X Server problem during Install

Posted Wed, 2007-01-24 03:07 by DaRush

Hey Guys, I'm attempting to install Ubuntu 6.10 as I'm writing this. Machine:  AMD Athlon X2 3800+, ATI Radeon X800XL 256 GDDR3 PCI-e, 20.1inch wide LG LCD (I'm using the analog conection to my monitor).  Installing on a new HD. Installing Ubuntu 6.10 Desktop Amd64, from a Live CD.  It boots, gives me the install menu, i Choose "start or install ubuntu," or "install in safe graphics mode" (i tried both) After loading for a little bit, it gives me the following blue screen: "Failed to start the X server (your graphical interface).  It is likely that it is not set up correctly.  Would you like to view the X server output to diagnose the problem?" I choose yes, it reads among other things: (==) using conig file: "/etc/x11/xorg/conf" (EE) no devices detected. Fatal server error: no screens found. I press ok, it asks me to view the detailed report.  That reads: (my graphics card is detected properly) (xx) screen "default scren" (WW) the directory "/usr/share/x11/fonts/misc" does not exist a bunch of other warning with the same thing. Then it gives ma a whole readout of different ATI video cards, about 10 pages long, finally ending with (WW) ATI: PCI Mach64 in slot 2:0:0 could not be detected (WW) ATI: PCI Mach64 in slot 2:0:1 will not be enabled because it conflicts with another non-video PCI device. (EE) no devices detected. Fatal Server error: no screens found. Dinally when i press ok, it reads "The X server i now disabled.  Restart GDM when it is configured correctly."  When i press enter it just gives me a black screen. I tried installing the same version alternate CD, that actually went through the entire installation but once i tried to restart into my newly installed ubuntu OS, it gave me the same exact screen and messages. Now I should mention that i'm a noob to Linux and in no way know what i'm doing, but if anyone knows how I can deal with this, I would appreciate it.

‹ error-KDesktop How do you watch Video over a wireless network ›

Same here

by Chotor - 2007-01-25 13:25

I have the exact same problem. I also have the same graphics card as you; the X800XL (although I use DVI connection).There must be something with Ubuntu as I have succsessfully run other distros.Let me know if you get it working!

Similar problem

by macguy314 - 2007-01-28 03:57

I'm experiencing a similar difficulty when trying to install Ubuntu on my 1 GHz G4 eMac, with an ATI Radeon 7500 graphics card. I've tried booting 5.10, 6.06.1, and 6.10 with no success.

Problem installing on Gateway notebook(ATI Radeon Xpress700)

by mezzmerized17 - 2007-01-30 07:27

I too had this problem(Although, I didn't on AMD w/ATI Radeon Xpress 200).______________-----------Nevertheless, After 4 or 5 different Ubuntu disks(6.06 and 6.10), a couple of Kubuntu, 2 openSUSE and some sort of Mandriva or such, I couldn't get even as far as you guys. Ifound Ubuntu Multimedia Center and it installed with minimal config issues. Had to boot in safe graphics mode. ____________________-----------No other Ubuntu works in this machine. ---------------------------------------------Also might want to keep an eye on    -----------http://www.ubuntux.org/cant-start-ubuntu-in-grphical-mode#comment-495---------------------------Good Luck!Ah, that shows you the power of music, that magician of magician, who lifts his wand and says his mysterious word and all things real pass away and the phantoms of your mind walk before you clothed in flesh.

supported hardware

by XstatyK - 2007-02-01 21:50

I saw this list of supported video hardware Ubuntu and thought you might like to take a look.https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupportComponentsVideoCardsAti

same problem, ati radeon x700

by dickie_s - 2007-03-04 17:11

Same problem here with a very similar sounding ati radeon card.Intel 64bit processor,  radeon x700 card. Using Ubuntu live CD 6.06.1 64bit, told I need to change video driver from default to vesa. Apparrently can do this by entering live-expert at boot: prompt; how does one get to the boot: prompt. Tried f6 options, no joy there.. must be some kind of trick I'm missing. Anyone knows, drop a note if you be so kind, many thanks :)

Really frustrating

by dickie_s - 2007-03-04 19:12

The 'boot methods' initial help screen on the live CD are wrong, there is no boot: prompt anymore, it seems. Can I enter 'live-expert' in the f6 options box somehow? I've tried --live-expert, -- live-expert at the end of the preloaded parameters and live-expert, --live-expert, live=expert at the beginning, plus many other forgotten combinations with and without deletions of parts or all of the preloaded stuff. No joy so far. I did manage to get to /etc/X11/xorg.conf and edit it with sudo vi, changing 'ati' to 'vesa' in the radeon's device section.. but that didnae work either. Windows user not having a very happy first grapple with linux here sadly :(

so anyone know how to

by Varenthin - 2007-03-29 00:53

so anyone know how to resolve that problem? i'm using Radeon X800GT 256MB PCI-E and tried to install ubuntu 6.06 and 6.10 without successplease reply in here or varenthin(at)gmail.com

same exact issue

by blahd35r35 - 2007-04-09 21:01

I too am experiencing the same exact issue.  Since this post was originally more than a week old, anyone figured it out.  I also have an ati card, the x800gto.  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, help!! I want to try out that BERYL desktop GUI, it looks so cool.

Same Issue, Potential Sollution

by cyrusdh - 2007-04-18 02:07

Okay after googling this I found a "potential" sollution.  Once you get to the command prompt if you run. Usually if x server is not starting you need to reconfigure it. Even on fresh installs.Try this:at the prompt type:   sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg This will walk you through the configuration. Once you have completed this you need to restart the xserver.  Then type startx.    Now saying this, when I begin the installation process of UBUNTU and get the X server failed to launch error I CANNOT GET TO A COMMAND PROMPT.  Does anyone have any idea how, on a fresh install i can get to the command prompt? 

