Linux Mint 20.2 Xfce on Dell XPS M1710 [SOLVED]

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freddylq
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Linux Mint 20.2 Xfce on Dell XPS M1710 [SOLVED]

Post by freddylq »

Hi, just installed Linux Mint on my Dell. Video display was nice but after a couple of restarts doesn't seem to have the correct drivers. Updating drivers doesn't detect any new drivers. Any help is appreciated. Here's my system:

Code: Select all

[code]
System:    Kernel: 5.4.0-80-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 Desktop: Xfce 4.16.0 
           tk: Gtk 3.24.20 wm: xfwm4 dm: LightDM Distro: Linux Mint 20.2 Uma 
           base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:   Type: Portable System: Dell product: MXG061 v: N/A serial: <filter> Chassis: type: 8 
           serial: <filter> 
           Mobo: Dell model: 0CF456 serial: <filter> BIOS: Dell v: A04 date: 12/18/2006 
Battery:   ID-1: BAT0 charge: 40.3 Wh condition: 68.5/79.9 Wh (86%) volts: 11.2/11.1 
           model: Sanyo DELL F51268 serial: <filter> status: Discharging 
CPU:       Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Core2 T7200 bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Core Merom rev: 6 
           L2 cache: 4096 KiB 
           flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 7979 
           Speed: 1995 MHz min/max: 1000/2000 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1995 2: 1995 
Graphics:  Device-1: NVIDIA G71M [GeForce Go 7900 GS] vendor: Dell driver: N/A bus ID: 01:00.0 
           chip ID: 10de:0298 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: nouveau,vesa unloaded: fbdev,modesetting 
           resolution: 1280x1024~N/A 
           OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 12.0.0 128 bits) v: 4.5 Mesa 21.0.3 compat-v: 3.1 
           direct render: Yes 
Audio:     Device-1: Intel NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio vendor: Dell 
           driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1b.0 chip ID: 8086:27d8 
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-80-generic 
Network:   Device-1: Broadcom and subsidiaries NetXtreme BCM5752 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express 
           vendor: Dell driver: tg3 v: 3.137 port: ef00 bus ID: 09:00.0 chip ID: 14e4:1600 
           IF: enp9s0 state: down mac: <filter> 
           Device-2: Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG [Golan] Network driver: iwl3945 v: in-tree:s 
           port: ef00 bus ID: 0c:00.0 chip ID: 8086:4222 
           IF: wlp12s0 state: up mac: <filter> 
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 223.57 GiB used: 14.63 GiB (6.5%) 
           ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Team model: T253X5240G size: 223.57 GiB speed: <unknown> 
           serial: <filter> 
Partition: ID-1: / size: 218.57 GiB used: 14.63 GiB (6.7%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda5 
USB:       Hub: 1-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 8 rev: 2.0 chip ID: 1d6b:0002 
           Hub: 2-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 2 rev: 1.1 chip ID: 1d6b:0001 
           Hub: 2-1:2 info: Dell Internal 2.0 Hub ports: 4 rev: 2.0 chip ID: 413c:a005 
           Hub: 2-1.2:3 info: O2 Micro Oz776 1.1 Hub ports: 3 rev: 1.1 chip ID: 0b97:7761 
           Device-1: 2-1.2.2:4 info: O2 Micro Oz776 SmartCard Reader type: Smart Card driver: N/A 
           rev: 1.1 chip ID: 0b97:7762 
           Hub: 3-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 2 rev: 1.1 chip ID: 1d6b:0001 
           Hub: 4-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 2 rev: 1.1 chip ID: 1d6b:0001 
           Hub: 5-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 2 rev: 1.1 chip ID: 1d6b:0001 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 59.5 C mobo: N/A 
           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 uma 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: 160 Uptime: 11m Memory: 3.17 GiB used: 1.11 GiB (35.1%) Init: systemd v: 245 
           runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0 alt: 9 Client: Unknown python3.8 client inxi: 3.0.38 
[/code]
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Oldbill
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Re: Linux Mint 20.2 Xfce on Dell XPS M1710

Post by Oldbill »

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SMG
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Re: Linux Mint 20.2 Xfce on Dell XPS M1710

Post by SMG »

freddylq wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 2:53 am Hi, just installed Linux Mint on my Dell. Video display was nice but after a couple of restarts doesn't seem to have the correct drivers.
What does that mean? What may have happened in between when it was nice and a couple of restarts?
freddylq wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 2:53 amUpdating drivers doesn't detect any new drivers.
Does this mean you checked Driver Manager and there were no drivers available? I would expect that is the case given the age of your graphics card.

