There are two kernel drivers for NVidia. There are three competent X drivers (DDX) for NVidia: modesetting, nouveau, and proprietary. Post #13 makes it quite clear a competent X driver was not then in use. Instead, a limited functionality fallback driver, FBDEV, was there in use.

It's hard to say what happened here, but what I'm guessing is that before the upgrade the proprietary driver was in use, and that upgrading kernel to 5.3 broke it. If /etc/X11/xorg.conf or files in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ exist addressing X configuration, they were virtually certain to have been put there by NVidia driver installation. When present, they usually destroy automagic configuration for the FOSS drivers, which would be why a fallback to FBDEV or worse occurred.

Remnants of that driver installation probably need to be purged before this can be sorted out, unless simply installing that same proprietary driver, after reverting to the 5.0 kernel, will do the job. If an NVidia driver exists for wherever that 5.3 kernel came from, then installing it might be enough to clean this up.

1 members found this post helpful.

Those are supposed to be 2 separate commands.
Try again?
You can also just open /var/log/Xorg.0.log in a text editor and copy-paste it here, because we need to see all of it and not just the last lines you see in your terminal.

1 members found this post helpful.

I hesitate to say 'asked for it' but as I have little else to contribute at this stage of my linux learning I hope this will help someone in working out what is 'buggy' with kernel 5.3.0.
And I would rather fix the problem than revert and work around it. So here is the excessively long output of the 2 separate commands (thanks again people, much appreciated):

nina@tiggerbox:~$ lspci -k | grep -iEA5 'vag|3d|display'
nina@tiggerbox:~$ cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log
[ 110.046]
X.Org X Server 1.19.6
Release Date: 2017-12-20
[ 110.046] X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
[ 110.046] Build Operating System: Linux 4.4.0-148-generic x86_64 Ubuntu
[ 110.046] Current Operating System: Linux tiggerbox 5.3.0-26-generic #28~18.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Wed Dec 18 16:40:14 UTC 2019 x86_64
[ 110.046] Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.3.0-26-generic root=UUID=3bbafe21-87bf-4c14-8b74-f7fac21909ce ro quiet splash vt.handoff=1
[ 110.046] Build Date: 03 June 2019 08:10:35AM
[ 110.046] xorg-server 2:1.19.6-1ubuntu4.3 (For technical support please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support)
[ 110.046] Current version of pixman: 0.34.0
[ 110.046] Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
[ 110.046] Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[ 110.046] (==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Sat Jan 25 18:42:09 2020
[ 110.136] (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
[ 110.137] (==) No Layout section. Using the first Screen section.
[ 110.137] (==) No screen section available. Using defaults.
[ 110.137] (**) |-->Screen "Default Screen Section" (0)
[ 110.137] (**) | |-->Monitor "<default monitor>"
[ 110.137] (==) No monitor specified for screen "Default Screen Section".
Using a default monitor configuration.
[ 110.137] (==) Automatically adding devices
[ 110.137] (==) Automatically enabling devices
[ 110.137] (==) Automatically adding GPU devices
[ 110.137] (==) Automatically binding GPU devices
[ 110.137] (==) Max clients allowed: 256, resource mask: 0x1fffff
[ 110.137] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist.
[ 110.137] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 110.137] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/" does not exist.
[ 110.137] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 110.137] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/" does not exist.
[ 110.137] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 110.137] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi" does not exist.
[ 110.137] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 110.137] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi" does not exist.
[ 110.137] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 110.137] (==) FontPath set to:
/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1,
built-ins
[ 110.137] (==) ModulePath set to "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
[ 110.137] (II) The server relies on udev to provide the list of input devices.
If no devices become available, reconfigure udev or disable AutoAddDevices.
[ 110.137] (II) Loader magic: 0x556ef29c9020
[ 110.137] (II) Module ABI versions:
[ 110.137] X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
[ 110.137] X.Org Video Driver: 23.0
[ 110.137] X.Org XInput driver : 24.1
[ 110.137] X.Org Server Extension : 10.0
[ 110.138] (++) using VT number 7

