Laptop Graphics

From FreekiWiki
Revision as of 12:29, 12 July 2011 by Scellef (talk | contribs) (→‎Easy way: added wget reference)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Graphics Resource Links for Laptops:

* Understanding Notebook Video - How to Choose the Proper Display on a Notebook

How to fix the 3 part screen in Dell Inspiron 8000 series in Hardy: This is also useful as a start point for similar problems with other laptops.

Open the terminal
  • Run sudo displayconfig-gtk
  • Select the correct model for Screen 1 (usually the system manufacturer + native resolution)
  • Set the resolution to the monitor's native resolution
  • Click the OK button
  • Log out
  • Press Ctrl + Alt + F1 to switch to a virtual terminal
  • Run sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf
  • Find the Virtual line under Section "Screen"
  • Change the virtual resolution to the native resolution
  • Press Ctrl + O to save, and Ctrl + X to exit.
  • Run sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart to restart GDM


How to fix the "Black Screen of Death" on i845, i855 and some (but not all) other 8xx graphics chips. GTT Incoherency Patch. (e.g. Dell Inspiron 1100).
Both Media:Dell-fix.sh and the step by step instructions do the same thing.

Easy way

  • Download this file Media:Dell-fix.sh
    • If you're booted into Recovery Mode, or otherwise have a root shell with networking, you can download the script by typing the following into a terminal:
      wget http://wiki.freegeek.org/images/f/f7/Dell-fix.sh
  • Make it executable by running chmod u+x Dell-fix.sh (make sure you are in the same directory that you downloaded it to).
  • Run it as sudo bash Dell-fix.sh

Step by Step

Install the 855gm PPA and the patched kernel.

  • sudo add-apt-repository ppa:brian-rogers/graphics-fixes-testing
  • sudo apt-get update
  • sudo apt-get install linux-headers-2.6.37-graphics2+12 linux-headers-2.6.37-graphics2+12-generic linux-image-2.6.37-graphics2+12-generic
  • sudo apt-get install

If that doesn't work go on to the next commands.

  • sudo add-apt-repository ppa:glasen/intel-driver
  • sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

If that doesn't work go on to the next commands.

  • sudo add-apt-repository ppa:glasen/855gm-fix
  • sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install dkms 855gm-fix-dkms

Additional Steps

  • (create /etc/X11/x.org)
  • Add the following lines
 Section "Module"
         Disable "dri"
         Disable "glx"
 EndSection