Arch Linux

hermesJ

Member

Registered: 2016-01-10

Posts: 7

[macbook pro 9,1]Black screen after booting into desktop environments.

Hi everyone.

I've been trying to install arch for the last couple of days and keep coming to the same problem. I get a black screen at the point where I should be booting into my Desktop Environment. The rest of the installation process is going smoothly, as far as I can tell. In addition to using the archwiki (which is at times too dense for me) I've been using 3 guides.

Zanshin Guide
Medium guide
Macbook Air install video

At first I was trying to install the KDE Environment, without the bloat. I installed once cutting a lot of stuff out, got the black screen. Tried again without cutting stuff out, again a black screen. Tried once again being extra careful installing X, reading on the wiki that KDE can at time be problematic. Again a black screen. At this point I resigned to the fact that KDE might be a problem, so I tried installing GNOME along with the youtube video instructions. This worked better, as I got to the login manager and was able to login, but once again I got a black screen.

I've done some troubleshooting through google, and there seem to be lots of suggestions like nomodeset, the 1915backlight, 1915 invert, 1915 modeset. But also I realise there are complications due the hardware from my macbook (integrated intel + discrete Nvidia 650m). I assume it has something to do with the video drivers, but I have no idea what exactly it is. Any help would be very appreciated.

EDIT - I tried to reinstall again... I installed kde with SDDM but now can't get past the login manager. I press enter once I have submitted my password and nothing happens =/ I can't even get in to tty2+ tty1 just brings up the login manager. I've looked over several threads but I'm really unsure how to even get in to the high run levels, (control alt 2-7 just bring up a black screen).

Last edited by hermesJ (2016-08-14 11:23:54)

hermesJ

Member

Registered: 2016-01-10

Posts: 7

Re: [macbook pro 9,1]Black screen after booting into desktop environments.

Since my last edit I tried installing 3 arch derivatives, Chakra, Manjaro and Antergos. I know the Arch community doesn't necessarily support these spin-offs but these also don't work due to a black screen. I wouldn't say I'm new to linux, and I don't mind going through some pains but I am really stumped. I've been over all of the google links pertaining to these sort of problems and none of them match my circumstances. Is there anyone that can help?

jasonwryan

Anarchist

From: .nz

Registered: 2009-05-09

Posts: 30,424

Website

Re: [macbook pro 9,1]Black screen after booting into desktop environments.

None of the installation methods you have used are supported here. Use the community provided documentation on the wiki if you want our help.

When you do, don't try and start a DE. Just boot to console and start twm in X; it removes unnecesary complexity in terms of debugging.paste your Xorg log whe it fails to start.

Not an Installation issue, moving to NC...

---

Arch + dwm   •   Mercurial repos  •   Surfraw

Registered Linux User #482438

hermesJ

Member

Registered: 2016-01-10

Posts: 7

Re: [macbook pro 9,1]Black screen after booting into desktop environments.

First off, thanks for your reply Jason. I had work to do before I could attempt another install but got around to it tonight. i did as you said and installed twm configuring as per the arch wiki. Here is the output of xorg log which hangs after starting x.

