I am a newcomer to Linux (via Raspberry Pi) and am installing Debian buster as the sole OS to a new Novatech laptop (amd64 architecture) with Intel UHD Graphics 620. On boot up, the system goes to a blank screen with a flashing cursor. I eventually discovered that the system must have booted but hanging on the GUI, as Alt-F2 or similar works to change to a console. On running startx from the console the message "Cannot run in framebuffer mode. Please specify busID" is displayed. Looking around on the internet suggests that the Linux drivers for Intel UHD Graphics 620 may be missing / faulty. What's my next step?

Install the firmware. You can do it from the console, using apt. There are several firmware packages available, and I would probably install firmware-misc-nonfree, firmware-linux, firmware-linux-free, firmware-linux-nonfree, amd64-microcode, and intel-microcode. You may not need all of them, but having them won't hurt. If those don't work, you may need a newer kernel. You can get a 5-series kernel and associated firmware from the buster-backports repository. The latest Intel CPUs won't run on 4-series kernels, and your laptop might not, but I can't say one way or the other.

1 members found this post helpful.

Unsuccessful, I'm afraid, though not conclusive. The intel-microcode package failed to install; there was an unmet dependency on " iucode-tool (>=1.0) but it is not installable ". No reason given. Thanks anyway for your response.

When you get a dependency problem, it is often possible to use to bring in the dependencies. Aptitude also has better tools for installing than apt, so running aptitude may help.

Intel UHD Graphics 620 doesn't require anything not automatically installed with the default DE. Intel HD Graphics 630 works fine using upstream X defaults on Buster with Trinity Desktop Environment here. UHD 620 shouldn't be any different, unless an NVidia or AMD GPU are also present.

Try as a test appending plymouth=0 or noplymouth or plymouth.enable=0 to the end of the linux line by striking the "e" key at the Grub menu, or uninstalling Plymouth entirely (sudo apt purge plymouth). It's not unusual for Plymouth to result in a black screen instead of a login greeter.

Visit this primer for a short course in X graphics drivers.

/var/log/Xorg.0.log and/or ~/.local/share/xorg/Xorg.0.log are generated when X starts. Clues to solving black screens are often contained therein. If you don't recognize any yourself, upload to http://pastebin.com/ or equivalent so that we can take a look and suggest what next to try.

I've been away for a couple of days, hence the slow reply.
sgosnell 09-27-20 06:27 PM - tried to repair broken install as suggested, but didn't work. Thanks, anyway.
mrmazda 09-29-20 09:20 AM - disabled plymouth in the grub file and also using apt purge. Neither fixed it. I have now uploaded the /var/log/Xorg.0.log to http://pastebin. My user name is EuanT. I hadn't used this service before, so if I've screwed up and you can't see it let me know. I initially tried using the curl command on the CLI; it appeared to do something but I don't know what. I finally got the file off the machine and pasted it in via another computer. The log file is definitely reporting missing files like /dev/dri/card0 and there are several lines with EE codes, but I am not clear what is missing. I read the graphics drivers primer, quite interesting, and it looks from the log file as if it is trying to use modesetting. I hope it makes sense to you. Many thanks for your time.

When you use pastebin.com to upload it gives you a URL to your upload which you must share here. The link provided in post #6 is invalid. Your user name there doesn't help us. Here is a list of alternative upload locations to try if you can't get pastebin.com to work.

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

We need more information about that device.
The Xorg log would surely help, but also things like
and a better device description (link with specs).

To mrmazda: Thanks for your helpful response (#7). The URL is https://pastebin.com/dpxqCNpE. I tried this out from another computer and it found it OK. Have also uploaded lspci -k output (see below).

To ondoho.I'll try & look some hardware specs and get back. Meantime,I have pasted lspci -k output at https://pastebin.com/Kjaa7VDH. Thanks.

