Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

gozd · 2012-04-29 19:23:11

Hallo to all the people out here!!!
I'm quite new to linux. I've been using Ubuntu and Mint for sometime but I decided to switch to Arch, since I decided to have more control over my machines. Before I go on I must clear out that most of those machines are build from old spare items.
in the current machine I'm using nouveau driver with a xfce4 desktop, but I'm unable to set the resolution 1280x1024 to work properly, which I'm almost sure that my screen is capable of.
I managed to set the resolution to 1280x1024 after I manually added new xrandr mode, but there were various strange problems:
1. Windows or panels that were at the bottom of the screen tend to disappear?!
2. In the log in screen (I'm using SLIM)can not see what I type

More than this:
The screen changes resolution during boot
There's a strange sound like flick of a switch every time the resolution changes
I've searched for similar problems but found nothing close to mine, and get more and more confused and i think i'm gonna mess everything up...
Thanx in advance for the help!

These outputs I think that will be useful :
uname -a

 Linux archbox 3.3.2-1-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Sat Apr 14 10:08:43 UTC 2012 i686 Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.80GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux

lspci | grep VGA

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation NV34 [GeForce FX 5200] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])

lsmod

Module                  Size  Used by
fuse                   59348  2 
firewire_ohci          27283  0 
firewire_core          44257  1 firewire_ohci
8139too                17280  0 
8139cp                 16043  0 
snd_intel8x0           22672  0 
ppdev                   4750  0 
crc_itu_t               1095  1 firewire_core
mii                     3439  2 8139cp,8139too
snd_ac97_codec         89900  1 snd_intel8x0
parport_pc             26601  0 
iTCO_wdt               10773  0 
ac97_bus                 874  1 snd_ac97_codec
shpchp                 22557  0 
iTCO_vendor_support     1545  1 iTCO_wdt
snd_pcm                60499  2 snd_ac97_codec,snd_intel8x0
snd_page_alloc          5901  2 snd_pcm,snd_intel8x0
snd_timer              15158  1 snd_pcm
snd                    45013  4 snd_timer,snd_pcm,snd_ac97_codec,snd_intel8x0
floppy                 49063  0 
thermal                 6563  0 
fan                     1902  0 
soundcore               4986  1 snd
pcspkr                  1423  0 
i2c_i801                6992  0 
parport                26479  2 parport_pc,ppdev
intel_agp               8688  1 
processor              23476  0 
pci_hotplug            21878  1 shpchp
intel_gtt              11193  1 intel_agp
evdev                   7310  5 
ext4                  385004  3 
crc16                   1091  1 ext4
jbd2                   60590  1 ext4
mbcache                 4345  1 ext4
usbhid                 31477  0 
hid                    66633  1 usbhid
sr_mod                 13148  0 
cdrom                  30504  1 sr_mod
sd_mod                 25867  5 
pata_acpi               2388  0 
ata_generic             2391  0 
ata_piix               18616  4 
libata                145775  3 ata_piix,ata_generic,pata_acpi
scsi_mod              112765  3 libata,sd_mod,sr_mod
uhci_hcd               19712  0 
ehci_hcd               38480  0 
usbcore               122719  4 ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd,usbhid
usb_common               622  1 usbcore
nouveau               700360  2 
button                  3614  1 nouveau
video                   9819  1 nouveau
mxm_wmi                 1101  1 nouveau
wmi                     7259  2 mxm_wmi,nouveau
drm_kms_helper         23303  1 nouveau
ttm                    46603  1 nouveau
drm                   166804  4 ttm,drm_kms_helper,nouveau
agpgart                22159  4 drm,ttm,intel_gtt,intel_agp
i2c_core               16845  4 drm,drm_kms_helper,nouveau,i2c_i801

my screen configuration placed in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-mntrstp.conf

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "Monitor0"
#   Modeline	"1280x1024_60.00"  108.88  1280 1360 1496 1712  1024 1025 1028 1060  -HSync +Vsync   
#    Option      "PreferredMode" "1280x1024_60.00"
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier "Nvidia card"
	Driver "nouveau"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier             "Screen0"  #Collapse Monitor and Device section to Screen section
    Device                 "Device0"
    Monitor                "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth            24 #Choose the depth (16||24)
    SubSection             "Display"
        Depth               24
        Modes              "1280x1024_60.00" "1024x768" "640x480" #Choose the resolution
    EndSubSection
EndSection

xrandr

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1024 x 768, maximum 4096 x 4096
VGA-1 connected 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm
   1024x768       60.0* 
   800x600        60.3     56.2  
   848x480        60.0  
   640x480        59.9  
DVI-I-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
TV-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