[   546.797] 
X.Org X Server 1.18.4
Release Date: 2016-07-19
[   546.797] X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
[   546.797] Build Operating System: Linux 4.5.4-1-ARCH x86_64 
[   546.797] Current Operating System: Linux vulcan 4.7.1-1-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Wed Aug 17 08:13:35 CEST 2016 x86_64
[   546.797] Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=---------------------------------------- rw quiet
[   546.797] Build Date: 19 July 2016  05:54:24PM
[   546.797]  
[   546.797] Current version of pixman: 0.34.0
[   546.797] 	Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
	to make sure that you have the latest version.
[   546.797] Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
	(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
	(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[   546.797] (==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Sun Aug 21 21:47:21 2016
[   546.798] (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
[   546.798] (==) No Layout section.  Using the first Screen section.
[   546.798] (==) No screen section available. Using defaults.
[   546.798] (**) |-->Screen "Default Screen Section" (0)
[   546.798] (**) |   |-->Monitor "<default monitor>"
[   546.799] (==) No monitor specified for screen "Default Screen Section".
	Using a default monitor configuration.
[   546.799] (==) Automatically adding devices
[   546.799] (==) Automatically enabling devices
[   546.799] (==) Automatically adding GPU devices
[   546.799] (==) Max clients allowed: 256, resource mask: 0x1fffff
[   546.801] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/Type1/" does not exist.
[   546.801] 	Entry deleted from font path.
[   546.801] (WW) `fonts.dir' not found (or not valid) in "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi/".
[   546.801] 	Entry deleted from font path.
[   546.801] 	(Run 'mkfontdir' on "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi/").
[   546.802] (WW) `fonts.dir' not found (or not valid) in "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi/".
[   546.802] 	Entry deleted from font path.
[   546.802] 	(Run 'mkfontdir' on "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi/").
[   546.802] (==) FontPath set to:
	/usr/share/fonts/misc/,
	/usr/share/fonts/TTF/,
	/usr/share/fonts/OTF/
[   546.802] (==) ModulePath set to "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
[   546.802] (II) The server relies on udev to provide the list of input devices.
	If no devices become available, reconfigure udev or disable AutoAddDevices.
[   546.802] (II) Loader magic: 0x821d40
[   546.802] (II) Module ABI versions:
[   546.802] 	X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
[   546.802] 	X.Org Video Driver: 20.0
[   546.802] 	X.Org XInput driver : 22.1
[   546.802] 	X.Org Server Extension : 9.0
[   546.803] (++) using VT number 1

