[mythtv-users] blank frontend screen

[Bob Hackenberg]

My video card is a GeForce 9500GS.  I'll look into the issue of restricted drivers but I seem to have installed special drivers when I first installed Ubuntu.  The default resolution was very low with what came with the installation.  I spent quite a bit of time finding the right drivers and now I am getting 1680x1050.  I think those were restricted drivers that I downloaded and installed.

I don't doubt that you are right about this but what I am saying is that I am not even getting the intro menu screens for mythtv.  I don't think that first screen doesn't present any challenging graphics.  The screen is totally blank with that swirl of a blue pattern.  Randomly clicking somewhere will bring up various screens that are completely readable. I was hoping to randomly click on something that represents "View Live TV". 

If I didn't have the right drivers, wouldn't that mean that I couldn't watch DVD movies?  I have no problem with that at all.

Maybe you could suggest how I find out what video drivers I am using right now.  I'm not sure how to do that.

thanks,

bob


>  -------Original Message-------
>  From: Brad DerManouelian <myth at dermanouelian.com>
>  Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] blank frontend screen
>  Sent: 28 Oct '08 19:30
>  
>  On Oct 28, 2008, at 5:23 PM, Bob Hackenberg wrote:
>  
>  > I have installed mythtv on my Ubuntu Hardy machine.  The machine is  
>  > an HP 9340F with a Hauppauge HVR 1800 card. I know that the card  
>  > works because I have no problem bringing in local digital stations  
>  > under Microsoft Vista.  However, I live on the Linux side of the  
>  > machine and want to be receiving TV while I am working.
>  >
>  > I think I have the software installed correctly.  I can start a  
>  > backend server and also do a setup.  When I run the frontend, I get  
>  > a 800x600 screen with patterned blue background but absolutely  
>  > nothing on it.  Based on what I saw on the web, there are two  
>  > interface styles.  By randomly clicking on various parts of the  
>  > blank screen, I can get other screens to appear.
>  >
>  > mythtv must be talking to my tv card because at one point it scanned  
>  > for channels and found a number of local feeds.
>  >
>  > All I really want to do is watch live programming.  Later I might  
>  > wish to record something but at this point mythtv is a non-starter.
>  >
>  > Any idea what I need to do to get mythtv to work?
>  
>  Problems with your display have to do with your video card and not  
>  your capture card. I would guess OpenGL is not working correctly and/
>  or you have open source drivers loaded for your video card. Since you  
>  haven't told us what you're using, it's hard for me to make specific  
>  recommendations, but try using proprietary video card drivers (I think  
>  ubuntu calls them "Restricted Drivers")
>  
>  -Brad
>  
>