[SOLVED] Uninstall Intel integrated graphics driver

[Yeyo117]

Hi everyone , I have some issues with an Acer Extensa 5220, it has an intel gm965 express chipset that started to act funny once I installed the official Intel driver on Windows (the PC simply shuts down after a few seconds).
So I tought that installing Linux, since it offers more control of the machine, and use some generic drivers could be the solution.
Indeed once I booted the USB installer in compatibility mode the laptop worked just fine and I completed the installation.
The problem occurred when the real installation booted, it defaults to the proper driver so the issue represents.
I would like to know if I can simply uninstall the driver or swap it with another one.
Thank you

[Pjotr]

Please generate an overview of your system like this:

- Launch a terminal window (this is how to launch a terminal window);

- Make the terminal window full screen, to avoid chopped lines;

- Copy/paste this command into the terminal:

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxpmrz

(if you type: the letter F is a capital letter, and don't omit the space after inxi!)

Press Enter.

Copy/paste the output in your next message.

[Yeyo117]

Please generate an overview of your system like this:

- Launch a terminal window (this is how to launch a terminal window);

- Make the terminal window full screen, to avoid chopped lines;

- Copy/paste this command into the terminal:

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxpmrz

(if you type: the letter F is a capital letter, and don't omit the space after inxi!)

Press Enter.

Copy/paste the output in your next message.

Thank you for your response, since the computer only works in recovery mode i had to get creative, but here it is:

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 5.4.0-74-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 
  Console: N/A Distro: Linux Mint 20.1 Ulyssa base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Acer product: Extensa 5220 v: 0100 serial: <filter> 
  Mobo: Acer model: Columbia v: Rev serial: <filter> BIOS: Phoenix v: 1.35 
  date: 07/03/2008 
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 14.4 Wh condition: 14.7/48.8 Wh (30%) 
  model: SONY Corp CONIS41 status: Unknown 
Memory:
  RAM: total: 2.91 GiB used: 123.6 MiB (4.1%) 
  Array-1: capacity: 4 GiB note: est. slots: 2 EC: None 
  max module size: 2 GiB note: est. 
  Device-1: M1 size: 1 GiB speed: 667 MT/s type: DDR2 
  Device-2: M2 size: 2 GiB speed: 667 MT/s type: DDR2 
CPU:
  Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Core2 Duo T7800 bits: 64 type: MCP 
  arch: Core Merom rev: B L2 cache: 4096 KiB 
  flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 10373 
  Speed: 1197 MHz min/max: 800/2601 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1289 2: 1226 
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics 
  vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI driver: N/A bus ID: 00:02.0 
  Display: server: X.org 1.20.9 driver: none tty: 80x25 
  Message: Advanced graphics data unavailable in console for root. 
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 82801H HD Audio 
  vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI Realtek ALC268 codec driver: snd_hda_intel 
  v: kernel bus ID: 00:1b.0 
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-74-generic 
Network:
  Device-1: Broadcom and subsidiaries NetLink BCM5787M Gigabit Ethernet PCI 
  Express 
  vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI driver: tg3 v: 3.137 port: 1c20 
  bus ID: 02:00.0 
  IF: enp2s0 state: down mac: <filter> 
  Device-2: Broadcom and subsidiaries BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY 
  vendor: Foxconn T77H030.00 Wireless Mini PCIe Card driver: b43-pci-bridge 
  v: N/A port: 1c20 bus ID: 04:00.0 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 223.57 GiB used: 7.08 GiB (3.2%) 
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Crucial model: CT240BX500SSD1 size: 223.57 GiB 
  temp: 31 C 
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 217.61 GiB used: 7.08 GiB (3.3%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/dm-0 
  ID-2: /boot/efi size: 511.0 MiB used: 4 KiB (0.0%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/sda1 
  ID-3: swap-1 size: 976.0 MiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/dm-1 
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 41.0 C mobo: 34.0 C 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Repos:
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list 
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list 
  1: deb http://packages.linuxmint.com ulyssa main upstream import backport #id:linuxmint_main
  2: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
  3: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
  4: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse
  5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
  6: deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner
Info:
  Processes: 89 Uptime: 5m Init: systemd Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0 Shell: bash 
  v: 5.0.17 inxi: 3.0.38