[   546.803] (--) controlling tty is VT number 1, auto-enabling KeepTty
[   546.806] (II) systemd-logind: took control of session /org/freedesktop/login1/session/c2
[   546.807] (II) xfree86: Adding drm device (/dev/dri/card1)
[   546.808] (II) systemd-logind: got fd for /dev/dri/card1 226:1 fd 8 paused 0
[   546.808] (II) xfree86: Adding drm device (/dev/dri/card0)
[   546.809] (II) systemd-logind: got fd for /dev/dri/card0 226:0 fd 9 paused 0
[   546.811] (--) PCI: (0:0:2:0) 8086:0166:106b:00fb rev 9, Mem @ 0xc1400000/4194304, 0xb0000000/268435456, I/O @ 0x00003000/64
[   546.811] (--) PCI:*(0:1:0:0) 10de:0fd5:106b:00fc rev 161, Mem @ 0xc0000000/16777216, 0x90000000/268435456, 0xa0000000/33554432, I/O @ 0x00002000/128, BIOS @ 0x????????/524288
[   546.811] (WW) Open ACPI failed (/var/run/acpid.socket) (No such file or directory)
[   546.811] (II) LoadModule: "glx"
[   546.812] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libglx.so
[   546.819] (II) Module glx: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[   546.819] 	compiled for 1.18.4, module version = 1.0.0
[   546.819] 	ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 9.0
[   546.819] (==) AIGLX enabled
[   546.819] (==) Matched nouveau as autoconfigured driver 0
[   546.819] (==) Matched nv as autoconfigured driver 1
[   546.819] (==) Matched intel as autoconfigured driver 2
[   546.819] (==) Matched nouveau as autoconfigured driver 3
[   546.819] (==) Matched nv as autoconfigured driver 4
[   546.819] (==) Matched modesetting as autoconfigured driver 5
[   546.819] (==) Matched fbdev as autoconfigured driver 6
[   546.819] (==) Matched vesa as autoconfigured driver 7
[   546.819] (==) Assigned the driver to the xf86ConfigLayout
[   546.819] (II) LoadModule: "nouveau"
[   546.819] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/nouveau_drv.so
[   546.820] (II) Module nouveau: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[   546.820] 	compiled for 1.18.4, module version = 1.0.12
[   546.820] 	Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[   546.820] 	ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 20.0
[   546.820] (II) LoadModule: "nv"
[   546.821] (WW) Warning, couldn't open module nv
[   546.821] (II) UnloadModule: "nv"
[   546.821] (II) Unloading nv
[   546.821] (EE) Failed to load module "nv" (module does not exist, 0)
[   546.821] (II) LoadModule: "intel"
[   546.821] (WW) Warning, couldn't open module intel
[   546.821] (II) UnloadModule: "intel"
[   546.821] (II) Unloading intel
[   546.821] (EE) Failed to load module "intel" (module does not exist, 0)
[   546.821] (II) LoadModule: "modesetting"
[   546.821] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/modesetting_drv.so
[   546.822] (II) Module modesetting: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[   546.822] 	compiled for 1.18.4, module version = 1.18.4
[   546.822] 	Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[   546.822] 	ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 20.0
[   546.822] (II) LoadModule: "fbdev"
[   546.822] (WW) Warning, couldn't open module fbdev
[   546.822] (II) UnloadModule: "fbdev"
[   546.822] (II) Unloading fbdev
[   546.822] (EE) Failed to load module "fbdev" (module does not exist, 0)
[   546.822] (II) LoadModule: "vesa"
[   546.822] (WW) Warning, couldn't open module vesa
[   546.822] (II) UnloadModule: "vesa"
[   546.822] (II) Unloading vesa
[   546.822] (EE) Failed to load module "vesa" (module does not exist, 0)
[   546.822] (II) NOUVEAU driver 
[   546.822] (II) NOUVEAU driver for NVIDIA chipset families :
[   546.822] 	RIVA TNT        (NV04)
[   546.822] 	RIVA TNT2       (NV05)
[   546.822] 	GeForce 256     (NV10)
[   546.822] 	GeForce 2       (NV11, NV15)
[   546.822] 	GeForce 4MX     (NV17, NV18)
[   546.822] 	GeForce 3       (NV20)
[   546.822] 	GeForce 4Ti     (NV25, NV28)
[   546.822] 	GeForce FX      (NV3x)
[   546.822] 	GeForce 6       (NV4x)
[   546.822] 	GeForce 7       (G7x)
[   546.822] 	GeForce 8       (G8x)
[   546.822] 	GeForce GTX 200 (NVA0)
[   546.822] 	GeForce GTX 400 (NVC0)
[   546.822] (II) modesetting: Driver for Modesetting Kernel Drivers: kms
[   546.822] (II) [drm] nouveau interface version: 1.3.1
[   546.822] (II) modeset(G0): using drv /dev/dri/card0

I'm now going to attend to fixing the EE warnings myself and will post back here once I have done that.

I fixed the vesa and fbdev problems easily enough by downloading the xf86-video-vesa and xf86-video-fbdev packages. I tried fixing the intel error by reinstalling the mesa-libgl package but that didn't work. Researching how to solve the nv and intel errors now.

Last edited by hermesJ (2016-08-21 14:38:05)

hermesJ

Member

Registered: 2016-01-10

Posts: 7

Re: [macbook pro 9,1]Black screen after booting into desktop environments.

