X rendered all white with compiz and i945gm ..and kernel mode-setting feedback

[Andrew Farris]

sipieter nicolas wrote:
> hi there, first post on this list :)
> 
> 
> i installed fedora9 preview on my lenovo thinkpad x60
> the gfx chip is an intel "i945GM"
> i've found when i run compiz X gets rendered all white.. i can't see a
> thing.. but i can guess it's still working though:

I've got a similar result with my Macbook 2,1 (blackbook) which has the Intel 
GMA 950 chipset.  However I have a little difference below...

>  cube and scale plugin seem to respond, so i can see a white cube on a
> slightly darkened white desktop ;)
> .. same for "scale plugin, i see background that get darkened a bit..

Yep all the plugins and window motion, keybindings, etc, work just fine while 
the screen is all white.

> i've figured if i install fusion-icon and choose "indirect rendering"
> setting,
>  my desktop is being rendered correctly :)
> that's the good news.. so i can use compiz on my laptop.
> it's working through that "indirect rendering option though.

Indirect Rendering does not work for me when I install fusion-icon or 
compiz-fusion (either from the external repo [1] or directly from rawhide).  The 
problem seems to be the failure to acquire TTM support.  I've meant to get his 
one bugzilla'd.

The error I see is:
Failed to initialize TTM buffer manager.  Falling back to classic.

Its apparently reported all over the place with intel chips if you google TTM 
buffer manager.  One report is at [2].

Compiz works, compiz-fusion does not.  If I start up the super-basic compiz 
functionality using the 'Enable Desktop Effects' dialog I can use compiz with 
the cube, wobbly windows, and I have Direct Rendering enabled.  I can run 3d 
games (mostly) although occasionally compiz will turn all white again.

> i was wondering why i had to use that indirect rendering option, and if i
> can get rid of it ?
> i tryed adding "i915.modeset=1" in my grub.conf,

> i can report new resolution available, fast vt switching, no problem with
> font rendering, and things being a bit slower than before.. it seems stable,
> and it didn't helped with my problem of X being rendered all white and me
> having to set "indirect rendering" .. kernel mode setting looks very
> promising though :)

> hum.. anyone can see a solution about my X being rendered all white and
> indirect rendering option problem ?

I'd suggest doing 'yum remove compiz-fusion' and then trying to just use the 
Desktop Effects.  I didn't even get as far as you with fusion because indirect 
rendering and loose binding both still cause the screen to go full white.  I can 
even still type in the terminals I had on my desktop while its white, to quit 
fusion or start metacity, so its not crashing X its just displaying full 
brightness (for all but the mouse cursor which I can still see move).

[1] http://www.fedoraforum.org/forum/showthread.php?t=173317
[2] http://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=13922
-- 
Andrew Farris <lordmorgul at gmail.com> www.lordmorgul.net
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