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Bug 203527 - >=x11-drivers/ati-driver-8.443.1-r1: X goes to a blank screen and in some cases a reboot is required to go back to console. X fails to start leaving a PreInitDAL error.
Summary: >=x11-drivers/ati-driver-8.443.1-r1: X goes to a blank screen and in some cas...
Status: RESOLVED FIXED
Alias: None
Product: Gentoo Linux
Classification: Unclassified
Component: New packages (show other bugs)
Hardware: x86 Linux
: High critical (vote)
Assignee: X11 External Driver Maintainers
URL: http://www.phoronix.com/forums/showth...
Whiteboard:
Keywords:
: 204160 (view as bug list)
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2007-12-27 23:14 UTC by Bryan
Modified: 2008-01-05 18:19 UTC (History)
1 user (show)

See Also:
Package list:
Runtime testing required: ---

Attachments
Where the problem seems to originate from. This is a patched version. (amdpcsdb,7.06 KB, patch)
2008-01-05 18:16 UTC, Bryan 		Details | Diff
View All Add an attachment (proposed patch, testcase, etc.)

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Description Bryan 2007-12-27 23:14:55 UTC 
Some people have experienced this bug while others have not. Those who have not do have Frame buffer support in their kernel so the problem isn't related to fb support. As far as this bug goes it seems nothing I have done has fixed it. I have tried to pass a variety of options to X in xorg.conf to no avail.

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Emerge ati-drivers-8.443.3* ebuild
2. Try to start X 
3. Black sreen (Can't get out using CTRL + ALT + BKSPC. Use CTRL + ALT + F1.)

Actual Results:  
X fails to start and says specifically:

(EE) fglrx(0): PreInitDAL failed

Expected Results:  
X should start. Shouldn't have a problem.

Most likely this issue cannot be resolved and we will have to wait for Catalyst 8.01 (fglrx 8.45)
Comment 1 Jakub Moc (RETIRED) gentoo-dev 2008-01-03 09:08:47 UTC 
*** Bug 204160 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Comment 2 Bryan 2008-01-05 18:16:05 UTC 
Created attachment 140210 [details, diff]
Where the problem seems to originate from. This is a patched version.

All that is changed is under the heading:
[AMDPCSROOT/SYSTEM/MCIL]
You need to add:
DALRULE_ADDNATIVEMODESTOMODETABLE=V1

This appears to fix the problem.
Fix is also mentioned on page 7 on that phoronix topic I linked this bug to.
Comment 3 Bryan 2008-01-05 18:19:52 UTC 
The problem seems to come from /etc/ati/amdpcsdb. 
Open amdpcsdb in you text editor and add 
this line: DALRULE_ADDNATIVEMODESTOMODETABLE=V1

under: [AMDPCSROOT/SYSTEM/MCIL]