[Pjotr]

Very old and weak machine. I recommend to install the lightweight Xfce edition of Linux Mint 20.1. If that doesn't help enough, you're probably better of with super lightweight Bodhi Linux:
https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.com/p/bodhi.html

[Yeyo117]

Very old and weak machine. I recommend to install the lightweight Xfce edition of Linux Mint 20.1. If that doesn't help enough, you're probably better of with super lightweight Bodhi Linux:
https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.com/p/bodhi.html

I already installed the Xfce version of Mint, since I upgraded the CPU, added a 2GB RAM Stick and installed an SSD it was able to run Windows 10 just fine, it's only the integrated graphics that is faulty; I tried Vista, 7 an 10 and they all worked with the generic driver, I just couldn't put the computer in sleep mode, but didn't with the Intel one.
Since the PC completely worked with the Mint USB installer in compatibility mode I just have to recreate the same condition for the graphics in the real installation.
Thanks

[Pjotr]

I'm a bit confused here. The default driver for your Intel graphics is the optimal one. No need to install another driver, because the Linux kernel contains it by default.

Did you perchance attempt to install another Intel graphics driver? If so, that may well be the cause of all these problems.

[SMG]

Thank you for your response, since the computer only works in recovery mode i had to get creative, but here it is:

When you are running in Recovery Mode, then that disables the graphics drivers.

I'm not sure why you are running as root to get this inxi information, but some information is not being displayed because of that. That's one reason we did not know what version of Mint you installed.

This information is not showing any graphics driver installed. Nor is it showing a display driver installed.

Graphics:
Device-1: Intel Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics
vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI driver: N/A bus ID: 00:02.0
Display: server: X.org 1.20.9 driver: none tty: 80x25
Message: Advanced graphics data unavailable in console for root.

While it is common to see N/A when running in Recovery Mode, it is not common to see none for display drivers.

I think we need more information about what you have done because normally, the Intel Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics driver installs automatically from the kernel.

So I tought that installing Linux, since it offers more control of the machine, and use some generic drivers could be the solution.
Indeed once I booted the USB installer in compatibility mode the laptop worked just fine and I completed the installation.

Why did you use Compatibility Mode? What happens when you boot regularly with the usb (when you do not use compatibility mode)?

[Pjotr]

Well, strictly speaking you're always using a driver, because otherwise the device couldn't be used at all, which in this case would mean a dead and black screen. The Linux kernel contains a huge set of drivers, so hardware is usually truly "plug and play": the right driver is being activated automatically. No need to install anything then.

For Intel graphics the Linux kernel uses the specific driver for Intel graphics (provided to the Linux kernel by the Intel company itself), but there are also some low-performing extra stable generic drivers in the kernel. It may be that compatibility mode forces the use of one of the latter.

Anyway. Lots of strangeness here. Take some load of your graphics like this:
https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.c ... html#ID5.3
(item 5.3)

[Yeyo117]

I'm a bit confused here. The default driver for your Intel graphics is the optimal one. No need to install another driver, because the Linux kernel contains it by default.

Did you perchance attempt to install another Intel graphics driver? If so, that may well be the cause of all these problems.

Sorry for the late reply, no I didn't have any chance to install a new driver because the PC is unusable outside recovery mode.

Thank you for your response, since the computer only works in recovery mode i had to get creative, but here it is:

When you are running in Recovery Mode, then that disables the graphics drivers.

I'm not sure why you are running as root to get this inxi information, but some information is not being displayed because of that. That's one reason we did not know what version of Mint you installed.

This information is not showing any graphics driver installed. Nor is it showing a display driver installed.

Graphics:
Device-1: Intel Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics
vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI driver: N/A bus ID: 00:02.0
Display: server: X.org 1.20.9 driver: none tty: 80x25
Message: Advanced graphics data unavailable in console for root.

