X fails after update to CentOS 4.3 on Dell Inspiron 8100 [GeForce2 Go]

[kazdan]

After updating from Mandriva 10.2 to CentOS 4.3, X failed.
Suggestions are appreciated. -- Jerry

DETAILS
HARDWARE: Dell Inspiron 8100 laptop with 1600x1200 display, VGA
controller: nVidia Corporation NV11 [GeForce2 Go] (rev b2)

BEFORE UPDATE:
I was running Mandriva 10.2 using their kernel linux2.6.11-6 and
nVidia's driver via NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-7667-pkg1.run. It ran
well. [I still have the old xorg.conf from that].

AFTER UPDATE:
Running CentOS 4.3 (=RedHat EL 4.3), their kernel linux
2.6.9-34.0.2.EL. Before installing the nVidia driver X was running
(but at the unpleasant 800x600). Nonetheless, it ran. Then I
installed the nVidia driver using NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8762-pkg1.run
(this used my kernel-devel-2.6.9-34.0.2.EL). I also used the automatic
modifications to my xorg.conf. When I attempted to restart X (using
startx from runlevel 3), it failed. Here is the startx &>startx.log file:
-------------------------------------------
X Window System Version 6.8.2
Release Date: 9 February 2005
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0, Release 6.8.2
Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.9-34.EL i686 [ELF]
Current Operating System: Linux localhost.localdomain 2.6.9-34.0.2.EL #1 Fri Jul 7 19:24:57 CDT 2006 i686
Build Date: 04 May 2006
Build Host: x8664-build.centos.org

Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.X.Org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
Module Loader present
OS Kernel: Linux version 2.6.9-34.0.2.EL (buildcentos@v20z-i386) (gcc version 3.4.5 20051201 (Red Hat 3.4.5-2)) #1 Fri Jul 7 19:24:57 CDT 2006
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Tue Aug 8 17:34:50 2006
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"

(EE) NVIDIA(0): Failure reading maximum pixel clock value for display device
(EE) NVIDIA(0): CRT-0.
(EE) NVIDIA(0): Failure reading maximum pixel clock value for display device
(EE) NVIDIA(0): TV-0.
(EE) NVIDIA(0): Failure to determine the TV encoder.
(EE) NVIDIA(0): The requested configuration of display devices is not
(EE) NVIDIA(0): supported in the hardware.

Fatal server error:
AddScreen/ScreenInit failed for driver 0

Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
at http://wiki.X.Org
for help.
Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.

*** If unresolved symbols were reported above, they might not
*** be the reason for the server aborting.

FatalError re-entered, aborting
Caught signal 11. Server aborting

XIO: fatal IO error 104 (Connection reset by peer) on X server ":0.0"

after 0 requests (0 known processed) with 0 events remaining.

-------------------------------------------

My /var/log/Xorg.0.log is included in the attached zip file containing
both the nvidia-bug-report.log and nvidia-installer.log files.

Note that the current (CentOS installation default) xorg.conf has the
inadequate Monitor lines
HorizSync 31.5 - 37.9
VertRefresh 50.0 - 70.0
rather than those from my old xorg.conf file (which worked well with
Mandriva):
HorizSync 31.5-90.0
VertRefresh 59.0-85.0
I did also text the new nVidia use these old values, but the error
persists.

This is all I can think of that might be helpful.
After I get X running at 800x600 (which is unacceptable), I plan to use
my old xorg.conf as a guide to go to 1600x1200.

-- Jerry

[netllama]

I have a few questions:
0) Does removing vga=773 from your GRUB configuration (and rebooting) have any impact on this problem?
1) According to the X log, the dirver is detecting an attached CRT & TV encoder. Does this reflect reality?
2) If you use the UseDisplayDevice X option, and set it to DFP-0, does that have any impact?
3) Does updating the BIOS to the latest version have any impact?

Thanks,
Lonni

[evilghost]

Use options IgnoreEDID or NoDDC perhaps?

[kazdan]

Originally Posted by netllama

I have a few questions:
0) Does removing vga=773 from your GRUB configuration (and rebooting) have any impact on this problem?
1) According to the X log, the dirver is detecting an attached CRT & TV encoder. Does this reflect reality?
2) If you use the UseDisplayDevice X option, and set it to DFP-0, does that have any impact?
3) Does updating the BIOS to the latest version have any impact?

Thanks,
Lonni

0). I had the problem two days ago, before I inserted the "vga=773" line in grub.conf. [I only inserted the vga=773 afterward since I can't use X and was tired of 800x600]. My startx.log files (which I have saved) were absolutely identical with and without the vga=773 grub.conf line.

1). Despite the X log, there are NO attached CRT or TV devices. The only attachments on this laptop are:
std external electric power, PCMCIA Ethernet Card, wireless mouse

2). I inserted UseDisplayDevice "DFP-0" in the "Device" section of my xorg.conf (is this the correct place?) and attempted to restart X. It halted almost immediately. The log had the message "Fatal Server Error, no screens found..

3) I'll update the BIOS and report later if this helps. Note I have updated this linux computer many times since 2001, but only now nVidia fails. Of course still works if I boot MS Windows -- which I never use. And it worked last week with Mandriva 10.2. These lead me to believe the BIOS is not the problem.

I appreciate your guidance, but I certainly am lost, not happy, and now wary of nVidia cards.
Jerry

[kazdan]

Originally Posted by netllama

I have a few questions:
...
3) Does updating the BIOS to the latest version have any impact?

Thanks,
Lonni

[this is an adendum to my previous reply]

Re: 3). I just updated the BIOS -- and that indeed solved the problem. Using my previous (good) xorg.conf as a guide, I already modified my current xorg.conf so now I am running at 1600x1200, as I want.

Thanks for your help. Without it I was completely stuck.

Jerry