Problems booting ubuntu 24.04

[Jack Fearnley]

THE PROBLEM
I recently upgraded from 23.05 to 24.02 and have great difficulty booting
up. Right now the only way I can log in is to enter the second line of the
boot up screen and get 'advanced options'. Here there are four lines, the
fourth is recovery mode with kernel 31 (I think). I enter this and perform
'resume normal boot' This gives me a blank screen with a flashing cursor.
I perform 'ctrl alt F2' followed by the requested login and enter
'startx'.

If I am lucky this logs me in successfully. Otherwise it logs me into a
read only version and I have to power off and repeat the whole procedure.

I can perform 'ctrl alt F2' at other points but login and startx either
gives me a fatal error or a white screen saying something has gone wrong.

POSSIBLE RESOURCES
I have a test system on the same computer and I had no trouble upgrading
to 24.04 on it. Booting to the test system presents no problems and if I
had the necessary knowledge and experience I could no doubt probe the
problem system from the test system.

There may be commands I could use in the problem system itself if I knew
how.

A CLUE?
When I upgraded the test system I answered two questions. One was to leave
the Grub program alone and unfortunately I do not remember the other one
but I think I answered 'no'.

When I upgraded the problem system I answered to leave the Grub alone but
I passed the second question by simply accepting.

I'm sorry that I cannot remember the option in question but it is the only
difference I can recall in the two upgrades.

THE REQUEST
I would be most appreciative if anyone can explain this mess to me and
hopefully suggest a cure.

COMPUTER DETAILS
## Hardware Information:
- **Hardware Model:** Dell Inc. XPS 8910
- **Memory:** 16.0 GiB
- **Processor:** Intel® Core™ i7-6700 ×
8
- **Graphics:** Software Rendering
- **Disk Capacity:** 2.5 TB

## Software Information:
- **Firmware Version:** 1.0.4
- **OS Name:** Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
- **OS Build:** (null)
- **OS Type:** 64-bit
- **GNOME Version:** 46
- **Windowing System:** X11
- **Kernel Version:** Linux 6.5.0-35-generic

[Paul]

Post by Jack Fearnley
THE PROBLEM
I recently upgraded from 23.05 to 24.02 and have great difficulty booting
up. Right now the only way I can log in is to enter the second line of the
boot up screen and get 'advanced options'. Here there are four lines, the
fourth is recovery mode with kernel 31 (I think). I enter this and perform
'resume normal boot' This gives me a blank screen with a flashing cursor.
I perform 'ctrl alt F2' followed by the requested login and enter
'startx'.
If I am lucky this logs me in successfully. Otherwise it logs me into a
read only version and I have to power off and repeat the whole procedure.
I can perform 'ctrl alt F2' at other points but login and startx either
gives me a fatal error or a white screen saying something has gone wrong.
POSSIBLE RESOURCES
I have a test system on the same computer and I had no trouble upgrading
to 24.04 on it. Booting to the test system presents no problems and if I
had the necessary knowledge and experience I could no doubt probe the
problem system from the test system.
There may be commands I could use in the problem system itself if I knew
how.
A CLUE?
When I upgraded the test system I answered two questions. One was to leave
the Grub program alone and unfortunately I do not remember the other one
but I think I answered 'no'.
When I upgraded the problem system I answered to leave the Grub alone but
I passed the second question by simply accepting.
I'm sorry that I cannot remember the option in question but it is the only
difference I can recall in the two upgrades.
THE REQUEST
I would be most appreciative if anyone can explain this mess to me and
hopefully suggest a cure.
COMPUTER DETAILS
- **Hardware Model:** Dell Inc. XPS 8910
- **Memory:** 16.0 GiB
- **Processor:** Intel® Core™ i7-6700 ×
8
- **Graphics:** Software Rendering
- **Disk Capacity:** 2.5 TB
- **Firmware Version:** 1.0.4
- **OS Name:** Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
- **OS Build:** (null)
- **OS Type:** 64-bit
- **GNOME Version:** 46
- **Windowing System:** X11
- **Kernel Version:** Linux 6.5.0-35-generic

