Unwanted sudden change of screen resolution during booting process

[K2]

I installed webconverger 5.7 on the hard disk of an rather elderly
laptop (Toshiba Satellite 4070 CDT). This was achieved by extracting
the .iso file to a partition, from which I then boot via GRUB
settings.

The resolution I need is 1024x768 (16bit). I introduced the
appropriate boot parameter (vga=791) but what happens is that,
although the full scrin is correctly used during the boot process, as
soon as the actual internet connection is up (via wireless card) the
resolution becames (probably) 800x600 and I end up having a perfectly
working browser, but in a smaller windows at the center of the screen.

I've tried a number of things, playing with cheat codes but I have
failed, so far.
What is the source of the problem?

Thanks.

[Kai Hendry]

Did you try xvideomode=1024x768 ?

Go into debug mode and play with `xrandr` otherwise.

Good luck,

[K2]

I tried xvideomode but it had the result of diplaying wrong resolution
also during the boot process.
I guess when you say to go into debug mode, you mean I should
eliminate 'nosudo' and 'splash', right?
About the 'xrandr' I am not familiar with that, but I will try to do
some research.
Thanks, really.

[Kai Hendry]

2009/11/25 K2 <ettore...@hotmail.com>:

> I tried xvideomode but it had the result of diplaying wrong resolution
> also during the boot process.

xvideomode only affects X not splashy.

> I guess when you say to go into debug mode, you mean I should
> eliminate 'nosudo' and 'splash', right?

Right. :)

> About the 'xrandr' I am not familiar with that, but I will try to do
> some research.

Yes, `man xrandr`

[K2]

After a little research (command "man xrandr" gave me "command not
found") to try to understand what xrandr is about, I adventured in
some commanding and I found that xrandr did not show 1024x768 among
available modes;
I then defined and added a new mode (1024x768_60.00), but when I tried
to use it by entering:

$ xrandr --output default --mode 1024x768_60.00

I got: Configure crtc 0 failed

I do not now what else to try. However, I have to add a few things
which might be important.
As I said I am experimenting on an old laptop Toshibe Satellite
4070CDT (366 MHz, 192MB RAM). What can be found in the spec is that
the video card (probably not a real card)is "Tridend Video Accelerator
9525". Max performance is 1024x768(16 bit). I mention this because I
have very often experienced problem in booting from various distro
live CD's, unless the cheat code "fb1024x768" is introduced. I just
thought this may be relevant to the resolution of my problem.

Thanks for help.



On Nov 25, 8:01 pm, Kai Hendry <hen...@webconverger.com> wrote:
> 2009/11/25 K2 <ettorehims...@hotmail.com>:

[K2]

Besides the unseccessful attempts with xrandr I described in my
previous message, in the meanwhile I thought I could edit /etc/X11/
xorg.cnf after unsquashing /live/filesystem.squashfs. I found that
xorg.conf was empty. However, I edited by copying in it a xorg.cnf
known to work, and then re-squashed filesystem (by means of
mksquashfs). Nothing changed. At next boot of webconverger with the
new xorg.cnf the resolution turned to be always the unwanted 800x600.
I figured out that /etc/X11/xorg.cnf must be a dummy file or something
which remains unread in the process...

Again, I would appreciate further help. As I said before, I have had
problem related to the hardware I am using, but I had always been able
to solve the problems...

Thanks.

> > Yes, `man xrandr`- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[GMF]

/etc/X11/xorg.conf is generated by /etc/init.d/webconverger when you
boot up the image.
Try to change/add your settings in /etc/init.d/webconverger starting
at line 58 and "re-squash" the filesystem.

