You are not logged in.

#1 2013-09-24 18:10:09

ebal
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-05-26
Posts: 224
Website

Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

I need help to install archlinux.

I've tried 3 different ways and failed with all of them. Tried fedora and gentoo and worked like a charm. But i need to install archlinux. So plz plz plz help !

1. archlinux-2013.09.01-dual.iso
2. archlinux-2013.09-1-archboot.iso and
3. rsync from a previous desktop

So ... every time the problem is that the screen is black!

With nomodeset is working but Xorg doenst

Intel HD Graphics 4000
driver    =    i915

i believe with a custom kernel i could bypass this problem.

Read and tried every wiki & forum page - i could get a break !


Any hints ?


https://balaskas.gr
Linux System Engineer - Registered Linux User #420129

Offline

#2 2013-09-24 19:03:32

karol
Archivist
Registered: 2009-05-06
Posts: 25,440

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

When exactly does the screen turn black?

Offline

#3 2013-09-24 19:08:11

ebal
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-05-26
Posts: 224
Website

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

ON both isos at the start - before any menu or anything else.

With the 3.11.1-1-ARCH kernel at boot, guessing when loading modules.


https://balaskas.gr
Linux System Engineer - Registered Linux User #420129

Offline

#4 2013-09-25 16:05:43

teateawhy
Member
From: GER
Registered: 2012-03-05
Posts: 1,138
Website

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

How do you create a bootable iso?
USB stick, CD, or from Hardisk ?
UEFI or legacy BIOS ?
Did you follow these instructions?
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Be … reparation

Offline

#5 2013-09-25 17:25:06

spikkle
Member
Registered: 2013-09-19
Posts: 13

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

In the step to generate your initial ram filesystem (mkinitfs) edit your /etc/mkinitcpio.conf to add i915 to your modules array.  Then generate your initfs as usual with mkinitramfs -p linux. 

in /etc/mkinitcpio.conf:

MODULES="i915"

Then, as usual:

mkinitramfs -p linux

I have both i915 and nouveau (so I can use vga_switcheroo) in my modules line for a Retina Macbook Pro 15".  I use the intel i915 driver for the system.  Make sure that i915 is not in any of your /etc/modprobe.d blacklist files.

Offline

#6 2013-09-25 18:06:02

ebal
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-05-26
Posts: 224
Website

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

thanks for your replies ... but unfortunately nothing helps me sad

As i said, with nomodeset i've managed to install archlinux - but still the laptop screen is black !

Already read and take measures from archlinux wiki, already tried i915 in mkinicpio.conf

As i tested the mini display port and gain access to a HDMI output, seems that the brightness is at max value !!!
Tried the forum/wiki mentions on brightness but FN F4/F5 doesnt work either and the brightness isnt changing at all.

Today is the third day of testing/trying but still black screen as if brightness is zero but from /sys seems on it's maxed valued


I've run a test/diff with kernel config file from abs and tested against fedora's config file but 915 and kms settings are the same (unless i miss something obviously)

Fedora's live iso is working just fine - so there isnt a problem with the laptop's hardware.

Re-tested everything on a clean lvm partition.

Everytime i boot without any option: black screen, with nomodeset just fine - but X cant start.
Attached a second monitor, works fine - is like if a fixed zero value on brightness that i can not change.


https://balaskas.gr
Linux System Engineer - Registered Linux User #420129

Offline

#7 2013-09-26 19:03:48

ebal
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-05-26
Posts: 224
Website

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

here is my Xorg.log

http://ebalaskas.gr/img/Xorg.2501sLV.log


# grep -r i915 /etc/
/etc/mkinitcpio.conf:MODULES="i915"




Any hints ?


https://balaskas.gr
Linux System Engineer - Registered Linux User #420129

Offline

#8 2013-09-27 11:45:30

ebal
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-05-26
Posts: 224
Website

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

Even tried https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/linux-ak/

still black screen


https://balaskas.gr
Linux System Engineer - Registered Linux User #420129

Offline

#9 2013-09-27 16:52:58

silverhammermba
Wiki Maintainer
Registered: 2011-04-14
Posts: 156

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

That last kernel patch is outdated, I think.
Try checking out this thread https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=167411

