X problems on Dell Latitude w/i915 graphics (and Fn-key questions)

[Toralf Lund]

Jim Cornette wrote:

> Toralf Lund wrote:
>
>> We're having problems with the X server when running Fedora or Red 
>> Hat Linux (i.e. we've tried both FC3 & older stuff) on a Dell 
>> Latitude 610 notebook with an Intel 915 graphics chip. Firstly, no 
>> driver but "vesa" appears to work at all, but we don't mind that too 
>> much. However, we can't get a correct display with that either. 
>> Symptoms:
>>
>>    * A black screen is displayed by default.
>>    * When using an external monitor instead of the built-in LCD screen,
>>      everything works fine.
>>    * If starting up with external display, then switching to the
>>      build-in one via and Fn-key combination (Fn+F8 in this case), the
>>      built-in one also works.
>>    * The same is true after starting with the internal one (and getting
>>      a black screen), then switching to external and back to internal.
>>    * In the above two cases, display is once again lost if we switch to
>>      a different VT via Ctrl+Alt+F-keys, then back to the X server.
>>
>> Any ideas how to get around this? I mean, how to get the internal 
>> display to work directly?
>>
>> Related question: What exactly happens when the Fn-combination is 
>> pressed? I mean, I've sort of seen this operation as akin to pulling 
>> out the cable to the monitor, then inserting another one, but to get 
>> the behaviour described above, there must also be some kind of 
>> software signalling involved, mustn't there?
>>
>> - Toralf
>>
>
>
> Have you tried to use the i810 driver for the Intel 915 cards?

Yes. X server doesn't even start with that one. Maybe we need a never 
version, or something, though...

> info i810 shows the below supported cards. Vesa for me does not work 
> for an 815 card I have.
>
> SUPPORTED HARDWARE
>        i810 supports the i810, i810-DC100, i810e, i815,  830M,  845G, 
> 852GM, 855GM, 865G and 915G chipsets.
>
> I also use a computer with an 865G and it works well with this driver. 
> Maybe you have to adjust some BIOS settings related to video memory or 
> upgrade a buggy BIOS. I had a buggy BIOS and also had to adjust 
> settings to correct the problem with that card.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Jim
>