[XBMCbuntu] Intel G45 issues
#1
Hi

I'm almost afraid to post this, but I feel that I have no other option, so here goes...

I am using an old laptop for mu XBMCbuntu-install. It features an Intel chipset and along with that an Intel GMA X4500 graphics chip. Not much us for anything but SD movies and such, but for the bedroom, it will suffice.

The install of XBMCbuntu was rather painless, Some minor issues with pink-colored install windows, but it seemed OK anyway.


OK, I'm not much good with Linux file systems and architecture, but I do know how to Google stuff up, but I'm at a total loss here...

Upon reboot after finished install I connected my laptop through the HDMI-interface to my fullHD tv. an operation that use to work on Windows-based XBMC installations, but this is when the fun start...

Upon connecting the HDMI and the computer booted up, the initial XBMC-splah seemed to display at high(est) resolution, but when the video driver was loaded, the screen just went crazy an any setting above 1024x768 just broke off and crammed that resolution onto the top-left corner of the screen. 1920x1080 wasn't even close to rendering properly, and getting a readable screen back was quite a pain...

I've tried various solutions to this problem, but the thing is that most of the fixes adheres to nVidia cards and/or older versions of *buntu or XBMC-Live...

For instance, I have no xorg.conf file. Trying to create a new one through the command;
Code:
sudo Xorg -configure

That one gives a series of errors. I also tried to shut down gdm/lightgdm services beforehand, but that brought other problems. None of which has solved my problem...

Where do I even begin to solve this issue!
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#2
Hi!

Some of the stuff might work on G45 from my guide:

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=114368

specially the custom modelines iin xorg.conf for standard hdtvs:

Code:
sudo wget http://paste.kde.org/6966/raw/ -O /etc/X11/xorg.conf

But please check (the way I describe in the guide) if your used output is "HDMI2" like on mine.

Let me know the results.
Always read the XBMC online-manual, FAQ and search the forum before posting.
Do not e-mail XBMC-Team members directly asking for support. Read/follow the forum rules.
For troubleshooting and bug reporting please make sure you read this first.
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#3
Thanks for a speedy reply, and my apologies for my tardy attempts at following your guide.

The thing is that I'm running into some problem at a really early stage.

~vainfo

returns:
Code:
Xfree86-DRI is missing on display ":0,0"

and:
~glxinfo | grep vendor
returns:
Code:
Error: Unable to open display.

And I'm stuck right there...
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#4
You tried those command in a too early stage :-)

Like it is in the guide:
Code:
After this you can check if libva installed ok. with a command "vainfo" you should see something like this after you start the X server with "startx" and use vainfo there:

You need to run the xserver first with startx if you are not already using some window manager. If you use ssh to install things, try to run the xserver and than on your TV or monitor you will see a black area where you have to click in with your mouse to get it active. Here you can type in the commands.

Cheers, Attila
Always read the XBMC online-manual, FAQ and search the forum before posting.
Do not e-mail XBMC-Team members directly asking for support. Read/follow the forum rules.
For troubleshooting and bug reporting please make sure you read this first.
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#5
OK

So I tried this again, this time via SSH/Putty... made things considerably easier.

Still got the "Error: Unable to open display" but after running:

Code:
sudo stop lightdm

and

Code:
sudo start lightdm

I managed to get a functioning readout of the "vainfo":
Code:
johan@XBMCbuntu:~$ sudo start lightdm
johan@XBMCbuntu:~$ vainfo
libva: libva version 0.32.0
libva: va_getDriverName() returns 0
libva: Trying to open /usr/lib/dri/i965_drv_video.so
libva: va_openDriver() returns 0
vainfo: VA API version: 0.32
vainfo: Driver version: i965 Driver 0.1
vainfo: Supported profile and entrypoints
      VAProfileMPEG2Simple            : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileMPEG2Main              : VAEntrypointVLD

After this, running "xrandr -q" yet again presents me with:
Code:
Can't open display
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#6
anthistatic Wrote:After this, running "xrandr -q" yet again presents me with:
Code:
Can't open display

I think have a better solution for you. Just run it with ssh:

Code:
cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log |grep connected

See which output is disconnected and which one is connedcted.
Always read the XBMC online-manual, FAQ and search the forum before posting.
Do not e-mail XBMC-Team members directly asking for support. Read/follow the forum rules.
For troubleshooting and bug reporting please make sure you read this first.
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#7
This may also help for running xrandr from ssh.

NightStormWolf Wrote:You can also export the display so you can use xrandr:

Code:
# xrandr
Can't open display

# export DISPLAY=:0
# xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1280 x 768, maximum 8192 x 8192
VGA-0 connected 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 304mm x 228mm
   1024x768       60.0*+   75.1     70.1
   800x600        72.2     75.0     60.3     56.2
   640x480        72.8     75.0     60.0
   720x400        70.1
HDMI-0 connected 1280x720+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 160mm x 90mm
   1280x720       60.0*+
   1920x1080      60.0 +
   720x480        59.9
   640x480        60.0

Just an FYI for anyone looking to do the same thing.
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#8
Thanks okeydokey ! :-)

I'll add this to my guide.
Always read the XBMC online-manual, FAQ and search the forum before posting.
Do not e-mail XBMC-Team members directly asking for support. Read/follow the forum rules.
For troubleshooting and bug reporting please make sure you read this first.
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#9
After having done the Export Display=:0 I first tried the xrandr command, which worked properly this time, but since I now have my old laptop connected to my computer screen through ordinary VGA (and no, the 1680x1050x60 does not display properly either) I will not post the results of that query just now...