Your graphics data indicates no device driver is installed. The nouveau driver should have installed. I believe that is the only graphics driver available. The oldest Nvidia driver which is still supported in Mint is the Nvidia-340 and your older card is not listed as being supported by that card.

Graphics: Device-1: NVIDIA G71M [GeForce Go 7900 GS] vendor: Dell driver: N/A bus ID: 01:00.0
chip ID: 10de:0298
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: nouveau,vesa unloaded: fbdev,modesetting
resolution: 1280x1024~N/A
OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 12.0.0 128 bits) v: 4.5 Mesa 21.0.3 compat-v: 3.1
direct render: Yes

I suggest you boot to a live session of Mint using your install media and run inxi -Gx to see if the nouveau driver installs. It is possible that LM20 is just too new for your system and you may need to use LM19.2 with the 4.15 kernel.
Oldbill wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 3:44 am This thread might help

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=350438&p=2023452&h ... s#p2023452
That driver does not support the Nvidia card in this thread, so that would only cause problems if one tried to use that.
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A woman typing on a laptop with LM20.3 Cinnamon.
freddylq
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Re: Linux Mint 20.2 Xfce on Dell XPS M1710

Post by freddylq »

I've had this issue before and would give up on Linux Mint on this machine. That's why I would restart the computer to see if the nouveau driver would load. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't. That is strange. No new driver available under driver manager. I will try your suggestion and report back. Thanks for the suggestions. :)
freddylq
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Re: Linux Mint 20.2 Xfce on Dell XPS M1710

Post by freddylq »

Ok, I did as you suggested with the Live CD and ran the command. The nouveau driver is not installed....but I did notice this pop up during the boot up process: GPU is missing power cables. Boot with nouveau.config=NvPowerCheck=0 to disable.

So, I started booting up with and without the power cord connected and after many many tries it seems that the nouveau driver will only get installed when the power cable is connected to the laptop. No cable, no driver. Where do I make the above referenced change ? :oops:
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Re: Linux Mint 20.2 Xfce on Dell XPS M1710

Post by SMG »

freddylq wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 5:06 amWhere do I make the above referenced change ?
Sounds like a hardware issue, but if the message indicates to boot with the kernel parameter you can try that.

I am not familiar with that kernel parameter and do not know exactly what it does. I did a search and found this GitHub: gungwald / lubuntu-16.04-powerpc-setup which lists the parameter as nouveau.config=NvPowerChecks=0 with an s on the end of the word Check. You might want to check the message again to verify the correct spelling.

This thread How to add a kernel parameter explains how to add the parameter. You can test it as a temporary parameter or add it as a permanent one (both explained in the thread). Let us know if you have questions.
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freddylq
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Re: Linux Mint 20.2 Xfce on Dell XPS M1710

Post by freddylq »

Tried the temporary fix and that worked. So I proceeded with the permanent fix and all OK. I will keep testing the laptop but it seems to be ok now in regards to the video driver. Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it. :D
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Re: Linux Mint 20.2 Xfce on Dell XPS M1710

Post by SMG »

freddylq wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:51 pmTried the temporary fix and that worked. So I proceeded with the permanent fix and all OK.
If you feel the issue is resolved, please go to your first post in this thread, click the pencil icon, and add [SOLVED] to the title so others know there is a solution in this thread.

By the way, was the correct kernel parameter the one with s on the end?
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freddylq
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Re: Linux Mint 20.2 Xfce on Dell XPS M1710

Post by freddylq »

Yes with an "s", it was a typo on my original post. Thank you again for leading me in the right direction.
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