[Solved] Intel GMA500 poulsbo graphics Dell mini-10 netbook

[Jon_J]

Edited: add computer model to subject line. Link in post #4to compiling drivers for Debian
Forgive me if I don't format this post/question properly, as this is my first post in a long time.
I've been reading/researching this and other forums for awhile now, including Debian documentation/wiki.
I have a Dell Inspiron mini-10 (1010) netbook with the high definition screen.
It has the above mentioned graphics chipset, Intel GMA500 poulsbo.
This graphics hardware is mentioned in a Debian bug report here:
http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=533450
I have debian-503-i386-xfce+lxde-CD-1 (Lenny) installed with upgraded kernel, 2.6.30-bpo-2-686
I installed the LXDE option for my desktop.
Currently I am using vesa 1024x768 and everything on the desktop is stretched. I changed all fonts in openbox to 6pt.
I also have xubuntu 9.04 installed, and would like to remove ubuntu and just go for pure Debian.
There is one nagging problem, the poulsbo drivers "work" in ubuntu with the following workaround:
http://www.mydellmini.com/forum/dell-mi ... t-10v.html
This produces a nice fine grained 1366x768 desktop, and most all GUI stuff works faster.
Has anyone configured this chipset to work in Debian yet?
This is a very common graphics chipset in current notebooks/netbooks.
Will these computers ever run Debian in their "native" resolution?

On another matter not related to my original topic, installing lenny on a Dell mini-10 results in NO network connection.
I needed to use the Debian wiki to install the Broadcom wl driver for wireless,
but also had no ethernet connection as well because of the realtek 8101 ethernet chip.
I finally found an old Belkin (pegesus chip) USB to ethernet device from my Zaurus days that worked.
I was able to get Lenny updated and also install the Broadcom wl driver.
My next problem was the built in ethernet realtek 8101 chip.
I needed to upgrade my kernel from 2.6.26-2-686 to my current one, 2.6.30-bpo-2-686
This broke my wl driver. I was again without a connection.
I later repeated the steps in the wiki for the wl driver.
Since I already had the source files for the realtek 8101, I used the readme that was included in the source.
I'll post the filename, since I forgot exactly where I downloaded it. "r8101-1.013.00.tar.bz2"
I tried using "module-assistant, but m-a didn't have this particular module/source, and couldn't "find" it.
Once I had the realtek ethernet working, I was able to compile and install the broadcom wl module using module-assistant.
One note on compiling the realtek 8101 (there is another post here with someone stuck on this). In the readme, I changed the following:

Code: Select all

# make clean modules   (as root or with sudo)
to
# make (as root or with sudo)

"make clean modules" seems more like a command and a description in this case.

Thank you all for reading this rambling post.
Jon

[Jon_J]

"bump" because of no replies.
Just one question, will the poulsbo GMA500 chipset ever have a Debian driver?
If not, I'll have to switch back to another distro.

Jon

[stevepusser]

I would bet that the xorg version in Lenny is too old to work with that driver. You could see if installing the firmware, headers, and the -source package will work, then compiling the driver with module-assistant, but I'm not going to put any money down on it being a success.

[Jon_J]

I hope no one objects to me updating this old post, but I FINALLY found a solution for the Intel GMA 500 poulsbo graphics driver in Debian!
There is a blog linked below that describes, in step by step, howto compile the drivers needed to get these drivers working in Squeeze 2.6.30-2-686
http://blogs.koolwal.net/2009/11/05/how ... on-debian/

[craigevil]

Still not in debian which is a shame.

Poulsbo is the codename of Intel's second-generation ultra mobile PC chipset. Its GMA 500 graphics core is not supported by the intel Xorg
driver; ITP xserver-xorg-video-psb filed as Debian bug #533450. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poulsbo_(chipset)#Linux_support

[AnInkedSoul]

Still not in debian which is a shame.

requires closed/proprietary firmware doesn't it?

But I guess they could add that in non-free?

[qqcs]

I agree.
Many distros find some solution.
Please, please, please, someone who can put the packages together...

[Kermit]

Now I'm waiting for gma500 support since May2010! I'm still just using Framebuffer drivers.
I'll never ever buy Intel HW again!

[ask]

There is a new driver from Intel called the IEMGD that works with Debian Squeeze. See this page for using Poulsbo US15W[P][T] with an Intel Atom Z5** series CPU:

http://wiki.debian.org/IntelEmbeddedMediaGraphicsDriver

See this page for other hints about the Dell Mini 10/Inspiron 1010:

http://wiki.debian.org/InstallingDebianOn/Dell/Inspiron1010-Mini10/squeeze

[mwgrient]

I can confirm that this howto from Debian is working with squeeze on a fit-pc2. GREAT! Thanks for posting it.
Cheers.

