xinit: Server error. Ubuntu 8.10

shabs · Post by **shabs** » 11 Feb 2010, 09:38

Hi!
I've been running 8.10 on a desktop for a month now. Its been working fine. I've been using it for some project work.
I had to reboot the computer (I used to have it on all the time) and when it rebooted it takes me to the CLI and there is no GUI.
When I "startx" at the terminal I get an error that says "xinit: Server error"

Here are the things I've already tried:
1. sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg
This skips the steps for the graphics card, does the keyboard configuration and then ends without the mouse and monitor configuration.

2. sudo apt-get install --reinstall gdm
Gets stuck at 'setting up ssl-cert (1.0.23)

3. sudo aptitude install ubuntu-desktop (I guess same command as above)
Gets stuck at 'setting up ssl-cert (1.0.23) again.

It was working fine so I don't know if its really a problem with my video driver.

Also the reason I think they're getting stuck at 'setting up ssl-cert' is because I've been playing around with the openssl on the computer.
So I don't think I will be able to download anything from the reps.

Anybody has any other ideas? Any help would be appreciated as I'm stuck with this and this computer has a lot of information and configuration that I've been working on lately and don't wish to reinstall.

Warm wishes,
Shabs.

Post by **ayu** » 11 Feb 2010, 09:51

We talked about this before and I know you didn't want to reinstall.
But since we talked about Debian woody as a possible solution for the right openssl version that you needed for your work, I think I found a good download spot for you : - )

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http://iso.linuxquestions.org/debian/debian-3.0r2-woody/

Still can't come up with anything else for you unfortunately, just gotta hope someone else has a solution for you ^^

Hope you solve it! Good luck!

Post by **bad_brain** » 11 Feb 2010, 09:53

phew...ok...where to start...

first of all, you should figure out that ssl-cert problem, because when a package "hangs" with an unresolvable dependency for example it can keep you away from installing anything, so it should be solved first. ssl-cert has nothing to do at all with the desktop, xserver, etc., it's a package in context with a web server (most likely Apache) or other services that need to create SSL certificates.

do:

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apt-get update
apt-get upgrade

do you get any errors when doing that? if yes: post them.

what computer is it? if it's a laptop post the brand/model, if it's a desktop what g-card is it?

shabs · Post by **shabs** » 11 Feb 2010, 11:57

Hi J. I think the version I'm looking for is without the revs, so just 3.0 (if I'm not wrong of course).

haha.. bad, that sounds like a good start

Thanks for your help though

apt-get update went by fine.

apt-get upgrade got stuck at ssl-cert as usual.

I do have courier IMAP running on the computer and I have removed the default version of openssl and installed an older version (0.9.6c). I'm afraid reinstalling ssl-cert (which I assume will fix the problem) may update the openssl version too.
Its a desktop and the card is a : Intel 82865G Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 02)

Shabs.

Post by **Lundis** » 11 Feb 2010, 12:08

After restarting, there was a new boot option, right? If/when you fix the package issues you should try booting using the old one. Then your old kernel will be loaded and if the problem is indeed a kernel change it'll work.

If you're still having problems after trying that as well, run startx and check your Xorg log file: /var/log/Xorg.0.log

The relevant info should be at the end, post it here if you need help. Include the contents of your /etc/X11/xorg.conf as well, if you have one.

shabs · Post by **shabs** » 11 Feb 2010, 12:40

Hi Lundis
I didn't see any new boot options (why would I?), but I've tried the ones I've seen and there was no improvement.

Here are the contents of /etc/X11/xorg.conf

# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Option "UseFBDev" "true"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

And some parts of the /var/log/Xorg.0.log

sudo cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep \(WW\)

(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist.
(WW) intel(0): Register 0x70024 (PIPEASTAT) changed from 0x00000207 to 0x00000000
(WW) intel(0): PIPEASTAT before: status: VSYNC_INT_STATUS SVBLANK_INT_STATUS VBLANK_INT_STATUS OREG_UPDATE_STATUS
(WW) intel(0): PIPEASTAT after: status:
(WW) intel(0): Failed to allocate texture space.

sudo cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep \(EE\)

(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(EE) intel(0): underrun on pipe A!
(EE) intel(0): underrun on pipe A!
(EE) intel(0): underrun on pipe A!
(EE) intel(0): underrun on pipe A!
(EE) intel(0): underrun on pipe A!
(EE) intel(0): underrun on pipe A!
(EE) intel(0): underrun on pipe A!
(EE) intel(0): underrun on pipe A!
(EE) intel(0): underrun on pipe A!
(EE) intel(0): underrun on pipe A!
(EE) intel(0): underrun on pipe A!
(EE) intel(0): underrun on pipe A!

