Ubuntu running in low graphics mode following kernel update

I had gotten the optimal 1366x768 resolution working on the Dell Mini 10 with the optional HD display (Poulsbo chipset / Intel GMA500 video) by using the drivers provided by the Ubuntu Mobile Team.1

It's been working great for over a month until this morning, when instead of a login screen, I was greeted with an error: "Ubuntu running in low graphics mode".

What's up with that? The APT log contained the explanation:

 * Running DKMS auto installation service for kernel 2.6.28-16-generic        
 *  psb-kernel-source (4.41.1)...        psb-kernel-source (4.41.1): AUTOINSTALL not set in its dkms.conf.

I guess I could set AUTOINSTALL for the psb-kernel-source module to "Yes". I'll think about it, meanwhile, a manual fix is easy enough:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure psb-kernel-source
sudo shutdown -r now

POW. Back in business.

1 By the way, all I had to do to get full resolution working in the first place, as I recall, was add the Ubuntu Mobile Team sources to my /etc/apt/sources.list:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mobile/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mobile/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main

Install the drivers and reboot:

sudo aptitude update
sudo aptitude install psb-kernel-headers psb-kernel-source xserver-xorg-video-psb
sudo shutdown -r now

1 Comment

  • 1. Alain Kelder is a Giant D&hellip replies at 11th June 2010, 12:25 am :

    […] wasted hours aside, I just got it working again. I had the nice 1366×768 resolution previously working with Ubuntu 9.04, but it wouldn’t let me turn on Compiz effects. A few days ago, swayed by promise of seemless […]

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