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1285006-REG/dell_xps8910_3020blk_xps_8910_i7_6700_8gb_1tb_gt730_windows_10_black.html

Skylake 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7-6700 processor.
8GB of 2133 MHz DDR4 RAM
Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2
USB 3.1 Type-C, USB 3.0, and USB 2.0

GTX 730 2GB of DDR3 VRAM HDMI, DVI-D DL, or VGA.

(It also has HDMI and DP on the I/O plate for chipset graphics)

It's not strictly a GRUB problem, because you got a GRUB boot menu.

I think it is a graphics problem. My hunch-o-meter says to pull the
GTX 730 (with the power disconnected from the PC), and try and bring
up the machine with just the Intel graphics (HDMI/DP on IO plate area).
It's possible you are using VGA graphics or DVI-D graphics off the video card,
and the HDMI/DP on the I/O plate may not have a connector on your monitor
to do that.

I have both HDMI to VGA and DisplayPort (DP++) to VGA adapters
here, which run in the vicinity of $20 each or so. My three monitors
all share VGA as a common element, which is why I keep a few adapters
here for the more modern computers. So that may be a problem with regard
to hardware flexibility when changing over.

As far as I know, driver management can blacklist the NVidia driver (automatically),
and then attempt to run the GTX 730 with "something else" (Nouveau?). It
does not seem you're engaging Wayland directly (which I think Ubuntu uses).
Maybe your startx is causing XWayland to engage ?

sudo apt install inxi
inxi -F # Dump all subsystems
inxi -G # Just the graphics section <=== will give some idea what it is using

When copying Inxi output, remove any info violating privacy considerations.

*******

Normally, you'd look at logs for assistance. But given your machine isn't
all that old (Skylake), I would think there isn't too much of an excuse
for it to not start. And graphics can offer minor friction to the best
laid plans.

What I do, is attempt an upgrade, WHILE I HAVE A BACKUP.
Then, when the wheels fall off, I just restore and consider my options.

Before an upgrade, I like to switch from NVidia to Nouveau. Or rather,
to put it in more correct terms "do whatever the Ubuntu people like to
do by default", whatever that is. How does Ubuntu normally arrive ?
With the latest NVidia loaded, or with Nouveau. Inxi -G would tell you.

The upgrade process now is pretty good, and not that easily knocked over.
But I've found that leaving stray PPA files, using NVidia when I could be
using Nouveau, maybe the DKMS for my VirtualBox could cause a problem,
I can think of a few friction points that I might deal with, before
pushing the button.

The simplest way to deal with an NVidia/Nouveau problem (as a hypothesis),
is to unplug it and use the "Intel HD Graphics 530" instead (IO plate).
Since it's a Dell, who knows what BIOS controls are in there, to deal
with graphics changes. Some setups will auto-switch back to Intel,
when the NVidia is pulled from the x16 slot. Some Dells are snotty,
and won't let you plug a SATA card into the x16 slot, insisting instead
that graphics go in there. Whereas retail motherboards and self-built
machines, don't even grimace if you do that (rando card in x16 slot).
The Dell is pretty paternal about graphics operation, at least my sample is.

In any case, once you get in there, if Ubuntu has a Driver Manager,
I'd look at whether the selected driver makes sense. Maybe the GTX 730
uses the second-most-recent driver ? I'd check, but I'm leaving in
a couple minutes, before it rains (again).

