Random blank screens on X restarts.

[Albert Schueller]

Fri Jul 20 14:08:54 PDT 2007

Problem: 

 After logging out of a user session gdm restarts to a blank screen (LCD
 backlit but black), more specifically, the behavior appears to be a
 random selection of either restarting to a blank screen or restarting
 perfectly correctly.  Issuing /usr/sbin/gdm-restart repeatedly from
 another VT will always, eventually, cause a successful restart.
 Failure rate appears to be about 50-70%.

System:  

 Dell GX280, CentOS 5, fully patched, gdm

Xorg details (from /var/log/Xorg.log):

 X Window System Version 7.1.1
 Release Date: 12 May 2006
 X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0, Release 7.1.1
 Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.9-42.0.10.ELsmp i686 Red Hat, Inc.
 Current Operating System: Linux sloth.whitman.edu
 2.6.18-8.1.8.el5.centos.plus #1 SMP Mon Jul 16 08:49:50 EDT 2007 i686
 Build Date: 09 April 2007
 Build ID: xorg-x11-server 1.1.1-48.13.0.1.el5
 Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
 to make sure that you have the latest version.

Video card:

 Intel Corporation 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family Graphics
 Controller rev 4, Mem @ 0xdff00000/19, 0xc0000000/28, 0xdfec0000/18,
 I/O @ 0xe898/3

 using the stock i810 driver

Xorg configuration:

 default installed configuration

Investigation so far:

	- Behavior is the same if using kdm

	- Xorg.log entries are identical in the cases of both successful
	  and unsuccessful restarts.

	- With gdm debugging info turned on, relevant syslog entries are
	  the same in cases of both successful and unsuccessful
	  restarts.

	- Moved the hard drive into an identical machine and the same
	  behavior is exhibited.  (Rules out flaky hardware?)

	- I am completely stumped.

I'm happy to provide additional details as requested.  Thanks,

Albert