M177ER · 2012-04-29 19:38:54

What happens if you remove the '_60' from "1280x1024_60.00" in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-mntrstp.conf so it's just "1280x1024"? Restart X and try xrandr again and see if it is then 1280x1024 instead of 1024x768

Last edited by M177ER (2012-04-29 19:40:19)

gozd · 2012-04-29 20:31:23

I just did it. Changed everything from “1280x1024_60” to “1280x1024” and uncommented. Now the mode appears in xrandr, but the problem persists.

Can not see what I type when I log in (SLIM).

The windows disappear in the bottom part of the screen, but when I switch back to 1024X768 the appear and they stay there even if I switch again to 1280x1024. But if I reboot or logout they're gone again.

I also notice that with 1280x1024 the desktop does not cover the whole screen, though its vertical and horizontal size are set to 100% from the monitor settings

I also now notice a periodical strange shaking on the screen.

M177ER · 2012-04-29 21:24:03

My configuration is in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-nouveau.conf not in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-mntrstp.conf. Did you follow the wiki?

Also from the wiki:

Make sure you do not have nomodeset or vga= in GRUB's menu.lst/grub.cfg kernel line, since Nouveau needs kernel mode-setting in order to run successfully...

gozd · 2012-04-30 05:51:29

OK I just renamed my configuration file from 20-mntrstp.conf to 20-nouveau.conf
(I thought that the number 20 was the important part not the name itself)but nothing's changed.
I can't find any /boot/grub/grub.cfg file in my system!!!Do I have to create one manually?

And my menu.lst looks like this:

# Config file for GRUB - The GNU GRand Unified Bootloader
# /boot/grub/menu.lst

# DEVICE NAME CONVERSIONS 
#
#  Linux           Grub
# -------------------------
#  /dev/fd0        (fd0)
#  /dev/sda        (hd0)
#  /dev/sdb2       (hd1,1)
#  /dev/sda3       (hd0,2)
#

#  FRAMEBUFFER RESOLUTION SETTINGS
#     +-------------------------------------------------+
#          | 640x480    800x600    1024x768   1280x1024
#      ----+--------------------------------------------
#      256 | 0x301=769  0x303=771  0x305=773   0x307=775
#      32K | 0x310=784  0x313=787  0x316=790   0x319=793
#      64K | 0x311=785  0x314=788  0x317=791   0x31A=794
#      16M | 0x312=786  0x315=789  0x318=792   0x31B=795
#     +-------------------------------------------------+
#  for more details and different resolutions see
#  https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GRUB#Framebuffer_resolution

# general configuration:
timeout   5
default   0
color light-blue/black light-cyan/blue

# boot sections follow
# each is implicitly numbered from 0 in the order of appearance below
#
# TIP: If you want a 1024x768 framebuffer, add "vga=773" to your kernel line.
#
#-*

# (0) Arch Linux
title  Arch Linux
root   (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-linux root=/dev/disk/by-uuid/4950a9db-cefe-4b24-a523-fbb375d5b6e3 ro
initrd /initramfs-linux.img

# (1) Arch Linux
title  Arch Linux Fallback
root   (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-linux root=/dev/disk/by-uuid/4950a9db-cefe-4b24-a523-fbb375d5b6e3 ro
initrd /initramfs-linux-fallback.img

# (2) Windows
#title Windows
#rootnoverify (hd0,0)
#makeactive
#chainloader +1

Yes I've followed the wiki, but I'm not sure if i messed up anything as i was trying to solve the problem. Also I'm not a very experienced Linux user so a lot of things are made without necessarily understanding the whole of them.

M177ER · 2012-04-30 17:12:19

I'm sorry I couldn't be more help. Hopefully someone else can try or you could also try in the irc channel.