To ondoho: Thanks for your time and interest

lspci -k output @ https://pastebin.com/Kjaa7VDH

Machine spec:
NOVATECH NNB-C80 / I5-10210U 8GB RAM / 480 GB SSD
Size : 15.6”
Resolution : 1920x1080
Description : 15.6”(35.62cm) FHD(1920x1080) 16:9 panel, 3.2mm
Processor
Description : Intel® Core i5-10210U Processor up to 4.20GHz
Cache : 6 MB Intel® Smart Cache
Clockspeed : Processor Base Frequency 1.60 GHz, Max Turbo Frequency 4.20 GHz
No. of Cores : 4
Memory
Description : 8GB DDR4 2666MHz Memory
Speed : 2666
GB : 4
Hard drive
Description : 480GB NVME M.2 Solid State Drive
Graphics Description : Intel® HD Graphics 620
Chassis
Description : Novatech 15.6" nSpire Laptop Chassis
Audio In :
1 x 2-in-1 Audio jack (Headphone / Microphone), Built in array microphone
Audio Out :
1 x 2-in-1 Audio jack (Headphone / Microphone)
Bluetooth : 5
External Monitor : 1 x HDMI output port (with HDCP)
Graphics : Intel® UHD Graphics 620
Battery : Embedded 4 cells Smart Lithium-Ion battery pack, 36WH
Memory Capacity : Two 260 pins SODIMM sockets, support DDR4 2666MHz (Real operation frequency depends on processor)
Memory Slots : Expandable memory up to 32GB, depends on 4GB/8GB/16GB SODIMM Module
LAN : Built in 10/100/1000Mb Base-TX Ethernet LAN
OS Compliance : Windows 10 (64-bit)
Sound : High Definition Audio
Speakers : Built in two speakers
TV Out : 1 x HDMI output port (with HDCP)
USB : 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 port (Type A) , 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 port (Type C) , 1 x USB 2.0 (Type A)
Webcam : 1.0M HD video camera
Card Reader : MicroSD Card reader
Wireless : Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 9462, 1x1 AC + BT M.2 2230 (Jefferson Peak 1)
TPM module : TPM 2.0

The 10th gen CPUs from Intel need the newer 5-series kernels. You need to install the latest kernel from Buster backports in order to get the graphic desktop to run, as well as the firmware for it. You can install those from the recovery tty. My 10th gen NUC would not boot to a console until I installed those.

Re #11. Should've tried going Linux on an old computer first! I can't face doing a kernel upgrade now, it's nearly midnight here. I'll have a look tomorrow. Are these kernels stable? As a relative novice, I don't want to have to debug the kernel as well as all the other crap. Thanks for the info. Cheers.

Yes, anything in the Buster backports is stable, or it wouldn't be there.

Do not confuse stable/unstable with reliable/unreliable. Debian Stable means it doesn't change. There will be no new packages, including kernels, in the repository until a new version is released. Thus the need for backports, to allow for necessary packages to support newer hardware that wasn't in use when the freeze for the current stable version started. Debian Unstable, OTOH, has new packages almost every day. It's mostly reliable, but has the occasional glitch for a day or so. It's reliable enough that Ubuntu is based on it, and thus all the smaller distros that are based on Ubuntu. But the short answer to your question is yes, the 5.7 kernel in backports will work immediately, as long as it has the matching firmware installed. That firmware is also in the backports repository. Install all of it at the same time, from a terminal, and you should be able to boot into a graphical desktop immediately.

linux OSes had a history of saying they supported Intel, damaging what support Intel willingly provided, to promote (probably nVidia sales). because (ubuntu) supports non-usa products primarily (ie, ARM and google huawei), and video libraries are "competitive information", you may not find "just works" driver support for intel. so, even when some intel mobile chip in the past worked - people had problems getting it to work and bugs when using it - and it was not intel's doing (that's history maybe not present).

I hope it works for you, but if I were you I'd find people who use hd620 who have it working with same OS your using and ask them. i would listen to nor talk to anyone who "says it is supposed to work".

i will say "nVidia works", but there is a reason behind that, which i won't discuss further

i will hint "where is the Intel pad/laptop with cell calling support?", oh? there in none (without hard to find upgrades also not avail on linux) - but google pads do. there is a hint. if i say more i'll get booted off the forum.

History maybe, but not current. Intel has been paying employees to write code for the Intel kernel drivers, xf86-video-intel (which provides the Intel DDX driver, which many distros, including Debian and all its derivatives, and Fedora, rename; and which hasn't had an official release in over 6 years due to the upstream preference for using the newer technology Modesetting DDX driver included in the X server package), and more, for at least seven years.