[ 110.138] (II) systemd-logind: logind integration requires -keeptty and -keeptty was not provided, disabling logind integration
[ 110.142] (--) PCI:*(0:1:0:0) 10de:0f00:10de:098f rev 161, Mem @ 0xf6000000/16777216, 0xe8000000/134217728, 0xf0000000/33554432, I/O @ 0x0000e000/128, BIOS @ 0x????????/131072
[ 110.142] (II) LoadModule: "glx"
[ 110.215] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libglx.so
[ 110.340] (II) Module glx: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 110.341] compiled for 1.19.6, module version = 1.0.0
[ 110.341] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 10.0
[ 110.341] (==) Matched nouveau as autoconfigured driver 0
[ 110.341] (==) Matched modesetting as autoconfigured driver 1
[ 110.341] (==) Matched fbdev as autoconfigured driver 2
[ 110.341] (==) Matched vesa as autoconfigured driver 3
[ 110.341] (==) Assigned the driver to the xf86ConfigLayout
[ 110.341] (II) LoadModule: "nouveau"
[ 110.341] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/nouveau_drv.so
[ 110.406] (II) Module nouveau: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 110.406] compiled for 1.19.3, module version = 1.0.15
[ 110.406] Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[ 110.406] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 23.0
[ 110.406] (II) LoadModule: "modesetting"
[ 110.406] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/modesetting_drv.so
[ 110.406] (II) Module modesetting: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 110.406] compiled for 1.19.6, module version = 1.19.6
[ 110.406] Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[ 110.406] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 23.0
[ 110.406] (II) LoadModule: "fbdev"
[ 110.406] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/fbdev_drv.so
[ 110.406] (II) Module fbdev: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 110.406] compiled for 1.19.3, module version = 0.4.4
[ 110.406] Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[ 110.406] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 23.0
[ 110.406] (II) LoadModule: "vesa"
[ 110.406] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/vesa_drv.so
[ 110.406] (II) Module vesa: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 110.406] compiled for 1.19.3, module version = 2.3.4
[ 110.406] Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[ 110.406] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 23.0
[ 110.406] (II) NOUVEAU driver Date: Fri Apr 21 14:41:17 2017 -0400
[ 110.406] (II) NOUVEAU driver for NVIDIA chipset families :
[ 110.406] RIVA TNT (NV04)
[ 110.406] RIVA TNT2 (NV05)
[ 110.406] GeForce 256 (NV10)
[ 110.406] GeForce 2 (NV11, NV15)
[ 110.406] GeForce 4MX (NV17, NV18)
[ 110.406] GeForce 3 (NV20)
[ 110.406] GeForce 4Ti (NV25, NV28)
[ 110.406] GeForce FX (NV3x)
[ 110.406] GeForce 6 (NV4x)
[ 110.406] GeForce 7 (G7x)
[ 110.406] GeForce 8 (G8x)
[ 110.406] GeForce GTX 200 (NVA0)
[ 110.406] GeForce GTX 400 (NVC0)
[ 110.406] (II) modesetting: Driver for Modesetting Kernel Drivers: kms
[ 110.406] (II) FBDEV: driver for framebuffer: fbdev
[ 110.406] (II) VESA: driver for VESA chipsets: vesa
[ 110.528] (EE) [drm] Failed to open DRM device for pci:0000:01:00.0: -19
[ 110.528] (EE) open /dev/dri/card0: No such file or directory
[ 110.529] (WW) Falling back to old probe method for modesetting
[ 110.529] (EE) open /dev/dri/card0: No such file or directory
[ 110.529] (II) Loading sub module "fbdevhw"
[ 110.529] (II) LoadModule: "fbdevhw"
[ 110.529] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libfbdevhw.so
[ 110.529] (II) Module fbdevhw: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 110.529] compiled for 1.19.6, module version = 0.0.2
[ 110.529] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 23.0
[ 110.529] (**) FBDEV(1): claimed PCI slot 1@0:0:0
[ 110.529] (II) FBDEV(1): using default device
[ 110.529] (WW) Falling back to old probe method for vesa
[ 110.529] (EE) Screen 0 deleted because of no matching config section.
[ 110.529] (II) UnloadModule: "modesetting"
[ 110.529] (II) FBDEV(0): Creating default Display subsection in Screen section
"Default Screen Section" for depth/fbbpp 24/32
[ 110.529] (==) FBDEV(0): Depth 24, (==) framebuffer bpp 32
[ 110.529] (==) FBDEV(0): RGB weight 888
[ 110.529] (==) FBDEV(0): Default visual is TrueColor
[ 110.529] (==) FBDEV(0): Using gamma correction (1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
[ 110.529] (II) FBDEV(0): hardware: VESA VGA (video memory: 1216kB)
[ 110.529] (II) FBDEV(0): checking modes against framebuffer device...
[ 110.529] (II) FBDEV(0): checking modes against monitor...
[ 110.529] (--) FBDEV(0): Virtual size is 640x480 (pitch 640)
[ 110.529] (**) FBDEV(0): Built-in mode "current": 30.7 MHz, 36.9 kHz, 73.3 Hz
[ 110.529] (II) FBDEV(0): Modeline "current"x0.0 30.72 640 672 752 832 480 484 488 504 -hsync -vsync -csync (36.9 kHz b)
[ 110.529] (==) FBDEV(0): DPI set to (96, 96)