You could try and look in /var/log/Xorg.0.log for any errors or warnings. Try this in terminal:

$ cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep -e '(EE)' -e '(WW)'

After looking at mine I don't think '1280x1024_60' would have been a problem.

[   114.325] (II) NOUVEAU(0): Output DVI-I-1 using monitor section DVI-I-1
[   114.325] (**) NOUVEAU(0): Option "PreferredMode" "1280x1024_60.00"

gozd · 2012-05-02 17:35:25

Thank you for your help so far. I really appreciate it. Here's the results from the command

$ cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep -e '(EE)' -e '(WW)'

(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[    26.161] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/OTF/" does not exist.
[    26.161] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/Type1/" does not exist.
[    26.166] (WW) `fonts.dir' not found (or not valid) in "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi/".
[    26.166] (WW) `fonts.dir' not found (or not valid) in "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi/".
[    26.168] (WW) Open ACPI failed (/var/run/acpid.socket) (No such file or directory)
[    27.264] (WW) NOUVEAU(0): Option "PreferredMode" is not used

Do we have any new clues?

Last edited by gozd (2012-05-02 19:02:00)

M177ER · 2012-05-02 21:47:06

I found this here

Gusar wrote:

Bellum wrote:
This adaption from the wiki article doesn't seem to have any effect.
Because it's completely wrong. One of these days I'll need to create a wiki account, and then I'll slash the wiki into pieces.
This should do it:
Section "Monitor"
    Identifier  "VGA-1"
    Modeline    "1280x1024_75.00"  138.75  1280 1368 1504 1728  1024 1027 1034 1072 -hsync +vsync
    Option      "PreferredMode" "1280x1024_75.00"
EndSection
You don't need *any* other sections, just that. Identifier maybe needs to be "Monitor-VGA-1" instead of "VGA-1", try both.

this is for /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-monitor.conf according to that thread. Notice the "1280x1024_75.00" was for that specific monitor.

Try this: Rename /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-nouveau.conf to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-nouveau.conf.bak. Same with /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-mntrstp.conf if you still have it. Create /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-monitor.conf and put this in it:

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier  "VGA-1"
    Modeline    "1280x1024_60.00"  108.88  1280 1360 1496 1712  1024 1025 1028 1060 -hsync +vsync
    Option      "PreferredMode" "1280x1024_60.00"

Reboot and see what happens.

Last edited by M177ER (2012-05-02 22:22:28)

Gusar · 2012-05-02 22:34:41

You're still setting a 75Hz refresh there. The _75 or _60 are meaningless, what's inside the quotes is just a name, it could say "ugabuga". It's the other numbers that actually do something. Those you get with cvt:

$ cvt 1280 1024 60
# 1280x1024 59.89 Hz (CVT 1.31M4) hsync: 63.67 kHz; pclk: 109.00 MHz
Modeline "1280x1024_60.00"  109.00  1280 1368 1496 1712  1024 1027 1034 1063 -hsync +vsync

And then you do this:

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier  "VGA-1"
    Modeline    "ugabuga"  109.00  1280 1368 1496 1712  1024 1027 1034 1063 -hsync +vsync
    Option      "PreferredMode" "ugabuga"
EndSection

Edit: Ok, while I was writing this and verifying stuff, you edited your post and did the right thing now . You used gtf instead of cvt though. I'm not really sure about the difference , I thing gtf is old and meant for CRT displays, while cvt is for LCD displays.

Last edited by Gusar (2012-05-02 22:42:54)

M177ER · 2012-05-02 22:45:14

Gusar,

Yes I edited after re-reading the line but didn't know what the settings actually meant.

You have a way better handle on this. What should gozd be trying? Is you setting like this should be correct?

