[SOLVED] Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Forum rules
Before you post read how to get help. Topics in this forum are automatically closed 6 months after creation.
seleoo

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by seleoo »

I can't log in after the reboot, green and black vertical lines on the screen. I can get into the terminal, do you want to run something?
User avatar
roblm
Level 15
Level 15
Posts: 5939
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2013 2:41 pm

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by roblm »

Reboot and at the grub boot menu select the correct line but don’t press Enter. Press the “E” key to edit. Use the Down arrow key to go down to the line that starts with: linux /boot/vmlinuz.............ro quiet splash $vt_handoff

Go to the end of the line. Add a space and then type: nomodeset

Press F10 to start your system.
seleoo

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by seleoo »

I did it, pressed F10 but the same issue, green and black vertical lines and I can't login my friend.
User avatar
roblm
Level 15
Level 15
Posts: 5939
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2013 2:41 pm

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by roblm »

Repeat the process but test these parameters instead of nomodeset:
pci=nomsi
noapic noacpi irqpoll


If that doesn’t work, then there is probably a compatibility problem with your hardware and the 304 driver. In the past, many users including myself experienced this. There is a newer nvidia-304.137 driver that can be downloaded from Nvidia’s website but it also didn’t work for me.
Otherwise, you will need to revert back to the nouveau driver. Press Ctrl+Alt+F1 to enter tty1 and use this command:
apt purge *nvidia*; reboot

Once the nouveau driver has been verified to be loading, then try creating the 1366x768 mode with xrandr, but first post the output of xrandr --prop
seleoo

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by seleoo »

Unfortunately, the other suggestions didn't work
Repeat the process but test these parameters instead of nomodeset:
pci=nomsi
noapic noacpi irqpoll

I ran

Code: Select all

apt purge *nvidia*; reboot
and I can log in now but the resolution issue insists.

After the reboot, I ran the following:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get update
and

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  libvdpau1 screen-resolution-extra
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.

Code: Select all

xrandr --prop
xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
Screen 0: minimum 640 x 480, current 1024 x 768, maximum 1024 x 768
default connected primary 1024x768+0+0 0mm x 0mm
   1024x768      61.00* 
   800x600       61.00  
   640x480       60.00  
seleoo

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by seleoo »

It keeps loading the vesa driver?

Code: Select all

inxi -Gx
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA G73M [GeForce Go 7600] bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: vesa (unloaded: fbdev) FAILED: nouveau
           Resolution: 1024x768@61.00hz
           GLX Renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 6.0, 128 bits)
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 18.0.5 Direct Rendering: Yes
My friend, roblm, your help is invaluable, maybe I have to return the monitor to my friend. As I can not afford to buy a new laptop right now, I should find/buy another external monitor but if the same problem occurs?
User avatar
roblm
Level 15
Level 15
Posts: 5939
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2013 2:41 pm

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by roblm »

I was just going to have you check for that. Use this command to check for a nvidia-graphics-drivers.conf and
nvidia-304_hybrid.conf files in /etc/modprobe.d: ls /etc/modprobe.d

If they still exist, then use this command to remove them:

Code: Select all

sudo rm /etc/modprobe.d/nvidia-graphics-drivers.conf /etc/modprobe.d/nvidia-304_hybrid.conf
Update the initial ramdisk and reboot: sudo update-initramfs -u; reboot

If they don't exist, then still use the command to update the initial ramdisk.

Use the inxi -G command again to check if nouveau is loading. If it is, then post the output of xrandr --prop
seleoo

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by seleoo »

The output of ls /etc/modprobe.d, everything OK

Code: Select all

ls /etc/modprobe.d
alsa-base.conf               blacklist-watchdog.conf
blacklist-ath_pci.conf       dkms.conf
blacklist.conf               fbdev-blacklist.conf
blacklist-firewire.conf      intel-microcode-blacklist.conf
blacklist-framebuffer.conf   iwlwifi.conf
blacklist-modem.conf         mlx4.conf
blacklist-oss.conf           vmwgfx-fbdev.conf
blacklist-rare-network.conf
I updated the initial ramdisk and reboot, the issue insists.

The nouveau driver is not loaded!

