Laptop display active but black after recent system update

Emoryy · 2015-05-26 08:34:29

After a recent system update I can't use the display of my laptop anymore. (I didn't run an update for a few weeks beforehand.)
It remains active, but only shows a black screen after the boot menu.
Fortunately the HDMI output works, so I can use an external monitor.
I took a look at the systemd log: http://pastebin.com/rw5cV6kG But I couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. Output of xrandr: http://pastebin.com/dcrFMiBR
According to the sytem the screen works, I can put windows on it, etc. But physically it just shows black pixels.

Edit: the laptop is not the one in my forum signature. It's a Dell Inspiron 5010 with a Radeon HD 5650

Last edited by Emoryy (2015-05-26 09:05:30)

jasonwryan · 2015-05-26 08:40:47

Have you tried turning up the backlight?

Emoryy · 2015-05-26 08:58:30

The screen is visibly on. It's clear that it's not a backlight issue. Adjusting the backlight works just fine.

jasonwryan · 2015-05-26 09:04:43

Paste pacman's log for your most recent upgrade. And your Xorg log. Also, it would be helpful to include your card/driver.

Emoryy · 2015-05-26 09:14:22

Pacman log: http://pastebin.com/e2gydnwz (This was on the 22nd, but I made an update today too: http://pastebin.com/MxSy3j5F)
Xorg.0.log: http://pastebin.com/VkWR80Xy
The card is a Radeon HD 5650, I use the open source drivers.

Last edited by Emoryy (2015-05-26 09:15:45)

raygenbogen · 2015-05-26 17:31:58

Well this kinda sounds like the problem I asked about in Kernel section https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=197579
I had basically the same problem but with two external monitors, where one of them always stayed black but was active according to xrandr. Could you try to downgrade your kernel to 4.0.2 should you still have it? Maybe there is something wrong with the open source ati driver and the newest kernel?

Emoryy · 2015-05-27 07:28:35

Thanks! Downgrading to 4.0.2 helped.
Actually I didn't have this version in my pacman cache, latest version before 4.0.4 was 3.19.3. I downloaded it from the Arch Rollback Machine

Now I'm conflicted too whether this should be labeled as "solved".

raygenbogen · 2015-05-27 07:34:36

Do you have early kms enabled in your mkinitcpio.conf? just add "radeon" to your hooks. You can find more information on the wiki page. This worked for me. But I'm guessing there is still something wrong with xorg-video-ati and the new kernel, since my sound via hdmi is a bit buggy and I have to restart my sound receiver everytime I start a program with sound output (chromium,audacios,mpv...) or I can't hear anything

Emoryy · 2015-05-27 07:46:36

You mean early KMS would help without downgrading the kernel? (I don't have it enabled.)
Actually the kernel downgrade workaround will be enough for me now, until I make the next system update. (This is a work computer, and I update the system relatively rarely.)

Arch Linux

#1 2015-05-26 08:34:29

Laptop display active but black after recent system update

#2 2015-05-26 08:40:47

Re: Laptop display active but black after recent system update

#3 2015-05-26 08:58:30

Re: Laptop display active but black after recent system update

#4 2015-05-26 09:04:43

Re: Laptop display active but black after recent system update

#5 2015-05-26 09:14:22

Re: Laptop display active but black after recent system update

#6 2015-05-26 17:31:58

Re: Laptop display active but black after recent system update

#7 2015-05-27 07:28:35

Re: Laptop display active but black after recent system update

#8 2015-05-27 07:34:36

Re: Laptop display active but black after recent system update

#9 2015-05-27 07:46:36

Re: Laptop display active but black after recent system update

Board footer