Text Mode Garbled after Graphics Mode

[rupakrathore]

I have a Compaq Anthlon 64 Laptop using nVidia GeForce4 420 Go.

I have installed nVidia driver for x64 on that and finally the widescreen works. (or used to work till I reinstalled the latest linux).

However, the problem is with switching from graphics mode to text mode. (either killing Xserver or shutdown). The text is completely garbled and LCD panel displaying amazing characters. My primary concern is if that will screw up my display. I want to get rid of that strange characters. I'm using Fedora Core. (1 earlier, 3 now).

Somebody in another forum told me to switch off some thing (was it Video expansion) in BIOS but I can't find any thing related to Video in BIOS (not even RAM size etc).

Help!

[megaloman]

maybe try to use fb for textmode, when you will back from graphics mode to text mode, it will use fb for textmode
I've had similar problem with my laptop - adding 'vga=792' to my kernel init line in grub resolved this problem with both 'nv' and 'nvidia' drivers.
hope, it helps

[joffe]

It must have something to do with switching bit depth going from X to console. This is what I get:

32 bit X -> 16 bit vesafb      = garbage (vga=791)
32 bit X -> 32 bit vesafb-tng  = ok      (video=vesafb:ywrap,mtrr,1024x768-32@60)

My System
Toshiba 2450-201
nVidia Corporation NV17 [GeForce4 420 Go] (rev a3)
Linux 2.6.10-cko3
Slackware-current
NVIDIA 6629 + 2 patches

[Spyke]

Usually its best to try different depth of framebuffer and see what works, or go with vesafb-tng.

   All VESA Video Modes:

   Bits    640x480 800x600 1024x768 1280x1024 1600x1200
   8       769     771     773      775       796
   16      785     788     791      794       798
   32      786     789     792      795       799

[rupakrathore]

Hi Friends,

Thanks for your support. I have tried the options but none seem to work and I'm still stuck with garbage after X quits.

Spyke, Is there any vesa video mode for 1280 x 800 text mode?

Please help!

Thanks,
Rupak

[dorakyura]

Yes there is: Supposing you are using grub just append

vga=0x360

This works quite good for me (I'm using a Toshiba M30 with the same display resolution) ... actually aside from 640x480 this is the only option that does not mess up the text mode.

hope that works!
Tobias

[energyman76b]

Hi,

when the output is garbed, does a 'reset' (log in, type reset, hit enter) help?

[rupakrathore]

I can't see a thing... it looks like a very badly tuned TV that just keeps scrolling up very fast... but the bootup works fine again... problem is only when X exits... when I put all those vesa modes (apart from 0x360, that I am yet to try), the text looks appropriately changed during bootup. but after X shuts, all hell breaks loose... I hope this new mode solves this problem...

[gammaknife]

Hi,
I had a similar console problem with my notebook and i solved it loading nvidia module with a couple of options.

Try reloading module with those options
modprobe nvidia NVreg_SoftEDIDs=0 NVreg_Mobile=2

Take a look to the NVidia README for the complete description of those options.

This worked for me (AMD64, 5700FX and a 15,4 LCD screen), but not for other people.

Hope this will help.

Maurizio aka gk
http://deprecated.it