Tiny Core Linux

Tiny Core Base => TCB Bugs => Topic started by: yoshi314 on August 03, 2012, 05:07:10 AM

Title: video drivers installation can break a running Xvesa system
Post by: yoshi314 on August 03, 2012, 05:07:10 AM

When installing kernel video drivers (or other kernel modules that apply to your hardware) they tend to automatically load right after.

this often leads to BSOD's, instant lockup and potential subsequent boot failures, especially on ati cards (because you usually do not have firmware-radeon at that time installed yet).  worse of all, you are in the middle of package installation - potential corruption of tce filesystem and loss of current home directory is highly likely.

afaik similar thing can happen on intel video cards.

the solution is to boot with nomodeset (or radeon.modeset=0 in this case), and finish the installation. or do it from text mode with nomodeset (or <driver>.modeset=0)  boot parameter.

users should either be warned of this, or video drivers should be initially blacklisted to prevent this.

suggestions

- by default kernel video drivers should be blacklisted. installing a video driver (with necessary firmware, when applicable) would remove its blacklist entry on next system startup.
- force the user not to install video drivers / xorg from running X session
- offer a 'nomodeset' failsafe boot entry which should allow to install such packages safely.
- other?

Title: Re: video drivers installation can break a running Xvesa system
Post by: tinypoodle on August 03, 2012, 05:40:06 AM

Quote from: yoshi314 on August 03, 2012, 05:07:10 AM

- force the user not to install video drivers / xorg from running X session

I don't think that would be easily feasible, as it would require an exception for certain extensions in tcb[ab]/appsbrowser.