Please Help Troubleshoot FGLRX Probs on T43P Mobility Radeon V3200

Hi everyone,

Im sick of switching between my lovely T43P running Ubuntu Edgy and a new install of Win XP (new for SL, I run Linux exclusively in our house, have done for 4yrs) but getting SL to work properly is killing me! Your help would be really really appreciated.

Problem
When I run the client, i get " fglX11AllocateManagedSurface: __FGLTexMgrAllocMem failed!!" errors in the console, and the entire machine freezes except for the mouse. This means I have to hard reboot the Laptop, not good.

What I've done:
I've added this line to /etc/fstab:

tmpfs   /dev/shm        tmpfs   defaults        0       0

It hasnt made a difference. Not even if I run the client as root (thinking maybe a perms problem..)

I've also adjusted the client script to be the safest, blandest it can be, with no luck.

I've also researched and adjusted /etc/X11/xorg.conf extensively, you can see the file below, I include this comment just so you know i've been doing my homework!

I've also tried booting my 2GB Ram system with just 864m as a kernel parameter as i'd read that some versions of the flgrx module had issues with large RAM. This didn't help, and im pretty certain it doesnt apply to me anyway.

Files and Code:
Below is as much info as I can think to paste, please ask me for more if I've missed anything.

cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Section "ServerLayout"
        Identifier     "Default Layout"
        Screen      0  "aticonfig-Screen[0]" 0 0
        InputDevice    "Generic Keyboard"
        InputDevice    "Configured Mouse"
        InputDevice    "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection

Section "Files"
        # path to defoma fonts
        FontPath     "/usr/share/X11/fonts/misc"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/X11/fonts/Type1"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi"
        FontPath     "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
        Load  "i2c"
        Load  "bitmap"
        Load  "ddc"
        Load  "dri"
        Load  "extmod"
        Load  "freetype"
        Load  "glx"
        Load  "int10"
        Load  "type1"
        Load  "vbe"
        SubSection "extmod"
                Option "omit xfree86-dga"
        EndSubSection
EndSection

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

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier  "Configured Mouse"
        Driver      "mouse"
        Option      "CorePointer"
        Option      "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
        Option      "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/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      "HorizScrollDelta" "0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier   "aticonfig-Monitor[0]"
        Option      "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
        Option      "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
        Option      "DPMS" "true"
EndSection

Section "Device"
        Identifier  "aticonfig-Device[0]"
        Driver      "fglrx"
        BusID   "PCI:1:0:0"
#       Option   "DesktopSetup" "horizontal,reverse"
        Option   "OpenGLOverlay" "off"
        Option "UseInternalAGPGART" "no"
        Option   "VideoOverlay" "on"
#       Option  "UseFBDev"      "true"
        Option "Capabilities" "0x00000800"
        Option "KernelModuleParm" "locked-userpages=0"
#        Option "UseFastTLS" "2"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]"
        Device     "aticonfig-Device[0]"
        Monitor    "aticonfig-Monitor[0]"
        DefaultDepth     24
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     24
        EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
        Mode         0666
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
        Option  "Composite" "Disable"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
        Option  "AIGLX" "off"
EndSection

fglrxinfo

OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: MOBILITY FireGL V3200 Pentium 4 (SSE2) (FireGL) (GNU_ICD)
OpenGL version string: 2.0.6011 (8.28.8)

lspci

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/PM/GMS/910GML Express Processor to DRAM Controller (rev 03)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/PM Express PCI Express Root Port (rev 03)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 03)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #1 (rev 03)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #2 (rev 03)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #3 (rev 03)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #4 (rev 03)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 03)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev d3)
00:1e.2 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 03)
00:1e.3 Modem: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) AC'97 Modem Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801FBM (ICH6M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 03)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801FBM (ICH6M) SATA Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 03)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc M24 1T [FireGL M24 GL] (rev 80)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5751M Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express (rev 11)
04:00.0 CardBus bridge: Ricoh Co Ltd RL5c476 II (rev 8d)
04:02.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection (rev 05)

