Comment 35 for bug 173418

brian@brian-laptop:~$ lspci -nn | grep VGA
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: nVidia Corporation NV31M [GeForce FX Go5600] [10de:031a] (rev a1)
brian@brian-laptop:~$

What works for me is the following:

sudo cp a 'working' xorg.conf (see example that worked for me attached)
then DO NOT REBOOT OR RESTART

instead

sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

This will backup your xorg and install a 'fresh' version like here:

# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
 Driver "kbd"
 Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
 Option "XkbModel" "pc102"
 Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Configured Mouse"
 Driver "mouse"
 Option "CorePointer"
 Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
 Driver "synaptics"
 Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
 Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
 Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
 Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Default Screen"
 Monitor "Configured Monitor"
 Device "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
 Identifier "Default Layout"
 Screen "Default Screen"
 InputDevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection

Seems though that somehow the previous xorg content is saved somewhere because when I reboot it loads up fine.

Logically thinking, maybe just adding a single section into the 'fresh' xorg.conf, and running sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg might also work, but haven't tried yet.

Won't solve the compiz problems though.. still can't activate effects here.