[rrs@learner ~] man || help || info bootsplash

Bootsplash is a project to bring a graphical boot interface to the Linux Kernel boot process. It uses the Frame Buffer Device to display a clean and decent boot process.

This document is specific to configuration of bootsplash on the Linux Kernel 2.6.x series for Intel 810 (i810fb) drivers. (Haven't tried on others).

A big thanks to Mr. Benjamin Chadwick for his sole effort on finding out solution for this problem.

Most of you who have atleast tried configuring bootsplash on i810fb might be aware of the infamous "framebuffer can't handle it" error message.

So lets get it done...
I'm using a Debian Sarge system with Kernel Source 2.6.3 pre-packaged from Debian with bootsplash patch manually applied on it. The original tester, Ben, got it worked under a vanilla 2.6.3 kernel with bootsplash patch applied. So, it might work on most systems.

• Setup your kernel source tree
• Patch it with your bootsplash patch
• Simply try disabling the VESA FB driver. (Note: Disabling VESA FB might not let you enable the Bootsplash option. So better enable VESA FB as a module and then enable Bootsplash statically)
• Enable support for i810fb (Intel Framebuffer Device Driver)
  
• Save your kernel configuration
• Open up /usr/src/linux/drivers/video/bootsplash/bootsplash.c in your favourite editor and comment out the parts of the bootsplash.c code that causes the error. (Do make a backup copy of your bootsplash.c file incase you make up some errors)
  

Code: /* extern struct fb_ops vesafb_ops; */

and a little pages down to.........

Code: /* if (!vc_cons[unit].d || info->fbops != &vesafb_ops) {
                   splash_free(vc, info);
                   printk(" found, but framebuffer can't handle it!\n");
                   return -1;
       }
 
*/

• Save your bootsplash.c file and recompile your kernel
• Bingo! It works. :-) . No Guarantees anyway
• Please do give a round of applause to Ben