Paul

[Jack Fearnley]

Post by Paul

THE PROBLEM I recently upgraded from 23.05 to 24.02 and have great
difficulty booting up. Right now the only way I can log in is to enter
the second line of the boot up screen and get 'advanced options'. Here
there are four lines, the fourth is recovery mode with kernel 31 (I
think). I enter this and perform 'resume normal boot' This gives me a
blank screen with a flashing cursor.
I perform 'ctrl alt F2' followed by the requested login and enter
'startx'.
If I am lucky this logs me in successfully. Otherwise it logs me into a
read only version and I have to power off and repeat the whole procedure.
I can perform 'ctrl alt F2' at other points but login and startx either
gives me a fatal error or a white screen saying something has gone wrong.
POSSIBLE RESOURCES I have a test system on the same computer and I had
no trouble upgrading to 24.04 on it. Booting to the test system
presents no problems and if I had the necessary knowledge and
experience I could no doubt probe the problem system from the test
system.
There may be commands I could use in the problem system itself if I
knew how.
A CLUE?
When I upgraded the test system I answered two questions. One was to
leave the Grub program alone and unfortunately I do not remember the
other one but I think I answered 'no'.
When I upgraded the problem system I answered to leave the Grub alone
but I passed the second question by simply accepting.
I'm sorry that I cannot remember the option in question but it is the
only difference I can recall in the two upgrades.
THE REQUEST I would be most appreciative if anyone can explain this
mess to me and hopefully suggest a cure.
- **Hardware Model:** Dell Inc. XPS 8910 -
**Memory:** 16.0 GiB -
**Processor:** Intel® Core™ i7-6700 ×
8
- **Graphics:** Software Rendering -
**Disk Capacity:** 2.5 TB
- **Firmware Version:** 1.0.4 - **OS Name:**
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS - **OS Build:**
(null)
- **OS Type:** 64-bit - **GNOME
Version:** 46 - **Windowing System:**
X11 - **Kernel Version:**
Linux 6.5.0-35-generic

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1285006-REG/

dell_xps8910_3020blk_xps_8910_i7_6700_8gb_1tb_gt730_windows_10_black.html

Post by Paul
Skylake 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7-6700 processor.
8GB of 2133 MHz DDR4 RAM Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
4.2 USB 3.1 Type-C, USB 3.0, and USB 2.0
GTX 730 2GB of DDR3 VRAM HDMI, DVI-D DL, or VGA.
(It also has HDMI and DP on the I/O plate for chipset graphics)
It's not strictly a GRUB problem, because you got a GRUB boot menu.
I think it is a graphics problem. My hunch-o-meter says to pull the GTX
730 (with the power disconnected from the PC), and try and bring up the
machine with just the Intel graphics (HDMI/DP on IO plate area).
It's possible you are using VGA graphics or DVI-D graphics off the video card,
and the HDMI/DP on the I/O plate may not have a connector on your
monitor to do that.
I have both HDMI to VGA and DisplayPort (DP++) to VGA adapters here,
which run in the vicinity of $20 each or so. My three monitors all share
VGA as a common element, which is why I keep a few adapters here for the
more modern computers. So that may be a problem with regard to hardware
flexibility when changing over.
As far as I know, driver management can blacklist the NVidia driver (automatically),
and then attempt to run the GTX 730 with "something else" (Nouveau?). It
does not seem you're engaging Wayland directly (which I think Ubuntu uses).
Maybe your startx is causing XWayland to engage ?
sudo apt install inxi inxi -F # Dump all subsystems
inxi -G # Just the graphics section <=== will give
some idea what it is using
When copying Inxi output, remove any info violating privacy
considerations.
*******
Normally, you'd look at logs for assistance. But given your machine
isn't all that old (Skylake), I would think there isn't too much of an
excuse for it to not start. And graphics can offer minor friction to the
best laid plans.
What I do, is attempt an upgrade, WHILE I HAVE A BACKUP.
Then, when the wheels fall off, I just restore and consider my options.
Before an upgrade, I like to switch from NVidia to Nouveau. Or rather,
to put it in more correct terms "do whatever the Ubuntu people like to
do by default", whatever that is. How does Ubuntu normally arrive ?
With the latest NVidia loaded, or with Nouveau. Inxi -G would tell you.
The upgrade process now is pretty good, and not that easily knocked over.
But I've found that leaving stray PPA files, using NVidia when I could
be using Nouveau, maybe the DKMS for my VirtualBox could cause a
problem,
I can think of a few friction points that I might deal with, before
pushing the button.
The simplest way to deal with an NVidia/Nouveau problem (as a
hypothesis),
is to unplug it and use the "Intel HD Graphics 530" instead (IO plate).
Since it's a Dell, who knows what BIOS controls are in there, to deal
with graphics changes. Some setups will auto-switch back to Intel,
when the NVidia is pulled from the x16 slot. Some Dells are snotty,
and won't let you plug a SATA card into the x16 slot, insisting instead
that graphics go in there. Whereas retail motherboards and self-built
machines, don't even grimace if you do that (rando card in x16 slot).
The Dell is pretty paternal about graphics operation, at least my sample is.
In any case, once you get in there, if Ubuntu has a Driver Manager,
I'd look at whether the selected driver makes sense. Maybe the GTX 730
uses the second-most-recent driver ? I'd check, but I'm leaving in a
couple minutes, before it rains (again).