While it is common to see N/A when running in Recovery Mode, it is not common to see none for display drivers.

I think we need more information about what you have done because normally, the Intel Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics driver installs automatically from the kernel.

So I tought that installing Linux, since it offers more control of the machine, and use some generic drivers could be the solution.
Indeed once I booted the USB installer in compatibility mode the laptop worked just fine and I completed the installation.

Why did you use Compatibility Mode? What happens when you boot regularly with the usb (when you do not use compatibility mode)?

I was running as root because the shell in recovery mode defaults on it, however I did a fresh install to be 100% sure that nothing was touched, since I did the canonical

Code: Select all

apt-get update -> apt-get upgrade

that also installed a newer version of the kernel, and figured out how to export the information as user; here it is:

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 5.4.0-58-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 
  Console: tty 1 Distro: Linux Mint 20.1 Ulyssa base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Acer product: Extensa 5220 v: 0100 serial: <filter> 
  Mobo: Acer model: Columbia v: Rev serial: <filter> BIOS: Phoenix v: 1.35 
  date: 07/03/2008 
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 14.3 Wh condition: 14.7/48.8 Wh (30%) 
  model: SONY Corp CONIS41 status: Unknown 
Memory:
  RAM: total: 2.91 GiB used: 192.5 MiB (6.5%) 
  RAM Report: 
  permissions: Unable to run dmidecode. Root privileges required. 
CPU:
  Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Core2 Duo T7800 bits: 64 type: MCP 
  arch: Core Merom rev: B L2 cache: 4096 KiB 
  flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 10373 
  Speed: 1197 MHz min/max: 800/2601 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1240 2: 1223 
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics 
  vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI driver: N/A bus ID: 00:02.0 
  Display: server: X.org 1.20.8 driver: none tty: 80x25 
  Message: Advanced graphics data unavailable in console. Try -G --display 
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 82801H HD Audio 
  vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI Realtek ALC268 codec driver: snd_hda_intel 
  v: kernel bus ID: 00:1b.0 
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-58-generic 
Network:
  Device-1: Broadcom and subsidiaries NetLink BCM5787M Gigabit Ethernet PCI 
  Express 
  vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI driver: tg3 v: 3.137 port: 1c20 
  bus ID: 02:00.0 
  IF: enp2s0 state: down mac: <filter> 
  Device-2: Broadcom and subsidiaries BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY 
  vendor: Foxconn T77H030.00 Wireless Mini PCIe Card driver: b43-pci-bridge 
  v: N/A port: 1c20 bus ID: 04:00.0 
  Device-3: AboCom Systems RT2573 type: USB driver: rt73usb bus ID: 2-3:3 
  IF: wlx00120e995a42 state: up mac: <filter> 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 230.97 GiB used: 8.03 GiB (3.5%) 
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Crucial model: CT240BX500SSD1 size: 223.57 GiB 
  temp: 48 C 
  ID-2: /dev/sdb type: USB vendor: Generic model: STORAGE DEVICE 
  size: 7.40 GiB 
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 217.61 GiB used: 6.21 GiB (2.9%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/dm-0 
  ID-2: /boot/efi size: 511.0 MiB used: 4 KiB (0.0%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/sda1 
  ID-3: /media/usb size: 7.39 GiB used: 1.82 GiB (24.7%) fs: vfat 
  dev: /dev/sdb1 
  ID-4: swap-1 size: 976.0 MiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/dm-1 
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 64.0 C mobo: 63.0 C 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Repos:
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list 
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list 
  1: deb http://packages.linuxmint.com ulyssa main upstream import backport #id:linuxmint_main
  2: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
  3: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
  4: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse
  5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
  6: deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner
Info:
  Processes: 102 Uptime: 1h 19m Init: systemd Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0 
  Shell: bash v: 5.0.17 inxi: 3.0.38 

If I boot the installer in normal mode the PC reboots.