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier  "VGA-1"
    Modeline    "ugabuga"  109.00  1280 1368 1496 1712  1024 1027 1034 1063 -hsync +vsync
    Option      "PreferredMode" "ugabuga"
EndSection

Edit: the Modeline numbers?
Edit2: missed that the first code block was a command

$ cvt 1280 1024 60

Last edited by M177ER (2012-05-02 23:00:52)

gozd · 2012-05-04 12:13:02

I think things are getting more messed up. Guzar I followed your instructions The screen resolution on start up is 1280x1024 but the same problems remain(those mentioned in my first post). When I try to switch between 1280x1024 and 1024x768, the resolution stays always in 1024X768, although on my displaying settings the 1280x1024 mode is selected.
when I

xrandr -s 1280x1024

I get back my resolution.
My monitor is an old ViewSonic CRT, if this is any help.
Here's my xrandr output

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1024 x 768, maximum 4096 x 4096
VGA-1 connected 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm
   1280x1024_60.00   59.9 +
   1024x768       60.0* 
   800x600        60.3     56.2  
   848x480        60.0  
   640x480        59.9  
DVI-I-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
TV-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

and my new 10-monitor.conf

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "Monitor0"
    Modeline "1280x1024_60.00"  109.00  1280 1368 1496 1712  1024 1027 1034 1063 -hsync +vsync
    Option   "PreferredMode" "1280x1024_60.00"
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier "Nvidia card"
	Driver "nouveau"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier             "Screen0"  #Collapse Monitor and Device section to Screen section
    Device                 "Device0"
    Monitor                "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth            24 #Choose the depth (16||24)
    SubSection             "Display"
        Depth               24
        Modes              "1280x1024" "1024x768" "640x480" #Choose the resolution
    EndSubSection
EndSection

should i try to install nvidia drivers instead?

Gusar · 2012-05-04 13:14:47

WOW, you actually have a CRT? Cool! The sound you hear when resolution switches is completely normal. It's some mechanics in the display doing their job.

Anyway, you'll have to explain a bit better what exactly the problem is. Because your description is confusing as hell. Some general pointers though:

Remove everything but the Monitor section from the file. And don't use xrandr -s, it's an xrandr 1.1 thing. Also, the mode we've added isn't 1280x1024, it's 1280x1024_60.00. Read what I said, what's in the quotes is a *name*. You refer to the mode with it's name. That's why I have a silly example, it would've made this point very clear. Anyway, with your current setup, use

xrandr --output VGA-1 --mode 1280x1024_60.00

or

xrandr --output VGA-1 --mode 1024x768

Last edited by Gusar (2012-05-04 13:17:13)

gozd · 2012-05-04 23:15:13

OK I removed everything from the 10-monitor.conf but the Monitor Section. Now my 1280x1024_60.00 mode disappeared from my xrandr modes, that's what I get now:

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1024 x 768, maximum 4096 x 4096
VGA-1 connected 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm
   1024x768       60.0* 
   800x600        60.3     56.2  
   848x480        60.0  
   640x480        59.9  
DVI-I-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
TV-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

and all I get is a 1024x768 screen resolution.

I'll try to explain the problem better, if possible.

1. First I couldn't see in my display settings, any 1280x1024 mode, so I added it manually, by adding a new xrandr mode.
2. When set to 1280x1024 the desktop does not cover the whole screen (there's empty space left and right)
3. When set to 1280x1024 the bottom panel disappears.
4. When set to 1280x1024 and grab an open window and try to move it to the bottom of the screen the part of the window that is in the bottom half portion of the screen disappears and it appears as soon as I release my left mouse button.

Maybe my “old school” screen is dying.

Gusar · 2012-05-04 23:38:53

Bah, I didn't see it before, the Identifier in the Monitor section needs to be the output name! That's VGA-1 in your case. Also, since this is a CRT, a refresh of 60 is too low (unless you enjoy flickering-induced headaches ), you should use at least 75. So, basically, this:

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier  "VGA-1"
    Modeline    "1280x1024_75.00"  138.54  1280 1368 1504 1728  1024 1025 1028 1069  -HSync +Vsync
    Option      "PreferredMode"  "1280x1024_75.00"
EndSection

As for your other issues... well, it's a CRT, configure it properly. CRTs have all sorts of settings for picture size and position and shape configurable through their built-in OSD. And make absolutely sure the thing is actually capable of 1280x1024, I'm kinda thinking it's not.

Last edited by Gusar (2012-05-04 23:40:49)

gozd · 2012-05-05 12:09:16

When I set the rate to 75.00, I can not start X. So I suppose you're right maybe it's not capable of displaying 1280x1024 resolution.
(but I'm almost sure that I used that resolution for a while when I was testing the Slitaz distro)
As for the empty space on the left and right side of the screen, yes I configured the monitor from the OSD but the horizontal size is set to 100% so there's nothing more I can do.