Many thanks Paul for your rapid reply.
Here are the results of inxi -G

~/Desktop$ inxi -G
Graphics:
Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 530 driver: N/A
Device-2: NVIDIA GM107 [GeForce GTX 750 Ti] driver: N/A
Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.11 with: Xwayland v: 23.2.6 driver:
X:
loaded: nouveau,vesa unloaded: fbdev,modesetting dri: swrast gpu: N/A
resolution: 1920x1080
API: EGL v: 1.5 drivers: swrast platforms: x11,surfaceless,device
API: OpenGL v: 4.5 vendor: mesa v: 24.0.5-1ubuntu1 renderer: llvmpipe
(LLVM 17.0.6 256 bits

I didn't do the 'dump all subsystems' command because it didn't sound
harmless. Maybe I'm wrong on that.

I did the upgrade with NVidia but have subsequently switched to nouveau. I
don't know if this helped or hurt. The test system was upgraded with
nouveau already specified.

I am a little scared of pulling the GTX370 card since everything is
working fine on the test system. Also, I don't know what I'm doing.

What does 'IO plate' mean?

Best Regards,
Jack Fearnley

[stepore]

Post by Jack Fearnley
I did the upgrade with NVidia but have subsequently switched to nouveau. I
don't know if this helped or hurt. The test system was upgraded with
nouveau already specified.

Don't know what exactly is happening here with your test system or what
"nouveau already specified" means. But install the latest proper nvidia
packages and reboot. Nouveau is no beueno.

[Paul]

Post by stepore

Post by Jack Fearnley
I did the upgrade with NVidia but have subsequently switched to nouveau. I
don't know if this helped or hurt. The test system was upgraded with
nouveau already specified.

Don't know what exactly is happening here with your test system or
what "nouveau already specified" means. But install the latest
proper nvidia packages and reboot. Nouveau is no beueno.

The preliminary indication I'm getting, is the graphics support
changed in the more recent kernel, and some older stuff isn't
supported quite the same.

There seems to be no driver for my HD 6450 (AMD). Or for the graphics
in the Q45 Northbridge (i915 driver normally used).

This is a Linux Mint that happens to work properly. 5.15 kernel.
Testing on crusty video card. Works.

