On Tue, 2013-01-01 at 19:42 +0100, Florian Weimer wrote: > * Jonathan Nieder: > > > I'm interested because without-firmware is the default situation when > > new users install Debian, so it's best if we can ensure it works at > > least well enough to open a browser and read about firmware. > > I think this (disabling KMS without firmware) causes a regression for > me as well. I'm attaching the boot messages. This happens with two > different PCIe cards based on older ATI chips (r300, I believe): > > 03:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI RV370 > 5B60 [Radeon X300 (PCIE)] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller]) > Subsystem: Giga-byte Technology GV-RX30S128D (X300SE) > Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 24 > Memory at f0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=128M] > I/O ports at c000 [size=256] > Memory at fbce0000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K] > Expansion ROM at fbcc0000 [disabled] [size=128K] > Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2 > Capabilities: [58] Express Endpoint, MSI 00 > Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+ > Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting > Kernel driver in use: radeon > > 03:00.1 Display controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI RV370 > [Radeon X300SE] > Subsystem: Giga-byte Technology Device 2103 > Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0 > Memory at fbcf0000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K] > Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2 > Capabilities: [58] Express Endpoint, MSI 00 > > Symptoms are corrupted fonts (instead of characters, bounding boxes > are shown), missing characters, a general slowdown of some graphics > operations (there is a very noticeable delay when maximizing > Iceweasel), and, worst of all, relatively frequent complete lock-ups > during ordinary X usage. > > I cannot load the firmware because the X server hangs during startup, > displaying static snow/sitting ants.
You can work around this by: 1. Booting in recovery mode 2. Creating the directory /lib/firmware/radeon (which is all the driver looks for) I think the directory check fixes more systems than it breaks, but would still like to do better. Ben. -- Ben Hutchings It is easier to change the specification to fit the program than vice versa.
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