Well, strictly speaking you're always using a driver, because otherwise the device couldn't be used at all, which in this case would mean a dead and black screen. The Linux kernel contains a huge set of drivers, so hardware is usually truly "plug and play": the right driver is being activated automatically. No need to install anything then.

For Intel graphics the Linux kernel uses the specific driver for Intel graphics (provided to the Linux kernel by the Intel company itself), but there are also some low-performing extra stable generic drivers in the kernel. It may be that compatibility mode forces the use of one of the latter.

Anyway. Lots of strangeness here. Take some load of your graphics like this:
https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.c ... html#ID5.3
(item 5.3)

Yeah I would like to use the compatibility drivers in the real installation if it's possible, because any os that uses the intel ones crashes.

Thank you guys for your incredible interest and support, I really appreciate that

[SMG]

I was running as root because the shell in recovery mode defaults on it, however I did a fresh install to be 100% sure that nothing was touched, since I did the canonical

Code: Select all

apt-get update -> apt-get upgrade

that also installed a newer version of the kernel, and figured out how to export the information as user; here it is:

I do not know what you mean when you say you installed a newer version of the kernel. The latest kernel for LM20.1 is 5.4.-0-74.

System:
Kernel: 5.4.0-58-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0
Console: tty 1 Distro: Linux Mint 20.1 Ulyssa base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal

I did a search on this forum for Extensa 5220.

This thread Severe DC offset and noise under Linux on ALC268 indicates the graphic driver installs with both the 4.15 and 5.4 kernels in LM19.3. That does have a T7500 rather than the T7800 your computer has. That does not seem like enough of a difference to cause a problem in your case, but maybe it is.

Partition:
ID-1: / size: 217.61 GiB used: 6.21 GiB (2.9%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/dm-0
ID-2: /boot/efi size: 511.0 MiB used: 4 KiB (0.0%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/sda1
ID-3: /media/usb size: 7.39 GiB used: 1.82 GiB (24.7%) fs: vfat
dev: /dev/sdb1
ID-4: swap-1 size: 976.0 MiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/dm-1

It is unusual to see the usb set up to automatically mount.

Yeah I would like to use the compatibility drivers in the real installation if it's possible, because any os that uses the intel ones crashes.

There are no "compatibility drivers". Compatibility mode disables all graphic drivers and the computer runs in software rendering mode.

Compatibility mode also disables other drivers such as internet access drivers.

[Yeyo117]

I was running as root because the shell in recovery mode defaults on it, however I did a fresh install to be 100% sure that nothing was touched, since I did the canonical

Code: Select all

apt-get update -> apt-get upgrade

that also installed a newer version of the kernel, and figured out how to export the information as user; here it is:

I do not know what you mean when you say you installed a newer version of the kernel.
The latest kernel for LM20.1 is 5.4.-0-74.

Before I did the command

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get upgrade

the kernel was 5.4.0-58 after it was 5.4.0-74

System:
Kernel: 5.4.0-58-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0
Console: tty 1 Distro: Linux Mint 20.1 Ulyssa base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal

I did a search on this forum for Extensa 5220.

This thread Severe DC offset and noise under Linux on ALC268 indicates the graphic driver installs with both the 4.15 and 5.4 kernels in LM19.3. That does have a T7500 rather than the T7800 your computer has. That does not seem like enough of a difference to cause a problem in your case, but maybe it is.

I chose the CPU because on various forums, users said that was the best that could be installed and worked fine.

Partition:
ID-1: / size: 217.61 GiB used: 6.21 GiB (2.9%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/dm-0
ID-2: /boot/efi size: 511.0 MiB used: 4 KiB (0.0%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/sda1
ID-3: /media/usb size: 7.39 GiB used: 1.82 GiB (24.7%) fs: vfat
dev: /dev/sdb1
ID-4: swap-1 size: 976.0 MiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/dm-1

It is unusual to see the usb set up to automatically mount.

I mounted the USB to extract the terminal result

Yeah I would like to use the compatibility drivers in the real installation if it's possible, because any os that uses the intel ones crashes.

