GF4 Ti 4400 Twinview and Console

[randomname]

When I'm using TwinView to give a dual-head display with a GeForce4 Ti 4400 it all boots up fine, on a single head, and X starts correctly over both heads. Unfortunately, I then can't switch back to the text console (Ctrl+Alt+F1), just a black screen is displayed (I can switch back to X ok). Everything works fine on a non-TwinView system of otherwise identical configuration.

Has anybody else ever seen this, or a similar problem? Is it a known bug, or how can I fix it?

[foot]

Same card, same problem.

Operating System Slackware 8.1, XFree 4.*latest nvidia drivers.. etc...

Help us!!


Relevant part of XF86Config-4
-------
################## TwinView
Section "Screen"

Identifier "Screen 2"

Device "nvidia card"
Monitor "My Monitor"

Option "TwinView"
Option "SecondMonitorHorizSync" "30-61"
Option "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" "50-75"
Option "MetaModes" "1024x768, 1024x768"
Option "TwinViewOrientation" "LeftOf"
#Option "TwinViewOrientation" "Clone"
Option "ConnectedMonitor" "LCD,CRT"


DefaultDepth 24
Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubsection

EndSection
---------------

Thank you in advance for you help

[bwkaz]

Originally posted by foot
Option "ConnectedMonitor" "LCD,CRT" I don't believe this is the problem, but according to the README, "LCD" is not a valid setting for ConnectedMonitor. The valid settings are "CRT" (cathode-ray tube), "DFP" (digital flat panel), and "TV" (duh). Maybe changing "LCD" to "DFP" might help? If nothing else, it might remove a warning or an error in your X log...

[foot]

After switching to DFP the second monitor would not turn on. I tried moving settings around, but it would only come back when I put it to LCD

[bwkaz]

Hmm... well, that was the only thing I saw, unfortunately, so I don't really know.

:(

[Archie Steel]

Originally posted by randomname
When I'm using TwinView to give a dual-head display with a GeForce4 Ti 4400 it all boots up fine, on a single head, and X starts correctly over both heads. Unfortunately, I then can't switch back to the text console (Ctrl+Alt+F1), just a black screen is displayed (I can switch back to X ok). Everything works fine on a non-TwinView system of otherwise identical configuration.

Has anybody else ever seen this, or a similar problem? Is it a known bug, or how can I fix it?

Yeah, I have the same bug/feature. What I did was to put a metamode where only the main screen is active. To switch to console, I first cycle to that metamode (using Ctrl+keypad plus) and THEN use Ctrl+Alt+Fkey).

It's kind of a pain, but it's bearable. I'll check back on this board to see if anyone comes up with a solution.

Now, if only I could find a way for the vesa framebuffer to work with my GF4, so I can have a nifty boot-up screen... :rolleyes:

[bwkaz]

Originally posted by Archie Steel
Now, if only I could find a way for the vesa framebuffer to work with my GF4, so I can have a nifty boot-up screen... :rolleyes: Works with mine... what's the problem on your end? Is rivafb in the kernel (either permanently or as a loaded module)? -- it shouldn't be...

You need to say yes, in your kernel config, to "VGA text console", "Support for framebuffer devices", and "VESA VGA graphics console". You probably also need to say yes to "Prompt for development and/or incomplete code/drivers".

[Archie Steel]

Originally posted by bwkaz
Works with mine... what's the problem on your end? Is rivafb in the kernel (either permanently or as a loaded module)? -- it shouldn't be...

You need to say yes, in your kernel config, to "VGA text console", "Support for framebuffer devices", and "VESA VGA graphics console". You probably also need to say yes to "Prompt for development and/or incomplete code/drivers".

I'm pretty sure I did build a kernel without rivafb and with vesa enabled - though I might have left it as a module... I'll try it again soon, just to make sure I didn't make a mistake (that was my first attempt at kernel compiling).

After looking around a little bit, I figure it might be the card's BIOS (which may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer) which doesn't support vesa. My own card is a MSI GeForce4 Ti 4400.

Just out of curiosity, what does your vga=xxx line say in lilo.conf?

[bwkaz]

vga=794 (which I believe is 1280x1024, but I'm not positive).

It's an MSI Ti4200 here, BIOS version 4.25.00.29.00 (you should be able to find out from /proc/driver/nvidia/cards/0)...

