No GUI after installing drivers for new video card

KKMC · 04-07-2020, 04:08 PM

I am going around in circles trying to get a Geforce 210 video card to work, and would appreciate any help.
I have searched and searched, and just keep ending up in the same place.
I am not a Linux master, but I do okay (apparently not well enough).

I need this so I can run two monitors in order to work from home (covid-19 policy at work).
Please let me know what you need from me beyond the info below.

Dell Inspiron 530.
Has integrated video for one monitor (won't do 2560x1440 but works)
Installed EVGA NVIDIA Geforce 210
Fresh (today) load of Mint 19.3 MATE
Installed drivers using "driver manager." I believe it was the 340.108 version from NVIDIA.
Have installed drivers using command line.
Get to where the login screen should appear and just get a black screen with a blinking cursor in the upper left.
I had the same problem when I was running Mint 17.3.

lspci gives:
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 82G33/G31/P35/P31 Express DRAM Controller (rev 02)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82G33/G31/P35/P31 Express PCI Express Root Port (rev 02)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 82G33/G31 Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 02)
00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82562V-2 10/100 Network Connection (rev 02)
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1a.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 02)
00:1a.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #6 (rev 02)
00:1a.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge (rev 92)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801IR (ICH9R) LPC Interface Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801IR/IO/IH (ICH9R/DO/DH) 4 port SATA Controller [IDE mode] (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.5 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) 2 port SATA Controller [IDE mode] (rev 02)
02:00.0 Communication controller: Conexant Systems, Inc. HSF 56k Data/Fax Modem

uname -r gives:
5.3.0-46-generic

The lspci command above was run while video was connected to integrated video.

THANKS in advance. This really means a lot to my ability to work efficiently from home.

mrmazda · 04-07-2020, 04:35 PM

Are you trying to employ both the onboard IGP as well as the GeForce? It's possible that configuration is not supported by the PC BIOS.

Why did you think you needed to "install drivers", or employ Mint's broken "driver manager"? The "manager" makes no apparent attempt to take into account the default DDX X driver, which is perfectly capable of supporting two displays for work at home duty, e.g.:

Code:

# inxi -SGMxxza
System:    Kernel: 4.19.0-8-amd64 x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 8.3.0
           parameters: ro root=LABEL=fubarbaz noresume mitigations=auto consoleblank=0 plymouth.enable=0 
           Desktop: Trinity R14.0.7 tk: Qt 3.5.0 info: kicker wm: Twin 3.0 dm: TDM Distro: Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster)
Machine:   Type: Desktop System: HP-Pavilion product: RX900AA-ABA a6010n v: N/A serial: <filter> Chassis: Hewlett-Packard
           type: 3 v: 1111 serial: N/A
           Mobo: ASUSTek model: LEONITE v: 5.00 serial: <filter> BIOS: Phoenix v: 5.10 date: 01/30/2007
Graphics:  Device-1: NVIDIA GT218 [GeForce 210] vendor: eVga.com. driver: nouveau v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.0 chip ID: 10de:0a65
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.4 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa
           resolution: 2560x1440~60Hz, 1920x1200~60Hz
           OpenGL: renderer: NVA8 v: 3.3 Mesa 18.3.6 direct render: Yes
# xrandr | egrep 'onnect|creen|\*' | grep -v disconn | sort -r
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 4480 x 1440, maximum 8192 x 8192
HDMI-1 connected 1920x1200+2560+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 519mm x 324mm
DVI-I-1 connected primary 2560x1440+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 598mm x 336mm
   2560x1440     59.95*+
   1920x1200     59.95*+

Note this is apparently the very same GeForce as yours. Debian is the foundation on which Ubuntu and consequently Mint is based, so there should be no difference in graphics support between my Debian and your Mint.

IOW, you should have no need for driver manager, xserver-xorg-video-nouveau, or any version of proprietary NVidia drivers.

KKMC · 04-07-2020, 04:46 PM

No, I only want to use the geforce 210.
The default drivers did not seem to offer the resolution I am after.
I did not know driver manager is "broken."
I interpret your post to indicate that there is a default driver that should work, even with the resolution I need.

I don't understand this well enough, obviously. How do I get to what is indicated below for the same video card?

And, I see, now, that I need to post more info. I'll get that.

Thanks

mrmazda · 04-07-2020, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KKMC

How do I get to what is indicated below for the same video card?

I believe the only support for 2560x1440 with this GPU is by using a dual-link DVI cable.

KKMC · 04-07-2020, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmazda

I believe the only support for 2560x1440 with this GPU is by using a dual-link DVI cable.

Well, that is not ideal. The larger of my two monitors has VGA, HDMI, and display port.
I read that the DP might support 2560x1440. I'll have to get a cable to try it. Without the NVIDIA drivers, how can I get whatever the max resolution is out of this card?
Thanks again.

mrmazda · 04-07-2020, 08:23 PM

My 2560x1440 has no VGA port, so I can't verify lack of support for more than 1920x1080. With HDMI instead of DVI from the GeForce 210, 1920x1080 occurs on the ttys, and starting X produces "input not supported" on an otherwise black screen, unless something is done to force 60Hz refresh. e.g.