Code: Select all

 inxi -G
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA G73M [GeForce Go 7600]
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: vesa (unloaded: fbdev) FAILED: nouveau
           Resolution: 1024x768@61.00hz
           GLX Renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 6.0, 128 bits) GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 18.0.5
I have to leave for 2-3 hours, so I'll post back later. I'd like to thank you again for your help!
User avatar
roblm
Level 15
Level 15
Posts: 5939
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2013 2:41 pm

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by roblm »

Do you still have your Mint 18.3 MATE installation USB / DVD? If yes, then run a live session and check the output of inxi -G. If the nouveau driver is loading, then restart your system and use this command to re-install the nouveau driver:

Code: Select all

apt install --reinstall xserver-xorg-video-nouveau libdrm-nouveau2
Log out and back in. If that doesn’t work, then use this command:

Code: Select all

apt install --reinstall libgl1-mesa-glx libgl1-mesa-dri xserver-xorg-core xserver-xorg-video-nouveau libdrm-nouveau2
seleoo

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by seleoo »

I found the MATE 18.3 Installation DVD and I'm running a live session. It loads the VESA Driver! :shock:

https://imgur.com/a/TX2s3TO

I'll restart and try your last command.
seleoo

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by seleoo »

I also run your last command and restarted. The same... :evil:

Code: Select all

inxi -Gx
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA G73M [GeForce Go 7600] bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: vesa (unloaded: fbdev) FAILED: nouveau
           Resolution: 1024x768@61.00hz
           GLX Renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 6.0, 128 bits)
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 18.0.5 Direct Rendering: Yes
I'll give the damned back to my friend and I'll try to find another one. Your help and your patience can not be described in words! Thank you!
User avatar
roblm
Level 15
Level 15
Posts: 5939
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2013 2:41 pm

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by roblm »

Re-installing the nouveau driver was only to be done if the Live DVD showed the nouveau driver was loading.

The monitor is not the problem, so getting another won’t help.

You can try testing an older version of the 4.4 kernel, which may have better support for your older Nvidia GPU. I would start with 4.4.0-108 because it was the first one that protects against the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities. If that doesn’t help, then you can try older ones and use them at your own risk.

The only other method is to try installing older versions of the nvidia-304 driver, the 304.131, 132 and 134, but they will have to be downloaded from Nvidia's website.
seleoo

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by seleoo »

roblm, I'll try to download and install older versions of nvidia-304. I'll post back for the results.
seleoo

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by seleoo »

I tried several 4.4 kernels and previous nvidia-304 drivers but the problem insists, so I'll try this week a fresh install.
User avatar
roblm
Level 15
Level 15
Posts: 5939
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2013 2:41 pm

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by roblm »

Before the laptop’s screen quit working, did you ever check what video driver was loading?
seleoo

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by seleoo »

The nvidia driver.
User avatar
roblm
Level 15
Level 15
Posts: 5939
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2013 2:41 pm

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by roblm »

Mint 18.3 came with the 4.10 kernel, I think 4.10.0-38. You may upgraded from Mint 18 or 18.1, which used the 4.4 kernel.
seleoo

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by seleoo »

Mint 18.3 came with the 4.10 kernel, I think 4.10.0-38. You may upgraded from Mint 18 or 18.1, which used the 4.4 kernel.
I think I upgraded from Mint 18.1 but give me some time to confirm because I am not home now. The 4.4 kernels were very stable. Linux Mint was the best solution for this old laptop. I've tried 1-2 times the 4.15 kernels but I had issues with low resolution (as the current issue but with the laptop's screen) and high cpu & memory usage.
seleoo

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by seleoo »

I made a fresh install of Linux Mate 18.3 (kernel 4.10.0-38).

It is still loading the vesa driver and of course the resolution problem insists.

Code: Select all

inxi -Gx
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA G73M [GeForce Go 7600] bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: vesa (unloaded: fbdev) FAILED: nouveau
           Resolution: 1024x768@61.00hz
           GLX Renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 6.0, 128 bits)
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 18.0.5 Direct Rendering: Yes

Code: Select all

xrandr
xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
Screen 0: minimum 640 x 480, current 1024 x 768, maximum 1024 x 768
default connected primary 1024x768+0+0 0mm x 0mm
   1024x768      61.00* 
   800x600       61.00  
   640x480       60.00  

Code: Select all

ls /etc/modprobe.d
alsa-base.conf              blacklist-modem.conf         fbdev-blacklist.conf
blacklist-ath_pci.conf      blacklist-oss.conf           iwlwifi.conf
blacklist.conf              blacklist-rare-network.conf  mlx4.conf
blacklist-firewire.conf     blacklist-watchdog.conf      vmwgfx-fbdev.conf
blacklist-framebuffer.conf  dkms.conf

Code: Select all

 lspci -nnk | egrep -A3 -i "3D|VGA"
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: NVIDIA Corporation G73M [GeForce Go 7600] [10de:0398] (rev a1)
	Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] G73M [GeForce Go 7600] [1025:0090]
	Kernel modules: nvidiafb, nouveau
04:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries NetLink BCM5789 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express [14e4:169d] (rev 21)
seleoo

Re: Laptop External Monitor - Low resolution

Post by seleoo »

Should I first switch to another kernel (4.4.0-) and then through the Driver Manager, change graphic driver and apply intel-microcode?
Locked

Return to “Graphics Cards & Monitors”