Arch Linux

TFW

Member

Registered: 2024-02-14

Posts: 2

[Solved]Grub working but no screen

Edit: solved by updating BIOS to latest version, apparently was a bug for my specific motherboard firmware and gpu

Tldr last paragraph, question about possible solutions at second to last paragraph, code tag makes new line so I think ins tag will be easier to read?

Had this issue for a long time, sometimes I get 5 beeps no screen, 5 beeps with screen, or normal init tune with screen.

When there's no screen I can still control grub with arrow keys, and arch/windows will load normally. I used to think that it doesn't work until I enter the password and startx, but turns out I just didn't wait long enough.

Today I found out that it tries to display on my secondary monitor which is off, when that's the case the grub command videoinfo will only output the legend row so setting resolution in grub gfxmode in /etc/default/grub doesn't work. After I do insmod all_video in grub command line, videoinfo will show all available resolutions normally(are all under "EFI GOP driver"), but I don't know if I can change the output from there, or even make it detect the screen status with a custom script/driver/gpu bios(I swap my main and secondary monitors sometimes).

So should I change /boot/grub/grub.cfg to include insmod all_video? I tried putting it in 40_custom and rerun grub-mkconfig but it doesn't work maybe adding it earlier would work? Going into motherboard settings then selecting grub from there would put the output on the right screen too

Tldr grub dual boot dual monitor, video on wrong monitor during grub but normal after boot possibly because (lack of?) load_video function in /boot/grub/grub.cfg. Any way to fix without unplugging cables? If this is a bug where should I report it? Additional info: uefi, secure boot off, nvidia prosperity driver

Last edited by TFW (2024-10-25 06:24:34)

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 23,300

Re: [Solved]Grub working but no screen

Grub will generally show on whatever screen is "first" in logistics of your UEFI firmware. The easiest way to "fix" that is swapping the cables/ports of the two monitors. I'm fairly certain you can't control the screen GRUB shows on, this is determined earlier, by your UEFI

kermit63

Member

Registered: 2018-07-04

Posts: 258

Re: [Solved]Grub working but no screen

Computer beeping when turned on usually means some sort of hardware failure, doesn't it? IIRC, the number of beeps and duration between beeps is a code for the type of failure, depending on the motherboard. It could well be that your GPU is failing, hence the erratic behavior.

Also, if you don't see the motherboard logo flash before the GRUB screen, then it is as V1del said. You have to connect the cable to the graphics card port denoted as the primary. My UEFI firmware allows me to choose between the discrete GPU and the iGPU as the primary. If you don't want to switch cables, you can try selecting the other card as the primary, assuming your UEFI firmware has that functionality. UEFI firmware varies greatly across different motherboard manufacturers.

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Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.
It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

TFW

Member

Registered: 2024-02-14

Posts: 2

Re: [Solved]Grub working but no screen

Forgot to mention I'm using just the gpu connected with 2 dp ports, a bios flash seemed to fix the issue but previously it was kind of random whether it happens or not so it might still happen tomorrow. If I mark it as solved can I reopen it or should I make a new issue after that or only mark it as solved when I'm sure of it?

Edit: also booting the arch install drive never had this problem(screen shows on both monitor) and I suspect it's caused by nvidia drivers for a couple other reasons like it having more chance happening after updates, but didn't keep note of what happened every time

Last edited by TFW (2024-10-22 13:23:23)

kermit63

Member

Registered: 2018-07-04

Posts: 258

Re: [Solved]Grub working but no screen

You can do either as far as I know.  If the problem returns, you can just add a new post so it gets bumped up and remove the SOLVED if you chose to mark it as such.

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Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.
It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.