver with that edited Xorg.conf worked :) Thank you!

[andthen..]

I had exactly the same issue with my X30 but I have xubuntu.

First of all my /etc/X11/xorg.conf file was blank. So as the /etc/xorg.conf.failsafe advised, I ran


sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorgThen my xorg.conf had stuff in it though no change to graphics.
Then I replaced my xorg.conf with the info from:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/jaunty/+source/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+bug/304871/comments/42 as recommended...
and low and behold after a reboot (drum roll)...

FIXED! :)

Thanks everyone for the info