Fixing Graphics On Asus EEE 1101HA With Precise Pangolin

Hey everyone! Having trouble with your Asus EEE 1101HA after installing Precise Pangolin? Specifically, are you seeing weird graphics glitches after suspending your system? You're not alone! This guide dives into those pesky graphics problems and offers some solutions to get your netbook running smoothly again. We'll explore common issues related to Xorg, Intel Graphics, and the infamous Poulsbo chipset on your Asus EEE. So, let's get started and troubleshoot those visual gremlins!

Understanding the Graphics Issues

Okay, so you've installed Precise Pangolin (Ubuntu 12.04) on your Asus EEE 1101HA, and everything seems fine until you suspend it. Then, BAM! Graphics corruption. What's going on? The Asus EEE 1101HA uses an Intel Atom processor with a Poulsbo chipset (GMA 500). This chipset, while power-efficient, has historically been a pain to deal with in Linux due to driver support. The open-source drivers aren't always the greatest, leading to issues like the ones you're experiencing. The core problem often lies in how the system resumes from suspend. The graphics drivers might not properly reinitialize, leading to visual artifacts, distortions, or even a completely black screen. This can manifest in various ways, from scrambled pixels to entire sections of the screen being unreadable. To further complicate matters, different versions of the kernel and Xorg (the display server) can interact differently with the Poulsbo chipset. What works on one system might not work on another seemingly identical one. That's why finding the right fix often involves a bit of trial and error. Don’t worry, though; we'll walk through some common solutions that have helped others with similar problems. It's essential to back up your system before making any significant changes, just in case something goes wrong. This will allow you to quickly restore your system to a working state if needed. Remember, we're all in this together, and with a bit of patience, we can get your Asus EEE 1101HA running smoothly.

Common Solutions to Graphics Corruption

Alright, let's dive into some tried-and-true solutions to fix that graphics corruption after suspending your Asus EEE 1101HA. These steps involve tweaking your system's configuration, so take your time and follow along carefully. First off, try updating your system fully. Open a terminal and run these commands:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

This ensures you have the latest packages, including any potential updates to the graphics drivers or Xorg. Sometimes, the fix is as simple as applying the latest patches. If updating doesn't solve the problem, the next step is to explore alternative graphics drivers. The default drivers might not be the best for the Poulsbo chipset. You can try installing the psb-kernel-modules package. This package contains optimized kernel modules for the Poulsbo graphics. To install it, run:

sudo apt-get install psb-kernel-modules

After installation, reboot your system to see if the issue is resolved. If you're still facing problems, you might need to create a custom Xorg configuration file. This file tells Xorg how to handle your graphics card. Create a new file called /etc/X11/xorg.conf and add the following configuration:

Section "Device"
 Identifier "Intel Graphics"
 Driver "intel"
 Option "AccelMethod" "sna"
EndSection

This configuration specifies the Intel driver and enables the SNA acceleration method. Save the file and reboot your system. If SNA doesn't work, try changing it to "uxa". Some users have reported better results with UXA. Remember to test after each change to see if it resolves the issue. These steps should help resolve the graphics corruption issues.

Advanced Troubleshooting Steps

Okay, so you've tried the basic solutions, and your Asus EEE 1101HA is still showing those pesky graphics glitches after suspending? Don't worry; we've got a few more tricks up our sleeves. Let's dive into some more advanced troubleshooting steps. First, consider checking your kernel version. Sometimes, specific kernel versions can cause issues with the Poulsbo chipset. You can try upgrading or downgrading your kernel to see if it resolves the problem. Be careful when changing your kernel, and make sure to back up your system first. To check your current kernel version, run:

uname -r

If you're feeling adventurous, you can try using a custom kernel that's optimized for the Asus EEE series. These kernels often include specific patches and tweaks to improve performance and stability. However, installing a custom kernel is an advanced task and should be done with caution. Another potential solution is to modify the GRUB bootloader configuration. You can add specific kernel parameters to disable certain features that might be causing the issue. For example, you can try disabling KMS (Kernel Mode Setting) by adding nomodeset to the kernel parameters. To do this, edit the /etc/default/grub file and add nomodeset to the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT line:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash nomodeset"

Save the file and run sudo update-grub to apply the changes. Then, reboot your system. Keep in mind that disabling KMS can have some side effects, such as reduced graphics performance. If you're still having trouble, you can try disabling compositing. Compositing can sometimes cause issues with older graphics cards. To disable compositing, open a terminal and run:

gsettings set org.gnome.metacity compositing-manager false

This will disable compositing in the Metacity window manager. If you're using a different window manager, you'll need to find the appropriate command to disable compositing. Remember to document every change you make, so you can easily revert them if they don't work. Troubleshooting can be a process of elimination, so patience is key.

Preventing Future Graphics Issues

Alright, you've finally managed to fix the graphics corruption on your Asus EEE 1101HA after suspending. Awesome! Now, let's talk about how to prevent these issues from cropping up again in the future. Proactive maintenance and a bit of planning can save you a lot of headaches down the road. First and foremost, keep your system updated. Regularly running sudo apt-get update and sudo apt-get upgrade ensures that you have the latest security patches and bug fixes, including any potential updates to the graphics drivers or Xorg. Consider using a more lightweight desktop environment. The Asus EEE 1101HA is a netbook with limited resources, so using a resource-intensive desktop environment like GNOME or KDE can sometimes cause issues. Switching to a lighter desktop environment like XFCE or LXDE can improve performance and stability. You can install these desktop environments by running:

sudo apt-get install xfce4

or

sudo apt-get install lxde

Then, log out and select the new desktop environment from the login screen. Another way to prevent graphics issues is to avoid using suspend or hibernate altogether. Instead, you can simply shut down your system when you're not using it. This might seem inconvenient, but it can prevent many potential problems. If you absolutely need to use suspend, try closing all applications before suspending. This can reduce the amount of data that needs to be saved and restored, which can sometimes prevent graphics corruption. Also, consider using a different display manager. The default display manager might not be the best for your system. You can try using a different display manager like LightDM or GDM. To install a different display manager, run:

sudo apt-get install lightdm

or

sudo apt-get install gdm

Then, configure your system to use the new display manager. By taking these preventative measures, you can minimize the risk of encountering graphics issues on your Asus EEE 1101HA.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! A comprehensive guide to fixing graphics problems on your Asus EEE 1101HA running Precise Pangolin. We've covered everything from understanding the underlying issues to implementing various solutions and preventing future problems. Remember, troubleshooting can be a process of trial and error, so don't get discouraged if the first solution doesn't work. Keep experimenting and trying different approaches until you find what works best for your system. The Asus EEE 1101HA is a great little netbook, and with a bit of tweaking, you can get it running smoothly and reliably. Whether it's updating your system, installing alternative drivers, tweaking Xorg configurations, or even switching to a lighter desktop environment, there are plenty of options to explore. And, of course, always remember to back up your system before making any significant changes. This will save you a lot of headaches if something goes wrong. We hope this guide has been helpful, and we wish you the best of luck in getting your Asus EEE 1101HA running perfectly! Now go forth and conquer those graphics glitches!