X Server fails to start. -- Intel i815

Okay, I seem to have resolved this problem on my own.

I edited my /etc/X11/xorg.conf and inserted

        DefaultFbBpp 24

within: Section "Screen"

I know this is a trivial fix for me, but a lambda user would be stuck. I was honestly expecting the
BulletProof X system or something to show up. XKeepsCrashing does not offer much help.

I was also surprised to discover that there is no text-mode X configurator (at least that I could find).

(EE) intel(0): Given bpp (32) is not supported by i810 driver.

The driver needs a small patch for this, since i810 and i815 chips won't work right other than with 16bit (with 24 you don't get DRI).

I'll attach a new version of the driver file so you can test it. Copy it to /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers.

Works for me. After copying intel_drv.so dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg gives working configuration.

Xorg.0.log

Nice, I'll make sure this gets upstream and in hardy alpha3. Thanks for testing!

I tested the new driver out too and everything works fine now without the DefaultFbBpp statement.
However I now have strange artifacts, especially around the mouse pointer.
Reverting to the old intel driver and reinserting DefaultFbBpp makes the artifacts go away (and seems to reduce CPU usage too).

I might be able to obtain a screen capture, would that help?

More testing has revealed that using the *new* driver with DefaultFbBpp 24 does not have the artifacts.
Manually setting DefaultFbBpp to 16 does have artifacts

Is this a problem with DRI? (As stated above, 24bit does not have DRI, but 16bit does.)
New bug report?

Probably DRI related, check if there are dupes about that and open a new bug if not.. Attach the picture there (I guess a screencapture would not show the artifacts).

This bug was fixed in the package xserver-xorg-video-intel - 2:2.2.0+git20080107-1ubuntu1

---------------
xserver-xorg-video-intel (2:2.2.0+git20080107-1ubuntu1) hardy; urgency=low

  * Merge from debian unstable, remaining changes:
    - debian/patches
      + 01_fix_compiz_video.diff:
        use xf86XVFillKeyHelperDrawable() to fix video playback with
        compositing enabled.
      + 05_fix_xv_reset.diff
        Playing Xv video after switching modes once the Xv driver is
        initialised causes a lockup, as the overlay regisers need
        re-programming. Ensure such a reset happens after a mode-switch.
    - debian/control
      + Change the maintainer address.
      + Add lpia to the list of architectures.
    - Allow xserver-xorg-video-i810 and xserver-xorg-video-intel to coexist
      until -intel is able to replace it completely.
      debian/control:
      + Nuke Conflicts and Replaces related to -i810.
      debian/rules:
      + Nuke /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/i810_drv.so symlink
      + Nuke /usr/share/man/man4/i810.4 conflict
  * debian/patches/02_force_16bit_i81x.diff:
    - Force 16bit depth on i81{0,5} chips (LP: #178837)

xserver-xorg-video-intel (2:2.2.0+git20080107-1) experimental; urgency=low

  * New upstream snapshot
    + Clarifies backlight abilities in the manpage. Closes: #451847
    + Will use a functional backlight on older chips now. Newer chips may
      benefit from configured to use something other than the legacy setting
      though. Closes: #451848
    + Fixes exa rendering corruption on some 855GM laptops. Closes: #439210
    + Xv window hidden for a little while no longer causes segfaults.
      Closes: #457587

xserver-xorg-video-intel (2:2.2.0-2) UNRELEASED; urgency=low

  * Conflict with 915resolution. This driver now handles all of this itself
    and better. Closes: #452803

 -- Timo Aaltonen <email address hidden> Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:22:38 +0200

Hi everybody,

I have a problem whch seems to be the same.

I have an old computer with an old computer with an Intel 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device, and the X server won't launch.

It tries and tries again, but my CRT screen won't turn on.

I have read all the comments and they seem to say that it has been fixed, but it still does not work for me in Hardy Alpha 4. It only works when I boot in safe graphic mode.

The only distribution that work without any problem (out of the box) for me is Mandriva 2008, and yes, 16bit depth is automatically forced, but everything works fine, compiz-fusion too.

Here is my xorg.conf file from Mandriva 2008.

VincentRC: please open a new bug and attach your Xorg.0.log when you don't specify the bitdepth.