[ltp] Re: Newbie video questions

[Alex Deucher]

On 8/30/06, Hans Bostrom <bostromed@yahoo.se> wrote:
> On Wed, 2006-08-30 at 09:41 -0400, Alex Deucher wrote:
>
> > >
> > > I tried this, but it only activates the external VGA (which of course is
> > > good), but I can't toggle screens with Fn+F7. So even though I
> > > appreciate your suggestion, it doesn't really solve my problem.
> >
> > it's probably related to ibm_acpi.  Does fn-f7 work when you are on the console?
>
> Yes, fn-F7 works on the console, it's only disabled in X.
>

weird.  The X server may do somehting to the bios scratch registers
which disables those specific bios calls.  It may also be related to
the 1400x1050 panel.  certain video bioses will not not enable the
both the flatpanel and the CRT when that mode is active because it's
not somehting that's widely supported on CRTs and I think certain IBM
1400x1050 panels run at a 50 Hz refresh rate which would cause
problems if you also ran the CRT at 50Hz.  Does fn-f7 work if you
start X in 1024x768 or a smaller mode?

>
>
> > > I can't try this option, I don't even have the directory /acpi/ with
> > > subdirectories installed. What am I missing here?
> >
> > is ibm_acpi loaded or built into your kernel?  Also what's the date on
> > your bios?  IIRC, most kernels disable apci support if the date is
> > prior to 2000.
>
> I have the latest available BIOS for the A20p (IVET69WW, dated 20 Jul
> 2004). As for your other question, I am a newbie so I'm not sure I'm
> doing the right thing, but running the command "acpi" in a terminal
> yields:
>
>  x@y:~$ acpi
>  No ACPI support in kernel, or incorrect acpi_path ("/proc/acpi").
>
> So I guess ACPI is not built into the kernel (Ubuntu 6.06 Dapper
> standard install, kernel 2.6.15-26-386)? Is there an easy way to fix
> this, perhaps via apt-get?
>

weird.  it should be.  check dmesg.  you can force acpi on by editing
your kernel command line in grub and adding acpi=on.

Alex

> Thanks,
> Hans
>