Envy 0.9.9 the new AMD driver and a few notes…

Envy Release Notes

• Desktop Effects with NVIDIA cards
∘ Try to enable the Desktop effects, let Restricted Drivers Manager install the driver again, then (don’t reboot) use Envy again and finally reboot.

• The ATI module couldn’t be loaded at times.
∘ usually a depmod -ae solved the problem but I’ve tried to fix the problem.
∘ I even managed to get the driver to work on Gutsy’s livecd (I had to log out and log in after the installation of the driver instead of rebooting, which I couldn’t do, but I warmly recommend you to reboot). The desktop effects worked also on the livecd (they were a bit slow though).

• The new ATI driver is available in Envy

• NVIDIA’s new BETA driver is not included in this release.
∘ I might release an unstable version of Envy for this. Later…

• Envy no longer depends on “nvidia-xconfig” to set up your xorg.conf
∘ Envy has its own Xorg parser now.

• The list of ATI/AMD cards has been updated
∘ Radeon HD cards should be automatically detected.

• You can either use Envy or Restricted Drivers Manager. Please don’t use them together.
∘ Should you decide to use Restricted Drivers Manager after using Envy you will have to undo what Envy did, by typing:
∘ sudo envy –uninstall-all

P.S. I’ll set up the repositories as soon as I have the time. In the meantime you can get Envy here.

41 thoughts on “Envy 0.9.9 the new AMD driver and a few notes…

  1. Is it possible for the end-user to modify Envy to use the latest driver? The latest Nvidia Driver solves an issue with changing the brightness for some laptops and I would like to try that.

    Thanks!

  2. Hello Alberto,
    I’ve been trying to get the graphics card running with the Envy installer, so far no succes. Every time I boot i get a message that reads a long the lines: “Ubuntu running on low-graphics mode Screen and graphics could not be detected correctly Configure yourself to use high-res and visual fxs” I have a compaq presario V3000 Product Number V3417LA With a 14.1″ WXGA High-Definition HPBrightView Widescreen display 1280×800. The GraphicsCards is a GeForce Go 6150

    I’m a newbie and dont know what to do…
    Thanks!

  3. @Tapia
    thanks for reporting 😉

    @Darren
    No but, as I said, I’ll release a new version of Envy with that driver.

    @Jorge
    can you send me your /var/log/envy-installer.log ?

    @Gazrang
    it’s sluggish 🙁

  4. Alberto, that procedure works for enabling Desktop Effects and still getting to use Envy and the Nvidia control panel. Thank you!

    Also, if anyone has an nVidia desktop card and experiences slow menus after enabling Desktop Effects, there has been a bug filed about the problem here:
    https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/compiz/+bug/149764/

    Basically this happens if you have two displays. A fix is described here:
    http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=3426504&postcount=14

  5. I am using a laptop wich has a Mobility Radeon X1400 and it’s using the driver from the Restricted Driver Manager … What would be my steps so my laptop will boot? Because with last Envy installation seem to go fine but when I restartede it’s just gets me a black screen and nothing happens.

    Cygoku

  6. @PoZZyX
    I *guess* that AMD has dropped the support for your card.

    @Cygoku
    Usually there’s no need to do this but you can try this way:
    1) install Envy
    2) type:
    sudo envy –uninstall-all
    3) Restart your computer
    4) It will (automatically) boot using the vesa driver (so that the previous ATI driver is not loaded). Use Envy to install the driver from the GUI or from the command line
    5) Let Envy modify your xorg.conf and Restart your computer.
    6) Boot as usual.

    If it doesn’t work, you can boot in Recovery mode and type:
    sudo envy –uninstall-all

    then reboot and reinstall the ATI driver with Restricted Drivers Manager.

  7. Yop,

    About 1 ago, there was a trick to do in the xorg.conf to cheat and “convert” the FireGL 5200 to a X1600. (Changing the ChipId if I remember correctly :S). Doesn’t this trick exist now ?

    Thanks

  8. Hi Alberto Envy 0.9.9 worked fine except for one thing. My movie files show up all black when viewed with a movie player. I’m using Linux Mint 4.0 with a Radeon 9550 based card, fglrxinfo looks like this.
    dad@truth:~$ fglrxinfo
    display: :0.0 screen: 0
    OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
    OpenGL renderer string: ATI Radeon 9550 / X1050 Series
    OpenGL version string: 2.1.7059 Release

    Any suggestions?