[    32.674] 
X.Org X Server 1.18.4
Release Date: 2016-07-19
[    32.674] X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
[    32.674] Build Operating System: Linux 4.5.4-1-ARCH x86_64 
[    32.674] Current Operating System: Linux vulcan 4.7.1-1-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Wed Aug 17 08:13:35 CEST 2016 x86_64
[    32.674] Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=-------------------------- rw quiet
[    32.674] Build Date: 19 July 2016  05:54:24PM
[    32.674]  
[    32.674] Current version of pixman: 0.34.0
[    32.674] 	Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
	to make sure that you have the latest version.
[    32.674] Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
	(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
	(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[    32.675] (==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Mon Aug 22 01:10:19 2016
[    32.676] (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
[    32.676] (==) No Layout section.  Using the first Screen section.
[    32.676] (==) No screen section available. Using defaults.
[    32.676] (**) |-->Screen "Default Screen Section" (0)
[    32.676] (**) |   |-->Monitor "<default monitor>"
[    32.677] (==) No device specified for screen "Default Screen Section".
	Using the first device section listed.
[    32.677] (**) |   |-->Device "Nvidia Card"
[    32.677] (==) No monitor specified for screen "Default Screen Section".
	Using a default monitor configuration.
[    32.677] (==) Automatically adding devices
[    32.677] (==) Automatically enabling devices
[    32.677] (==) Automatically adding GPU devices
[    32.677] (==) Max clients allowed: 256, resource mask: 0x1fffff
[    32.679] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/Type1/" does not exist.
[    32.679] 	Entry deleted from font path.
[    32.679] (WW) `fonts.dir' not found (or not valid) in "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi/".
[    32.679] 	Entry deleted from font path.
[    32.679] 	(Run 'mkfontdir' on "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi/").
[    32.679] (WW) `fonts.dir' not found (or not valid) in "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi/".
[    32.679] 	Entry deleted from font path.
[    32.679] 	(Run 'mkfontdir' on "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi/").
[    32.679] (==) FontPath set to:
	/usr/share/fonts/misc/,
	/usr/share/fonts/TTF/,
	/usr/share/fonts/OTF/
[    32.679] (==) ModulePath set to "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
[    32.679] (II) The server relies on udev to provide the list of input devices.
	If no devices become available, reconfigure udev or disable AutoAddDevices.
[    32.679] (II) Loader magic: 0x821d40
[    32.679] (II) Module ABI versions:
[    32.680] 	X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
[    32.680] 	X.Org Video Driver: 20.0
[    32.680] 	X.Org XInput driver : 22.1
[    32.680] 	X.Org Server Extension : 9.0
[    32.681] (++) using VT number 1

[    32.681] (--) controlling tty is VT number 1, auto-enabling KeepTty
[    32.683] (II) systemd-logind: took control of session /org/freedesktop/login1/session/c1
[    32.684] (II) xfree86: Adding drm device (/dev/dri/card1)
[    32.685] (II) systemd-logind: got fd for /dev/dri/card1 226:1 fd 8 paused 0
[    32.685] (II) xfree86: Adding drm device (/dev/dri/card0)
[    32.686] (II) systemd-logind: got fd for /dev/dri/card0 226:0 fd 9 paused 0
[    32.688] (--) PCI: (0:0:2:0) 8086:0166:106b:00fb rev 9, Mem @ 0xc1400000/4194304, 0xb0000000/268435456, I/O @ 0x00003000/64
[    32.688] (--) PCI:*(0:1:0:0) 10de:0fd5:106b:00fc rev 161, Mem @ 0xc0000000/16777216, 0x90000000/268435456, 0xa0000000/33554432, I/O @ 0x00002000/128, BIOS @ 0x????????/524288
[    32.688] (WW) Open ACPI failed (/var/run/acpid.socket) (No such file or directory)
[    32.688] (II) LoadModule: "glx"
[    32.690] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libglx.so
[    32.697] (II) Module glx: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[    32.697] 	compiled for 1.18.4, module version = 1.0.0
[    32.697] 	ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 9.0
[    32.697] (==) AIGLX enabled
[    32.697] (II) LoadModule: "nouveau"
[    32.697] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/nouveau_drv.so
[    32.699] (II) Module nouveau: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[    32.699] 	compiled for 1.18.4, module version = 1.0.12
[    32.699] 	Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[    32.699] 	ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 20.0
[    32.699] (II) NOUVEAU driver 
[    32.699] (II) NOUVEAU driver for NVIDIA chipset families :
[    32.699] 	RIVA TNT        (NV04)
[    32.699] 	RIVA TNT2       (NV05)
[    32.699] 	GeForce 256     (NV10)
[    32.699] 	GeForce 2       (NV11, NV15)
[    32.699] 	GeForce 4MX     (NV17, NV18)
[    32.699] 	GeForce 3       (NV20)
[    32.699] 	GeForce 4Ti     (NV25, NV28)
[    32.699] 	GeForce FX      (NV3x)
[    32.699] 	GeForce 6       (NV4x)
[    32.699] 	GeForce 7       (G7x)
[    32.699] 	GeForce 8       (G8x)
[    32.699] 	GeForce GTX 200 (NVA0)
[    32.699] 	GeForce GTX 400 (NVC0)
[    32.699] (II) [drm] nouveau interface version: 1.3.1