There are no "compatibility drivers". Compatibility mode disables all graphic drivers and the computer runs in software rendering mode.

Compatibility mode also disables other drivers such as internet access drivers.

I didn't know about that, I think that if it's possibile to enable this render mode it would be good enough. Thanks

[SMG]

I didn't know about that, I think that if it's possibile to enable this render mode it would be good enough. Thanks

You can add the kernel parameter nomodeset to disable just the graphics drivers. That would let other drivers load that Compatibility Mode normally disables.

If that is what you would like to do and need instructions to do it, just let us know.

[Yeyo117]

I didn't know about that, I think that if it's possibile to enable this render mode it would be good enough. Thanks

You can add the kernel parameter nomodeset to disable just the graphics drivers. That would let other drivers load that Compatibility Mode normally disables.

If that is what you would like to do and need instructions to do it, just let us know.

That's a good solution for my problem, if you can please tell me how to do it I'll try. Thank you very much

[SMG]

You can test the kernel parameter by doing it one time on your installed version of Mint by following the directions described in the Release Notes for Linux Mint 20.1 Cinnamon in the section on 'Solving freezes during the boot sequence'. That describes how to boot into grub and replace quiet splash with nomodeset. (Those instructions are preparation for installing Nvidia drivers which do not apply to your system, so you can ignore that later part of the instructions.)

If that gives you the results you want, you can modify grub to permanently use nomodeset using the below instructions on your installed system.

Open grub for editing with xed admin:///etc/default/grub
Change this line:

Code: Select all

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"

To this:

Code: Select all

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash nomodeset"

You then save the file.
Then update grub with sudo update-grub and all future boots of the computer will use that parameter.

[Yeyo117]

You can test the kernel parameter by doing it one time on your installed version of Mint by following the directions described in the Release Notes for Linux Mint 20.1 Cinnamon in the section on 'Solving freezes during the boot sequence'. That describes how to boot into grub and replace quiet splash with nomodeset. (Those instructions are preparation for installing Nvidia drivers which do not apply to your system, so you can ignore that later part of the instructions.)

If that gives you the results you want, you can modify grub to permanently use nomodeset using the below instructions on your installed system.

Open grub for editing with xed admin:///etc/default/grub
Change this line:

Code: Select all

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"

To this:

Code: Select all

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash nomodeset"

You then save the file.
Then update grub with sudo update-grub and all future boots of the computer will use that parameter.

So, since the PC didn't boot, I went once again into recovery mode and I edited GRUB with nano in the way you suggested, then I used the built-in function to update GRUB.
It works , after I let the PC resume the normal startup it went straight to the desktop. The only thing is that sleep mode doesn't work, just like in Windows, but i think that's a compromise I have to do. Thank you very much

[SMG]

It works , after I let the PC resume the normal startup it went straight to the desktop. The only thing is that sleep mode doesn't work, just like in Windows, but i think that's a compromise I have to do. Thank you very much

Sleep mode often tends to rely on using the hardware driver for the graphics rather than software rendering, so I am not surprised to hear there are some issues with sleep mode.

If you consider the issue resolved, please go to your first post in this thread, click the pencil icon and add [SOLVED] to the title so others know you no longer need help with this issue.

[Yeyo117]

It works , after I let the PC resume the normal startup it went straight to the desktop. The only thing is that sleep mode doesn't work, just like in Windows, but i think that's a compromise I have to do. Thank you very much

Sleep mode often tends to rely on using the hardware driver for the graphics rather than software rendering, so I am not surprised to hear there are some issues with sleep mode.

If you consider the issue resolved, please go to your first post in this thread, click the pencil icon and add [SOLVED] to the title so others know you no longer need help with this issue.

Yeah I think that the major issue is fixed, unless there is a "magical" way to enable sleep mode, I consider the problem solved. Thank you

[Larry78723]

If you have found the solution to your initial post, please open your original post, click on the pencil, and add (Solved) to the Subject.