However, I also tried the "glxinfo | grep vendor", which earlier gave me the same "Error: Unable to open display", and the results ware quite interesting...

Code:
johan@XBMCbuntu:~$ glxinfo | grep vendor
server glx vendor string: SGI
client glx vendor string: Mesa Project and SGI
OpenGL vendor string: Tungsten Graphics, Inc

That string seems a bit wrong, considering it is a Intel GMA X4500 card inside that laptop...
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#10
The glxinfo output is ok.

Have you tried my custom modeline xorg.conf with your HDTV ?
On your computer screen with VGA it will surely not work, but on the TV ober HDMI, it should.
But for that you need to run the xrandr -q when your TV is hooked up and get the proper output which is connected.
Always read the XBMC online-manual, FAQ and search the forum before posting.
Do not e-mail XBMC-Team members directly asking for support. Read/follow the forum rules.
For troubleshooting and bug reporting please make sure you read this first.
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#11
I have not tested your xorg.conf. Where can I find it?

Will hook up my TV later on and try it as soon as possible after I get it...
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#12
Aaaah... You mean the one you import via:

Code:
sudo wget http://paste.kde.org/6966/raw/ -O /etc/X11/xorg.conf

I actually haven't tried it as yet. I will return with results ASAP!
/Static
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#13
anthistatic Wrote:Aaaah... You mean the one you import via:

Code:
sudo wget http://paste.kde.org/6966/raw/ -O /etc/X11/xorg.conf

I actually haven't tried it as yet. I will return with results ASAP!
/Static

So, I've made some quick tests with connecting the lappy to the TV through the HDMI interface. Still no success. I have not yet had the time to perform and more conclusive tests, or even checked which interface are connected and which are not, tried a quick "xrandr" in the xbmc's own console (not SSH) but without any success even using the "export DISPLAY=:0"

I'll try to do some more testing later tonight, but I'm not sure if I can get the TV to myself for that long Wink

I also noticed another thing during my quick test; If i put XBMC into windowed-mode, i can place the mouse-cursor outside of the area that displays the XBMC interface, but the cursor turns from a pointer into a big "X" when it moves outside of display-area.

Is this of any significance?

//Static
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#14
OK

I might have found a solution.

* I redownloaded the xorg.conf from here:
Code:
sudo wget [url]http://paste.kde.org/6966/raw/[/url] -O /etc/X11/xorg.conf

* Discovered that my HDMI interface was called HDMI1 and edited xorg.conf accordingly.

Afterwards, I ran the following commands:
Code:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xorg-edgers/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

Rebooted the lappy with HDMI-cable inserted and, HEY PRESTO! Suddenly I was able to set my screen resolution to the full 1920x1080. The result is stunning on my 46" LG!!!

I'm not entirely sure if I did anything else apart from the steps mentioned above., but adding the edgers repositories seems to have reinstalled and upgraded almost all the drivers inside my XBMCbuntu...

Hopefully someone might be successful at trying those steps too. If so, write a line or two in this thread to tell of your progress, even if it doesn't confirm my steps as a possible fix.

Cheers!
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#15
Hi all,

I am also having issus with Intel. I can get a picture over HDMI but not good enough to watch anything. I have gone through a lot of threads, including this one, and tired many different things but still no go. I have added the linux repositories, done the updates added the xorg file, changed to HDMI1...... still get a crap looking picture.

So I run the following:
Code:
xbmc@xbmc:~$ export DISPLAY=:0
xbmc@xbmc:~$ vainfo

libva: VA-API version 0.32.0
libva: va_getDriverName() returns 0
libva: Trying to open /usr/lib/dri/i965_drv_video.so
libva error: /usr/lib/dri/i965_drv_video.so init failed
libva: va_openDriver() returns -1
vaInitialize failed with error code -1 (unknown libva error),exit

xbmc@xbmc:~$ xrandr

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 8192 x 8192
VGA1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI1 connected 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 708mm x                                           398mm
   1920x1080@50p   50.0*+
   1920x1080@60p   60.0
   [email protected]   59.9
   1920x1080      24.0
   1920x1080@24p   24.0
TV1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
TV2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
VGA2 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
TV3 unknown connection (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
   848x480        59.9 +
   640x480        59.9 +
   1024x768       59.9
   800x600        59.9


xbmc@xbmc:~$ lspci -v

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller (primary) (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
        Subsystem: AOPEN Inc. Device 0646
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 44
        Memory at fd500000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1M]
        Memory at d0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
        I/O ports at ff00 [size=8]
        Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled]
        Capabilities: <access denied>
        Kernel driver in use: i915
        Kernel modules: intelfb, i915

Any help from here would be appreciated.

Thanks,





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[XBMCbuntu] Intel G45 issues0