Good luck
GMF

On 5 Dez., 19:02, K2 <ettorehims...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Besides the unseccessful attempts with xrandr I described in my
> previous message, in the meanwhile I thought I could edit /etc/X11/
> xorg.cnf after unsquashing /live/filesystem.squashfs. I found that
> xorg.conf was empty. However, I edited by copying in it a xorg.cnf
> known to work, and then re-squashed filesystem (by means of
> mksquashfs). Nothing changed. At next boot of webconverger with the
> new xorg.cnf the resolution turned to be always the unwanted 800x600.
> I figured out that /etc/X11/xorg.cnf must be a dummy file or something
> which remains unread in the process...
>
> Again, I would appreciate further help. As I said before, I have had
> problem related to the hardware I am using, but I had always been able
> to solve the problems...
>
> Thanks.
>

> > - Show quoted text -- Zitierten Text ausblenden -
>
> - Zitierten Text anzeigen -

[Kai Hendry]

Manpages are pruned from a Webconverger image. So look them online.

e.g. http://manpages.debian.net/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=xrandr

It's best to not have an xorg.conf and just set things up with xrandr.

[K2]

Thanks for the hint, GMF.
I pasted where you said the contents taken from a xorg.conf file of
another distro I have on the same laptop (Puppy).
That seemed to work very well for the screen resolution, however, now
my mouse pointer is stuck!!

If you can, help me to learn from my mistakes! Is there an obvious
reason for this new problem?
Cheers.

> > - Zitierten Text anzeigen -- Hide quoted text -

[K2]

As I said before, the "xrandr" recepy did not work, or I am too
inexperienced to make it work the correct way. However, as you may
have seen above, something did work for the screen resolution, even if
with some unwanted side-effects (stuck mouse pointer). I shall keep
struggling to resolve that too.

Regards.

On Dec 7, 7:43 pm, Kai Hendry <hen...@webconverger.com> wrote:
> Manpages are pruned from a Webconverger image. So look them online.
>

> e.g.http://manpages.debian.net/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=xrandr

[GMF]

Without knowing which options you have set in /etc/init.d/webconverger
it is pretty difficult to say what went wrong with your mouse.
So please post your complete changes to /etc/init.d/webconverger.

GMF

[K2]

Dear GMF

You will find below the full text of /etc/init.d/webconverger. As I
said, due to my total ignorance in this respect as you will see I just
tried to paste the full contents of /etc/X11/xorg.conf (frpm Puppy) at
line 58 (as you said). In fact I am quite surprised myself that I
could boot, that the screen resolution turned to be the right one, and
that the only problem seems to be now the stuck mouse after such a
crude clueless copy and past action!

Cheers, and thanks for your patience!

> > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[K2]

... I forgot to include the file -- sorry. Here it is:


#! /bin/bash
### BEGIN INIT INFO
# Provides: webconverger
# Required-Start: $local_fs $network
# Required-Stop:
# Default-Start: 2 3 4 5
# Default-Stop: 0 1 6
# Short-Description: Webconverger Live environment setup
# Description: http://git.webconverger.org/?p=webconverger-base.git
### END INIT INFO

# Author: Kai Hendry <hen...@webconverger.com>

# PATH should only include /usr/* if it runs after the mountnfs.sh
script
PATH=/sbin:/usr/sbin:/bin:/usr/bin
NAME="webconverger"
DESC="Webconverger live environment"
SCRIPTNAME=/etc/init.d/$NAME

# Read configuration variable file if it is present
[ -r /etc/default/$NAME ] && . /etc/default/$NAME

# Load the VERBOSE setting and other rcS variables
. /lib/init/vars.sh

# Define LSB log_* functions.
# Depend on lsb-base (>= 3.0-6) to ensure that this file is present.
. /lib/lsb/init-functions

case "$1" in
start)
[ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_daemon_msg "Starting $DESC" "$NAME"

