Computer hangs on boot when HDMI cable is plugged in

dnlddz · 2014-11-18 02:54:46

Hello everyone! I seem to be having a rather strange issue. I just installed arch 2 days ago, migrating from an Ubuntu install that I just plain got tired of. Everything is good and fine, except that for some reason the computer fails to boot when I have my HDMI cable plugged in. Plugging it in blanks both screens and forces me to hard reset my laptop. At the moment I'm using the xf86-video-ati drivers (I am not going to struggle with the catalyst drivers) and as far as the hardware goes it appears that everything is fine. I've been trying to fix the problem myself, but unfortunately I'm a linux newby and can't seem to figure out what could be causing it. Any help would be appreciated, and if any logs are needed please feel free to ask. Thank you for your time.

drcouzelis · 2014-11-18 16:03:42

YES!

I'm having the exact same issue. Radeon card, open source video drivers, a monitor connected via DVI and a TV connected via HDMI. The computer will boot but X will fail to start and the computer will freeze. Also, booting without the HDMI cable plugged in and then trying to enable it will also cause my computer to freeze.

The reason is... linux-3.17.3-1. The recent kernel update is the cause of this bug. You just got super unlucky and installed Arch Linux just after it broke.

My solution for now was to downgrade the kernel package back to linux-3.17.2-1 and to configure pacman to skip it when I update my computer. I'll just leave it that way for a bit, maybe until the next version of the Linux kernel is released, then give it another try. I'm in no hurry.

It's super easy to downgrade a package after doing an update, but since you just did a full installation it's just a wee bit trickier. Let me know if you need help or a copy of the older kernel package or anything.

Last edited by drcouzelis (2014-11-18 16:05:01)

dnlddz · 2014-11-18 18:28:16

Wow that is unlucky, especially considering I just cleaned the old kernel package from /var .... I'm afraid I will be needing an older kernel if it's not too much trouble. Other than that I believe I can take care of the rest. Either that or I have to wait for the next kernel and hope it was fixed But thank you very much for your help, I really appreciate it.

drcouzelis · 2014-11-18 19:03:21

No problem. Check out these options:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Do … er_version

If you still can't get a copy of the older kernel then I can post it online for you.

ptdel · 2014-11-19 02:53:27

Hello! I too have found myself with a fresh install and no kernel image to roll back to. Is it possible to post this still? I would greatly appreciate it.

edit: going to see if I can rebuild the old kernel just in case, but if you are able to post 3.17.2 that would be awesome!

Last edited by ptdel (2014-11-19 03:01:34)

drcouzelis · 2014-11-19 03:19:18

linux-3.17.2-1-x86_64
linux-headers-3.17.2-1-x86_64

Last edited by drcouzelis (2014-11-19 03:20:02)

ptdel · 2014-11-19 03:29:46

Thank you! Of course now I realize as I download this that I had one on my vps in /var/cache hah. Sorry for jumping the gun like that, should have checked my own resources!

edit: can confirm downgrade 'fixes' issue.

Last edited by ptdel (2014-11-19 03:55:51)

drcouzelis · 2014-11-19 14:06:00

Just because I'm a little bored...

The changelog for this release is here: https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel … Log-3.17.3

There are seven changes related to "radeon". The most relevent one appears to be this one: http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel … fedc634c4a

It's just a guess, but if I was going to debug this I'd start there. But, for all I know, this bug may already have been fixed in the development version of the kernel.

ptdel · 2014-11-19 14:23:35

thanks for finding this! I can start keeping an eye out for a fix. Totally the reason I finally hopped on the forum

dnlddz · 2014-11-19 17:39:33

This method worked perfectly for me, thank you very much for your help! But its so strange that a kernel upgrade would do this. I hope the next upgrade fixes the issue.

ptdel · 2014-11-26 14:15:52

I saw that 3.17.4-1 is out, curious to know if anybody has upgraded their kernel?

https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kerne … d2=v3.17.3

dnlddz · 2014-11-27 01:33:04

Just tried it today, it still wont boot or switch to HDMI. Looks like we have to keep the old kernel for now.

Iceman85 · 2014-12-11 18:42:13

Hello guys! I have the same problem with the 3.16.5 kernel. I had to rollback 3.16.4 to solve temporarily. Does anyone know if the new kernel (3.17.6) fix this issue?

dnlddz · 2014-12-12 22:02:09

Yes, it seems to resolve the issue for me. Thank you everyone for all your help!

drcouzelis · 2014-12-13 01:46:27

dnlddz wrote:

Yes, it seems to resolve the issue for me. Thank you everyone for all your help!

Verified resolved here too!

I love Linux / Arch Linux.

Arch Linux

#1 2014-11-18 02:54:46

Computer hangs on boot when HDMI cable is plugged in

#2 2014-11-18 16:03:42

Re: Computer hangs on boot when HDMI cable is plugged in

#3 2014-11-18 18:28:16

Re: Computer hangs on boot when HDMI cable is plugged in

#4 2014-11-18 19:03:21

Re: Computer hangs on boot when HDMI cable is plugged in

#5 2014-11-19 02:53:27

Re: Computer hangs on boot when HDMI cable is plugged in

#6 2014-11-19 03:19:18

Re: Computer hangs on boot when HDMI cable is plugged in

#7 2014-11-19 03:29:46

Re: Computer hangs on boot when HDMI cable is plugged in

#8 2014-11-19 14:06:00

Re: Computer hangs on boot when HDMI cable is plugged in

#9 2014-11-19 14:23:35

Re: Computer hangs on boot when HDMI cable is plugged in

#10 2014-11-19 17:39:33

Re: Computer hangs on boot when HDMI cable is plugged in

#11 2014-11-26 14:15:52

Re: Computer hangs on boot when HDMI cable is plugged in

#12 2014-11-27 01:33:04

Re: Computer hangs on boot when HDMI cable is plugged in

#13 2014-12-11 18:42:13

Re: Computer hangs on boot when HDMI cable is plugged in

#14 2014-12-12 22:02:09

Re: Computer hangs on boot when HDMI cable is plugged in

#15 2014-12-13 01:46:27

Re: Computer hangs on boot when HDMI cable is plugged in

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