Bug 19815

Created attachment 22361 [details]
Xorg.conf created by "Xorg -configure"

Created attachment 22362 [details]
Dmesg log for bootup

Dmesg log while trying to start the X server:

[drm] Initialized drm 1.1.0 20060810
pci 0000:00:02.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 16 (level, low) -> IRQ 16
pci 0000:00:02.0: setting latency timer to 64
[drm] Initialized i915 1.6.0 20080730 on minor 0

Created attachment 22363 [details]
Xorg.0.log for the single successful startup

Created attachment 22364 [details]
Xorg.0.log after failed startup (stipple pattern on screen)

Additional Xorg.0.log entries added after I pressed Ctrl-Alt-Backspace:

(II) AT Translated Set 2 keyboard: Close
(II) UnloadModule: "evdev"
(II) PS2++ Logitech Mouse: Close
(II) UnloadModule: "evdev"
(II) Macintosh mouse button emulation: Close
(II) UnloadModule: "evdev"
(II) Sleep Button (CM): Close
(II) UnloadModule: "evdev"
(II) Power Button (FF): Close
(II) UnloadModule: "evdev"

The next few attachments show what happens with the old X server when switching VTs.  The sequence is this:

Start the X server and press Ctrl-Alt-KP+ to go into high-resolution mode (I have it set to start in 640x480 -- don't ask why).

Press Ctrl-Alt-F1 to change to a text console VT.

Press Alt-F7 to change back to the X display.  The server is still alive but the display is messed up -- shifted horizontally and vertically in a weird manner.

Move the mouse a little.  At this point the server aborts with an error message in the log.  The screen goes into an unusable display mode, and the only way to do anything is to press Alt-SysRq-r (put the keyboard back in Raw mode) followed by Ctrl-Alt-Delete.  The error message in the log may provide a clue to the problem.

Created attachment 22365 [details]
xorg.conf file for the old server

Created attachment 22366 [details]
Xorg.0.log from old server after startup and switching to 1280x1024

Additional Xorg.0.log entries (old server) after pressing Ctrl-Alt-F1:

(WW) I810(0): Successfully set original devices
(WW) I810(0): Setting the original video mode instead of restoring
        the saved state
(WW) I810(0): Extended BIOS function 0x5f05 failed.
(II) I810(0): BIOS call 0x5f05 not supported, setting refresh with VBE 3 method.
(II) I810(0): xf86UnbindGARTMemory: unbind key 2
(II) I810(0): xf86UnbindGARTMemory: unbind key 1
(II) I810(0): xf86UnbindGARTMemory: unbind key 0
(WW) I810(0): Successfully set original devices (2)

Created attachment 22367 [details]
Xorg.0.log from old server after pressing Alt-F7

Created attachment 22368 [details]
Xorg.0.log from old server after moving mouse

This file contains the errors messages that led the old server to abort.  It's possible that they indicate some sort of hardware problem, but I'm not able to interpret them.

For old chipset like 845G, we might not support well with recent drivers as we had non or very limited testing on those with new drivers. So I think you'd better test with older stable driver, like 2.3.2, 2.4.1, etc.

You don't understand.  I don't want to test an older driver; I want to get the current driver working.

So what should I do?  I'd be happy to test any patches you send.

Can NoAccel option work for you? New driver won't likely bring new feature to you or make things wrong faster..

Adding the NoAccel option solved the problem!  It's working fine now.  Thank you very much.

Closing the bug report.

Adding an extra note...

It turns out that I can leave acceleration enabled (which is good because without acceleration, scrolling is very slow).  The trick is to tell the driver to use the old XAA method instead of the newer EXA.