I fixed the errors by forcing arch to load the nouveau driver. I did this by adding a 2-video.conf to /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/ on advice from the following forum post. However, the system still hangs when I startx. Is this because I don't have a proper login manager? I'm wondering if at this point I should attempt installing a desktop environment considering last time I tried this it b0rked my system and I had to reinstall. I'd prefer not to go through all of this again, does anyone have any advice?

yousuc

Member

From: Missouri

Registered: 2016-07-27

Posts: 19

Website

Re: [macbook pro 9,1]Black screen after booting into desktop environments.

Hi HermesJ,

First thing lets cleanup some errors and warnings:

sudo pacman -S xf86-video-nv xf86-video-nouveau xf86-video-vesa xf86-video-fbdev xorg-fonts-100dpi xorg-fonts-75dpi xorg-fonts-type1 acpid acpi_call

Now enable and start acpid service:

sudo systemctl enable acpid; sudo systemctl start acpid

You are left with a couple options, use bumblebee, or the other trying to use a nvidia prime setup(more difficult)
I'll use bumblebee for this example to get things started.
I prefer using DKMS. So I would install the nvidia stuff first

sudo pacman -S linux-headers nvidia-dkms nvidia-libgl nvidia-utils nvidia-settings opencl-nvidia

Now to install bumblebee/bbswitch

sudo pacman -S bumblebee bbswitch-dkms

If you get prompts to replace packages, select 'Yes'

Need to enable/start bumblebee service

sudo systemctl enable bumblebee; sudo systemctl start bumblebee

Add your username to the bumblebee group

sudo gpasswd -a yourusername bumblebee

Now lets edit /etc/mkinitcpio.conf

 sudo nano /etc/mkinitcpio.conf

Replace

MODULES=""

With

MODULES="bbswitch nvidia nvidia-modeset nvidia-uvm nvidia-drm"

Control-X and yes to save.

Now lets run mkinitcpio

sudo mkinitcpio -p linux

You should be able to reboot at this point.

I don't personally use/like KDE, I do prefer Gnome.

Let's take a look at the X11 setup.

sudo pacman -S xorg-server xorg-xinit xorg-twm xorg-xclock xterm xorg-utils

Try to startx

startx

If it displays and works, type exit in the left window to close x.

For Gnome, I would do the following to get it installed and started. This give you the bare bones gnome environment

sudo pacman -S gnome gnome-software

Now a good way to test your setup after that is installed.

sudo systemctl start gdm

If it displays a login and you can successfully log in. Great! Let's start 'gdm' on reboot. Open a terminal while in gnome and do:

sudo systemctl enable gdm

I'll stop here and wait to see what issues you may still have. I can try to help you further. Or anything else others may suggest for you.

Last edited by yousuc (2016-08-21 16:41:22)

hermesJ

Member

Registered: 2016-01-10

Posts: 7

Re: [macbook pro 9,1]Black screen after booting into desktop environments.

