How I Fixed Ubuntu Boot Issue with Error Message, "Starting up... Undefined video mode 31f"

I ran some updates on Ubuntu 10.10 and found that when I booted up I got the message, "Starting up... Undefined video mode 31f".  (Sorry I am not sure which update caused this.)

I hit space and allowed it to continue.  I then watch Bleach 296, did a few other things and called it a day.  The next day when I booted up, same issue (I was kind of hoping it was a non-issue issue, O-well).

I googled the error message and found this post, which made perfect sense to me (I also found a lot of other posts that made no sense and gave no real fixes).  Following what was in post in the form, I did the following:

apt-get install hwinfo
sudo hwinfo --framebuffer

Giving me:

02: None 00.0: 11001 VESA Framebuffer                        
  [Created at bios.464]
  Unique ID: rdCR.zrHRJLheAS6
  Hardware Class: framebuffer
  Model: "NVIDIA G84 Board - p410h1b "
  Vendor: "NVIDIA Corporation"
  Device: "G84 Board - p410h1b "
  SubVendor: "NVIDIA"
  SubDevice:
  Revision: "Chip Rev"
  Memory Size: 14 MB
  Memory Range: 0xfb000000-0xfbdfffff (rw)
  Mode 0x0300: 640x400 (+640), 8 bits
  Mode 0x0301: 640x480 (+640), 8 bits
  Mode 0x0303: 800x600 (+800), 8 bits
  Mode 0x0305: 1024x768 (+1024), 8 bits
  Mode 0x0307: 1280x1024 (+1280), 8 bits
  Mode 0x030e: 320x200 (+640), 16 bits
  Mode 0x030f: 320x200 (+1280), 24 bits
  Mode 0x0311: 640x480 (+1280), 16 bits
  Mode 0x0312: 640x480 (+2560), 24 bits
  Mode 0x0314: 800x600 (+1600), 16 bits
  Mode 0x0315: 800x600 (+3200), 24 bits
  Mode 0x0317: 1024x768 (+2048), 16 bits
  Mode 0x0318: 1024x768 (+4096), 24 bits
  Mode 0x031a: 1280x1024 (+2560), 16 bits
  Mode 0x031b: 1280x1024 (+5120), 24 bits
  Mode 0x0330: 320x200 (+320), 8 bits
  Mode 0x0331: 320x400 (+320), 8 bits
  Mode 0x0332: 320x400 (+640), 16 bits
  Mode 0x0333: 320x400 (+1280), 24 bits
  Mode 0x0334: 320x240 (+320), 8 bits
  Mode 0x0335: 320x240 (+640), 16 bits
  Mode 0x0336: 320x240 (+1280), 24 bits
  Mode 0x033d: 640x400 (+1280), 16 bits
  Mode 0x033e: 640x400 (+2560), 24 bits
  Mode 0x0345: 1600x1200 (+1600), 8 bits
  Mode 0x0346: 1600x1200 (+3200), 16 bits
  Mode 0x0347: 1400x1050 (+1400), 8 bits
  Mode 0x0348: 1400x1050 (+2800), 16 bits
  Mode 0x0349: 1400x1050 (+5600), 24 bits
  Mode 0x034a: 1600x1200 (+6400), 24 bits
  Mode 0x0352: 2048x1536 (+8192), 24 bits
  Mode 0x0360: 1280x800 (+1280), 8 bits
  Mode 0x0361: 1280x800 (+5120), 24 bits
  Mode 0x0362: 768x480 (+768), 8 bits
  Mode 0x0364: 1440x900 (+1440), 8 bits
  Mode 0x0365: 1440x900 (+5760), 24 bits
  Mode 0x0368: 1680x1050 (+1680), 8 bits
  Mode 0x0369: 1680x1050 (+6720), 24 bits
  Mode 0x037c: 1920x1200 (+1920), 8 bits
  Mode 0x037d: 1920x1200 (+7680), 24 bits
  Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown

I figured I'd use 0x0369

I then edited grub using:

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

I look for the "vga=" and change it to the mode value I wanted to use (0x0369)

## ## End Default Options ##


title Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.35-23-generic-pae
root (hd0,6)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-23-generic-pae root=UUID=3608162f-dcd7-4b92-b1d9-c2162c720162 ro quiet vga=0x0369 
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-23-generic-pae
quiet


Restarted and now no more error message!

Upgrading to Ubuntu 10.04 LTS

Just upgraded my Dell Vostro 1500 to Ubuntu 10.04 LTS on Saturday (May 8, 2010) and so far I love it!

I made the upgrade because it is a LTS (long term support) release, but the main reason was, I was having issue with my wireless connecting to U-verse. I am happy to say, the upgrade has seem to resolve my wireless connectivity issues. I can go back to watching Bleach in my bedroom if my wife wants to watch something in the living room (I am on episode 263, 幽閉？！千本桜＆蛇尾丸).

Other benefits of the upgrade include:

Faster boot time (it seems to be faster to me)

Better looking default desktop and style

Sound working out of the box (even Flash sound in Chrome)

Over all I am loving the upgrade. Nice work Ubuntu team!

How I Fixed Flash's Sound In Chrome

I recently upgraded to Ubuntu 9.10 (which is really fast, very nice looking, and all around great). Everything worked great out of the box for the most part. A few issues with the Wireless (it was picking an unsecured network instead of mine). One big problem, my sound in Flash did not work, which means I could not watch Bleach on YouTube!

It took a bit, I installed many different version of flash, moved files around, but atleast it did not work. Then I came across this thread, entry number 7. I brought up alsamixer (just type alsamixer in your terminal).

Arrowed over to Speaker (just use the right arrow key on your keyboard):

Do you see the MM, right above 64<>64 on the far right? Well, that is what is stopping your sound. That's right the speakers are muted!

Hit m (just type the letter m on your keyboard) to unmute:

See the OO, that means that you are no longer muted. Hit Esc to exit and return to the terminal.

I did this all while running Bleach in Chrome on YouTube and what happen?!? I heard sound; lovely sound!

All is well with my computer now (sad, but true).

Upgrade to Ubuntu 9.10

For few years now, I've been running Ubuntu on my Dell Vostro 1500. For about a year I've been using Ubuntu 8.04 LTS (Hardy Heron). I have never really had any issues but I would like to run a much newer version of Eclipse. You see I am running Eclipse 3.2 and I would like to run Eclipse 3.5 so I can use newer plugins like the Orc plugin. To be able to run Eclipse 3.5, I will need to upgrade to Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala).

Upgrading to Karmic Koala from Hardy Heron, will require an upgrade from 8.04 to 8.10, then from 8.10 to 9.04, and finally from 9.04 to 9.10. I believe this will take about 3 1/2 hours. I am thinking that since I am running on a Vostro 1500 on the upgrade from 8.10 to 9.04 (Intrepid Ibex to Jaunty Jackalope) I will most likely either have to enable my Wireless again through Backports or just use a cable.

Why would my Wireless stop working? Well you see the drivers I need to run my Wireless are not Open Source and as such I will need to use Non-Open Source; Backport; drivers to be able to use it. If you have only used Windows or OS X this most likely sounds odd, but what it comes down to is Copy Rights. Ubuntu does not install Backports, you have to enable them by saying that you will agree to their Copy Rights and then they will be downloaded and installed.

I did a quick Google search to make sure that I will not have an issues with Karmic Koala on my Vostro and what I found sounds like I will not have any. In fact it sounds like the Koala runs a lot better than Hardy. Even more import and the reason for the whole upgrade Eclipse 3.5 is in Synaptic.