Post by **Lundis** » 11 Feb 2010, 14:52

Every time the kernel is upgraded I get a new boot option, examples:
ubuntu ... 2.6.31-14
ubuntu ... 2.6.31-16
ubuntu ... 2.6.31-17
ubuntu ... 2.6.31-19

In my case 2.6.31-17 broke the network driver, so I had to stick to 2.6.31-16 for a while

Anyway, there's apparently something wrong with the intel driver, I suggest you try vesa, which is supposed to be a slow fail-safe universal driver. It's not really that bad for general usage, but you won't have any hardware acceleration at all. (note: read my entire post before changing anything ^^ )

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Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Driver "vesa"
Option "UseFBDev" "true"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Your xorg.conf is set to automatically detect the gfx driver, I added Driver "vesa" to the device section, this will force it to use vesa instead. I suggest you make a backup of xorg.conf before changing it. This is just a temporary solution though.

Let's find out if you still have the old kernel lying around (assuming that it was updated ofc, but we'll find out in any case now). Run:

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ls /boot | grep generic

It'll show the relevant files, in my case it looks like this:

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abi-2.6.28-16-generic
abi-2.6.31-14-generic
abi-2.6.31-16-generic
abi-2.6.31-17-generic
abi-2.6.31-19-generic
config-2.6.28-16-generic
config-2.6.31-14-generic
config-2.6.31-16-generic
config-2.6.31-17-generic
config-2.6.31-19-generic
initrd.img-2.6.28-16-generic
initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
initrd.img-2.6.31-16-generic
initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic
initrd.img-2.6.31-19-generic
System.map-2.6.28-16-generic
System.map-2.6.31-14-generic
System.map-2.6.31-16-generic
System.map-2.6.31-17-generic
System.map-2.6.31-19-generic
vmcoreinfo-2.6.28-16-generic
vmcoreinfo-2.6.31-14-generic
vmcoreinfo-2.6.31-16-generic
vmcoreinfo-2.6.31-17-generic
vmcoreinfo-2.6.31-19-generic
vmlinuz-2.6.28-16-generic
vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic
vmlinuz-2.6.31-16-generic
vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic
vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic

in the file /boot/grub/menu.lst you can edit the boot entries. Scroll down until you see something like

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title		Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-19-generic
uuid		fe39f017-15b3-462e-b397-d3e700231687
kernel		/vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic root=UUID=1a1e4c8a-fa84-4111-9997-02e846dbe2e1 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/initrd.img-2.6.31-19-generic
quiet

Now, if you want to add an entry for an older kernel present in /boot You would replace vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic and initrd.img-2.6.31-19-generic with the relevant filenames. Like this:

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title		Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-19-generic
uuid		fe39f017-15b3-462e-b397-d3e700231687
kernel		/vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic root=UUID=1a1e4c8a-fa84-4111-9997-02e846dbe2e1 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/initrd.img-2.6.31-19-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 9.10, testing 2.6.31-14
uuid		fe39f017-15b3-462e-b397-d3e700231687
kernel		/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=1a1e4c8a-fa84-4111-9997-02e846dbe2e1 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
quiet

I hope this is enough to keep you busy until tomorrow

Post by **ayu** » 11 Feb 2010, 15:20

shabs wrote:Hi J. I think the version I'm looking for is without the revs, so just 3.0 (if I'm not wrong of course).

ah yes that might be true.

It seems hard to find the "3.0 only" one.

shabs · Post by **shabs** » 15 Feb 2010, 03:53

Hi Lundis!
Thanks for the detailed post. I'm sorry I couldn't reply earlier as I didn't have access to that machine.
The problem I have is not because I have upgraded recently.
I have not upgraded the kernel since I installed 8.10.
Just that I restarted the system (after a long time I might add) and it just broke, I couldn't get the display manager to work, and had only the command line to work with.
Which I don't mind really, but I need the GUI or wireshark.

I changed the driver to vesa but that has made no difference. I still get the errors when I try 'startx'

xinit: No such file or directory (errno 2): unable to connect to X server
xinit: No such process (errno 3): Server error

and when I try 'startx' again, I get the following:
xinit: Server error.

Shabs.

Post by **bad_brain** » 15 Feb 2010, 04:31

what is /var/log/syslog saying?

shabs · Post by **shabs** » 15 Feb 2010, 05:08

Are you interested in the entire file? Or just the result of me running startx?
Heres the result if you don't want to go through the entire file:

Feb 15 11:50:31 y-desktop kernel: [ 3672.352461] X[5770]: seffault at 3 ip 00000003 sp bfbc1714 error 4

Shabs.

Post by **bad_brain** » 15 Feb 2010, 06:48

hm, best pack the whole file and upload it to a file hoster so we can check it...

shabs · Post by **shabs** » 15 Feb 2010, 08:52

http://www.filefactory.com/file/b01c997/n/syslog.txt

Post by **bad_brain** » 15 Feb 2010, 09:03

eeewww....:

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CRITICAL: gdm_config_value_get_bool: assertion `value->type == GDM_CONFIG_VALUE_BOOL' failed

is it a nvidia g-card? if yes, which model? have you installed the nvidia driver, and if yes is it the binary driver originally from nvidia?

shabs · Post by **shabs** » 15 Feb 2010, 09:25

lspci says its an Intel Corporation 82865G Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 02). Is that what you were asking?

I have not had the need to install any additional drivers as it worked fine before.