No screen, no prompt

[Chris Fisichella]

Hi,

As part of a Debian 10.9.0 install on a 32 bit machine, X was installed. I
am trying to get an ATI ALL-IN-WONDER 128 PRO card to work in this machine
so I can show movies to my kids.

It used to boot to at least "Cannot show this video mode" or something like
that. I could press ctrl-alt-F5 or F6. I never quite figured out which
one. That allows me to get to a root prompt. I can then read the xorg log
file.

I saw on a list to remove the xorg.conf file. I did not see one, but I did
see an xorg.conf.d directory, which I renamed and then rebooted.

Now, it still boots to a black screen. I cannot get to a root prompt to
access the xorg log file.

I am trying to trouble shoot some (EE) statements I am seeing.

Does anyone have any idea what to do to get that root prompt back?

Best Regards,
Chris

[IL Ka]

Post by Chris Fisichella
Does anyone have any idea what to do to get that root prompt back?
Hi.

Debian list is a better place for this question.

Reboot, click "tab", and when you see GRUB menu, choose the "recovery"
entry.

Or in the same menu click "e" to open the boot menu editor.
Find linux command (it should be linux
/boot/vmlinuz-some-verison blah-bla-bla quiet), and append
"systemd.unit=multi-user.target" to the list of arguments.
Click F10 to boot.

[IL Ka]

I do not have experience with R128 driver, unfortunately.

[ 32.360] (II) R128(0): initializing int10
[ 32.361] (EE) R128(0): V_BIOS address 0x35d70 out of range

I believe that means the card can't emulate the old Video BIOS interface.
It shouldn't prevent it from working

[ 32.362] (WW) R128(0): DDC2/I2C is not properly initialized
[ 32.362] (WW) R128(0): DDC2/I2C is not properly initialized
[ 32.362] (II) R128(0): EDID for output VGA-0
[ 32.363] (II) R128(0): Output VGA-0 disconnected
[ 32.363] (WW) R128(0): No outputs definitely connected, trying

again...

Card can't read EDID from your monitor, hence it doesn't "see" it.

This must be the problem. Let's wait for someone who has experience with
R128. You can also try another monitor and VGA cable.
It could be that DDC is broken in this cable.

[ 33.769] (EE) [drm] drmOpen failed.
[ 33.769] (EE) R128(0): [dri] DRIScreenInit failed. Disabling DRI.

DRM also failed, not sure why.

[Chris Fisichella]

Post by IL Ka
I do not have experience with R128 driver, unfortunately.

[ 32.360] (II) R128(0): initializing int10
[ 32.361] (EE) R128(0): V_BIOS address 0x35d70 out of range

I believe that means the card can't emulate the old Video BIOS interface.
It shouldn't prevent it from working

[ 32.362] (WW) R128(0): DDC2/I2C is not properly initialized
[ 32.362] (WW) R128(0): DDC2/I2C is not properly initialized
[ 32.362] (II) R128(0): EDID for output VGA-0
[ 32.363] (II) R128(0): Output VGA-0 disconnected
[ 32.363] (WW) R128(0): No outputs definitely connected, trying

again...
Card can't read EDID from your monitor, hence it doesn't "see" it.
This must be the problem. Let's wait for someone who has experience with
R128. You can also try another monitor and VGA cable.
It could be that DDC is broken in this cable.

[ 33.769] (EE) [drm] drmOpen failed.
[ 33.769] (EE) R128(0): [dri] DRIScreenInit failed. Disabling DRI.

DRM also failed, not sure why.

Hi IL KA, Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the debugging you did. I tried another cable and another monitor
and am attaching the latest Xorg.0.log file with the R128 errors in it. I
am not sure about next steps.

Best Regards,
Chris

[IL Ka]

[ 32.185] (WW) R128(0): DDC2/I2C is not properly initialized
[ 32.185] (WW) R128(0): DDC2/I2C is not properly initialized
[ 32.185] (II) R128(0): EDID for output VGA-0

It doesn't see any monitor.

Another is modeset (kernel) based driver for i965 (built-in video card)

[ 33.240] (II) modeset(G0): [DRI2] DRI driver: i965
[ 33.240] (II) modeset(G0): [DRI2] VDPAU driver: i965

There is a monitor there

[ 33.005] (II) modeset(G0): EDID for output VGA-1-1

860631884

[ 33.005] (II) modeset(G0): Year: 2004 Week: 41

Just a random idea: disable (via BIOS setup) built-in card and disconnect
monitor from it