Bug#606112: [RV710] using startx results in black screen with locked hardware

[Michel Dänzer]

On Mit, 2012-01-25 at 16:51 -0600, Jonathan Nieder wrote: 
> On 2010-12-06, Andreas wrote:
> 
> > If I am using kernel-image 2.6.32-5-amd64 the X server does not start
> > correctly, the screen will be black and mouse and keyboard does not work
> > anymore. The system could be shutdown using power-button. I am using
> > standard radeon-driver (xorg-driver).
> [...]
> > The problem does not occur with kernel 2.6.30-2-amd64. Therefore I think
> > it could be related to kernel-mode switching.
> [...]
> > If you using the latest (2010-12-08 9:47 MET) radeon-driver from
> > git-repository
> > (git://anongit.freedesktop.org/xorg/driver/xf86-video-ati) the
> > X-server
> > will start correctly now with an linux-image-2.6.32-5-amd64 image
> >
> > Thanks to hint by Patrick.
> 
> Thanks, reassigning.
> 
> dmesg and Xorg.0.log at [1].  X maintainers, does this look familiar?
> Does the radeon driver need an update in squeeze?

FWIW, I think the critical log snippet is probably

> [dri] If using kernel modesetting, make sure your module is
> [dri] loaded prior to starting X, [...]

and the relevant fix would be commit
95991fcce45f0dd904f76b9f98f9c7ed5708e4fa ('Bail if we're trying to start
up in UMS mode on KMS'). But the root problem would be that udev doesn't
load the radeon kernel module before X starts.


-- 
Earthling Michel Dänzer           |                   http://www.amd.com
Libre software enthusiast         |          Debian, X and DRI developer