Hi HermesJ,

You are left with a couple options, use bumblebee, or the other trying to use a nvidia prime setup(more difficult)
I'll use bumblebee for this example to get things started.
I prefer using DKMS. So I would install the nvidia stuff first

sudo pacman -S linux-headers nvidia-dkms nvidia-libgl nvidia-utils nvidia-settings opencl-nvidia

Now to install bumblebee/bbswitch

sudo pacman -S bumblebee bbswitch-dkms

If you get prompts to replace packages, select 'Yes'

Need to enable/start bumblebee service

sudo systemctl enable bumblebee; sudo systemctl start bumblebee

Add your username to the bumblebee group

sudo gpasswd -a yourusername bumblebee

Now lets edit /etc/mkinitcpio.conf

 sudo nano /etc/mkinitcpio.conf

Replace

MODULES=""

With

MODULES="bbswitch nvidia nvidia-modeset nvidia-uvm nvidia-drm"

Control-X and yes to save.

Now lets run mkinitcpio

sudo mkinitcpio -p linux

You should be able to reboot at this point.

From what I've read bumblebee doesn't work on macbook's. I'm very hesitant to attempt to optimise my setup before I can even get it booting into my desktop.

For Gnome, I would do the following to get it installed and started. This give you the bare bones gnome environment

sudo pacman -S gnome gnome-software

Now a good way to test your setup after that is installed.

sudo systemctl start gdm

If it displays a login and you can successfully log in. Great! Let's start 'gdm' on reboot. Open a terminal while in gnome and do:

sudo systemctl enable gdm

I'll stop here and wait to see what issues you may still have. I can try to help you further. Or anything else others may suggest for you.

I understand this is probably my next step, the only problem is when I start X with twm added to my xinitrc file the computer hangs. I assume this isn't going to go away when I install gnome because this is the same problem I have been dealing with my last 10+ times I have tried to install Arch.

yousuc

Member

From: Missouri

Registered: 2016-07-27

Posts: 19

Website

Re: [macbook pro 9,1]Black screen after booting into desktop environments.

Not sure about bumblebee not working on Macbooks. If I still had my MacBook Pro, I could test that out. I have an Asus laptop that uses Intel and Nvidia 745M. Now bumblebee did work with it. But I dont like having to use 'optirun' to have an application use the nvidia card. I do prefer using Ubuntu instead, Ubuntu has better implementation that just works and works without having to declare optirun appname.

You shouldn't need to configure an xinitrc for TWM to run. It will use TWM over gnome(if installed) when 'startx'.

hermesJ

Member

Registered: 2016-01-10

Posts: 7

Re: [macbook pro 9,1]Black screen after booting into desktop environments.

Not sure about bumblebee not working on Macbooks. If I still had my MacBook Pro, I could test that out. I have an Asus laptop that uses Intel and Nvidia 745M. Now bumblebee did work with it. But I dont like having to use 'optirun' to have an application use the nvidia card. I do prefer using Ubuntu instead, Ubuntu has better implementation that just works and works without having to declare optirun appname.

Yeah apparently there is a physical MUK which controls the switching with macbooks which is different than the more well known optimus switching. Apple like with many other things, has made it particularly difficult in creating solutions for people who don't want to use OSX ($).

You shouldn't need to configure an xinitrc for TWM to run. It will use TWM over gnome(if installed) when 'startx'.

I just followed the TWM arch wiki when editing the xinitrc file. The reason I used twm was on the advice of Jason earlier in the post, to help figure out exactly what was wrong with the initial problem (blank screen after proceeding to login manager or login manager incapable of logging in).

At the moment it feels like my next step is installing gnome and most probably breaking it again.

yousuc

Member

From: Missouri

Registered: 2016-07-27

Posts: 19

Website

Re: [macbook pro 9,1]Black screen after booting into desktop environments.

Just took a look at your links you first posted. Nothing about those was really specific to 'macs' only. If you did choose to try a fresh install and just stop without adding X11, and install openssh, I could ssh in and finish the setup and post my findings here for others. Maybe send me a PM if you are interested.