# If not run as webconverger quit
# For Debian machines acting temporarily as a kiosk, see:
# http://webconverger.org/blog/entry/Debian_Web_Kiosk/
[[ $(hostname) == $NAME ]] || exit 0

log_daemon_msg "Setting up Webconverger"

if ! grep -qs nosudo /proc/cmdline
then
if test -e /etc/nostromo.conf
then
echo DEBUG MODE ACTIVATED!
echo "www-data ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL" >> /etc/sudoers
/etc/init.d/nostromo start
fi
fi

amixer -s <<END
set Master 100% unmute
END

cat >> /etc/X11/xorg.conf <<WCEND

# Webconverger.com options to disable X options
#Special base config file used in Puppy Linux.

#
**********************************************************************
# Module section -- this section is used to specify
# which dynamically loadable modules to load.
#
**********************************************************************
#
Section "Module"

# This loads the DBE extension module.

Load "dbe" # Double buffer extension

# This loads the miscellaneous extensions module, and disables
# initialisation of the XFree86-DGA extension within that module.
SubSection "extmod"
Option "omit xfree86-dga" # don't initialise the DGA
extension
EndSubSection

# This loads the font modules
Load "type1"
Load "freetype"

# This loads xtrap extension, used by xrandr
Load "xtrap"

# This loads the GLX module (if present)
Load "glx"

# This loads dri module (if present)
Load "dri"

EndSection

#
**********************************************************************
# Files section. This allows default font and rgb paths to be set
#
**********************************************************************

Section "Files"

# The location of the RGB database. Note, this is the name of the
# file minus the extension (like ".txt" or ".db"). There is normally
# no need to change the default.

RgbPath "/usr/X11R7/lib/X11/rgb"

# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (which are concatenated
together),
# as well as specifying multiple comma-separated entries in one
FontPath
# command (or a combination of both methods)

FontPath "/usr/X11R7/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R7/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R7/lib/X11/fonts/TTF/"

EndSection

#
**********************************************************************
# Server flags section.
#
**********************************************************************

Section "ServerFlags"

# Uncomment this to disable the <Crtl><Alt><Fn> VT switch sequence
# (where n is 1 through 12). This allows clients to receive these key
# events.

# Option "DontVTSwitch"

# Enables mode switching with xrandr
# There is a report that this can cause Xorg not to work on some
# video hardware, so default is commented-out...
# but i want to use it in xorgwizard so leave on...

Option "RandR" "on"

EndSection

#everything past here is auto-generated by Puppy's Xorg Wizard...


Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "X.org Configured"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc102"
Option "XkbLayout" "it" #xkeymap0
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2" #mouse0protocol
Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"
#Option "Emulate3Buttons"
#Option "Emulate3Timeout" "50"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5" #scrollwheel
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
#DisplaySize 240 180 # mm
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "TOS"
ModelName "5082"
HorizSync 31.5-48.5
VertRefresh 40-70
#UseModes "Modes0" #monitor0usemodes
Option "PreferredMode" "1024x768"
EndSection

Section "Modes"
Identifier "Modes0"
#modes0modeline0
EndSection

Section "Device"
# Available Driver options are:-
# Values: <i>: integer, <f>: float, <bool>: "True"/"False",
# <string>: "String", <freq>: "<f> Hz/kHz/MHz"
# [arg]: arg optional
#Option "AccelMethod" # [<str>]
#Option "SWcursor" # [<bool>]
#Option "PciRetry" # [<bool>]
#Option "NoAccel" # [<bool>]
#Option "SetMClk" # <freq>
#Option "MUXThreshold" # <i>
#Option "ShadowFB" # [<bool>]
#Option "Rotate" # [<str>]
#Option "VideoKey" # <i>
#Option "NoMMIO" # [<bool>]
#Option "NoPciBurst" # [<bool>]
#Option "MMIOonly" # [<bool>]
#Option "CyberShadow" # [<bool>]
#Option "CyberStretch" # [<bool>]
#Option "XvHsync" # <i>
#Option "XvVsync" # <i>
#Option "XvBskew" # <i>
#Option "XvRskew" # <i>
#Option "FpDelay" # <i>
#Option "Display1400" # [<bool>]
#Option "Display" # [<str>]
#Option "GammaBrightness" # [<str>]
#Option "TVChipset" # [<str>]
#Option "TVSignal" # <i>
Identifier "Card0"
Driver "trident" #card0driver
VendorName "Trident Microsystems"
BoardName "Cyber 9525"
BusID "PCI:0:4:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Card0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 16
Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubsection
EndSection