lsmod

Module                  Size  Used by
binfmt_misc            11784  1 
rfcomm                 38936  0 
hidp                   32000  2 
l2cap                  23300  10 rfcomm,hidp
nfsd                  231844  13 
exportfs                6016  1 nfsd
lockd                  65800  2 nfsd
sunrpc                160188  8 nfsd,lockd
nvram                   8456  1 
uinput                  9216  1 
ipv6                  257632  19 
fglrx                 405164  8 
speedstep_centrino      8576  1 
cpufreq_userspace       4372  0 
cpufreq_stats           5892  0 
freq_table              4996  2 speedstep_centrino,cpufreq_stats
cpufreq_powersave       2048  0 
cpufreq_ondemand        6944  1 
cpufreq_conservative     7200  0 
video                  16644  0 
tc1100_wmi              7428  0 
sbs                    15776  0 
sony_acpi               5516  0 
pcc_acpi               13184  0 
ibm_acpi               27776  0 
i2c_ec                  5376  1 sbs
i2c_core               22288  1 i2c_ec
hotkey                 10660  0 
dock                    7560  0 
dev_acpi               11140  0 
button                  7056  0 
battery                10756  0 
container               4736  0 
ac                      5892  0 
asus_acpi              16792  0 
dm_mod                 60088  3 
md_mod                 78740  0 
fuse                   41864  0 
lp                     11972  0 
af_packet              21768  2 
ipw2200               113476  0 
sg                     35356  0 
ieee80211              33608  1 ipw2200
ieee80211_crypt         6016  1 ieee80211
pcmcia                 38972  0 
sr_mod                 17060  0 
cdrom                  37792  1 sr_mod
joydev                 10304  0 
yenta_socket           27916  1 
tsdev                   8256  0 
irtty_sir               8960  0 
sir_dev                16644  1 irtty_sir
nsc_ircc               23692  0 
tg3                   104708  0 
rsrc_nonstatic         14336  1 yenta_socket
pcmcia_core            42128  3 pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
hci_usb                15892  2 
snd_intel8x0           33436  1 
snd_ac97_codec         96672  1 snd_intel8x0
snd_ac97_bus            2432  1 snd_ac97_codec
usbhid                 42464  0 
snd_pcm_oss            46080  0 
snd_mixer_oss          18560  1 snd_pcm_oss
psmouse                40072  0 
irda                  200892  3 irtty_sir,sir_dev,nsc_ircc
bluetooth              48996  8 rfcomm,hidp,l2cap,hci_usb
parport_pc             36132  1 
parport                37320  2 lp,parport_pc
intel_agp              25116  1 
agpgart                33456  2 fglrx,intel_agp
snd_pcm                80520  3 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_timer              23172  1 snd_pcm
pcspkr                  3072  0 
serio_raw               7300  0 
evdev                  10496  3 
crc_ccitt               2304  1 irda
floppy                 60676  0 
shpchp                 40856  0 
pci_hotplug            31284  1 shpchp
snd                    55428  8 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_timer
soundcore               9952  1 snd
snd_page_alloc         10504  2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm
rtc                    12596  0 
ext3                  138888  1 
jbd                    55700  1 ext3
ehci_hcd               32520  0 
uhci_hcd               23176  0 
usbcore               130304  5 hci_usb,usbhid,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
ide_generic             1536  0 
sd_mod                 21648  2 
generic                 5252  0 
ata_piix               10884  3 
ahci                   19076  0 
libata                 73228  2 ata_piix,ahci
scsi_mod              141320  5 sg,sr_mod,sd_mod,ahci,libata
thermal                14600  0 
processor              26028  2 speedstep_centrino,thermal
fan                     5124  0 
fbcon                  40480  0 
tileblit                2944  1 fbcon
font                    8448  1 fbcon
bitblit                 6272  1 fbcon
softcursor              2432  1 bitblit
vesafb                  8348  0 
capability              5000  0 
commoncap               7808  1 capability

mount | grep shm

devshm on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw)
tmpfs on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw)

uname -a

Linux home.communicontent.com 2.6.17-11-386 #2 Thu Feb 1 19:50:13 UTC 2007 i686 GNU/Linux

Im sure Im missing something, but I can't think of anything more to post. If you have any pointers at all please tell me.

thanks!

Hi K1ll3rBunny,
Have you tried the suggestions in 'Problem 2' of the Troubleshooting section of the README?

You mean the sudo aticonfig --locked-userpages=off one tofu?

That's already in the xorg.conf but I did just try it one more time and no, same error, and same lock up. though this time I did manage to close the window rather than have to hard shutdown..

Is there any other info I can provide that would help?

and thanks..

Could you post the last 30-40 lines of your ~/.secondlife/logs/SecondLife.log after you start-up, hang, and close the window again?

It may additionally be useful to try the 'first look' client to see if it affects stability, if you haven't already.

Thanks.