Command prompt

by davidrools - 2007-04-21 09:10

To switch to a command prompt, press CTRL+ALT+F1 or F2-F6, they all go to command prompts that I guess are different but I don't know how they're different.  The graphical interface (Gnome and X) can be switched back to with CTRL+ALT+F7.  That'll show you the error screen if you were there before. Make the necessary changes through any of the command prompts and switch back to Gnome (GDM stands for Gnome Desktop Manager, btw).  Hit CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE to restart X. Hopefully all works well at that point.

Feisty with ATI X1400 Failed to start X Server

by Rolly - 2007-04-27 03:07

I got the same problem as the others.  Referenced //ubuntuforms.org How to: Feisty on Dell 6400 + ATI X1400 still no luck.   Did a fresh install using alternate CD in Text mode.  Chose the lowest resolution and deselected the rest.  It booted up showing blue screen "Failed to start x-server it is not set up correctly.  Got dumped into GDM screen I think and did not know what to do then.  I'm horible at command line stuff.  If possible please provide a simple step by step procedure to get Feisty working!!!

Hey guys im totally on the

by PhireBird - 2007-05-12 07:44

Hey guys im totally on the verge of cracking open this Ati issue.... if (or when) i get this baby working on my machine I'll post a detailed guide for guys.

Same issue, but not with the feisty beta cd.

by epitome - 2007-05-16 13:42

Hello everybody. I'm pretty new to Ubuntu too.The first time I installed the beta of feisty whithout any problems. I'm having a HP compaq nc8430. Of course, I had to install the ATI driver for the X1600 manualy afterwards, but that worked pretty well. Now I'm trying to install the latest version and I'm getting that error message too. What I tried as well, was installing 6.10 and then upgrading to 7.04. But then, I got this error message again. Strange.I will try to use the beta cd again and see if it works. Hope, that information helps someone.

Beta worked

by epitome - 2007-05-16 17:40

FYI

How to enable ATi Graphics cards on ubuntu live...

by PhireBird - 2007-05-23 03:39

sorry if this is kinda  weird to read... first tutorial in a while ;)

  1. When you boot the disk and recieve the x server 'error' could not detect message, just continue through the the "ok" and the relative 'no i dont want to see a detailed x server output options' - the results should leave your pc screen looking like theres a small command prompt at the bottom (flashing '_'), with the last error screen stuck above it . that just a refresh error.
  2. Press CTRL+ALT+F1 to access the command prompt, type 'sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg' ... I know it off by heart now! This function will open up the xserver configuration window, and it allows you to select drivers and mouse type, and moniter type.
  3. You basically want to let the xserver configure everything automatically for you except for the drivers, so select autodetect for any option that has it, except when you see a long list of drivers... some of these will have knwon brand names such as 'Ati' and 'nvidia' on the list. DO NOT SELECT ATI IF YOU ARE RUNNING OFF A DVI CONNECTION! Matter of fact, dont select it at all unless your graphics card is sub r400! Select instead the 'vesa' option. This will only allow you to view in 2d mode, and all 3d apps will crash (sorry guys! this is only for installation off a live cd, if you want to have 3d graphics on the desktop once it's installed, you need to install ati's 'fglrx' driver, thats another tutorial, even then it only works off the vga connector with the dvi connector DISABLED ;)
  4. Dont rush throught the moniter section if you see 'Generic  Moniter' instead of your moniter name, chances are you'll be stuck with 1024*768 or less resolution on boot! Type any name to feel better, and then on the next few config pages select the resolutions that your moniter supports (warning! the highest resolution you select will be the resolution you boot up to! 1280 is a good option for most people with lcds, and iff you haave a 22  inch widescreen, 1650 * 1080 is a good option :D. The moniter refresh rate can be autodetected along with the moniter (unless you recieved "generic moniter", although this part of the tut applies well with that problem anyway) by selecting 'simple' on the list and selecting the size of your moniter!
  5. Just keep pressing ok on every other screen, and a major warning, DONT USE THE FRAMEBUFFER INTERFACE. EVER. ATI or NVIDIA!
  6. Once you hit the end of the config, you should be returned to your command prompt in which you typed earlier 'dpkg-reconf...". If not, press the CTRL+ALT+F1 combination to access it. type "sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop" then "sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start" (again I know this off by heart!) to stop and start gdm and also the xserver you should be in linux ! Proceed with the install if your confronted with the desktop, otherwise if you recieve the initial error, go back through the 'sudo dpkg-r.." config and select either radeon or ati as the gfx driver, or change your moniter options to something more compatible for now, like 1024*768. PM ME IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM YOU CANT FIX!

ubuntu 7.04 installation

by sap - 2007-06-03 12:40

hello,i just follow your instruction about 'sudo dpkg-r... then up to sudo /etc//init.d/gdm start... and it work and responce [OK] after a few try'smy problem is what's next command? because i stop in the command prompt and i dont know now what to do just to continue the whole process.i installed to my desktop and it works properly without any hassle, that why i want to have it to my laptop inspiron 6400. ati x1300, 2gigram, bluetooth, wifi 3945abg and soon.the ubuntu 6.06 and 6.10 work properly on live cd but the 7.04 ive encounter the same problem

try this guide?

by slijtan - 2007-06-09 23:38

I found this guide that might be of some help.  I have:Inspiron E1505ATI Radeon Mobility X1400Im @ step 2 right now and it seems to be working so far.  Ill let you guys know if I run into any problems:http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=399913&highlight=Feisty+%26amp%3B+Beryl+On+Dell+Inspiron+6400