Black screen after 14.04 upgrade

odjb · 08-15-2014, 08:26 AM

Hi,

I upgraded from 12.04 to 14.04. Now, when I boot, I get an empty black screen. I can still access console via ctrl-alt-Fx.

Here are some issues I tried with no success :

Code:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo dpkg-reconfigure -a

I also tried failsafex in recovery mode with the same result.

The ouput of 2 commands :

Code:

lspci | grep "VGA"
05:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] RV710 [Radeon HD 4350/4550]

dpkg -l | grep "ATI"
ii  fglrx-modaliases                                            2:8.723.1-0ubuntu6                                  amd64        Identifiers supported by the ATI graphics driver
ii  radeontool                                                  1.6.3-1                                             amd64        utility to control ATI Radeon backlight functions on laptops
ii  xserver-xorg-video-ati                                      1:7.3.0-1ubuntu3.1                                  amd64        X.Org X server -- AMD/ATI display driver wrapper
ii  xserver-xorg-video-mach64                                   6.9.4-1build1                                       amd64        X.Org X server -- ATI Mach64 display driver
ii  xserver-xorg-video-r128                                     6.9.2-1build1                                       amd64        X.Org X server -- ATI r128 display driver
ii  xserver-xorg-video-radeon                                   1:7.3.0-1ubuntu3.1                                  amd64        X.Org X server -- AMD/ATI Radeon display driver

I didn't find messages in dmesg that could help.

Any idea ?

Steve R. · 08-15-2014, 09:53 AM

I had this issue with a prior release of Ubuntu. One difference is that I have an Nvidia video card instead of a Radeon video card.
The fix, for me, was to aggressively purge all the Nvidia related software, then reboot.
You may also consider removing the Radeon card and getting the monitor to function from the on-board video before (after having removing the Radeon software) re-inserting the Radeon card.

odjb · 08-15-2014, 11:46 AM

I removed the ATI driver but it's the same behaviour. Anyone knows how to diagnose this problem ?

odjb · 08-15-2014, 11:50 AM

PS : I did :

Quote:

sudo apt-get --purge remove fglrx-modaliases

odjb · 08-15-2014, 11:52 AM

To Steve : I can't remove the card as there is no onboard video.

Steve R. · 08-15-2014, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odjb

To Steve : I can't remove the card as there is no onboard video.

Bummer. I don't know if I can be of much help, since I have an Nvidia set-up. I had previously used Jockey as a video card driver tool.
Evidently it has been replaced. What has Jockey been replaced with in 14.04?

How do you use ubuntu-drivers-common or software-properties in the command line to change graphics drivers?

The links below may or may not help:

Reset Unity & Compiz in Ubuntu 14.04, 13.10 or 13.04
Reset Unity and Gnome to default values [duplicate]

odjb · 08-24-2014, 11:17 AM

Well, I tried to reset Unity and Gnome : the same.
I made fresh new install of 14.04 from a USB key : always the same.
When I boot 14.04 and choose "Try Ubuntu", the display is ok.

Attached is the log of "startx"
startx.txt
I tried removing gnome then reinstalling : nothing.
I don't know at what moment it happened but now, when I launch "startx", I get another log, see next attachment.
startx2.txt
I tried to find differences in the Xorg.0.log when it works and when it doesn't. When it works, I see lines about RADEON, when it doesn't, I don't see them. Apart from that, nothing. See next attachment for the faulty log.
Attachment 16208
I really don't know what to do now. The only thing I'm sure of is that my video card works.

odjb · 09-01-2014, 03:03 AM

My system works now. I first tried to install 14.04 side by side with the one already there but the problem was still present. I finally made a backup of my disk and a complete install and it worked.
I still don't know what was the problem. Now, I just have to reinstall my apps.