$ inxi -F
System:
Host: DEWDROPIN Kernel: 5.15.0-100-generic x86_64 bits: 64
Desktop: Cinnamon 5.6.8 Distro: Linux Mint 21.1 Vera
Machine:
Type: Desktop System: Dell product: OptiPlex 780 v: N/A
serial: <superuser required>
Mobo: Dell model: 0C27VV v: A01 serial: <superuser required> BIOS: Dell
v: A08 date: 01/21/2011
CPU:
Info: dual core model: Intel Core2 Duo E8400 bits: 64 type: MCP cache:
L2: 6 MiB Speed (MHz): avg: 2953 min/max: N/A cores: 1: 2936 2: 2970
Graphics:
Device-1: AMD Caicos [Radeon HD 6450/7450/8450 / R5 230 OEM] driver: radeon <===
v: kernel
Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.4 driver: X: loaded: ati,radeon
unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,nouveau,vesa gpu: radeon
resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz
OpenGL:
renderer: AMD CAICOS (DRM 2.50.0 / 5.15.0-100-generic LLVM 15.0.7)
v: 4.5 Mesa 23.2.1-1ubuntu3.1~22.04.2
Audio:
Device-1: Intel 82801JD/DO HD Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
Device-2: AMD Caicos HDMI Audio [Radeon HD 6450 / 7450/8450/8490 OEM R5
230/235/235X OEM]
driver: snd_hda_intel
Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k5.15.0-100-generic running: yes
Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 15.99.1 running: yes
Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.48 running: yes
Network:
Device-1: Intel 82567LM-3 Gigabit Network driver: e1000e
IF: enp0s25 state: down mac:
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 931.51 GiB used: 81.39 GiB (8.7%)
ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD1003FZEX-00K3CA0
size: 931.51 GiB
Partition:
ID-1: / size: 150.06 GiB used: 81.39 GiB (54.2%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda8
Swap:
ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 1024 MiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) file: /swapfile
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 42.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: radeon temp: 32.5 C
Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Info:
Processes: 195 Uptime: 1m Memory: 14.57 GiB used: 1.03 GiB (7.1%)
Shell: Bash inxi: 3.3.13

*******

Ubuntu
Advanced options for Ubuntu
Ubuntu, with Linux 6.5.0.9-generic # Recover from Nouveau lack of VPU reset,
# kept setting "new sessions" otherwise
# Video card still in support.

inxi -F
System:
Host: Cyclotron Kernel: 6.5.0-9-generic arch: x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: GNOME
v: 45.1 Distro: Ubuntu 23.10 (Mantic Minotaur)
Machine:
Type: Desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: P9X79 v: Rev 1.xx
serial: <superuser required> BIOS: American Megatrends v: 4608
date: 12/24/2013
CPU:
Info: 6-core model: Intel Core i7-4930K bits: 64 type: MT MCP cache:
L2: 1.5 MiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 1200 min/max: 1200/3400 cores: 1: 1200 2: 1200 3: 1200
4: 1200 5: 1200 6: 1200 7: 1200 8: 1200 9: 1200 10: 1200 11: 1200 12: 1200
Graphics:
Device-1: NVIDIA GP104 [GeForce GTX 1080] driver: nouveau v: kernel <===
Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 with: Xwayland v: 23.2.0 driver: X:
loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: nouveau gpu: nouveau
resolution: 1280x1024~60Hz
API: OpenGL v: 4.3 Mesa 23.2.1-1ubuntu3 renderer: NV134
Audio:
Device-1: Intel C600/X79 series High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
Device-2: NVIDIA GP104 High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
Device-3: Philips s SAA7164 driver: saa7164
API: ALSA v: k6.5.0-9-generic status: kernel-api
Server-1: PipeWire v: 0.3.79 status: active
Network:
Device-1: Intel 82579V Gigabit Network driver: e1000e
IF: eno1 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac:
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 931.51 GiB used: 27.87 GiB (3.0%)
ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD1003FZEX-00K3CA0
size: 931.51 GiB
Partition:
ID-1: / size: 45.36 GiB used: 27.87 GiB (61.4%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda10
Swap:
ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 8 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) file: /swap.img
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 23.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: nouveau temp: 32.0 C
Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A gpu: nouveau fan: 927
Info:
Processes: 319 Uptime: 3m Memory: total: 64 GiB note: est.
available: 62.72 GiB used: 1.49 GiB (2.4%) Shell: Bash inxi: 3.3.29