  9. No, I’m using a single Viewsonic E90-2 monitor running at 1600×1200 resolution 24bits. I’m kinda stumped, totem, mplayer and vlc all do the same thing. I can hear the sound, the movie duration slider is counting off the time played but the video display window is black!! If anyone else has experienced this please speak up.

  10. Ok, I reset the > prefrencees > appearance preferences > visual effect to None in Linux Mint and my movies are now visible. Do you know if mint uses xgl or aiglx? If it is xgl how would I turn it off? Or is this the wrong blog for this type of question?

  11. hello
    i run a DELL Inspiron 6400/1505e, ATI X1400 mobilty, laptop

    i havn’t tried the new Envy 0.9.9 yet

    also if i understand correct, dual screens don’t work and desktop effects do? can someone please answer this?

    can someone please tell me if it’s possible to suspend / hibernate now?

    (um also is it possible to run Envy 0.9.9 on Suse 10.3?)

    thank you

  12. question: if i enable the backports in Gutsy would it then update to the latest ATI 7.11 driver?

    is that advisable?

  13. Hola Alberto
    I get this…
    jorge@jorge-laptop:~$ /var/log/envy-installer.log
    bash: /var/log/envy-installer.log: No such file or directory

    I looked for the folder and it’s just not there… There is an Installer folder but there is not the folder Envyinstaller…?

    thanks:Jorge

  14. Hello Alberto,
    i get this error when i try to install the Ati Driver :

    ERROR: Module fglrx does not exist in /proc/modules
    ENVY: Compiz is installed
    ENVY: Compiz configuration backup found.Nothing to do.
    Do you want your xorg.conf to be automatically configured? (y/n) “y” is the default answer
    y
    Traceback (most recent call last):
    File “interface.py”, line 17, in
    objects.mainmenu()
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/objects.py”, line 1069, in mainmenu
    menu1.process()
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/interfaceclasses.py”, line 62, in process
    objects.atiinstconfirm()
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/objects.py”, line 981, in atiinstconfirm
    confirmation.gotoop = atiinstall()
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/objects.py”, line 682, in atiinstall
    atiinstall2()#CONTINUE THE INSTALLATION
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/objects.py”, line 668, in atiinstall2
    task.atixorgset()
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/classes.py”, line 1708, in atixorgset
    xati.enablecomposite()
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/xparse.py”, line 653, in enablecomposite
    self.customoption(‘Composite’, ‘Enable’, ‘extensions’)
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/xparse.py”, line 586, in customoption
    self.parseoption(option, value, category)
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/xparse.py”, line 563, in parseoption
    self.changeoption(option, ‘tOptiontt”‘ + option + ‘”t”‘ + value + ‘”n’, category)
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/xparse.py”, line 505, in changeoption
    self.operate()
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/xparse.py”, line 105, in operate
    csections[iti] = [sections[iti], endsections[iti]]
    IndexError: list index out of range

    ——————————————————–

    so i tried after a modprobe fgrlx
    and it’s still giving an error :

    Traceback (most recent call last):
    File “interface.py”, line 17, in
    objects.mainmenu()
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/objects.py”, line 1069, in mainmenu
    menu1.process()
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/interfaceclasses.py”, line 62, in process
    objects.atiinstconfirm()
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/objects.py”, line 981, in atiinstconfirm
    confirmation.gotoop = atiinstall()
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/objects.py”, line 682, in atiinstall
    atiinstall2()#CONTINUE THE INSTALLATION
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/objects.py”, line 668, in atiinstall2
    task.atixorgset()
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/classes.py”, line 1708, in atixorgset
    xati.enablecomposite()
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/xparse.py”, line 653, in enablecomposite
    self.customoption(‘Composite’, ‘Enable’, ‘extensions’)
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/xparse.py”, line 586, in customoption
    self.parseoption(option, value, category)
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/xparse.py”, line 563, in parseoption
    self.changeoption(option, ‘tOptiontt”‘ + option + ‘”t”‘ + value + ‘”n’, category)
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/xparse.py”, line 505, in changeoption
    self.operate()
    File “/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/xparse.py”, line 105, in operate
    csections[iti] = [sections[iti], endsections[iti]]
    IndexError: list index out of range

    I’ve reinstaled envy but it didn’t help.
    Any ideas ?
    Thanks

  15. I fixed the problem by uninstalling envy, using the restriced driver manager and then reinstalling envy again.
    (Didn’t work on the first try though…)
    Bye

  16. hi any word on a different version of envy for the 169.04 nvidia beta yet, i can’t install it whatever i’ve tried and i have the amd64 lockups bug without it. envy with this beta would be really helpful. thanks if you can make it.