[Archie Steel]

Originally posted by bwkaz
vga=794 (which I believe is 1280x1024, but I'm not positive).

It's an MSI Ti4200 here, BIOS version 4.25.00.29.00 (you should be able to find out from /proc/driver/nvidia/cards/0)...

Thanks, I'll check it out.

Do you know if it's possible to upgrade (i.e. flash) that BIOS? Though I imagine I'd probably have to reboot in Windows in order to do it...

(Damn, I haven't rebooted in Windows for more than 6 months, now...)

[bwkaz]

I don't have any idea -- this is the BIOS that came in the card.

There were docs on how to do it, but they required you to boot Windows and load up the web site in IE with your ActiveX crap all enabled. :rolleyes:

The idea was to make it like Windows Update, but they're still dumb.

I think I might have done some searching around on their site for a way to install a newer BIOS manually, but I don't remember if I ever found anything -- in any case, I never did it.

[foot]

I then can't switch back to the text console (Ctrl+Alt+F1), just a black screen is displayed (I can switch back to X ok). Everything works fine on a non-TwinView system of otherwise identical configuration.

Thanks Archie. The metamode workaround is working for me.

I have gotten a few responses from elsewhere and they are blaming an "acknowledged bug" "conflict b/n the console framebuffer and the Nvidia driver."
I have also read of other problems with X, Nvidia, and the Console frame buffer.
This seems credible to me.. and I am running a console FB.. but now for the newbie question: How do I disable the console framebuffer so I can test this?

[Archie Steel]

Originally posted by foot
Thanks Archie. The metamode workaround is working for me.

I have gotten a few responses from elsewhere and they are blaming an "acknowledged bug" "conflict b/n the console framebuffer and the Nvidia driver."
I have also read of other problems with X, Nvidia, and the Console frame buffer.
This seems credible to me.. and I am running a console FB.. but now for the newbie question: How do I disable the console framebuffer so I can test this?

Depends on how much of a newbie you are. ;)

If you have a VESA console framebuffer, you can start in text-only mode by putting the line vga=normal in your lilo.conf file. If you've never edited your lilo.conf file, then be careful NOT to change anything else! You have to run "lilo" as root after editing the file so that the changes are applied.

If the framebuffer is active, you should see a little graphical Tux when you boot up (or the symbol of your distro, or what is known as a "boot-splash" screen).

I'm just starting to understand how the FB works and stuff (I still can't get a graphical vesa framebuffer to work with my GF4)...it's quite complicated stuff. So my basic advice is: if it ain't broke, don't fix it...unless you consider it a learning experience...

[Archie Steel]

Originally posted by foot
Thanks Archie. The metamode workaround is working for me.

I have gotten a few responses from elsewhere and they are blaming an "acknowledged bug" "conflict b/n the console framebuffer and the Nvidia driver."
I have also read of other problems with X, Nvidia, and the Console frame buffer.
This seems credible to me.. and I am running a console FB.. but now for the newbie question: How do I disable the console framebuffer so I can test this?

Very strange...I accidentally found another workaround for that bug. Now I can switch between the console and my X session, without switching to a single-screen metamode first.

I haven't tried to reproduce this, so YMMV...First, I booted straight into the console (unchecking the "boot straight into X" option in drakconf - I'm using Mandrake, but your distro should have a similar option).
I logged in as root at the login prompt. Then, I made a mistake and instead of typing "cat /proc/driver/nvidia/cards/0" (to get my BIOS version) I typed in "cat /dev/nvidia0"

I got back an error message, but then the console appeared, duplicated, on my second TwinView monitor. Since then, I can toggle between my TwinView X session and the console with Alt+Ctrl+F1, without switching to a single-monitor metamode first! (Though the console no longer appears duplicated on the second monitor when I do so...)

Interesting, to say the least...

[Archie Steel]

Originally posted by bwkaz
vga=794 (which I believe is 1280x1024, but I'm not positive).

It's an MSI Ti4200 here, BIOS version 4.25.00.29.00 (you should be able to find out from /proc/driver/nvidia/cards/0)...

I checked, and mine is 04.25.00.22.44...so that could be it.

(mutters) That means I have to reboot into Windows so I can upgrade the BIOS... :mad:

Oh well, I'll do that over the week-end. I really don't need a boot penguin all that much! :rolleyes:

[warer]

Try removing CRT from the screen setting type only:
"DFT," Then it will work its a bug in the drivers.