I have a computer with the "Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09)".

When I boot this system, the display turns black/blank when it is roughly half-way done. The display remains blank indefinitely. The only way to make the display come to life is to start X.

I have taken a torch to the display and looked at different angles to try determine if the backlight is not turned on but the display is turned on -- it is not. I cannot see anything and the display itself appears to be turned off.

I use a custom kernel compiled with KMS support. I have to use KMS to get X to start, but when I use KMS, I get this problem with the display being blank during most of the booting. Why is this? I have spent the last 12 hours trying various kernel configurations and tricks but I cannot make it work.

Interestingly if I start X, then switch back to a console terminal it works perfectly fine and remains working.

Had a similar issue, probably due to a kernel bug (see links below for details).
Either of the following worked on my laptop:
-Using the laptop's brightness control to restore (Fn + F3 keys)
-Adding this kernel parameter: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...3-37-a-882680/

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...tartup-892419/

Thanks but this does not yield any different results.

I have tried both with the argument (acpi_backlight=vendor) to the kernel and by using the Fn keys to manipulate the backlight. Once I'm inside X I can adjust the backlight, but in the console the display remains turned off.

I don't use the stock kernel, I use a custom 3.1.6 kernel I configured for this particular machine. I have also upgraded the BIOS to the latest version for the laptop (Asus X53SV) however that didn't do anything.