*******

Normal boot (NVidia driver, in-support card) 23.10

inxi -F
$ inxi -F
System:
Host: Cyclotron Kernel: 6.5.0-41-generic arch: x86_64 bits: 64
Desktop: GNOME v: 45.2 Distro: Ubuntu 23.10 (Mantic Minotaur)
Machine:
Type: Desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: P9X79 v: Rev 1.xx
serial: <superuser required> BIOS: American Megatrends v: 4608
date: 12/24/2013
CPU:
Info: 6-core model: Intel Core i7-4930K bits: 64 type: MT MCP cache:
L2: 1.5 MiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 1549 min/max: 1200/3400 cores: 1: 1200 2: 1200 3: 1200
4: 1200 5: 1200 6: 1200 7: 1200 8: 1200 9: 3000 10: 3400 11: 1357 12: 1236
Graphics:
Device-1: NVIDIA GP104 [GeForce GTX 1080] driver: nvidia v: 535.171.04 <===
Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 with: Xwayland v: 23.2.0 driver: X:
loaded: nvidia unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,nouveau,vesa
gpu: nvidia,nvidia-nvswitch resolution: 1280x1024~60Hz
API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 535.171.04 renderer: NVIDIA GeForce GTX
1080/PCIe/SSE2
Audio:
Device-1: Intel C600/X79 series High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
Device-2: NVIDIA GP104 High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
Device-3: Philips s SAA7164 driver: saa7164
API: ALSA v: k6.5.0-41-generic status: kernel-api
Server-1: PipeWire v: 0.3.79 status: active
Network:
Device-1: Intel 82579V Gigabit Network driver: e1000e
IF: eno1 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac:
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 931.51 GiB used: 30.16 GiB (3.2%)
ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD1003FZEX-00K3CA0
size: 931.51 GiB
Partition:
ID-1: / size: 45.36 GiB used: 30.16 GiB (66.5%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda10
Swap:
ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 8 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) file: /swap.img
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 25.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: nvidia temp: 32 C
Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A gpu: nvidia fan: 37%
Info:
Processes: 318 Uptime: 2m Memory: total: 64 GiB note: est.
available: 62.72 GiB used: 1.57 GiB (2.5%) Shell: Bash inxi: 3.3.29

*******

Normal boot (NVidia driver, in-support card)
Can't give 24.04 results, as upgrade blew up :-)

I guess writing slow upgraders, is hard.

Paul

[Mike Scott]

Post by Paul

Post by stepore

Post by Jack Fearnley
I did the upgrade with NVidia but have subsequently switched to nouveau. I
don't know if this helped or hurt. The test system was upgraded with
nouveau already specified.

Don't know what exactly is happening here with your test system or
what "nouveau already specified" means. But install the latest
proper nvidia packages and reboot. Nouveau is no beueno.

The preliminary indication I'm getting, is the graphics support
changed in the more recent kernel, and some older stuff isn't
supported quite the same.

It may be irrelevant, but.....

I installed 21.1 on a new machine, intel on-board video plus a low-end
nvidia card. I set the BIOS to use the on-board as primary video, and
the DVD wouldn't boot.

As I remember it, I had to set the nvidia card as primary video (which
allowed the DVD to boot), get the system installed, then install video
drivers from intel's web site. All's been OK since (whether intel or
nvidia, nouveau or proprietary).

[Mike Scott]

Post by Mike Scott
I installed 21.1

mint, that is, of course. Sorry.

[Paul]

Post by Mike Scott

Post by Mike Scott
I installed 21.1

mint, that is, of course. Sorry.

Mint is ahead on points so far.

The drive I'm using to test Ubuntu, has
my Mint 21.3 on it normally, and it's sitting in
a backup file now so I can't look at the
details at the moment.

Paul