[Bug 907446] Re: Corrupt ttys, splash; Console colour dummy device

Fri Apr 10 02:52:54 UTC 2026

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** Tags added: kernel-autoclosed kernel-autoclosed-invalid

** Changed in: linux (Ubuntu)
       Status: Incomplete => Invalid

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/907446

Title:
  Corrupt ttys, splash; Console colour dummy device

Status in grub-gfxpayload-lists package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed
Status in linux package in Ubuntu:
  Invalid

Bug description:
  A clean installation of 11.10 32-bit, wiping out the previously correctly working Xubuntu 10.04 installation. The boot splash screen is corrupted (appears to be text-mode but with the >128 ASCII-code box drawing characters). Once at the X/Unity log-in prompt switching to any of the the virtual consoles (tty1-6) the consoles are also corrupted and impossible to read. The best description of what is seen is that spaces are spaces, but characters are drawn outline-shadowed (like HTML inset/outset table borders) and drawn mirrored through the Y axis. E.g. a "b" looks like a "d".  Making out the characters is extremely difficult unless you know what to expect, such as when typing username at the console log-in prompt. I noticed the kernel reports:
  Console: colour dummy console 80x25

  instead of what I'd expect:
  Console: colour VGA+ 80x25

  Also, it seems the efifb driver creates a framebuffer device later
  although I'm not sure if it is responsible for the corrupted display.
  More likely is that GRUB leaves the video chipset in an unexpected
  mode.

  WORKAROUND: The bug can be fixed by adding in /etc/default/grub :
  GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=text

  However, this is a local workaround. The blueprint refers to the file "/boot/grub/gfxblacklist" which is generated by a script in the package "grub-gfxpayload-lists". The file contains PCI IDs of video devices that GRUB should not leave in graphics mode. These are declared in /usr/share/grub-gfxpayload-lists/blacklist/ . The attached patch adds a new file "20_intel" to the blacklisted devices in the package. 
  If adding it manually to a system, place it in the /usr/share/grub-gfxpayload-lists/blacklist/ directory. To add the new device to /boot/grub/gfxblacklist.txt :
  sudo update-grub-gfxpayload

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
  Package: linux-image-3.0.0-12-generic 3.0.0-12.20
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-12.20-generic 3.0.4
  Uname: Linux 3.0.0-12-generic i686
  AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
  AplayDevices:
   **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
   card 0: I82801BAICH2 [Intel 82801BA-ICH2], device 0: Intel ICH [Intel 82801BA-ICH2]
     Subdevices: 1/1
     Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
  ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu4
  Architecture: i386
  AudioDevicesInUse:
   USER        PID ACCESS COMMAND
   /dev/snd/controlC0:  tj         1618 F.... pulseaudio
  CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
  Card0.Amixer.info:
   Card hw:0 'I82801BAICH2'/'Intel 82801BA-ICH2 with YMF753 at irq 9'
     Mixer name	: 'Yamaha YMF753'
     Components	: 'AC97a:594d4803'
     Controls      : 41
     Simple ctrls  : 28
  Date: Wed Dec 21 17:02:46 2011
  EcryptfsInUse: Yes
  HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=be8937e3-e911-452c-b8ce-353b831a7c2c
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release i386 (20111012)
  Lsusb:
   Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
   Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
   Bus 002 Device 002: ID 054c:0069 Sony Corp. Memorystick MSC-U03 Reader
   Bus 002 Device 003: ID 044e:3002 Alps Electric Co., Ltd Bluetooth Device
  MachineType: Sony Corporation PCG-SRX51P_B(GB)
  PccardctlIdent:
   Socket 0:
     no product info available
  PccardctlStatus:
   Socket 0:
     no card
  ProcEnviron:
   LANGUAGE=en_GB:en
   PATH=(custom, no user)
   LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
   SHELL=/bin/bash
  ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-12-generic root=UUID=ca308bfa-d389-4d9e-92a7-2dd4b55cba2e ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7 video=efifb:off
  RelatedPackageVersions:
   linux-restricted-modules-3.0.0-12-generic N/A
   linux-backports-modules-3.0.0-12-generic  N/A
   linux-firmware                            1.60
  SourcePackage: linux
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
  dmi.bios.date: 01/24/03
  dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies LTD
  dmi.bios.version: R0232U2
  dmi.chassis.asset.tag: 463M3A3471383200000000000000
  dmi.chassis.type: 10
  dmi.chassis.vendor: Sony Corporation
  dmi.chassis.version: N/A
  dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologiesLTD:bvrR0232U2:bd01/24/03:svnSonyCorporation:pnPCG-SRX51P_B(GB):pvr01:cvnSonyCorporation:ct10:cvrN/A:
  dmi.product.name: PCG-SRX51P_B(GB)
  dmi.product.version: 01
  dmi.sys.vendor: Sony Corporation

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