Xubuntu 18.04 will not boot, problem with Radeon HD3200?

erraticassassin · 05-24-2019, 08:11 AM

Afternoon all,

I've recently acquired a Lenovo X100E to use as a low-power back-up laptop. I've installed Xubuntu 18.04 from DVD with no problems, run a software update.... and now it won't boot. :|

More specifically, it will boot, to the point where I can see GRUB, but thereafter I just get a blank screen. Holding down the power button to force a restart triggers a message along the lines of:

Code:

radeon 0000:03:00.0: ring 0 stalled for more than Xmsec

I can boot to a desktop by adding

Code:

radeon.modeset=0

to the kernel boot options in GRUB to disable the Radeon, but the default resolution of 1024x768 doesn't match the aspect ratio of the screen so I end up with an elongated/distorted display.

Any suggestions? It feels like there was something in the last batch of updates which has caused the problem as the graphics worked fine when installing, and up to the point of rebooting after the updates.

mrmazda · 05-25-2019, 12:02 AM

radeon.modeset=0 is a troubleshooting parameter that usually enables configuration repair to be performed. It cripples normal video performance.

You should have in your grub menu a selection for the previous kernel. Using it do you get the same black screen response?

If instead of radeon.modeset=0 you append plymouth.enable=0 and/or remove splash=silent, does the screen still turn black and stay that way?

erraticassassin · 05-25-2019, 06:00 AM

There are two kernel options listed in GRUB - 4.18.0-20 and 4.18.0-15. I've tried booting using both; same blank screen results from both. Likewise adding the 'plymouth.enable' and removing 'quiet splash' from the boot options.

At this point I'm considering reinstalling (again) and going through the suggested update packages one at a time until I find out what's borked everything.

colorpurple21859 · 05-26-2019, 06:48 AM

try

Code:

video=1366x768

or what your screen resolution is as a kernel parameter. If it works edit your /etc/default/grub and run update-grub

mrmazda · 05-26-2019, 04:41 PM

I suspect the problem is not the Radeon. I have a very similar one working nicely in 18.04.2:

Code:

inxi -GxxSM
System:    Host: fi965 Kernel: 4.4.0-148-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 5.4.0 Desktop: Trinity R14.0.6 tk: Qt 3.5.0
           wm: Twin dm: TDM Distro: Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS (Bionic Beaver)
Machine:   Type: Desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: P5B-Deluxe v: Rev 1.xx serial: MB-1234567890 BIOS: American Megatrends v: 1238
           date: 09/30/2008
Graphics:  Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] RV620 PRO [Radeon HD 3470] vendor: Dell driver: radeon v: kernel
           bus ID: 01:00.0 chip ID: 1002:95c0
           Display: server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: modesetting alternate: ati,fbdev,vesa resolution: 1920x1200~60Hz
           OpenGL: renderer: AMD RV620 (DRM 2.43.0 / 4.4.0-148-generic LLVM 7.0.0) v: 3.3 Mesa 18.2.8 compat-v: 3.0
           direct render: Yes

Please do:

Code:

pastebinit /var/log/Xorg.0.log

and post the URL it provides here, along with pasting output from inxi -GxxSM as I just did here, using the [ # ] code icon above the LQ input window. You can redirect inxi to a file (command > somefilename) if it makes things easier. If the pastebinit command gives you trouble, instead goto one of the following to paste with your browser:

Code:

http://pastebin.com/
http://paste.ubuntu.com/
http://paste.debian.net/
http://susepaste.org/
http://paste.opensuse.org/
http://pastebin.centos.org/
http://paste.fedoraproject.org
https://gist.github.com/

The Xorg.0.log needs to have been generated without using nomodeset or radeon.modeset=0 to boot, so /var/log/Xorg.0.log.old might be used instead if it makes things easier for you. Xorg.0.log includes the kernel cmdline from the boot from which the log was generated.

erraticassassin · 05-28-2019, 12:29 PM

OK, the old Xorg log file is here: http://paste.ubuntu.com/p/gTXtRVcScR/ - it appears to show a bus error....

Output of inxi is:

Code:

System:    Host: *********** Kernel: 4.18.0-20-generic x86_64
           bits: 64 gcc: 7.3.0
           Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3 (Gtk 2.24.31) dm: lightdm
           Distro: Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS
Machine:   Device: laptop System: LENOVO product: 28762FG v: ThinkPad X100e serial: N/A
           Mobo: LENOVO model: 28762FG serial: N/A
           BIOS: LENOVO v: 6XET50WW (1.33 ) date: 03/14/2012
           Chassis: type: 10 serial: N/A
Graphics:  Card: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] RS780M [Mobility Radeon HD 3200]
           bus-ID: 01:05.0 chip-ID: 1002:9612
           Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.20.1 )
           drivers: fbdev,ati (unloaded: modesetting,vesa,radeon)
           Resolution: 1024x768@76.00hz
           OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 7.0, 128 bits)
           version: 3.3 Mesa 18.2.8 (compat-v: 3.1) Direct Render: Yes

mrmazda · 05-28-2019, 06:50 PM

That log, which shows a crash that seems inexplicably to involve NVidia hardware (nouveau_drm_screen_create), suggests to me multiple alternative things to try, starting with easiest:

1-use the E key at the grub menu default selection, and remove vt.handoff=1 or change 1 to 0, then proceed with boot

2-"sudo apt purge xserver-xorg-video-radeon", then reboot

3-show that log on the xorg@lists.x.org mailing list and ask why it looks like nouveau is getting involved with your radeon, which only just started happening after some updates

erraticassassin · 05-29-2019, 01:09 PM

Hm. The vt.handoff parameter didn't seem to have any effect, so I tried option 2; apparently, that radeon package wasn't installed! I tried to install it via apt, to be told that there were unsatisfied dependencies, one being xorg-video-abi-23 and the other being xorg-core, I think (sorry - didn't write down the specifics!). I installed the first of those successfully, which also seem to take care of the second, so installed the radeon package & rebooted. Success, of a sort! I can now boot to the login screen, in the correct resolution... but the GUI refuses to response to trackpad, trackpoint or keyboard.