[ 110.529] (II) Loading sub module "fb"
[ 110.529] (II) LoadModule: "fb"
[ 110.529] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libfb.so
[ 110.529] (II) Module fb: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 110.529] compiled for 1.19.6, module version = 1.0.0
[ 110.530] ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4
[ 110.530] (**) FBDEV(0): using shadow framebuffer
[ 110.530] (II) Loading sub module "shadow"
[ 110.530] (II) LoadModule: "shadow"
[ 110.530] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libshadow.so
[ 110.599] (II) Module shadow: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 110.599] compiled for 1.19.6, module version = 1.1.0
[ 110.599] ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4
[ 110.599] (II) UnloadModule: "vesa"
[ 110.599] (II) Unloading vesa
[ 110.599] (==) Depth 24 pixmap format is 32 bpp
[ 110.599] (II) FBDEV(0): FBIOBLANK: Invalid argument (Screen blanking not supported by kernel - disabling)
[ 110.636] (==) FBDEV(0): Backing store enabled
[ 110.637] (==) FBDEV(0): DPMS enabled
[ 110.637] (==) RandR enabled
[ 110.683] (II) SELinux: Disabled on system
[ 110.684] (II) AIGLX: Screen 0 is not DRI2 capable
[ 110.684] (EE) AIGLX: reverting to software rendering
[ 114.779] (II) IGLX: enabled GLX_MESA_copy_sub_buffer
[ 114.781] (II) IGLX: Loaded and initialized swrast
[ 114.781] (II) GLX: Initialized DRISWRAST GL provider for screen 0
[ 114.854] (II) config/udev: Adding input device Power Button (/dev/input/event1)
[ 114.855] (**) Power Button: Applying InputClass "libinput keyboard catchall"
[ 114.855] (II) LoadModule: "libinput"
[ 114.855] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input/libinput_drv.so
[ 114.890] (II) Module libinput: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 114.890] compiled for 1.19.6, module version = 0.27.1
[ 114.890] Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
[ 114.890] ABI class: X.Org XInput driver, version 24.1
[ 114.890] (II) Using input driver 'libinput' for 'Power Button'
[ 114.890] (**) Power Button: always reports core events
[ 114.890] (**) Option "Device" "/dev/input/event1"
[ 114.890] (**) Option "_source" "server/udev"
[ 114.891] (II) event1 - Power Button: is tagged by udev as: Keyboard
[ 114.891] (II) event1 - Power Button: device is a keyboard
[ 114.891] (II) event1 - Power Button: device removed
[ 114.904] (**) Option "config_info" "udev:/sys/devices/LNXSYSTM:00/LNXPWRBN:00/input/input1/event1"
[ 114.904] (II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "Power Button" (type: KEYBOARD, id 6)
[ 114.904] (**) Option "xkb_model" "pc105"
[ 114.904] (**) Option "xkb_layout" "us"
[ 114.905] (II) event1 - Power Button: is tagged by udev as: Keyboard
[ 114.905] (II) event1 - Power Button: device is a keyboard
[ 114.906] (II) config/udev: Adding input device Power Button (/dev/input/event0)
[ 114.906] (**) Power Button: Applying InputClass "libinput keyboard catchall"
[ 114.906] (II) Using input driver 'libinput' for 'Power Button'
[ 114.906] (**) Power Button: always reports core events
[ 114.906] (**) Option "Device" "/dev/input/event0"
[ 114.906] (**) Option "_source" "server/udev"
[ 114.907] (II) event0 - Power Button: is tagged by udev as: Keyboard
[ 114.907] (II) event0 - Power Button: device is a keyboard
[ 114.907] (II) event0 - Power Button: device removed
[ 114.920] (**) Option "config_info" "udev:/sys/devices/LNXSYSTM:00/LNXSYBUS:00/PNP0C0C:00/input/input0/event0"
[ 114.920] (II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "Power Button" (type: KEYBOARD, id 7)
[ 114.920] (**) Option "xkb_model" "pc105"
[ 114.920] (**) Option "xkb_layout" "us"
[ 114.921] (II) event0 - Power Button: is tagged by udev as: Keyboard
[ 114.921] (II) event0 - Power Button: device is a keyboard
[ 114.922] (II) config/udev: Adding input device HDA NVidia HDMI/DP,pcm=3 (/dev/input/event10)
[ 114.922] (II) No input driver specified, ignoring this device.
[ 114.922] (II) This device may have been added with another device file.
[ 114.922] (II) config/udev: Adding input device HDA NVidia HDMI/DP,pcm=7 (/dev/input/event11)
[ 114.922] (II) No input driver specified, ignoring this device.
[ 114.922] (II) This device may have been added with another device file.
[ 114.923] (II) config/udev: Adding input device HDA NVidia HDMI/DP,pcm=8 (/dev/input/event12)
[ 114.923] (II) No input driver specified, ignoring this device.
[ 114.923] (II) This device may have been added with another device file.
[ 114.923] (II) config/udev: Adding input device HDA NVidia HDMI/DP,pcm=9 (/dev/input/event13)
[ 114.923] (II) No input driver specified, ignoring this device.
[ 114.923] (II) This device may have been added with another device file.
[ 114.924] (II) config/udev: Adding input device HDA Intel PCH Rear Mic (/dev/input/event5)
[ 114.924] (II) No input driver specified, ignoring this device.
[ 114.924] (II) This device may have been added with another device file.
