Arch Linux

hjk321

Member

Registered: 2025-02-21

Posts: 10

nvidia dkms update renders laptop unbootable

Running the usual pacman update. I have the zen kernel with nvidia-open which means each major update theres an automatic dkms compilation. But this time around - I don't know why - maybe because I was operating on battery power and there was a bug with the discrete graphics not being initialized properly - but my computer hard crashed during the dkms hook. Like just instantly power cycled. Now, my grub bootloader only has a bios option.

I understand that I need to get myself a live USB and repair the install, but if anyone has any insights as to why this happened and how I can avoid it that would be great.

(Also, what the hell? This is 2025. I would have expected better from Linux by now. What's the point of a fallback kernel if you can't get to it?)

Edit: it looks like a lot of files in /boot were nuked like initramfs

Last edited by hjk321 (2025-09-15 04:21:33)

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 75,039

Re: nvidia dkms update renders laptop unbootable

Also, what the hell? This is 2025. I would have expected better from Linux by now.

I was operating on battery power and … my computer hard crashed during the dkms hook. Like just instantly power cycled

a lot of files in /boot were nuked like initramfs

I need to get myself a live USB and repair the install

insights as to why this happened and how I can avoid it that

* overheated
* underpowered
* bad RAM
* bad CPU

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Stress_testing and monitor the temperatures.

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