#PuppyHardwareProfile=Copyright_1997_TRIDENT161996

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "AllowMouseOpenFail" "true"
Option "HandleSpecialKeys" "Never"
Option "DontZoom" "true"
Option "DontZap" "true"
Option "DontVTSwitch" "true"
EndSection
WCEND

for x in $(cat /proc/cmdline); do
case $x in
homepage=*)
export HOMEPAGE=${x#homepage=}
[ $HOMEPAGE ] || HOMEPAGE="http://portal.webconverger.com/"

[ -e /etc/opera6rc.fixed ] &&
echo "Home URL=$HOMEPAGE" >> /etc/opera6rc.fixed

[ -e /etc/iceweasel/profile/prefs.js ] &&
echo "user_pref(\"browser.startup.homepage\", \"$HOMEPAGE\");" >> /
etc/iceweasel/profile/prefs.js
;;
wlan=*)

WLAN=$(/bin/busybox httpd -d "${x//wlan=}")
essid="${WLAN%%,*}" # hack to allow for spaces in essid
key="$(echo ${WLAN} | cut -f2 -d ',')"

for iface in wlan0 eth1
do

/sbin/ifconfig $iface || continue # if the device does not exist,
skip!
ping -c 1 google.com &> /dev/null && break # ok, do not mess around
if the Internet works

if test $(cat /etc/network/interfaces | grep "^iface $iface" | wc -
l) -eq 1
then
if test "$essid"
then
echo ESSID: "$essid"
iwconfig $iface essid "$essid"
else
echo "No ESSID set (will try connect to any open network)"
iwconfig $iface essid any
fi

if test $key
then
echo KEY: $key
iwconfig $iface key $key

cat >> /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf <<END
network={
ssid="$essid"
key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
psk="$key"
}
END

else
echo No KEY set
iwconfig $iface key off
fi

ifup $iface 2> /dev/stdout

echo ""

else
echo "No /etc/network/interfaces: $iface"
fi
done
;;
http_proxy=*)
# http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Mozilla_Networking_Preferences#Proxy
export HTTP_PROXY=${x#http_proxy=}

HOST_PORT=${HTTP_PROXY##*//}
PROXY_HOST=${HOST_PORT%%:*}
PROXY_PORT=${HOST_PORT##*:}

logger PROXY SETTINGS: $HTTP_PROXY $PROXY_HOST $PROXY_PORT
[ -e /etc/iceweasel/profile/prefs.js ] &&
echo "user_pref(\"network.proxy.type\", 1);" >> /etc/iceweasel/
profile/prefs.js
echo "user_pref(\"network.proxy.http\", \"$PROXY_HOST\");" >> /etc/
iceweasel/profile/prefs.js
echo "user_pref(\"network.proxy.http_port\", $PROXY_PORT);" >> /etc/
iceweasel/profile/prefs.js
echo "user_pref(\"network.proxy.ssl\", \"$PROXY_HOST\");" >> /etc/
iceweasel/profile/prefs.js
echo "user_pref(\"network.proxy.ssl_port\", $PROXY_PORT);" >> /etc/
iceweasel/profile/prefs.js
;;
esac
done

case "$?" in
0|1) [ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_end_msg 0 ;;
2) [ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_end_msg 1 ;;
esac
;;
stop)
[ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_daemon_msg "Stopping $DESC" "$NAME"

case "$?" in
0|1) [ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_end_msg 0 ;;
2) [ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_end_msg 1 ;;
esac
;;
restart|force-reload)
#
# If the "reload" option is implemented then remove the
# 'force-reload' alias
#
log_daemon_msg "Restarting $DESC" "$NAME"
case "$?" in
0|1)

case "$?" in
0) log_end_msg 0 ;;
1) log_end_msg 1 ;; # Old process is still running
*) log_end_msg 1 ;; # Failed to start
esac
;;
*)
# Failed to stop
log_end_msg 1
;;
esac
;;
*)
echo "Usage: $SCRIPTNAME {start|stop|restart|force-reload}" >&2
exit 3
;;
esac

:

On Dec 8, 9:24 pm, GMF <g...@bitchcop.de> wrote:

> > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[GMF]

I don´t think it is very clever to paste the whole xorg.conf from
another distribution and have to identical sections "ServerFlags".

