Bug 472768

Description of problem:
F10 Preview fails to set up the graphical boot console and results in a blank flashing black screen with no means of debug (tried Plymouth suggestions in the release notes). 

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
Fedora-10-Preview-i686-Live Fedora Release 9.93 (Rawhide)

How reproducible:
Every time

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Boot from a USB key on an P42.5GHz with Intel 82865G integrated graphics controller + LCD 1440x900
2. 
3. 
  
Actual results:
White, cyan, blue lines replace the boot debug text.
The screen blanks, fails to initialise and results in a blank flashing black screen with no means of debug. Plymouth may have wrongly sensed the LCD panel and is attempting to select a screen res that is not available. A corrupt but stable display can be seen if the LCD is swapped for a CRT monitor.

Expected results:
Machine with a usable console, ideally with a means of debug. :-)

Additional info:
Hardware is a P4i65G board with 82865G graphics and a 1440x900 LCD panel. 

This is one of a number of test machines, and works with F9 using the 'Intel - Experimental mode setting driver'.
ISTR changing the Intel driver when installing F9 to get DPMS sensing of the LCD panel resolution. Stock F9 worked fine, but at a lower res (1024x768?).


Tried several means of getting more debug information:

1. Hit TAB at GRUB menu on 'Boot' option and edit the kernel parameters to remove 'quiet rhgb' to get boot messages. This gives some information, but as ^S/ ^Q don't work and ^PgUp doesn't pause, it is impossible to see what is happening without a high-speed video camera!

2. Editing the kernel parameters to add 'nomodeset' gives the textual boot messages, but the screen still ends up black and flashing every ~2S.

3. CTL-ALT-Backspace has no noticeable effect. ALT-F1 - ALT-F7 has no noticeable effect (I understand X has moved from console 7->1) .

4. CTL-ALT-DEL drops back to a text console showing services being halted.

5. Adding 'vga=0x318' to GRUB kernel parameters displays a pretty animation, but the screen still ends up black and flashing every ~2S.

6. Swapping the LCD panel for 17" CRT gets a partially corrupt login screen. The mouse works, however the bottom status panel is corrupt, and 'Log In' does nothing. Other virtual consoles are also inaccessible (e.g. CTL-ALT-F2).

7. Booting with 'nomodeset' on a 17" CRT gets to a differently corrupt login screen, with no backdrop, a full status panel and a only partial login window. The mouse works, but the keyboard does not - suggest X has crashed. CTL-ALT-BACKSPACE does not restart X.

The USB key containing F10 preview is verified on other hardware with different graphics.


I'm used to debugging X11, however a means of turning off the graphical boot is needed to get a console to start work.