[ 114.925] (II) config/udev: Adding input device HDA Intel PCH Front Mic (/dev/input/event6)
[ 114.925] (II) No input driver specified, ignoring this device.
[ 114.925] (II) This device may have been added with another device file.
[ 114.925] (II) config/udev: Adding input device HDA Intel PCH Line (/dev/input/event7)
[ 114.925] (II) No input driver specified, ignoring this device.
[ 114.925] (II) This device may have been added with another device file.
[ 114.926] (II) config/udev: Adding input device HDA Intel PCH Line Out (/dev/input/event8)
[ 114.926] (II) No input driver specified, ignoring this device.
[ 114.926] (II) This device may have been added with another device file.
[ 114.926] (II) config/udev: Adding input device HDA Intel PCH Front Headphone (/dev/input/event9)
[ 114.926] (II) No input driver specified, ignoring this device.
[ 114.926] (II) This device may have been added with another device file.
[ 114.927] (II) config/udev: Adding input device Logitech Optical USB Mouse (/dev/input/event3)
[ 114.927] (**) Logitech Optical USB Mouse: Applying InputClass "libinput pointer catchall"
[ 114.927] (II) Using input driver 'libinput' for 'Logitech Optical USB Mouse'
[ 114.927] (**) Logitech Optical USB Mouse: always reports core events
[ 114.927] (**) Option "Device" "/dev/input/event3"
[ 114.927] (**) Option "_source" "server/udev"
[ 114.985] (II) event3 - Logitech Optical USB Mouse: is tagged by udev as: Mouse
[ 114.985] (II) event3 - Logitech Optical USB Mouse: device set to 400 DPI
[ 114.985] (II) event3 - Logitech Optical USB Mouse: device is a pointer
[ 114.985] (II) event3 - Logitech Optical USB Mouse: device removed
[ 115.016] (**) Option "config_info" "udev:/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1/2-1.6/2-1.6:1.0/0003:046D:C016.0001/input/input3/event3"
[ 115.016] (II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "Logitech Optical USB Mouse" (type: MOUSE, id 8)
[ 115.016] (**) Option "AccelerationScheme" "none"
[ 115.016] (**) Logitech Optical USB Mouse: (accel) selected scheme none/0
[ 115.016] (**) Logitech Optical USB Mouse: (accel) acceleration factor: 2.000
[ 115.016] (**) Logitech Optical USB Mouse: (accel) acceleration threshold: 4
[ 115.077] (II) event3 - Logitech Optical USB Mouse: is tagged by udev as: Mouse
[ 115.077] (II) event3 - Logitech Optical USB Mouse: device set to 400 DPI
[ 115.077] (II) event3 - Logitech Optical USB Mouse: device is a pointer
[ 115.078] (II) config/udev: Adding input device Logitech Optical USB Mouse (/dev/input/mouse0)
[ 115.078] (II) No input driver specified, ignoring this device.
[ 115.078] (II) This device may have been added with another device file.
[ 115.078] (II) config/udev: Adding input device Eee PC WMI hotkeys (/dev/input/event4)
[ 115.078] (**) Eee PC WMI hotkeys: Applying InputClass "libinput keyboard catchall"
[ 115.078] (II) Using input driver 'libinput' for 'Eee PC WMI hotkeys'
[ 115.078] (**) Eee PC WMI hotkeys: always reports core events
[ 115.078] (**) Option "Device" "/dev/input/event4"
[ 115.078] (**) Option "_source" "server/udev"
[ 115.079] (II) event4 - Eee PC WMI hotkeys: is tagged by udev as: Keyboard
[ 115.079] (II) event4 - Eee PC WMI hotkeys: device is a keyboard
[ 115.079] (II) event4 - Eee PC WMI hotkeys: device removed
[ 115.096] (**) Option "config_info" "udev:/sys/devices/platform/eeepc-wmi/input/input4/event4"
[ 115.096] (II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "Eee PC WMI hotkeys" (type: KEYBOARD, id 9)
[ 115.096] (**) Option "xkb_model" "pc105"
[ 115.096] (**) Option "xkb_layout" "us"
[ 115.097] (II) event4 - Eee PC WMI hotkeys: is tagged by udev as: Keyboard
[ 115.097] (II) event4 - Eee PC WMI hotkeys: device is a keyboard
[ 115.098] (II) config/udev: Adding input device AT Translated Set 2 keyboard (/dev/input/event2)
[ 115.098] (**) AT Translated Set 2 keyboard: Applying InputClass "libinput keyboard catchall"
[ 115.098] (II) Using input driver 'libinput' for 'AT Translated Set 2 keyboard'
[ 115.098] (**) AT Translated Set 2 keyboard: always reports core events
[ 115.098] (**) Option "Device" "/dev/input/event2"
[ 115.098] (**) Option "_source" "server/udev"
[ 115.099] (II) event2 - AT Translated Set 2 keyboard: is tagged by udev as: Keyboard
[ 115.099] (II) event2 - AT Translated Set 2 keyboard: device is a keyboard
[ 115.099] (II) event2 - AT Translated Set 2 keyboard: device removed
[ 115.112] (**) Option "config_info" "udev:/sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/input/input2/event2"
[ 115.112] (II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "AT Translated Set 2 keyboard" (type: KEYBOARD, id 10)
[ 115.112] (**) Option "xkb_model" "pc105"
[ 115.112] (**) Option "xkb_layout" "us"
[ 115.113] (II) event2 - AT Translated Set 2 keyboard: is tagged by udev as: Keyboard
[ 115.113] (II) event2 - AT Translated Set 2 keyboard: device is a keyboard
nina@tiggerbox:~$