  17. @Khoroshiya
    can you send me your xorg backup files (the ones in /etc/X11/ ) so that I can see what went wrong?

    @jonah
    I’m very busy right now. I’ll do it ASAP.

  18. Alberto, a quando ENVY per i BETA nvidia? Vanno decisamente meglio. Ho dovuto disabilitare i restricted però, quindi niente compiz..

  19. Just a general question. I installed nvidia driver(100.14.23) (64bit Gutsy) using the version of envy prior to this one a while back. And I read your comment about not using the restricted drivers manager with envy, but in the Restricted Drivers Manager it says ‘Status: In Use’ and has a tick under ‘enabled’ as well. Should the tick be left or taken off? Just curious.

  20. I’m confused, I don’t know if i have to install first envy with the nvidia driver (100.14.23), then enable Desktop Effects and install the drivers that Restricted Drivers Manager has, finally don’t reebot and i have to install the envy drivers again?, but when I turn off and turn on the desktop effects, the Restricted Drivers Manager want to install again the drivers :S.

    Sorry for my bad english! thanks!

  21. @verahert
    Install the driver with Envy
    Try to enable the Desktop effects and let Restricted Drivers Manager install the driver again, then (don’t reboot) use Envy again and finally reboot.

  22. @Alberto Milone:

    I use your text (copy/paste)but had a error message to type “–uninstall-all”
    So, i used this text to remove envy

    sudo envy –uninstall-all

    Envy didn´t help with my old mobility radeon (i didn’t read before amd’s support dropped) but it did with my two 7900gs.

    Thanks for such great script, is helping newbies like me.

    Keep up the good work.

  23. Add: don use copy paste, type double dash (-) before the uninstall word.

    Here in the blog only shows one dash (-)

    Thanks!

  24. Ciao Alberto, appena installato il driver per la mia HD 2600 (portatile ASUS) riavvio, inserisco user e password e appena entrato mi appare tutta la schermata bianca, non mi fa proseguire. Se entro come Fault Session, allora funziona (ovviamente). Cosa può essere? Grazie

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  26. Hi
    I have a laptop with ATI Radeon X1400 .
    i installed the ATI Driver using envy , but when trying to enable visual effects the screen goes white and i can’t do anything exept ALT,CTRL+Backspace to return back to the gdm screen and select safe mode to log in to the system.
    i feel like somthing is wrong with my X11/xorg.conf , here is it:
    # xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
    #
    # This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
    # values from the debconf database.
    #
    # Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
    # (Type “man xorg.conf” at the shell prompt.)
    #
    # This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
    # if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
    # package.
    #
    # If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
    # again, run the following command:
    # sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

    Section “Files”
    EndSection

    Section “InputDevice”
    Identifier “Generic Keyboard”
    Driver “kbd”
    Option “CoreKeyboard”
    Option “XkbRules” “xorg”
    Option “XkbModel” “pc105”
    Option “XkbLayout” “us”
    EndSection

    Section “InputDevice”
    Identifier “Configured Mouse”
    Driver “mouse”
    Option “CorePointer”
    Option “Device” “/dev/input/mice”
    Option “Protocol” “ImPS/2”
    Option “ZAxisMapping” “4 5”
    Option “Emulate3Buttons” “true”
    EndSection

    Section “InputDevice”
    Identifier “Synaptics Touchpad”
    Driver “synaptics”
    Option “SendCoreEvents” “true”
    Option “Device” “/dev/psaux”
    Option “Protocol” “auto-dev”
    Option “HorizEdgeScroll” “0”
    EndSection

    Section “InputDevice”
    Driver “wacom”
    Identifier “stylus”
    Option “Device” “/dev/input/wacom”
    Option “Type” “stylus”
    Option “ForceDevice” “ISDV4” # Tablet PC ONLY
    EndSection