Offline

#10 2013-09-28 12:19:59

ebal
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-05-26
Posts: 224
Website

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

check it - thanks

but it wasnt help sad


https://balaskas.gr
Linux System Engineer - Registered Linux User #420129

Offline

#11 2013-09-29 21:04:02

ebal
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-05-26
Posts: 224
Website

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

Today i tried UEFI with gummiboot and UEFI with grub2
as someone mention here: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=170532
with UEFI the screen is black

As i have already wrote above, with Fedora or other linux distros the screen is ok.
I've tried manjaro just to test the boot.

manjaro via UEFI shows only a black screen - but if i change to legacy boot, everything is alright !!!!

tested with archiso & archboot also.


Can anyone give me/us a hint so i/we can use UEFI and not legacy boot ?


thanks in advance


https://balaskas.gr
Linux System Engineer - Registered Linux User #420129

Offline

#12 2013-09-30 12:15:45

Lone_Wolf
Member
From: Netherlands, Europe
Registered: 2005-10-04
Posts: 11,866

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

Try booting with i915.invert_brightness=1 as kernel parameter.

(from https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=169957 )


Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.


(A works at time B)  && (time C > time B ) ≠  (A works at time C)

Offline

#13 2013-10-01 11:30:25

ebal
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-05-26
Posts: 224
Website

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

Thanks @lone_wolf

tested ... but not luck

I've installed grub2 and boot up with bios legacy mode. Everything is perfect. Even the F4/F5 keys for adjusting the brightness!
So there isnt a hardware problem or a kernel (module) problem with archlinux (as i am guessing).

The black screen occurs only with UEFI and only with archlinux (isos,kernels etc).


https://balaskas.gr
Linux System Engineer - Registered Linux User #420129

Offline

#14 2013-10-01 20:42:41

ebal
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-05-26
Posts: 224
Website

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

Hi ....

i need some help to understand something. Plz if you can - help me.


I have installed Fedora on my laptop with UEFI support and secure mode on.
I then removed the fedora partition and installed archlinux.

The UEFI has complained about secure mode. Logically it was of the archlinux kernel (not being singed by fedora).
I removed secure boot and UEFI boot up my archlinux kernel with ...

(wait for it)

... a black screen !!!

If i turn on legacy mode - but switch at boot time via F12 to UEFI ... then my archlinux is booting up just fine.
If i turn off legacy mode - and select to boot archlinux via UEFI ... black screen.

so i removed Fedora UEFI and copied archiso files into EFI partition. Same thing happened.



So turn on legacy mode, but select to boot from UEFI and the screen is OK
(i am writing this post - at this moment - with that setup on my laptop)



So ............ is this a dell bug on firmware ? or i am getting crazy ?

Can someone else reproduce just thing with a similar dell xps laptop ?


Thanks in advance


https://balaskas.gr
Linux System Engineer - Registered Linux User #420129

Offline

#15 2013-10-02 05:53:22

arcon
Member
Registered: 2013-05-27
Posts: 128

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

I don't have UEFI, so i know nothing about that, but at what point screen got black is it after installing arch or at booting iso.
if it is after installation, try downgrading kernel or try using kernel from testing or a better approach for the time-being to use lts-kernel.

if it is at booting iso., and you are on fedora or gentoo than you need to look here.


The short cuts are only short because they don't actually go anywhere. -- Trilby
Nothing feels better than being understood -- awayand
A pathetic dreamer smile

Offline

#16 2013-10-02 06:19:34

ebal
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-05-26
Posts: 224
Website

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

it's whenever UEFI transfer the boot process to kernel

either archiso or FAT ESP partition

so it's not a kernel thing


https://balaskas.gr
Linux System Engineer - Registered Linux User #420129

Offline

#17 2013-10-02 06:29:10

arcon
Member
Registered: 2013-05-27
Posts: 128

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

ok sad but did you tried the link i gave it to you.
and one thing more is your system multi boot??
and i sincerely going to stick with this thread to know what really caused this problem, and if you did manage to find any solution, please do share with us.


