Software Rendering Mode
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Software Rendering Mode
Linux mint 15 suddenly wouldn't boot, so I used the Windows mentality that if the door window won't roll down, replace the door. I re-installed Linux, but it isn't working like it did before. I get a message, "running in software rendering mode." Everything is extremely slow.
I'm on an XP Professional.
Jim Wilson
I'm on an XP Professional.
Jim Wilson
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Re: Software Rendering Mode
Just a guess but I think that there is not enough room for Mint. Check the available space and clean a package cache.
Code: Select all
df -h
sudo apt-get clean
Re: Software Rendering Mode
Thanks, but there is 5 Gb of free disk space. And it was running before with less than that.
Jim Wilson
Jim Wilson
Re: Software Rendering Mode
I reset my XP to the state it was in before I started installing Linux and then re-installed it. Same result. The complete message displayed is:
Running in software rendering mode.
Cinnamon is currently running without video hardware acceleration and, as a result, you may observe much higher than normal CPU usage.
There could be a problem with your drivers or some other issue. For the best experience, it is recommended that you use this mode for troubleshooting purposes.
---
That's all I have to work with. No hint is offered as to how to troubleshoot anything.
Jim Wilson
Running in software rendering mode.
Cinnamon is currently running without video hardware acceleration and, as a result, you may observe much higher than normal CPU usage.
There could be a problem with your drivers or some other issue. For the best experience, it is recommended that you use this mode for troubleshooting purposes.
---
That's all I have to work with. No hint is offered as to how to troubleshoot anything.
Jim Wilson
Re: Software Rendering Mode
I just checked in Windows, and the XP is set to full hardware acceleration.
Jim Wilson
Jim Wilson
Re: Software Rendering Mode
Unless you're running Linux in a virtual machine, XP's settings won't make a difference.
The error is exactly what the message indicates: it's unable to utilize appropriate hardware acceleration.
Cinnamon requires hardware acceleration to run as intended.
Do you have a dedicated graphics card, are you using onboard graphics (ie. no graphics card), or are you running Linux in a virtual machine?
If you do have a graphics card, you should consider giving the proprietary drivers a go.
If not, or if you're in a virtual machine, I strongly suggest using a less graphics-intensive environment. eg. MATE instead of Cinnamon.
The error is exactly what the message indicates: it's unable to utilize appropriate hardware acceleration.
Cinnamon requires hardware acceleration to run as intended.
Do you have a dedicated graphics card, are you using onboard graphics (ie. no graphics card), or are you running Linux in a virtual machine?
If you do have a graphics card, you should consider giving the proprietary drivers a go.
If not, or if you're in a virtual machine, I strongly suggest using a less graphics-intensive environment. eg. MATE instead of Cinnamon.
Re: Software Rendering Mode
Thanks, but how do I tell if I'm in a virtual machine?
And the first installation worked properly. I'm not sure why it quit, nor why later installations were different.
Jim Wilson
And the first installation worked properly. I'm not sure why it quit, nor why later installations were different.
Jim Wilson
Re: Software Rendering Mode
A virtual machine is when you're using software like virtualbox to run more than one operating system at a time.
The second operating system has its own window, like a web browser or text editor, and acts like a normal application.
But if you don't know what a virtual machine is, you probably aren't running one.
Do you have a graphics card in your computer? Can you give us any information about your computer?
The second operating system has its own window, like a web browser or text editor, and acts like a normal application.
But if you don't know what a virtual machine is, you probably aren't running one.
Do you have a graphics card in your computer? Can you give us any information about your computer?
Re: Software Rendering Mode
Many thanks. At startup, I can choose either Windows or Linux. I have to re-boot to change.
The computer is an XP Professional, Service pack 3
1.15 Ghz AMD Athlon
Main circuit board ECS K7SOM4 1.0
Bus clock 100 Mhz
41 Gb hard disk, 5 Gb free
608 Mb memory
Display adapter SiS 650_651_M650_M652_740
I couldn't find anything about a graphics card.
Again, the initial Linux installation worked fine, but then stopped, and I haven't been able to get it working properly again.
Jim Wilson
The computer is an XP Professional, Service pack 3
1.15 Ghz AMD Athlon
Main circuit board ECS K7SOM4 1.0
Bus clock 100 Mhz
41 Gb hard disk, 5 Gb free
608 Mb memory
Display adapter SiS 650_651_M650_M652_740
I couldn't find anything about a graphics card.
Again, the initial Linux installation worked fine, but then stopped, and I haven't been able to get it working properly again.
Jim Wilson
Re: Software Rendering Mode
Terminal command lspci | grep VGA tells the card.JN.Wilson wrote:I couldn't find anything about a graphics card.
Re: Software Rendering Mode
Even without looking at your graphics card, I've gotta say, you shouldn't be running Cinnamon on a computer with those specs.
Cinnamon is graphics-intensive, and failing a good graphics card, can be resource-heavy. It really isn't meant for older computers.
I advise that you either download a different version of Mint (MATE, since the familiar layout will make it easy) or install another desktop environment.
To install another desktop environment:
-Open a terminal
-Run
and enter your password when prompted (nothing will come up while you're typing; this is normal)
-After the installation finishes, log out
-At the login screen, click on the sessions button and choose MATE
-Login
Cinnamon is graphics-intensive, and failing a good graphics card, can be resource-heavy. It really isn't meant for older computers.
I advise that you either download a different version of Mint (MATE, since the familiar layout will make it easy) or install another desktop environment.
To install another desktop environment:
-Open a terminal
-Run
Code: Select all
sudo apt-get install mate-desktop-environment
-After the installation finishes, log out
-At the login screen, click on the sessions button and choose MATE
-Login
Re: Software Rendering Mode
When I used the lspci formula, I got:
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 65xM650/740 PCI/AGP VGA Display Adaptor.
I followed the instructions to convert to a MATE desktop, and many thanks for them. I'm back to where I was with the initial installation of Cinnamon, and getting used to it. But when I try to install a package, there aren't any. With the initial installation, I had far too many choices, but Wine was at the top of the list. How do I get that now?
Again thanks.
Jim Wilson
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 65xM650/740 PCI/AGP VGA Display Adaptor.
I followed the instructions to convert to a MATE desktop, and many thanks for them. I'm back to where I was with the initial installation of Cinnamon, and getting used to it. But when I try to install a package, there aren't any. With the initial installation, I had far too many choices, but Wine was at the top of the list. How do I get that now?
Again thanks.
Jim Wilson
Re: Software Rendering Mode
You could get it from Synaptic or the Software Center, but since we already have a terminal open, execute:
or, if you're on a 64 bit install,
That being said, I recommend that you instead take a look at PlayOnLinux.
It allows you to install multiple versions of WINE, keep different applications separate, and has a more friendly user interface.
It also semi-automates the process of installing more popular software, such as MS Office 2007.
To grab that instead, execute:
Code: Select all
sudo apt-get install wine
Code: Select all
sudo apt-get install wine:i386
It allows you to install multiple versions of WINE, keep different applications separate, and has a more friendly user interface.
It also semi-automates the process of installing more popular software, such as MS Office 2007.
To grab that instead, execute:
Code: Select all
sudo apt-get install playonlinux
Re: Software Rendering Mode
Just a comment: In that computer has not enough CPU, GPU, memory and room for running VirtualBox ..