Sure, here's the last few lines:

2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_hemi_cylinder_active.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_hemi_sphere.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_hemi_sphere_active.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_prism.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_prism_active.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_pyramid.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_pyramid_active.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_ring.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_ring_active.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_sphere.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_sphere_active.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_tetrahedron.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_tetrahedron_active.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_torus.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_torus_active.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_tree.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_tree_active.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_tube.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: object_tube_active.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: square_btn_32x128.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: square_btn_selected_32x128.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: status_build.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: status_buy_currency.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: status_buy_currency_pressed.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: status_buy_land.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: status_buy_land_pressed.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: status_fly.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: status_health.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: status_push.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: status_script_debug.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: status_scripts.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: tool_dozer.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: tool_dozer_active.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: tool_zoom.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: tool_zoom_active.tga
2007-03-15T16:03:26Z INFO: Saving settings to file: /home/nick/.secondlife/k1ll3rbunny_kappler/settings.xml
2007-03-15T16:03:27Z INFO: Saved settings
2007-03-15T16:03:27Z INFO: Saving settings to file: /home/nick/.secondlife/user_settings/crash_settings.xml
2007-03-15T16:03:27Z INFO: remove_marker_file()
2007-03-15T16:03:27Z INFO: QUEUED THREAD Worker EXITING.
2007-03-15T16:03:27Z INFO: LLThread::staticRun() Exiting: Worker
2007-03-15T16:03:27Z INFO: QUEUED THREAD VFS EXITING.
2007-03-15T16:03:27Z INFO: LLThread::staticRun() Exiting: VFS
2007-03-15T16:03:27Z INFO: QUEUED THREAD LFS EXITING.
2007-03-15T16:03:27Z INFO: LLThread::staticRun() Exiting: LFS
2007-03-15T16:03:27Z INFO: VFS Thread finished
2007-03-15T16:03:27Z INFO: QUEUED THREAD Worker EXITING.
2007-03-15T16:03:27Z INFO: LLThread::staticRun() Exiting: Worker
2007-03-15T16:03:27Z INFO: Cleaning up APR
2007-03-15T16:03:27Z INFO: Goodbye

I've not tried the first look viewer, and I dont know what it is. But i'll find it and do that in the next 2hrs (getting crazy here, with kids and dinner/bedtimes etc )

That looks like a clean, uncrashy shutdown from the log, so no great clues there... please post the whole log now if you can.

The 'first look' client is an experimental new branch of the client available here: http://secondlife.com/community/firstlook.php - This may or may not help you in some way; it's worth a try.

You know, I was *certain* I'd posted this reply. Something must have gone screwey!

First look bombs for me, totally. Just goes mental, freezes the entire system.

Here's the log Tofu, thanks again:

Ahhh.. it was too long. Ok, here's a link to the bzipped version

You're running a rather old driver there, have you tried a newer one?
While ati linux drivers generally suck, they _do_ improve.

Im not sure how to do that in Ubuntu safely. I tried package/force-version in synaptics but it wouldnt let me.

I'll look this up though. Im new to ubuntu, having come over from Gentoo so dont really know how to force the latest versions..

Ok, I did that:

nick@home:~ > fglrxinfo 
display: :0.0  screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: MOBILITY FireGL V3200
OpenGL version string: 2.0.6334 (8.34.8)

And it did change the problem at least Now it gets to the point where the progress bar is done loggng you in, and "Segmentation Fault"'s on me....

Here's the last 50 lines from the regular clients log. First look does exactly the same.

