MEPIS Community Forum

Paul771:

You may want to try using these cheatcodes at the Grub Boot Prompt:

nouveau.modeset=0 xdrvr=intel confx

If that doesn't work, try this instead and see what happens:

nvidia-modeset=0 xdrvr=intel confx

You've got a laptop model using what's referred to as Optimus, where the graphics switches between Intel and Nvidia depending on what you're doing.

But, Mepis 11 doesn't support that configuration yet with the stock kernel and drivers. So, that work around should force it to use the Intel graphics driver only (hopefully, anyway).

See this thread for an example of issues some users have with that type of setup (and there may be some newer threads with better solutions around).

viewtopic.php?f=84&t=31982

Note, that you may want to start a new thread asking about your issues, so that we're not discussing more than one problem in this thread (which was started by someone needing help getting integrated Radeon HD 4200 graphics to work).

Then, perhaps some of our members using laptops with Optimus technology will see it and chime in with solutions they've found works better with Optimus (as updating to a newer kernel and drivers may help out with the issues)

Thks, you are perfectly right and I continue here

I think everyone would need to know if you're using that intel card to boot or you are trying to boot with the NVIDIA GEForce GT 540M. Each solution is a little different.
unless this is a laptop with Optimus mode. in which case the following setting on the command line should do the trick

nouveau.modeset=0 xdrvr=intel confx


Oh, and in regards to my issue, problem solved. thanks for all your help.
installation complete, drivers are in and working. I am a happy camper.
Thanks again for all your support.

This is what I did for an Nvidia Optimus Laptop: Acer 5750-G
1. Disabled the Nvidia board in the BIOS
2. Added xdrvr=intel confx to the boot menu on the LiveDVD.
3. Booted and installed
4. Installed the latest xorg from Squeeze backports
5. Upgraded the kernel to a 3 series.
6.Ran sgfxi.

Compositing works fine with the Intel graphics, very fast and no errors.

Unfortunately my BIOS doesn't allow this manip. (it nearly allows nothing)

My BIOS is effectively the same (Intel + ATI Radeon). The options are 'switchable graphics' or 'UMA'.

Haven't fathomed out UMA yet.

Unified Memory Architecture,

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/in ... 035AA1DRs2

Basically an integrated card sharing system memory.

Was running sgfxi the second time what did the trick?

no not exatly.

since I learned what I needed to do and messed things up by using smxi I decided to start over and do it right. It is a fresh install after all.

Booted the LiveDVD by changing vga=788 to vga-873 in GRUB
installed then booted the installation by adding radeon.modeset=0 in GRUB
Ran synaptic to update everything then downloaded and ran flgrx to install video drivers correctly. (I should have done that the first time)
Then tested and saw a problem with synaptic and anything requiring root.
Rebooted from cold boot and confirmed everything is working now.

I did notice a few problems with this edition, but nothing that I didn't notice on the liveCD.
I'll save up those notes and make it another post on another day.

I'm just glad to have my taskcoach installed and I can start working on my task list for my new project.
The purpose of setting up this laptop in the first place.

Thanks again for all the help

Hello

This option is not available in my BIOS (Asus X73S).

Thks.