Changes in Natty

• gfxpayload=keep (disable with GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=text)

• vt.handoff=7 (not easily disableable)

• VBE autodetect (disable with GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480)

Problems

• Intractable black screen, even when all the above turned off
  • Solution: Send upstream, to go with other similar bugs

• Black (or occasionally purple) panel unless gfxpayload=text

  • Blacklist PCI IDs / BIOSes / etc.
  • Run through certification lab

• Regression even with `gfxpayload=text`, fixed by `GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480`

  • Testers: marjo (netbook)

  • grub_vbe_get_preferred_mode tries to get EDID information from grub_video_get_edid when no video adapter is active yet

  • Fixed in grub2 1.99~rc1-1ubuntu1

• Plymouth fails to cope with framebuffer switch
  • Testers: jibel (Asus U3SG), kamal (Dell)
  • Colin is working on a patch

  • No longer relevant now that we've stopped using a temporary vesafb instance

• Toolchain regression with Plymouth

  • Testers: everyone
  • Martin Pitt debugging
  • Reducing optimisation in one function fixes

  • Fixed in plymouth 0.8.2-2ubuntu9 / gcc-4.5 4.5.2-1ubuntu6

• Corrupted video in GRUB
  • Testers: smoser, RAOF, lool (all Thinkpads, I think)
  • Compare with X VESA driver
  • RAOF's machine claimed 1440x900; depth 32 failed, 16 worked; X VESA had identical problem
  • Force 16-bit? Need more data

  • Worked around in grub2 1.99~rc1-3ubuntu3

• Binary drivers?
• Installing desktop-base causes background to be black (with a bit of the spacefun wallpaper), not purple
  • Testers: kim0, jibel

• Kernels in a submenu don't use `gfxpayload=keep`

  • Fixed in grub2 1.99~rc1-1ubuntu1