The short cuts are only short because they don't actually go anywhere. -- Trilby
Nothing feels better than being understood -- awayand
A pathetic dreamer smile

Offline

#18 2013-10-02 06:40:35

ebal
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-05-26
Posts: 224
Website

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

of course not !

i have already installed successfully archlinux. The problem is booting up through UEFI - without legacy support on.


https://balaskas.gr
Linux System Engineer - Registered Linux User #420129

Offline

#19 2013-10-02 06:55:15

arcon
Member
Registered: 2013-05-27
Posts: 128

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

the reason i asked about multiboot is this
and there's another thread you can look into is: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=170543 and https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=169809.
i have nothing to tell more sorry.

Last edited by arcon (2013-10-02 06:58:17)


The short cuts are only short because they don't actually go anywhere. -- Trilby
Nothing feels better than being understood -- awayand
A pathetic dreamer smile

Offline

#20 2013-10-02 07:12:22

ebal
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-05-26
Posts: 224
Website

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

@arcon thanks

but this isnt a multiboot problem
or
a grub problem


https://balaskas.gr
Linux System Engineer - Registered Linux User #420129

Offline

#21 2013-10-03 18:15:36

moffman
Member
Registered: 2013-10-03
Posts: 2

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

hi ebal,

just taking a stab at this.

can you try passing:

acpi_backlight=vendor

in the kernel parameters on boot.

Offline

#22 2013-10-03 19:03:30

ebal
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-05-26
Posts: 224
Website

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

@mofffman

yes tried acpi_backlight=vendor & i915.invert_brightness=1 and every other kernel parameter i've found on wiki & forum.

Matthew Garrett
https://twitter.com/mjg59/status/385151672265498625

suggested to take a look on Compatibility Support Module but have not idea !


Once more here is the problem:

Boot from UEFI gives me a black screen, either i boot up from my SSD disk either from latest archiso
Enable legacy mode, but selecting UEFI to boot, everything is OK !

tested every i915 kernel parameter, module on, module off, bla bla bla  - nothing helps.

There is no problem with the installation, or the installation process or the KMS or the hardware or whatever.

Cant found the problem "fix" to boot up UEFI with legacy mode off on my dell xps laptop.
Not sure if it's not a dell firmware problem - but seems strange that Fedora is booting just fine over UEFI.


https://balaskas.gr
Linux System Engineer - Registered Linux User #420129

Offline

#23 2013-10-05 10:36:29

Lone_Wolf
Member
From: Netherlands, Europe
Registered: 2005-10-04
Posts: 11,866

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

Matthew Garret wrote:

@ebalaskas different kernel versions? Legacy->UEFI means you still have the CSM available. Video drivers may behave differently.

Wikipedia wrote:

Compatibility Support Module

The Compatibility Support Module (CSM) is a component of the firmware that emulates a BIOS environment; allowing legacy operating systems and some option ROMs that do not support UEFI to still be used.

Looks like when using legacy and then switching to UEFI, you are basically booting in bios mode.

You may have found a kernel bug wrt uefi booting, what kernel version does Fedora use ?


Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.


(A works at time B)  && (time C > time B ) ≠  (A works at time C)

Offline

#24 2013-10-05 15:29:20

ebal
Member
From: Athens, Greece
Registered: 2009-05-26
Posts: 224
Website

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

# Linux/x86_64 3.9.5-301.fc19.x86_64 Kernel Configuration


This is their conf
http://ebalaskas.gr/img/config-3.9.5-301.fc19.x86_64

if it is any help at all

thanks


https://balaskas.gr
Linux System Engineer - Registered Linux User #420129

Offline

#25 2013-10-07 20:05:21

Lone_Wolf
Member
From: Netherlands, Europe
Registered: 2005-10-04
Posts: 11,866

Re: Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV

I don't know enough about kernel configuration to compare fedora's conf with archlinux kernel configuration, but it seems worth a shot to try a kernel version as close to fedora's as possible.

I have the linux-3.9.5-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz in my /var/cache/pacman/pkg folder, if you want i can upload it to my box account so you can get it.
Another option would be to try booting with the linux-lts kernel currently at version 3.10.15 .


Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.


(A works at time B)  && (time C > time B ) ≠  (A works at time C)

Offline

Board footer

Powered by FluxBB