Ubuntu – Revert to open source graphics drivers – options greyed out 14.04

14.04amd-graphicsdriversfglrxxorg

I tried switching to the proprietary AMD/ATI drivers using the Software Center > Edit > Software Sources > Additional drivers window in 14.04, which left me with a scary black-as-the-night screen after reboot. I could not even open the text only console.

Using a live cd, I chroot-ed in and ran sudo apt-get remove --purge fglrx* and in my nervous haste may have installed ubuntu-drivers-common (I don't know/remember if it was already installed).

I assume I've reverted back to open source because my display is working again, but I'm not sure…

When I open the Additional drivers window, all options (xserver-xorg-video-ati, fglrx-updates, and fglrx) are greyed out and can't be selected! And now there is a new option selected, "Continue using a manually installed driver."

When I run ubuntu-drivers list I get the following output:

fglrx-updates
fglrx

So, what's going on? Using sudo apt-get remove --purge fglrx* says everything is gone.

When I run ubuntu-devices I get the following output:

model    : Radeon HD 6970M
vendor   : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]
manual_install: True
modalias : pci:v00001002d00006720sv0000106Bsd00000B00bc03sc00i00
driver   : fglrx - distro non-free
driver   : xserver-xorg-video-ati - distro free builtin recommended
driver   : fglrx-updates - distro non-free

I believe the problem is manual_install is set to True. I don't know if I'm actually using the open source driver, I don't know why the driver options are greyed out, I don't know how to set manual_install to False.

I don't have any backup xorg.conf files in /etc/X11 (although I do have a xorg.conf.failsafe there – is that a backup?) and the "revert" button is greyed out in the Additional drivers window.

I just want to go back to the way things were (open source driver selected and automatically updates).

Extra info: The reason I changed drivers was because sometimes after trying to awake Ubuntu from sleeping (especially after long periods asleep)… well, it doesn't. It stays at a black (grey) screen. Searching seems indicate it's a known bug.

Best Answer

This solution worked for me :

sudo apt-get purge "fglrx.*"  #  remove proprietary drivers
sudo rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf    #  remove old Xserver config

reinstall open source drivers

sudo apt-get install --reinstall xserver-xorg-core libgl1-mesa-glx:i386 libgl1-mesa-dri:i386 libgl1-mesa-glx:amd64 libgl1-mesa-dri:amd64

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg   # reconfig Xserver

sudo reboot

this will give you working video drivers and your driver options will no longer be greyed out

Related Solutions

FGLRX – Differences Between the Two FGLRX Graphics Drivers

The 'post release updates' will install Catalyst 11.9 which is the latest version while the 'ATI/AMD proprietary FGLRX graphics driver' will install Catalyst 11.8 which was the driver at the freeze stage of 11.10 development

There has been issues with the 11.9 driver with Unity (see ubuntu forums here) so I suggest you install the 'ATI/AMD proprietary FGLRX graphics driver'.

Ubuntu – ATI Driver breaks Unity, Fglrx or Fglrx-updates

There seems to be lot of problems with proprietary drivers in Raring. It is a fresh release and not everything is always working as it should.

Make sure that you don't have proprietary and open source drivers installed at the same time. When you try different drivers, always keep track of which one is loaded. To do that you can use this command:

$ lspci -nnk | grep -iA3 vga

If you get into situation where something crashes and you will not be able to fix things by using graphical user interface you can still get to command line. Firstly you can try pressing Ctrl+Alt+F<1-6>( chose number between 1 and 6). Another option is to enter “recovery mode” at boot that also gives you access to command line. So maybe you don't have reinstall entire OS.

You get a list of installed packages with this:

$ dpkg --get-selections

When you remove a packages with apt-get use “purge”:

$ sudo apt-get purge <package-name>

Fglrx packages:

fglrx fglrx-amdccele

Fglrx-update packages:

fglrx-updates fglrx-amdcccle-updates

Open source driver packages:

xserver-xorg-video-ati xserver-xorg-video-radeon

To install a package use good old:

$ sudo apt-get install <package-name>

If you really want the benefits of the proprietary driver then you could also download proprietary drivers directly from amd support site.

Inside the zip-file there is a run-installer. I suggest you create deb-file from that (more details and tips here and here)as then the driver is easier to remove if it doesn't work. If you have to do it all from command line then these are the steps:

Download the driver:

$ wget http://www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/amd-catalyst-13.4-linux-x86.x86_64.zip

Unzip the driver:

$ unzip amd-catalyst-13.4-linux-x86.x86_64.zip

Make the file executable:

$ chmod +x amd-catalyst-13.4-linux-x86.x86_64.run

Create deb-file from the run-installer:

$ sudo ./amd-catalyst-13.4-linux-x86.x86_64.run --buildpkg Ubuntu/raring

This might give you an error as you might lack necessary packages. According to this site at least Precise needed these packages to be installed.

$ sudo apt-get install dh-make dh-modaliases execstack

Install the deb file (replace * sign with the real ending – to check the correct file name you can use ls -l command):

$ sudo dpkg -i fglrx*.deb

If that also doesn't work I guess, you are stuck with open source drivers until problems get fixed. Also than when something is supposed to work but doesn't it is a bug and these only get fixed if bugs are reported. On reporting bugs see this. Always check that the bug has not been reported already but even if it has you should still click that you are been affected by the bug as it raises its importance.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

FGLRX – Differences Between the Two FGLRX Graphics Drivers

Ubuntu – ATI Driver breaks Unity, Fglrx or Fglrx-updates

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