ATI Mobility Radeon X1300 : ubuntu : the composite extension is not available

[scarlett.]

Whats up? I've been using Ubuntu for about 4 months now yet I really am still a novice with the language especially with the terminal. After enjoying using the OS for this time I wanted to start customizing and making it look a little better. The first problem I ran into was with turning the Visual Effects on to normal (from none), in order to use Emerald. The message I get is "the composite extension is not available". I was frustrated because I figure if my graphics card can handle vista dreamscenes it should be able to handle these window effects. I started searching around for an answer and found this to be a common problem with no common answer. One suggestion I saw made mention of Compiz so I began checking out this program. At this point I need help figuring out how to get my graphics card to work to its fullest and by cruising around at this program this seems like a must have if all works well. Yet once again I'm not fluent in linux and all and would have no idea how to install it in the first lace. Any one that can provide me with any help as to achieving both of these things would be much appreciated. My graphics card is an ATI Mobility Radeon X1300 and its running on the proprietary drivers. I'l; be more then willing to provide with any more information once I know what you need. In advance thank you for the help.
Scarlett

[b0le]

What version of ubuntu?

[scarlett.]

Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, and fully upgraded as far as my update manager is concerned

[adamk]

You most likely have the Compsite extension disabled in /etc/X11/xorg.conf. Can you take a look and see? If you're not sure what you are looking at, pleast post the file here.

Adam

[scarlett.]

I'm sorry, but I'm pretty ignorant as to using the terminal, here's what happened when i typed in "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"

christian@christian-laptop:~$ /etc/X11/xorg.conf
bash: /etc/X11/xorg.conf: Permission denied

Did I do do this right or how do I get permission?

[scarlett.]

Once again forgive my ignorance, you were telling me to physically look up the file, I opened it up and heres what I have:

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "stylus"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "stylus"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "eraser"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "eraser"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "cursor"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "cursor"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Generic Video Card"
Driver "fglrx"
Busid "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Generic Video Card"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
Defaultdepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
screen "Default Screen"
Inputdevice "Generic Keyboard"
Inputdevice "Configured Mouse"

# Uncomment if you have a wacom tablet
# InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
Inputdevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection
Section "Module"
Load "glx"
EndSection
Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "0"
EndSection

[adamk]

See the 2nd to last line where Composite is set to "0"? That needs to be "1", or the line needs to be removed entirely. You will need to edit the file as the root user so, in a terminal, run 'gksu gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf' and then you can edit and save the file.

Adam

[scarlett.]

i tried typing that into the terminal and nothing happened, no response and no new line popping up. I tried editing the file anyway in case it worked but no luck. What am I doing wrong? and thank you for dealing with me on this.

[adamk]

Odd.. Try this instead: 'sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf'

Adam

[scarlett.]

Thank you so much for the help I don;t know what happened earlier but when I came back at night and tried the gksu gedit it worked and now I have the visualizations working. So then I went through Synaptics to try and get Compiz to run. I had it installed so I went to the terminal and typed in "compiz", I've tried it a couple of times and this is what comes up.

Checking for Xgl: not present.
Detected PCI ID for VGA: 01:00.0 0300: 1002:7149 (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Checking for texture_from_pixmap: not present.
Trying again with indirect rendering:
Checking for texture_from_pixmap: present.
Checking for non power of two support: present.
Checking for Composite extension: present.
Comparing resolution (1024x768) to maximum 3D texture size (4096): Passed.
Checking for nVidia: not present.
Checking for FBConfig: present.
Checking for Xgl: not present.
/usr/bin/compiz.real (video) - Warn: No 8 bit GLX pixmap format, disabling YV12 image format
GConf backend: There is an unsupported value at path /apps/compiz/plugins/scale/allscreens/options/initiate_edge. Settings from this path won't be read. Try to remove that value so that operation can continue properly.

there is also a flash at one point where it seems like the program will start but doesn't. I really have no idea what any of this means so any pointing in the right direction will be much appreciated.

Scarlett

[adamk]

According to that output, compiz is starting up just fine. What makes you think it doesn't start?

Adam

[scarlett.]

hey thanks for all the help I've now got everything working perfectly

[adamk]

Please edit your original post, click "Go Advanced", and mark this problem as solved.

Adam

[Mohammad]

Hullo Scarlett
You said
"Thank you so much for the help I don;t know what happened earlier but when I came back at night"
But I know what happened at night ..
It worked when you have shutdown your computer and opened it again
actually I was facing the exactly your problem and my VGA card is ATI Radeon x1300 and I followed instructions sent right here which did not work BUT when I rebooted the computer.
Thanks to all