First step should be to paste only display related lines and re-squash
webconverger.

For example you may try this:

++++cut here ++++

cat >> /etc/X11/xorg.conf <<WCEND

# Webconverger.com options to disable X options

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "AllowMouseOpenFail"

Option "HandleSpecialKeys" "Never"
Option "DontZoom" "true"
Option "DontZap" "true"
Option "DontVTSwitch" "true"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
#DisplaySize 240 180 # mm
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "TOS"
ModelName "5082"
HorizSync 31.5-48.5
VertRefresh 40-70
#UseModes "Modes0" #monitor0usemodes
Option "PreferredMode" "1024x768"
EndSection

Section "Modes"
Identifier "Modes0"
#modes0modeline0
EndSection

Section "Device"

Identifier "Card0"
Driver "trident" #card0driver
VendorName "Trident Microsystems"
BoardName "Cyber 9525"
BusID "PCI:0:4:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Card0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 16
Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubsection
EndSection

WCEND

++++cut here++++

Greez
GMF

> #http://webconverger.org/blog/entry/Debian_Web_Kiosk/

>                 #http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Mozilla_Networking_Preferences#P...

> ...
>
> Erfahren Sie mehr »

[K2]

Indeed it is not clever at all.
Anyway, I tried your suggestion and it did not work either (i.e.:
mouse cursor stuck).
Instead, I have now solved the problem by means of modifying two
sections of the "crude cut and paste" - let's call it like that, as
indicated below:

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "X.org Configured"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0

# InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer" THIS LINE WAS
DELETED

InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

# Identifier "Mouse0" BECAME AS FOLLOWS
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
# Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2" #mouse0protocol THESE 5
LINES WERE COMMENTED
# Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"
# #Option "Emulate3Buttons"
# #Option "Emulate3Timeout" "50"
# Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5" #scrollwheel
EndSection

The two "ServerFlags" sections were left in, but, after all, the one
of
them form Puppy only contains one actve line (Option "RandR" "on").
Finally I'm enjoying right resolution and fully operational mouse
(wheel
included).

Thanks for your help and "inspirations". I would have never got myself
to know that the key could be in /etc/init.d.

Cheers.

> >         Modes      - Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -...
>
> read more »

[GMF]

Nice to hear that it works.

When I started using webconverger v5.2 the language selection in
bootoptions didn´t work for German. So I had to dig a little deeper
and found this /etc/init.d/webconverger case.

> > >         #Option     "NoAccel"    ...
>
> Erfahren Sie mehr »

[Kai Hendry]

Hmm, I've found some hardware where a command that really should work
like `xvideomode=1024x768` (Webconverger boot option) which actually
runs `xrandr -s 1024x768` fails with:
Size 1024x768 not found in available modes

`xrandr` alone outputs the valid modes it has detected btw.

Of course the "work around" as you guys discovered is to write the
xorg.conf. However xorg.conf should not exist and Xorg setup should be
controlled neatly from the command line.

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config/Resolution

I tried creating a newmode with gtf/ctv though I get "Failed to change
the screen configuration!".

I did notice all the modes are detected fine running Archlinux with
version 1.3.2 of xrandr. However Webconverger ships an older 1.2
currently.

[K2]

Just out of curiosity, do you plan to implement xrandr 1.3.2 in the
future?

Cheers.

[Kai Hendry]

I'd like to of course. It's a question of making a stable Xorg
backport to lenny.

Which is a bit of work as per usual.