[SOLVED] ATI FGLRX Driver in LMDE on 2.6.38 Kernel

[Wing_Zero]

EDIT: I've solved in this way (fglrx driver on 2.6.38 kernel):

sudo apt-get remove --purge fglrx*
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install fglrx-driver fglrx-control
sudo /usr/bin/aticonfig --initial
Reboot
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi at All,
I'm new to LMDE: I've just make a fresh new installation.
I'm trying to install ATI proprietary Driver for my Radeon HD 5650 Mobile (on my notebook) without no success.
I've opened a new thread because I'm sure that it's my fault, but if it's not I'll move this issue to the "LMDE Bug Reports Thread ".

Before installing the drivers, i've checked to have build-essentials, DKMS, linux header, gcc, and all other stuffs needed.

Let's go straight to the point:

I know 3 ways to install ATI FGLRX driver in LMDE/Debian:

1) From the official repository included in the distro

2) With ati Intaller building specific distro packages

3) With ati installer directly builing module with DKMS

So, that's also the order I've tried install the driver. Let's see the problem I've faced off:

1) Installing the driver from the official repo (version 11.3) When I've rebooted, The catalyst control center does'nt work, says that cannot find any supported device.
So I've tried to do a "aticonfing --initial" and i've got the same error message: "can't find any supported device".
Then I've tried to make a basic xorg.conf and then run aticonfig --initial : same problem.
And obviously no 3d application works. Also Glxinfo and GlxGears says "No display detected".
I've disinstalled the driver from the repo, and come back to the free radeon-hd driver. everything works, also 3D.

2) I've download the installer from the amd official website and tryed to make specific deb packages with: "./ati-radeon[yadayada].run --buildpckg Debian/testing" but it gives me an error :"No such files or folder: /Path/of/the/Installer/temporary-folder-created-by-installer/". So no way to go on.
Back to the radeon-hd drivers again.

3) I've tried to install the driver directly with the installer: it seems to go on, but when it starts to build the dkms module it says "DKMS building problem: see the log ...". So i'm gonna to read the specific log file and it says: nothing -.-". Only "DKMS cannot build specified module. I've tried, just for have a try, to reboot and the pc hangs up. So went to recovery mode and back to the radeon hd drivers again.

Maybe It's really my fault, but: where I'm wrong? I've to buy the last Humble Indie Bundle, and I need good 3D performace
(The radeon hd free driver are great, but 3D performace are too low to play most of games ).

Thanks

Wing

P.S.:

Sorry for my english

[mads]

Hi!
I can't see your card here: Officially Supported (Catalyst & Open Source)

[Wing_Zero]

Thnx for the answer
My card is supported by the official drivers, i've installed it the same way in ubuntu 10.04 before without no problem.
Mine is the "mobility" version: mobility cards aren't listed there.

[cecar]

The fglrx drivers does not support the new kernel that was added in testing a week ago or so. So if you have the 2.6.38 kernel it wont work until ATI fixes the issue.

[Wing_Zero]

The fglrx drivers does not support the new kernel that was added in testing a week ago or so. So if you have the 2.6.38 kernel it wont work until ATI fixes the issue.

Oh damn!
Tnx for the answer!

If anyone knows a good workaround, or a modified installer that works, please post it here
(In ubuntu it works: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1672882)

[mads]

(Note: Previous post says that official ATI drivers have problem with newest kernel. If that is correct, you need to install fglrx drivers included in the distro. See last lines in the post)

I suggest this procedure:
0. Download latest driver (ATI Catalyst™ Proprietary Display Driver - Linux x86 & Linux x86_64)
to your Downloads folder
1. Ctrl-Alt-F2 + username + passwd

Remove previously installed drivers:
2. sudo apt-get remove --purge fglrx*
3. cd /usr/share/ati
4. sudo sh ./fglrx-uninstall.sh
Optional: sudo rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Optional: sudo rm -r /usr/include/ATI
Optional: sudo rm -r /etc/ati
5. sudo apt-get remove --purge xserver-xorg-video-ati xserver-xorg-video-radeon

Install new drivers:
6. cd Downloads
7. sudo sh ./ati-driver-installer-11-3-x86.x86_64.run
8. sudo /usr/bin/aticonfig --initial
9. sudo reboot

If previous post is correct, then replace step 6-7 with this:
6-7. sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install fglrx-driver fglrx-control
(Note: several additional fglrx packages will be installed)

[Wing_Zero]

(Note: Previous post says that official ATI drivers have problem with newest kernel. If that is correct, you need to install fglrx drivers included in the distro. See last lines in the post)

I suggest this procedure:
0. Download latest driver (ATI Catalyst™ Proprietary Display Driver - Linux x86 & Linux x86_64)
to your Downloads folder
1. Ctrl-Alt-F2 + username + passwd

Remove previously installed drivers:
2. sudo apt-get remove --purge fglrx*
3. cd /usr/share/ati
4. sudo sh ./fglrx-uninstall.sh
Optional: sudo rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Optional: sudo rm -r /usr/include/ATI
Optional: sudo rm -r /etc/ati
5. sudo apt-get remove --purge xserver-xorg-video-ati xserver-xorg-video-radeon

Install new drivers:
6. cd Downloads
7. sudo sh ./ati-driver-installer-11-3-x86.x86_64.run
8. sudo /usr/bin/aticonfig --initial
9. Reboot

If previous post is correct, then replace step 6-7 with this:
6-7. sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install fglrx-driver fglrx-control
(Note: several additional fglrx packages will be installed)

I've tried with this but it doesn't work :/ Read the point 1) of my first post

EDIT: I've forgot to PURGE before installing! Now it works in this way, thanks! And sorry for my oversight!

[mads]

If previous post is correct, then replace step 6-7 with this:
6-7. sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install fglrx-driver fglrx-control
(Note: several additional fglrx packages will be installed)

I've tried with this but it doesn't work :/ Read the point 1) of my first post

How about using 2.6.32-5 kernel instead of 2.6.38-2?
I can't see any other options, do you?

[cecar]

I suggest you boot in to the 2.6.32 kernel, install the drivers and use that kernel until it gets fixed.

[Wing_Zero]

I suggest you boot in to the 2.6.32 kernel, install the drivers and use that kernel until it gets fixed.

I've purged old driver and then reinstalled from the repo: now it works perfectly!
Thanks @ everyone !

[a coder]

Could someone post up the contents fglrx-uninstall.sh? I just want to look at what it is doing. Or if it is available on AMD's site, please post a link.

[latinomanz]

Hi Wing_zero,

I just tried your method and IT WORKED!!!

For weeks I could not get ati proprietary drivers to work now, they work like charm and I can use Cinnamon which I could not use before.

I tried it on LMDE.

THANKS!!!