The Z-Issue

Problems with xorg-server-1.8.1 and xf86-video-intel-2.11.0

nospam@example.com (Zach) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:38:26 -0400

For the past day or so, I have been working on a clean Gentoo installation on my Samsung NC10 netbook. Things were going along quite nicely with the rebuild using the testing (~arch) branch, including the initial installation of X. However, when I issued the lovely startx command, I was continuously getting:

(EE) intel(0): No kernel modesetting driver detected.
(EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration.

Even though KMS was clearly set in my kernel, as evidenced by the output of:

# cat /usr/src/linux/.config | grep KMS
CONFIG_DRM_KMS_HELPER=y
CONFIG_DRM_I915_KMS=y

After fighting for several hours with different kernel configurations, rebuilding all X packages (xorg-server, mesa, video & input drivers), downgrading the Intel video drivers and xorg-server in various combinations, and even running env-update (for some unknown reason, but hey, I was desperate ), I decided to ask for some help. Josh (nightmorph) recommended that I run:

eselect opengl set xorg-x11

a couple times. I couldn't see what this would do, as I had set opengl already, and xorg-x11 was the only option. However, after running it a couple times, logging out and back in again, my X server finally started without error! Thank you Josh, and everyone else who made suggestions. I hope that this post helps someone else with the same issue.

|:| Zach |:|

Eek, quarter of a century

nospam@example.com (Zach) — Thu, 06 May 2010 15:08:58 -0400

Well today is my 25^th birthday, and boy am I feeling old! Not all that old, in truth, but it seemed like the right thing to say. I'm hoping that this next chronological chapter in the book of my life plays out nicely.

|:| Zach |:|

Cycling odometer

nospam@example.com (Zach) — Wed, 05 May 2010 16:58:29 -0400

Considering I have already started the cycling season, this post is a bit late. However, I thought it would be neat to track my progress on my blog. Therefore, I have placed a little HTML nugget in the right-side bar with my totals. I would like to travel 2000 km this season on my bike, and with the help of my handy little cycling computer, I can keep track of my total distance. As of right now, I have only gone 152 km, but I think that I can easily achieve my goal before the end of the summer months.

|:| Zach |:|