Code:

xrandr --output HDMI-1 --mode 1920x1080 --rate 60

in a startup script.

Brains · 04-09-2020, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KKMC

lspci gives:
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 82G33/G31/P35/P31 Express DRAM Controller (rev 02)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82G33/G31/P35/P31 Express PCI Express Root Port (rev 02)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 82G33/G31 Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 02)
00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82562V-2 10/100 Network Connection (rev 02)
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1a.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 02)
00:1a.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #6 (rev 02)
00:1a.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge (rev 92)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801IR (ICH9R) LPC Interface Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801IR/IO/IH (ICH9R/DO/DH) 4 port SATA Controller [IDE mode] (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.5 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) 2 port SATA Controller [IDE mode] (rev 02)
02:00.0 Communication controller: Conexant Systems, Inc. HSF 56k Data/Fax Modem

Seeing how the Nvidia graphics don't show up in the lspci output above......
If it's anything like my old Dell desktop, you need to go into BIOS (Computer) settings and switch from on-board graphics to PCI-Express graphics. When you first boot the computer, as soon as the Dell logo appears, hit the F2 key to go into BIOS settings. Scroll down to "Video/primary video" and hit enter, use arrow key to highlight "PEG" , then hit enter, then escape key and select "Save settings and exit"

KKMC · 04-09-2020, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brains

Seeing how the Nvidia graphics don't show up in the lspci output above......
If it's anything like my old Dell desktop, you need to go into BIOS (Computer) settings and switch from on-board graphics to PCI-Express graphics. When you first boot the computer, as soon as the Dell logo appears, hit the F2 key to go into BIOS settings. Scroll down to "Video/primary video" and hit enter, use arrow key to highlight "PEG" , then hit enter, then escape key and select "Save settings and exit"

Thanks Brains. I did, previously, go into BIOS. I can't disable the integrated video, but I can tell it to look for PCIE first. It may be that it didn't show in lspci because I had booted with VGA connected to the integrated video. I'll see if I can get to a prompt after trying to boot with connection to the video card to run lspci.

KKMC · 04-09-2020, 07:38 AM

I had a change of plan. I loaded Mint again, but without using the integrated card. I had to do it with compatibility mode from the boot disk. Now, to get to a GUI I have to boot to recovery mode.
When I loaded the OS, I chose to NOT load proprietary drivers.
So, I believe I have a "clean" installation. Can anyone offer pointers on how to get this geforce 210 card working correctly? I'll worry about resolution later, if that makes sense. Right now I'd just like Lunix to work with this card.

Thanks

mrmazda · 04-09-2020, 11:02 AM

Showing us Xorg.#.log by pastebinning would be a start. Find it in /var/log/ or ~/.local/share/xorg/. If both exist, show either the newer or both. Without a dual-link DVI connection, not likely you'll get 2560x1440 though. 1920x1200 would be the HDMI limit. VGA might work, but if so, with sub-optimal overall quality.

KKMC · 04-09-2020, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmazda

Showing us Xorg.#.log by pastebinning would be a start. Find it in /var/log/ or ~/.local/share/xorg/. If both exist, show either the newer or both. Without a dual-link DVI connection, not likely you'll get 2560x1440 though. 1920x1200 would be the HDMI limit. VGA might work, but if so, with sub-optimal overall quality.

I have not used pastebin, so hopefully this works.
From var/log: https://pastebin.com/BQiLrsAv

I did not see an Xorg folder in the other location.

mrmazda · 04-09-2020, 12:03 PM

That worked, but from a recovery boot it's unhelpful. Please try once a normal boot. Then reboot with recovery Grub selection, and instead of Xorg.0.log, pastebin Xorg.0.log.old to show us what happens when you try a normal boot.

KKMC · 04-09-2020, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmazda

That worked, but from a recovery boot it's unhelpful. Please try once a normal boot. Then reboot with recovery Grub selection, and instead of Xorg.0.log, pastebin Xorg.0.log.old to show us what happens when you try a normal boot.

Here you go. https://pastebin.com/9gWMV0Jh

mrmazda · 04-09-2020, 12:51 PM

Everything about X looks normal via VGA connector. If you're seeing a normally functioning 1920x1080 Mate desktop, that's as much as you can expect using a 16:9 screen from that GPU model, unless connected using dual-link DVI.

KKMC · 04-09-2020, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmazda

Everything about X looks normal via VGA connector. If you're seeing a normally functioning 1920x1080 Mate desktop, that's as much as you can expect using a 16:9 screen from that GPU model, unless connected using dual-link DVI.

Thanks for reviewing that information. I am not getting any GUI at all, or even a login prompt. I even tried crtl+alt+F# to get to the command line, but that didn't work. The screen is plain black.