    Section “InputDevice”
    Driver “wacom”
    Identifier “eraser”
    Option “Device” “/dev/input/wacom”
    Option “Type” “eraser”
    Option “ForceDevice” “ISDV4” # Tablet PC ONLY
    EndSection

    Section “InputDevice”
    Driver “wacom”
    Identifier “cursor”
    Option “Device” “/dev/input/wacom”
    Option “Type” “cursor”
    Option “ForceDevice” “ISDV4” # Tablet PC ONLY
    EndSection

    Section “Device”
    Identifier “Generic Video Card ”
    Driver “fglrx”
    BusID “PCI:1:0:0”
    Option “VideoOverlay” “on”
    Option “OpenGLOverlay” “off”
    EndSection

    Section “Monitor”
    Identifier “Generic Monitor”
    Option “DPMS”
    HorizSync 28-64
    VertRefresh 43-60
    EndSection

    Section “Screen”
    Identifier “Default Screen”
    Device “Generic Video Card ”
    Monitor “Generic Monitor”
    DefaultDepth 24
    SubSection “Display”
    Modes “1280×768”
    EndSubSection
    EndSection

    Section “ServerLayout”
    Identifier “Default Layout”
    Screen “Default Screen”
    InputDevice “Generic Keyboard”
    InputDevice “Configured Mouse”

    # Uncomment if you have a wacom tablet
    # InputDevice “stylus” “SendCoreEvents”
    # InputDevice “cursor” “SendCoreEvents”
    # InputDevice “eraser” “SendCoreEvents”
    InputDevice “Synaptics Touchpad”
    EndSection

    Section “Extensions”
    Option “Composite” “Enable”
    EndSection

    I’ll be so happy if you can help.
    Th

  27. Try setting:
    Option “Composite” “Disable”

    in your xorg.conf.

    then restart the Xserver (with the fglrx driver)

    and post the output of this command:
    glxinfo | grep direct

  28. I disabled the “composite” in xorg.conf
    I’m not if i understand the second point on how to restart the Xserver , i just saved the xorg.conf file then restart the machine.
    and here is the result of the command you mentioned:
    najmudin@najmudin-laptop:~$ glxinfo | grep direct
    direct rendering: No (If you want to find out why, try setting LIBGL_DEBUG=verbose)
    OpenGL renderer string: Mesa GLX Indirect
    najmudin@najmudin-laptop:~$
    I hope i did it correctly.

  29. @Najmudin
    type:
    sudo depmod -ae

    sudo modprobe fglrx

    And, if you don’t get any error, you can log out and press CTRL+ALT+Backspace (so as to restart the Xserver).

    Log in and post the output of this command:
    glxinfo | grep direct

  30. @Najmudin
    Great, it means that the driver works now.

    Enable composite:
    Option “Composite” “Enable”

    then restart the xserver again and enable the 3D effects (if you wish)

  31. Thanks allot alberto , 3D effects are working now.
    but there is a small problem with video , when trying to play a video file i get black clicks on the video , is it a bug on the driver or somthing is wrong with the xorg.conf setting.

  32. hai..im using an amd with geforce 5fx series.wenever i install compiz fusion and shut down my pc,wen i restart it later in the day,my screen is white en i can rotate the cube but can’t see nything.please help me…am a newbie to opensuse 10.3.thanks

  33. Caro Alberto, ho problemi a configurare con Envy la mia ATI All-in-wonder 8500DV.

    Allego il log di Envy:

    python pulse.py ati middle
    root@armando-desktop:/usr/share/envy# python pulse.py ati middle
    Envy – Version 0.9.10
    Ubuntu Gutsy 32bit
    OK: All the packages are installed
    ENVY: The following packages will be removed:
    fglrx-kernel-2.6.22-14-generic
    fglrx-kernel-source
    xorg-driver-fglrx
    xorg-driver-fglrx-dev
    fglrx-amdcccle

