Problem with GUI

[targazh]

Hello,

I installed PC-BSD 9. Everything was going pretty well until, when starting xfce, I wanted to configure the GUI by clicking the button at the bottom right of a little guy to improve readability of fonts. There was a priori a bug that froze the image and forced me to restart.

The problem is that now the GUI will not launch at all. I was offered the command line.

I'm not really keen on a unix. How is it possible to get my GUI to load?

Thank you in advance for your help.

TG

[Ole Juul]

Welcome to the forums.

I'm not sure I have the answer for you, but it is generally possible to start the GUI by typing "startx". It sounds like you are not keen on using the text interface. Nevertheless, have a look at the ~/.xsession-errors file where there could be a hint as to what happened. At the end you will find the most recent entries. You go to the right directory and look at the file like this. Press [Enter} after each line.

$ cd ~
$ less .xsession-errors

I have a feeling that there is some incompatible entry in your xorg.conf file. That can be rewritten, but lets see what happens first and if someone else has a better suggestion.

[targazh]

Hello, thank you for your help.

I tried "startx" and failed to load X interface. I didn't find xsession-errors file but get this one "Xorg.0.log" that contains errors when execute startx.

I don't understand why the driver of the graphics card is not loaded whereas before it worked out fine. Should I reinstall the driver module or is it a configuration problem or is it necessary reinstall PC-BSD (I do not really want to do so). It seems to be necessary to see system kernel log file.

I give below the contents of the file but it is rather long. Errors are described at the end of the file.

X.Org X Server 1.7.7
Release Date: 2010-05-04
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: FreeBSD 9.0-RC3 i386
Current Operating System: FreeBSD pcbsd-5717 9.0-RELEASE FreeBSD 9.0-RELEASE #3: Tue Dec 27 21:59:00 UTC 2011 root@build9x64.pcbsd.org:/usr/obj/builds/i386/pcbsd-build90/fbsd-source/9.0/sys/GENERIC i386
Build Date: 28 December 2011 03:09:39AM

Current version of pixman: 0.24.0
Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Wed Apr 11 20:59:17 2012
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
(==) ServerLayout "XFree86 Configured"
(**) |-->Screen "Screen0" (0)
(**) | |-->Monitor "Monitor0"
(**) | |-->Device "Card0"
(**) |-->Input Device "Mouse0"
(**) |-->Input Device "Keyboard0"
(**) Option "AllowEmptyInput" "Off"
(**) Option "AutoAddDevices" "False"
(**) Not automatically adding devices
(==) Automatically enabling devices
(WW) The directory "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/illinoy/" does not exist.
Entry deleted from font path.
(WW) The directory "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/" does not exist.
Entry deleted from font path.
(WW) The directory "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/CID/" does not exist.
Entry deleted from font path.
(WW) `fonts.dir' not found (or not valid) in "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/dejavu/".
Entry deleted from font path.
(Run 'mkfontdir' on "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/dejavu/").
(WW) The directory "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/hebrew/" does not exist.
Entry deleted from font path.
(WW) The directory "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/vietnamese/" does not exist.
Entry deleted from font path.
(WW) The directory "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/indic/" does not exist.
Entry deleted from font path.
(WW) `fonts.dir' not found (or not valid) in "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/fonts-indic/".
Entry deleted from font path.
(Run 'mkfontdir' on "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/fonts-indic/").
(WW) The directory "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/AAHS" does not exist.
Entry deleted from font path.
(WW) The directory "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/AGA" does not exist.
Entry deleted from font path.
(WW) The directory "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/FS" does not exist.
Entry deleted from font path.
(WW) The directory "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/Kasr" does not exist.
Entry deleted from font path.
(WW) The directory "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/MCS" does not exist.
Entry deleted from font path.
(WW) The directory "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/ae_fonts1/Shmookh" does not exist.
Entry deleted from font path.
(WW) `fonts.dir' not found (or not valid) in "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/local/".
Entry deleted from font path.
(Run 'mkfontdir' on "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/local/").
(WW) `fonts.dir' not found (or not valid) in "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/util/".
Entry deleted from font path.
(Run 'mkfontdir' on "/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/util/").
(**) FontPath set to:
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/TrueType/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/webfonts/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/misc/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/OTF/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/TTF/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/bitstream-vera/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/ol100dpi/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/ol75dpi/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/misc/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/TTF/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/OTF,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/,
/usr/local/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/
(**) ModulePath set to "/usr/local/lib/xorg/modules"
(**) Extension "Composite" is enabled
(II) Loader magic: 0x81e0080
(II) Module ABI versions:
X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
X.Org Video Driver: 6.0
X.Org XInput driver : 7.0
X.Org Server Extension : 2.0
(--) Using syscons driver with X support (version 2.0)
(--) using VT number 9

