ATI/AMD proprietary FGLRX graphics install fails, how can I resolve the problem?

Question

I want to activate ATI/AMD proprietary FGLRX graphics driver (post-release update), but there is a problem during installation. It says:

Sorry, installation of this driver failed.

Please have a look at the log file for details: /var/log/jockey.log

How can I install this driver?

Answer 1

Remove and purge the current version, then install the updates:

1. sudo apt-get --purge remove fglrx*
2. sudo apt-get install fglrx-updates fglrx-amdcccle-updates
3. Reboot

Making sure fglrx is fully removed is an important step. It didn't work for me the first time I tried to install the updates and in the end I removed each fglrx package individually, purged each one individually, removed no longer dependencies sudo apt-get autoremove, rebooted, then installed the updates sudo apt-get install fglrx-updates fglrx-amdcccle-updates, rebooted, and (as of writing) I got catalyst version 11.11 (which still doesn't work with gnome3).

12.10

• 21 Oct 2012 - fglrx is not working in 12.10, see bug report.
• 4 Jan 2013 - no fix yet, bug reports are on fire,

12.10 Troubleshooting

If you have problems with graphics after installing or updating to 12.10, you will need to remove fglrx and use open source drivers:

    $ sudo apt-get remove fglrx*

If you get stuck on a warning about "low graphics":

1. Open the terminal Ctrl+Alt+F1
2. Remove fglrx: sudo apt-get remove fglrx*
3. Reboot: sudo reboot

For more see the SO question Can't install ATI proprietary drivers in 12.10.

Notes

• What packages are currently installed? dpkg -l fglrx*

  $ dpkg -l fglrx*
  un  fglrx          <none>         (no description available)
  un  fglrx-amdcccle <none>         (no description available)
  ii  fglrx-amdcccle 2:8.911-0ubunt Catalyst Control Center for the AMD graphics
  un  fglrx-control  <none>         (no description available)
  un  fglrx-control- <none>         (no description available)
  un  fglrx-driver   <none>         (no description available)
  un  fglrx-kernel-s <none>         (no description available)
  un  fglrx-modalias <none>         (no description available)
  ii  fglrx-updates  2:8.911-0ubunt Video driver for the AMD graphics accelerato
  

  • What do the various dpkg flags like 'ii' 'rc' mean?

• Confirm the drivers are working fglrxinfo

  $ fglrxinfo 
  display: :0  screen: 0
  OpenGL vendor string: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
  OpenGL renderer string: AMD Radeon HD 6300M Series
  OpenGL version string: 4.2.11733 Compatibility Profile Context
  

• For Catalyst <=11.11 with gnome <=3.2 Expect screen flickering and system hangs.

Answer 2

All Jockey does is install fglrx and fglrx-amdcccle in the case of normal drivers, and fglrx-updates and fglrx-amdcccle-updates when you select the post-release updates option, though it fails somehow for I don't know what reason.

You can simply install/activate ATI/AMD proprietary FGLRX graphics driver (post-release update) option by typing the following line into the terminal:

sudo apt-get install fglrx-updates fglrx-amdcccle-updates

or search for these packages within the Ubuntu Software Center and install them from there.

Answer 3

An excellent resource for installing the latest driver from ATI and easy to follow. Installing Catalyst latest driver from ATI in Ubuntu 11.10

Bob Bowles (ed.): I found the ATI download site very user-friendly, with good self-documentation on the download/build/deploy process. ATI Download site.