    ENVY: attempting to remove the packages
    An installer has been detected
    md5new: d02add61ee36a4183510317c3c42b147
    md5sumold: d02add61ee36a4183510317c3c42b147
    Created directory fglrx-install.Lt6438
    Verifying archive integrity… All good.
    Uncompressing ATI Proprietary Linux Driver-8.40.4……………………………………………………………………………………………..
    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
    …………………………………………………………………………………..
    ==================================================
    ATI Technologies Linux Driver Installer/Packager
    ==================================================
    Generating package: Ubuntu/gutsy
    Package /usr/share/envy/xorg-driver-fglrx_8.40.4-1_i386.deb has been successfully generated
    Package /usr/share/envy/xorg-driver-fglrx-dev_8.40.4-1_i386.deb has been successfully generated
    Package /usr/share/envy/fglrx-kernel-source_8.40.4-1_i386.deb has been successfully generated
    Package /usr/share/envy/fglrx-amdcccle_8.40.4-1_i386.deb has been successfully generated
    Removing temporary directory: fglrx-install.Lt6438
    Selezionato il pacchetto fglrx-amdcccle, che non lo era.
    (Lettura del database … 107693 file e directory attualmente installati.)
    Spacchetto fglrx-amdcccle (da fglrx-amdcccle_8.40.4-1_i386.deb) …
    Selezionato il pacchetto fglrx-kernel-source, che non lo era.
    Spacchetto fglrx-kernel-source (da fglrx-kernel-source_8.40.4-1_i386.deb) …
    Selezionato il pacchetto xorg-driver-fglrx-dev, che non lo era.
    Spacchetto xorg-driver-fglrx-dev (da xorg-driver-fglrx-dev_8.40.4-1_i386.deb) …
    Selezionato il pacchetto xorg-driver-fglrx, che non lo era.
    Spacchetto xorg-driver-fglrx (da xorg-driver-fglrx_8.40.4-1_i386.deb) …
    Configuro fglrx-kernel-source (8.40.4-1) …
    Configuro xorg-driver-fglrx (8.40.4-1) …
    Starting atieventsd: done.

    Configuro fglrx-amdcccle (8.40.4-1) …
    Configuro xorg-driver-fglrx-dev (8.40.4-1) …
    Processing triggers for libc6 …
    ldconfig deferred processing now taking place
    Getting source for kernel version: 2.6.22-14-generic
    Kernel headers available in /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.22-14-generic
    Creating symlink…
    apt-get install build-essential
    Lettura della lista dei pacchetti in corso… Fatto
    Generazione dell’albero delle dipendenze in corso
    Reading state information… Fatto
    build-essential è già alla versione più recente.
    0 aggiornati, 0 installati, 0 da rimuovere e 0 non aggiornati.

    Done!
    ┌────────────────────┤ Updating cached package data ├─────────────────────┐
    │ │
    │ │
    │ │

    Updated infos about 86 packages
    Extracting the package tarball, /usr/src/fglrx.tar.bz2, please wait…
    ┌────────┤ Building fglrx-kernel-source, step 1, please wait… ├─────────┐
    │ Build starting… │
    │ │
    │ │
    │ │
    │ │
    │ │
    │ │
    │ │
    │ │
    │ │
    │ │

    Selezionato il pacchetto fglrx-kernel-2.6.22-14-generic, che non lo era.
    (Lettura del database … 107854 file e directory attualmente installati.)
    Spacchetto fglrx-kernel-2.6.22-14-generic (da …/fglrx-kernel-2.6.22-14-generic_8.40.4-1+2.6.22-14.52_i386.deb) …
    Configuro fglrx-kernel-2.6.22-14-generic (8.40.4-1+2.6.22-14.52) …

    ERROR: Module fglrx does not exist in /proc/modules
    ENVY: Compiz is installed
    ENVY: No Compiz blacklist to restore
    ENVY: Operation Complete

    fglrxinfo segnala:
    Xlib: extension “XFree86-DRI” missing on display “:0.0”.
    display: :0.0 screen: 0
    OpenGL vendor string: Mesa project: http://www.mesa3d.org
    OpenGL renderer string: Mesa GLX Indirect
    OpenGL version string: 1.4 (2.1 Mesa 7.0.1)

    glxinfo | grep direct segnala:
    Xlib: extension “XFree86-DRI” missing on display “:0.0”.
    direct rendering: No (If you want to find out why, try setting LIBGL_DEBUG=verbose)
    OpenGL renderer string: Mesa GLX Indirect

    Come rimediare?
    Grazie

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