(--) PCI:*(0:1:0:0) 10de:0a65:1462:8094 nVidia Corporation GT218 [GeForce 210] rev 162, Mem @ 0xfb000000/16777216, 0xd0000000/268435456, 0xee000000/33554432, I/O @ 0x0000df00/128, BIOS @ 0x????????/65536
(II) "extmod" will be loaded. This was enabled by default and also specified in the config file.
(II) "dbe" will be loaded. This was enabled by default and also specified in the config file.
(II) "glx" will be loaded. This was enabled by default and also specified in the config file.
(II) "record" will be loaded by default.
(II) "dri" will be loaded by default.
(II) "dri2" will be loaded by default.
(II) LoadModule: "ddc"
(II) Module "ddc" already built-in
(II) LoadModule: "dbe"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdbe.so
(II) Module dbe: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.7.7, module version = 1.0.0
Module class: X.Org Server Extension
ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 2.0
(II) Loading extension DOUBLE-BUFFER
(II) LoadModule: "extmod"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libextmod.so
(II) Module extmod: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.7.7, module version = 1.0.0
Module class: X.Org Server Extension
ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 2.0
(II) Loading extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
(II) Loading extension XFree86-VidModeExtension
(II) Loading extension XFree86-DGA
(II) Loading extension DPMS
(II) Loading extension XVideo
(II) Loading extension XVideo-MotionCompensation
(II) Loading extension X-Resource
(II) LoadModule: "glx"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libglx.so
(II) Module glx: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
Module class: X.Org Server Extension
(II) NVIDIA GLX Module 290.10 Wed Nov 16 16:43:09 PST 2011
(II) Loading extension GLX
(II) LoadModule: "record"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/librecord.so
(II) Module record: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.7.7, module version = 1.13.0
Module class: X.Org Server Extension
ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 2.0
(II) Loading extension RECORD
(II) LoadModule: "dri"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri.so
(II) Module dri: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.7.7, module version = 1.0.0
ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 2.0
(II) Loading extension XFree86-DRI
(II) LoadModule: "dri2"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri2.so
(II) Module dri2: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.7.7, module version = 1.1.0
ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 2.0
(II) Loading extension DRI2
(II) LoadModule: "nvidia"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/nvidia_drv.so
(II) Module nvidia: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
Module class: X.Org Video Driver
(II) LoadModule: "mouse"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/input/mouse_drv.so
(II) Module mouse: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.7.7, module version = 1.6.0
Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
ABI class: X.Org XInput driver, version 7.0
(II) LoadModule: "kbd"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/input/kbd_drv.so
(II) Module kbd: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.7.7, module version = 1.5.0
Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
ABI class: X.Org XInput driver, version 7.0
(II) NVIDIA dlloader X Driver 290.10 Wed Nov 16 16:25:20 PST 2011
(II) NVIDIA Unified Driver for all Supported NVIDIA GPUs
(II) Primary Device is: PCI 01@00:00:0
(II) Loading sub module "fb"
(II) LoadModule: "fb"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/libfb.so
(II) Module fb: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.7.7, module version = 1.0.0
ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4
(II) Loading sub module "wfb"
(II) LoadModule: "wfb"
(II) Loading /usr/local/lib/xorg/modules/libwfb.so
(II) Module wfb: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.7.7, module version = 1.0.0
ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4
(II) Loading sub module "ramdac"
(II) LoadModule: "ramdac"
(II) Module "ramdac" already built-in
(WW) VGA arbiter: cannot open kernel arbiter, no multi-card support
(**) NVIDIA(0): Depth 24, (--) framebuffer bpp 32
(==) NVIDIA(0): RGB weight 888
(==) NVIDIA(0): Default visual is TrueColor
(==) NVIDIA(0): Using gamma correction (1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
(**) NVIDIA(0): Option "NoLogo" "True"
(**) Apr 11 20:59:18 NVIDIA(0): Enabling 2D acceleration
(EE) Apr 11 20:59:18 NVIDIA(0): Failed to initialize the NVIDIA kernel module. Please see the
(EE) Apr 11 20:59:18 NVIDIA(0): system's kernel log for additional error messages and
(EE) Apr 11 20:59:18 NVIDIA(0): consult the NVIDIA README for details.
(EE) NVIDIA(0): *** Aborting ***
(II) UnloadModule: "nvidia"
(II) UnloadModule: "wfb"
(II) UnloadModule: "fb"
(EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration.

Fatal server error:
no screens found

Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
at http://wiki.x.org
for help.
Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.

[Ole Juul]

Hi targazh,
I'm not sure what to do, but it is probably worthwhile to rewrite your xorg.conf file. This can be done automatically. Basically there are two steps. Issue the command which makes the file, then rename and move it to it's correct place. Like this:

# Xorg -configure

That generates a file called "xorg.conf.new" in the /root directory. You then copy that to /etc/X11 and rename it to "xorg.conf". Like this:

# mv /root/xorg.conf.new /etc/X11/xorg.conf

It's as simple as that! There is detailed information on that process in the handbook here. Let's hope that solves the problem.


If you want to see the file you have (or should have) already, type:

# less /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Perhaps you wish to save that one so you can get it back for some reason, assuming you already have it. You do that by:

# cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.old

[targazh]

Thank you for your advices. I did what you wrote but it did not solve the problem. The GUI fails to load. There is always an error message that refers to the file "Xorg.0.log". Looking at the message I noticed that the system could not find the file /dev/nvidiactl.

It's a pity not being able to use PC-BSD, I intended to use free softwares like R and gretl for my work. I do not know if I will persevere to fix the problem. I will take some time to meditate .

Soon.

[Ole Juul]

I understand if you don't want to keep working on this. I've been there - done that. Sometimes it's best to just get on with it. If your main concern is using open source (it is for me) then I can recommend Kubuntu, which uses KDE and is a full featured system. Also Linux Mint has a version with KDE which is said to be very good these days. If one distro doesn't install out of he box, just try another one. Most (even PC-BSD) work for most people right away. Good luck.

I don't have any immediate suggestions for your current install, but perhaps someone else here has more expertise with video cards.