2007-03-16T16:25:44Z INFO: LLCircuit::addCircuitData for 66.150.244.72:12035
2007-03-16T16:25:44Z INFO: Saving settings to file: /home/nick/.secondlife/user_settings/settings.xml
2007-03-16T16:25:44Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: button_disabled_32x128.tga
2007-03-16T16:25:44Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: button_enabled_32x128.tga
2007-03-16T16:25:44Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: button_enabled_selected_32x128.tga
2007-03-16T16:25:44Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: square_btn_32x128.tga
2007-03-16T16:25:44Z WARNING: Tried to save invalid control: square_btn_selected_32x128.tga
2007-03-16T16:25:44Z INFO: Viewer Object size: 452
2007-03-16T16:25:44Z INFO: Adding new region (899:1130)
2007-03-16T16:25:44Z INFO: Host: 66.150.244.72:12035
2007-03-16T16:25:44Z INFO: Adding initial simulator { 230144, 289280, 0 }
2007-03-16T16:25:44Z INFO: Moving agent into region:  located at 66.150.244.72:12035
2007-03-16T16:25:45Z INFO: Initializing communications...
2007-03-16T16:25:45Z INFO: Initializing camera...
2007-03-16T16:25:45Z INFO: Initializing sky...
2007-03-16T16:25:45Z INFO: Decoding images...
2007-03-16T16:25:45Z INFO: viewer: UserLoginLocationReply() Enabling 66.150.244.72:12035 with code 75699920
2007-03-16T16:25:45Z INFO: Connecting to region...
2007-03-16T16:25:45Z INFO: AssetStorage: Setting upstream provider to 66.150.244.72:12035
2007-03-16T16:25:46Z INFO: process_agent_movement_complete()
2007-03-16T16:25:46Z WARNING: agent_movement_complete() with NULL avatarp.
2007-03-16T16:25:46Z INFO: Changing home region to 230144:289280
2007-03-16T16:25:46Z INFO: AssetStorage: Setting upstream provider to 66.150.244.72:12035
2007-03-16T16:25:46Z INFO: Sending throttle settings, total BW 750
2007-03-16T16:25:46Z INFO: LLInventoryModel::loadFromFile(/home/nick/.secondlife/cache/ba2a564a-f0f1-4b82-9c61-b7520bfcd09f.inv)
2007-03-16T16:25:46Z INFO: unable to load inventory from: /home/nick/.secondlife/cache/ba2a564a-f0f1-4b82-9c61-b7520bfcd09f.inv
2007-03-16T16:25:46Z INFO: Successfully loaded 0 categories and 0 items from cache.
2007-03-16T16:25:46Z INFO: LLInventoryModel::loadFromFile(/home/nick/.secondlife/cache/fe8f02ab-2eec-49b5-85d1-f094fecf4ad7.inv)
2007-03-16T16:25:46Z INFO: unable to load inventory from: /home/nick/.secondlife/cache/fe8f02ab-2eec-49b5-85d1-f094fecf4ad7.inv
2007-03-16T16:25:46Z INFO: Successfully loaded 0 categories and 0 items from cache.
2007-03-16T16:25:46Z INFO: LLInventoryModel::buildParentChildMap()
2007-03-16T16:25:46Z INFO: LLCircuit::addCircuitData for 66.150.244.151:12036
2007-03-16T16:25:46Z INFO: Gesture Manager loading 40
2007-03-16T16:25:46Z INFO: Initialization complete
2007-03-16T16:25:46Z INFO: Preloading images...
2007-03-16T16:25:47Z INFO: Decoded 9 msgs this frame!
2007-03-16T16:25:47Z INFO: LLHTTPRegistrar::buildAllServices adding node for path /message/<message-name>
2007-03-16T16:25:47Z INFO: LLEventPoll::Impl::start <1> https://sim827.agni.lindenlab.com:12043/cap/8fc94a57-cd95-2e8c-0685-cf5272f360ca
2007-03-16T16:25:47Z INFO: BaseCapabilitiesComplete::result got capability for EventQueueGet
2007-03-16T16:25:47Z INFO: BaseCapabilitiesComplete::result got capability for MapLayer
2007-03-16T16:25:47Z INFO: BaseCapabilitiesComplete::result got capability for MapLayerGod
2007-03-16T16:25:47Z INFO: money, credit, committed: 12677 512 0
2007-03-16T16:25:47Z INFO: LLMuteList::processMuteListUpdate()
2007-03-16T16:25:47Z INFO: Requesting xfer from 66.150.244.72:12035 for file: /home/nick/.secondlife/cache/mute_fe8f02ab-2eec-49b5-85d1-f094fecf4ad7.tmp
2007-03-16T16:25:47Z INFO: TAT: Sent AgentSetAppearance: HEAD UPPER LOWER EYES
2007-03-16T16:25:47Z INFO: TAT: Sending cached texture data
2007-03-16T16:25:47Z INFO: Clearing Static Textures  Raw:0KB GL:48KB TGA:0KB
2007-03-16T16:25:47Z INFO: xfer from 66.150.244.72:12035 complete: /home/nick/.secondlife/cache/mute_fe8f02ab-2eec-49b5-85d1-f094fecf4ad7.tmp
2007-03-16T16:25:47Z INFO: LLMuteList::processMuteListFile()
2007-03-16T16:25:52Z WARNING: *** Caught signal 11

K1ll3rBunny, are you submitting crash reports when the crash-logger asks? This secondlife.log isn't showing anything particularly useful so I went looking for your automated stack-trace in the database, but couldn't find it.

I suspect that this could be an audio-related crash - try editing the 'secondlife' script and uncommenting all of the setenvs relating to 'BAD' audio drivers.

Even though i just replied on the test thread I still couldnt reply to this one! Tryng a different machine...

Hey, thanks for picking htis up again Tofu! I've just sent 2 crash reports, let me know if you dont get them. I also commented out the setenvs before trying it and consequently sending the crash reports (it didnt work..)

MUST be something todo with code. I was trying to paste a bunch of it. Tofu, you can see my pasted code here: http://clickinfluence.com/reply.txt

thanks again for the help!

Thanks for submitting the crash reports!
The crash-trace suggests a bug (or possibly a misconfiguration) in the ATI GL drivers.

Out of interest, please post the result of running:
df /dev/shm/

Sure, and FWIW I did find that I didnt even have an shm entry in /etc/fstab when setting fglrx up so only recently created it...

nick@home:~ > df /dev/shm/
Filesystem           1K-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
tmpfs                  1037564        20   1037544   1% /dev/shm
nick@home:~ > 

One thing I just discoverd which may help: If i run ./secondlife as ROOT, it doesnt even show the login screen before crashing. It crashes waaaay earlier..

This would seem significant, but I can't work it out myself..