PS: No I found from the manufacturers site that its maximum resolution is 1280x1024 and Fh: 30-70KHz; Fv: 50-160Hz
http://ap.viewsonic.com/my/products/pro … .php?id=75

Maybe the question is silly but is there any chance that the problem comes from the nouveau driver??

Last edited by gozd (2012-05-05 12:11:26)

Gusar · 2012-05-05 12:35:03

The only possible issue from nouveau's side I can imagine is failing to parse the EDID properly. Which means our failure is in setting the right mode timings. The EDID contains them, while we're instead using generic modelines. I see you haven't even posted a /var/log/Xorg.0.log. Do that.
It's also possible the display supports 1280x1024 only with 60Hz. In which case I'd advise against using this resolution, unless, like I said, you like flicker-induced headaches

You could also try the nvidia driver, see if it does a better job. In this case just get rid of 10-monitor.conf entirely.

Last edited by Gusar (2012-05-05 12:37:47)

briest · 2012-05-05 16:11:56

I have recently (two, three weeks?) encountered the same problem with an old TNT2 (and nouveau driver, of course) -- after upgrade it insisted on 1024x768, instead of monitor's physical 1280x1024. I was in hurry (it's my office machine), so for now, I just took the right modeline from pre-upgrade Xorg.log -- after login I add it and change resolution with xrandr.

I think it's nouveau's fault, because 1) it worked flawlessy before upgrade, 2) the monitor still works OK with on-board Intel. Cannot test with nv driver -- it doesn't seem to support such old hardware

I can provide details (hardware manufacturers and model, Xorg.log, edid dump) later, I'm definitely not going to visit office during weekend

gozd · 2012-05-05 20:58:05

First of all I wanna thank you all for your help so far.
This is my Xorg.0.log
http://pastebin.com/CR7FHGCZ

If I'm not mistaken installing nvidia drivers means downgrading kernel (and I must admit as a newbie that it sounds scaring).

anonymous_user · 2012-05-05 23:57:04

If you mean installing the nvidia 173 drivers, you could look at this post/thread:

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php … 4#p1096254

Gusar · 2012-05-06 11:20:26

That log shows it quite clear, nouveau doesn't read the EDID at all. It says "EDID for output VGA-1" but then info about the display and the actual EDID should follow. It doesn't. Probably a driver bug. Try the lts kernel, I think that'll be simpler than downgrading X to use the nvidia driver.

gozd · 2012-05-06 12:25:36

OK after doing a little research these are the necessary steps I have to take:

install linux-lts through pacman
edit grub menu
install nvidia-lts

is that correct or am I missing something?
Do I have to remove my old kernel?
If not I'll be thankful if you could provide some useful links.
Thanx in advance.

Gusar · 2012-05-06 12:31:02

nvidia-lts won't help you, you need to downgrade X if you want to use the nvidia driver. I meant using linux-lts with nouveau.

gozd · 2012-05-06 17:28:30

So do I have to skip the install nvidia-lts step?
Could you please give me some more info?
Sorry, but messing with kernel seems a big step to me... so I would appreciate any given help.

Arch Linux

#1 2012-04-29 19:23:11

Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#2 2012-04-29 19:38:54

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#3 2012-04-29 20:31:23

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#4 2012-04-29 21:24:03

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#5 2012-04-30 05:51:29

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#6 2012-04-30 17:12:19

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#7 2012-05-02 17:35:25

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#8 2012-05-02 21:47:06

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#9 2012-05-02 22:34:41

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#10 2012-05-02 22:45:14

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#11 2012-05-04 12:13:02

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#12 2012-05-04 13:14:47

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#13 2012-05-04 23:15:13

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#14 2012-05-04 23:38:53

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#15 2012-05-05 12:09:16

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#16 2012-05-05 12:35:03

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#17 2012-05-05 16:11:56

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#18 2012-05-05 20:58:05

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#19 2012-05-05 23:57:04

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#20 2012-05-06 11:20:26

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#21 2012-05-06 12:25:36

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#22 2012-05-06 12:31:02

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

#23 2012-05-06 17:28:30

Re: Nouveu_XFCE4_Strange problems with screen resolution

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