Arch Linux fails to start graphical target

utkarshsingh99 · 2020-04-04 06:14:53

(I know questions like these have already been asked on the forum, but those weren't the exact problem I'm facing)

I had been using Arch Linux for over a week. The last task I did on my PC was experimenting with Desktop Environments (GNOME, Cinnamon, Enlightenment).
I finally used i3 Window Manager to configure stuff for its usage and switched it off.

When I try to boot my Arch Linux, a 2-line info about the booting process shows up:
```
Starting version 245.4-1-arch
/dev/sda10: clean, ___/___ files, ___/___ blocks
```

After a while, a blinking cursor takes up the screen and nothing moves forward.
Here's what I have tried:
1. Getting into TTY, and updating/upgrading the packages and rebooting.
2. Installing Linux-Zen (I'd assumed that if there's some fault in the kernel) and replacing files of linux with Linux-Zen files in the grub.cfg. (Ran grub-mkconfig later)

Last edited by utkarshsingh99 (2020-04-04 14:14:15)

seth · 2020-04-04 06:56:49

1. Getting into TTY, and updating/upgrading the packages and rebooting.

So the system actually *does* boot, only starting the graphical target fails?

I finally used i3 Window Manager to configure stuff for its usage and switched it off.

What *exactly* does that mean?
How do you start i3 (startx, some DM, autologin? …)

utkarshsingh99 · 2020-04-04 13:38:04

So the system actually *does* boot, only starting the graphical target fails?

Yes.

What *exactly* does that mean?
How do you start i3 (startx, some DM, autologin? …)

Starting and configuring i3 was one of the last tasks I did on my PC. The graphical User Interface worked fine during this time.
It was after this that I couldn't get any of the DEs working.

Last edited by utkarshsingh99 (2020-04-04 13:38:59)

Trilby · 2020-04-04 13:49:10

utkarshsingh99 wrote:

So the system actually *does* boot, only starting the graphical target fails?
Yes.

Then please edit your title to actually represent your problem.

seth wrote:

What *exactly* does that mean?
How do you start i3 (startx, some DM, autologin?

And what do you mean by "any DEs", which other ones are you trying to use? And how? Be specific. We don't know what you are doing unless you tell us.

Last edited by Trilby (2020-04-04 13:49:26)

utkarshsingh99 · 2020-04-04 14:20:27

Okay, I've changed the title.
I always started Desktop Environments or Window Managers through the login screen (autologin).
I have used Cinnamon, Enlightenment, GNOME and then i3.
LightDM was the default Display Manager.

Last edited by utkarshsingh99 (2020-04-04 14:32:39)

Slithery · 2020-04-04 14:23:54

utkarshsingh99 wrote:

Cinnamon was the default Desktop Manager.

No it wasn't, Cinnamon is a DE (desktop environment), not a DM (display manager).

seth · 2020-04-04 14:25:07

Do you use manjaro-archlinux?

utkarshsingh99 · 2020-04-04 14:36:16

@Slithery sorry about the DM blunder. I've updated my comment.
@seth, no, I use Arch Linux.

So I had recently disabled lightdm and enabled gdm. I switched it back to lightdm through systemctl in TTY, and after rebooting, the 'starting version ...' screen doesn't go out.
Instead, the cursor just blinks on the new 3rd line.
What could be the reason for this?

seth · 2020-04-04 14:43:39

There is no "default" anything in archlinux neither cinnamon (as stated before the edit), nor lightdm.

Edit: but Antergos used cinnamon and lightdm as defaults …

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Li … TTY_output

Otherwise please post a complete system journal ("sudo journalctl -b") and you entire pacman log (in case you wiped the x11 server w/ installing gnome)
You can use the tip from https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pastebin

Last edited by seth (2020-04-04 14:47:44)

V1del · 2020-04-04 14:45:44

So GDM worked and lightdm doesn't? Can you still switch TTYs? If you can please post the entire output of

sudo journalctl -b

post your lightdm configuration as well. Did you install and configure a greeter? See https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Li … TTY_output as well

Edit: Argh I need to F5 ...

Last edited by V1del (2020-04-04 14:47:06)

utkarshsingh99 · 2020-04-04 18:14:38

Okay, I worked it out.
Turns out, all I had to do was start the Display Manager service. It was enabled, but wasn't started. That's why the confusion.

pacman -S xorg xorg-server gnome
systemctl start gdm.service

It automatically brought up the lock screen and everything worked fine as before.

I believe I may not have been very clear from the beginning, and I apologize for this.
But thanks to drive me to the root of my problem @seth @V1del @Trilby @Slithery

V1del · 2020-04-04 18:56:19

That just doesn't make much sense in that context, you want your service to be enabled so that it comes up on your next reboot. if you have the issue again when you reboot you will be here again, but if GDM works then you still haven't fixed light dm.

If you are happy with switching to GDM and your issue appears to be fixed, please mark the thread as solved by editing the title in your first post.

Arch Linux

#1 2020-04-04 06:14:53

Arch Linux fails to start graphical target

#2 2020-04-04 06:56:49

Re: Arch Linux fails to start graphical target

#3 2020-04-04 13:38:04

Re: Arch Linux fails to start graphical target

#4 2020-04-04 13:49:10

Re: Arch Linux fails to start graphical target

#5 2020-04-04 14:20:27

Re: Arch Linux fails to start graphical target

#6 2020-04-04 14:23:54

Re: Arch Linux fails to start graphical target

#7 2020-04-04 14:25:07

Re: Arch Linux fails to start graphical target

#8 2020-04-04 14:36:16

Re: Arch Linux fails to start graphical target

#9 2020-04-04 14:43:39

Re: Arch Linux fails to start graphical target

#10 2020-04-04 14:45:44

Re: Arch Linux fails to start graphical target

#11 2020-04-04 18:14:38

Re: Arch Linux fails to start graphical target

#12 2020-04-04 18:56:19

Re: Arch Linux fails to start graphical target

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