grub2 problem - either 640x480 or no tty

graysky · 2010-11-16 21:54:36

If I allow the "GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep" option in /etc/default/grub to be enabled, grub2 comes up in 1024x768x32 just fine and I can see the boot process in 1024x768 as well. The problem is when runlevel 5 starts and gdm comes up, I can't hit ctrl+alt+F2 or F3, etc. to see my other tty in graphical mode. I just get a black screen. When I comment out that option in /etc/default/grub everything is in 640x480 but my ttys are there.

Thoughts?

falconindy · 2010-11-17 00:24:23

What video card?

Just a guess -- you need KMS, and setting a framebuffer via grub2 prevents this from happening.

ChoK · 2010-11-17 01:41:50

Try uvesafb. It works with proprietary driver, and you can have fancy resolutions in your tty (i.e. widescreen)

graysky · 2010-11-17 02:30:15

@falconindy - nvidia 8400 gs.
@chok - I shouldn't need that...

Last edited by graysky (2010-11-18 00:11:51)

graysky · 2010-11-18 00:11:24

This is really frustrating... now all I can do is boot into 640x480 despite my GRUB_GFXMODE=1024x768x24 -- any thoughts?

/etc/default/grub

# If you change this file, run 'update-grub' afterwards to update
# /boot/grub/grub.cfg.

GRUB_DEFAULT=0
GRUB_TIMEOUT=5
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR="Arch Linux"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""

# Uncomment to enable Hidden Menu, and optionally hide the timeout count
#GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=5
#GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true

# Uncomment to disable graphical terminal
#GRUB_TERMINAL=console

# The resolution used on graphical terminal
# note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
# you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
GRUB_GFXMODE=1024x768x24

# Uncomment to allow the kernel use the same resolution used by grub
GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep

# Uncomment if you want GRUB to pass to the Linux kernel the old parameter
# format "root=/dev/xxx" instead of "root=/dev/disk/by-uuid/xxx"
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_UUID=true

# Uncomment to disable generation of recovery mode menu entries
GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_RECOVERY="true"

# Uncomment and set to the desired menu colors.  Used by normal and wallpaper
# modes only.  Entries specified as foreground/background.
GRUB_COLOR_NORMAL="light-blue/black"
GRUB_COLOR_HIGHLIGHT="light-cyan/blue"

# Uncomment one of them for the gfx desired, a image background or a gfxtheme
#GRUB_BACKGROUND="/path/to/wallpaper"
#GRUB_THEME="/path/to/gfxtheme"

# Uncomment to get a beep at GRUB start
#GRUB_INIT_TUNE="480 440 1"

I ran grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg after I edited that file and a new .cfg was generated.

graysky · 2010-12-05 21:16:46

If I comment out the "GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep" line and rebuild my grub.cfg - how can I set the console resolution via KMS?

ak-89 · 2010-12-06 00:13:54

Setting GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep doesn't work with binary drivers, but it works with open drivers. If you want high resolution tty with binary nvidia driver, you need to use uvesafb or vesafb(good old vga-parameter on kernel command line). If you want KMS, you need to use nouveau, but you'll have to sacrifice vdpau, power management and 3D performance.

Arch Linux

#1 2010-11-16 21:54:36

grub2 problem - either 640x480 or no tty

#2 2010-11-17 00:24:23

Re: grub2 problem - either 640x480 or no tty

#3 2010-11-17 01:41:50

Re: grub2 problem - either 640x480 or no tty

#4 2010-11-17 02:30:15

Re: grub2 problem - either 640x480 or no tty

#5 2010-11-18 00:11:24

Re: grub2 problem - either 640x480 or no tty

#6 2010-12-05 21:16:46

Re: grub2 problem - either 640x480 or no tty

#7 2010-12-06 00:13:54

Re: grub2 problem - either 640x480 or no tty

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