[Luke]

Hi all,

I am struggling with the afore-mentioned EMGD for Squeeze as outlined here: http://wiki.debian.org/IntelEmbeddedMediaGraphicsDriver

It seems that the driver has been updated from 1.5.2 to 1.6 since this guide was written and in that upgrade they have removed the debian squeeze package. Does anybody know where I might get the old 1.5.2 bundle or have any kind of advice on how I (or anybody else needing EMGD on Squeeze) ought to proceed?

I am running Squeeze on a T91mt

[ask]

Luke,

First of all, I believe you need to download the "Linux Tar Ball" version of the drivers.
I would suggest modifying the install.sh as per the instructions here: http://wiki.debian.org/IntelEmbeddedMediaGraphicsDriver
You should skip modifying the lines about "deb_version" as they aren't there.

Please try running the modified script, see what you get and report back here. It should give you the option to install the drivers even though Debian Squeeze is not supported.

[Luke]

Thanks for your rapid reply, I appear to have broken my X, when I boot up it complains of configuration failure and gives me a console to log in to. I (in a moment of foolish recklessness) ran an install script for the EMGD graphics support in Ubuntu. I have googled around and can't work out how to auto reconfigure X. Please advise?

Many thanks as always for your time and talent,

Luke

[ask]

Hi Luke,

There are some requirements for the xorg.conf file when using the emgd driver and they're found on the bottom of the debian wiki page you originally cited:

http://wiki.debian.org/IntelEmbeddedMediaGraphicsDriver

In particular there is a PcfVersion option that has to be set. This is only a guess as to the possible problem. Without seeing output from the xorg.log file (under /var/log) I can't suggest anything else to try.

It seems that the debian wiki page has some new information on it about vesrion 1.6 vs 1.5.2 and how to get the older version.

[Luke]

My xorg.conf appears to have the settings described at the bottom of the wiki correct.

Here follows /var/log/Xorg.0.log

Code: Select all

X.Org X Server 1.7.7
Release Date: 2010-05-04
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.32.29-dsa-ia32 i686 Debian
Current Operating System: Linux netty 2.6.32-5-686 #1 SMP Wed May 18 07:08:50 UTC 2011 i686
Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-2.6.32-5-686 root=UUID=002e1851-9935-44e8-b346-e18b94916c33 ro quiet
Build Date: 19 February 2011  02:37:36PM
xorg-server 2:1.7.7-13 (Cyril Brulebois <kibi@debian.org>)
Current version of pixman: 0.16.4
   Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
   to make sure that you have the latest version.
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
   (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
   (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Fri Jun  3 16:23:15 2011
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
(==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
Parse error on line 1 of section InputClass in file /etc/X11/xorg.conf
   "xSection" is not a valid keyword in this section.
(EE) Problem parsing the config file
(EE) Error parsing the config file

Fatal server error:
no screens found

Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
    at http://wiki.x.org
 for help.
Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.

(WW) xf86CloseConsole: KDSETMODE failed: Bad file descriptor
(WW) xf86CloseConsole: VT_GETMODE failed: Bad file descriptor

Here follows the contents of Xorg.0.log.old

Code: Select all

X.Org X Server 1.7.7
Release Date: 2010-05-04
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.32.29-dsa-ia32 i686 Debian
Current Operating System: Linux netty 2.6.32-5-686 #1 SMP Wed May 18 07:08:50 UTC 2011 i686
Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-2.6.32-5-686 root=UUID=002e1851-9935-44e8-b346-e18b94916c33 ro quiet
Build Date: 19 February 2011  02:37:36PM
xorg-server 2:1.7.7-13 (Cyril Brulebois <kibi@debian.org>)
Current version of pixman: 0.16.4
   Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
   to make sure that you have the latest version.
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
   (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
   (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Fri Jun  3 16:23:12 2011
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
(==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
Parse error on line 1 of section InputClass in file /etc/X11/xorg.conf
   "xSection" is not a valid keyword in this section.
(EE) Problem parsing the config file
(EE) Error parsing the config file

Fatal server error:
no screens found

Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
    at http://wiki.x.org
 for help.
Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.

(WW) xf86CloseConsole: KDSETMODE failed: Bad file descriptor
(WW) xf86CloseConsole: VT_GETMODE failed: Bad file descriptor