Extra info: yes I was running the proprietary driver (390.116-0ubuntu0.18.04.1 although part of system said yes I was and another said nope can't find anything (details in prev posts).
Also, when I power-up the following appears on the monitor: auto config please wait
(new since update) Then it loads with the hideously huge text etc.

Also: have checked my notes (of what I've done re troubleshooting), I have used Timeshift to go back several days, maybe not far enough , at any rate it hasn't fixed the problem.
I would really like to save the graphics card, if possible.
Thanx

Does this mean the output from the lspci command was null? Is that the actual command, or did you type as instructed

1 members found this post helpful.

There probably are no 5.3 kernel bugs playing any part in your plight. What appears to have happened is you installed a non-standard kernel, one which needs an upgraded tainting (NVidia proprietary) X driver that you didn't install, and may not even exist for Mint 19.3.

1. Select the prior kernel to boot from the Grub menu.
2. Once booted, uninstall the 5.3 kernel.
3. Stick with standard software packages (e.g. kernel 5.0) until you know what you are doing, and how to fix things when you break them.

The EE lines are error messages, clues to why you are having trouble.

These are initial messages reporting the use of the FBDEV driver, a crude fallback driver incapable of supporting your display's native mode or acceleration, among other shortcomings. This occurs for several reasons, most of which are because you don't have any X driver correctly installed to match the running 5.3 kernel. The mismatched NVidia driver installation prevents the two competent FOSS drivers from being used, while because of the mismatch, the installed NVidia driver won't work either.

You have several choices:

• Install an NVidia driver that matches the 5.3 kernel, if such a driver exists, or
• Purge all that remains of the installed NVidia driver, so that one of the FOSS X drivers can be used, or
• Continue using the 5.0 kernel without uninstalling the 5.3 kernel, or
• Remove the 5.3 kernel, and if necessary, reinstall the 390.116 NVidia driver.

1 members found this post helpful.

Thank you everyone for your help (sorry about the CLI typos they complicated things unnecessarily).
I saved my graphics card (as in worked out there was nothing wrong with it) by implementing the following:
1. changed to FOSS x driver
2. purged all nvidia driver related stuff

This way I stay with kernel 5.3 and can still use the Update Manager and don't have to worry about standard vs non-standard packages.
Later when I know a lot more I will get more daring but for now Mint and standard seems safest.