[Solved] HDMI missconfig after upgrade?

[ccprog]

I have upgraded from LMDE1 to LDME2 - in principle successfully. The system boots and runs but for one exeption: when connecting the monitor by HDMI, the monitor goes black when using the new (3.16.0-4) kernel. It is clear the system still boots, but I can see neither the MDM session nor a console. The monitor gives an error message about a "non-supported mode". The signal gets lost more or less immediately after grub starts the kernel.

I can see the system on the monitor

• when using a VGA connection
• can't tell you about DVI, I have no cable at hand
• when booting with the old (3.11-2) kernel

Also, when booting the live LMDE2 DVD, the the HDMI connection works just fine with the 3.16 kernel.

System - LMDE2 Cinnamon 64bit
Processor - Pentium Dual Core E5300
Grafics - Intel 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller G41
Monitor - Samsung SyncMaster P2270HD

My conclusion is it's not the kernel itself that poses the problem but some sort of missconfiguration. But at what part of the system?

[ccprog]

In the meantime I found one more occurence of the error. Executing sudo lshw will immediately turn the monitor black, regardless of the kernel or whether it is LMDE 1 or 2. Only while on the live DVD the HDMI signal survives intact.

Executing lshw as a normal user will not trigger the problem. No option for passing tests (like -disable dmi) or filtering for hardware classes makes any difference.

Since the system is actually still running, although I can't see it, I ran xrandr --verbose >> xrandr.txt before and after loosing the monitor signal. Both results were identical and as follows:

Code: Select all

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 8192 x 8192
VGA1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
	Identifier: 0x41
	Timestamp:  25189
	Subpixel:   unknown
	Clones:    
	CRTCs:      0 1
	Transform:  1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
	            0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
	            0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
	           filter: 
HDMI1 connected 1920x1080+0+0 (0x47) normal (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 476mm x 268mm
	Identifier: 0x42
	Timestamp:  25189
	Subpixel:   unknown
	Gamma:      1.0:1.0:1.0
	Brightness: 1.0
	Clones:    
	CRTC:       0
	CRTCs:      0 1
	Transform:  1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
	            0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
	            0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
	           filter: 
	EDID: 
		00ffffffffffff004c2d780532324645
		0b13010380301b782b3581a656489a24
		125054bfef80714f8100814081809500
		a940b3000101023a801871382d40582c
		4500dc0c1100001e000000fd00384b1e
		5111000a202020202020000000fc0053
		796e634d61737465720a2020000000ff
		004831414b3530303030300a20200069
	Broadcast RGB: Automatic 
		supported: Automatic, Full, Limited 16:235
	audio: auto 
		supported: force-dvi, off, auto, on
  1920x1080 (0x47) 148.500MHz +HSync +VSync *current +preferred
        h: width  1920 start 2008 end 2052 total 2200 skew    0 clock  67.50KHz
        v: height 1080 start 1084 end 1089 total 1125           clock  60.00Hz
  1600x1200 (0x48) 162.000MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width  1600 start 1664 end 1856 total 2160 skew    0 clock  75.00KHz
        v: height 1200 start 1201 end 1204 total 1250           clock  60.00Hz
  1680x1050 (0x49) 119.000MHz +HSync -VSync
        h: width  1680 start 1728 end 1760 total 1840 skew    0 clock  64.67KHz
        v: height 1050 start 1053 end 1059 total 1080           clock  59.88Hz
  1680x945 (0x4a) 131.481MHz -HSync +VSync
        h: width  1680 start 1784 end 1960 total 2240 skew    0 clock  58.70KHz
        v: height  945 start  946 end  949 total  978           clock  60.02Hz
  1400x1050 (0x4b) 101.000MHz +HSync -VSync
        h: width  1400 start 1448 end 1480 total 1560 skew    0 clock  64.74KHz
        v: height 1050 start 1053 end 1057 total 1080           clock  59.95Hz
  1600x900 (0x4c) 118.963MHz -HSync +VSync
        h: width  1600 start 1696 end 1864 total 2128 skew    0 clock  55.90KHz
        v: height  900 start  901 end  904 total  932           clock  59.98Hz
  1280x1024 (0x4d) 135.000MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width  1280 start 1296 end 1440 total 1688 skew    0 clock  79.98KHz
        v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066           clock  75.02Hz
  1280x1024 (0x4e) 108.000MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width  1280 start 1328 end 1440 total 1688 skew    0 clock  63.98KHz
        v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066           clock  60.02Hz
  1440x900 (0x4f) 136.750MHz -HSync +VSync
        h: width  1440 start 1536 end 1688 total 1936 skew    0 clock  70.64KHz
        v: height  900 start  903 end  909 total  942           clock  74.98Hz
  1440x900 (0x50) 88.750MHz +HSync -VSync
        h: width  1440 start 1488 end 1520 total 1600 skew    0 clock  55.47KHz
        v: height  900 start  903 end  909 total  926           clock  59.90Hz
  1280x960 (0x51) 108.000MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width  1280 start 1376 end 1488 total 1800 skew    0 clock  60.00KHz
        v: height  960 start  961 end  964 total 1000           clock  60.00Hz
  1366x768 (0x52) 85.885MHz -HSync +VSync
        h: width  1366 start 1439 end 1583 total 1800 skew    0 clock  47.71KHz
        v: height  768 start  769 end  772 total  795           clock  60.02Hz
  1360x768 (0x53) 85.500MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width  1360 start 1424 end 1536 total 1792 skew    0 clock  47.71KHz
        v: height  768 start  771 end  777 total  795           clock  60.02Hz
  1280x800 (0x54) 106.500MHz -HSync +VSync
        h: width  1280 start 1360 end 1488 total 1696 skew    0 clock  62.79KHz
        v: height  800 start  803 end  809 total  838           clock  74.93Hz
  1280x800 (0x55) 71.000MHz +HSync -VSync
        h: width  1280 start 1328 end 1360 total 1440 skew    0 clock  49.31KHz
        v: height  800 start  803 end  809 total  823           clock  59.91Hz
  1152x864 (0x56) 108.000MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width  1152 start 1216 end 1344 total 1600 skew    0 clock  67.50KHz
        v: height  864 start  865 end  868 total  900           clock  75.00Hz
  1280x768 (0x57) 102.250MHz +HSync -VSync
        h: width  1280 start 1360 end 1488 total 1696 skew    0 clock  60.29KHz
        v: height  768 start  771 end  778 total  805           clock  74.89Hz
  1280x768 (0x58) 68.250MHz +HSync -VSync
        h: width  1280 start 1328 end 1360 total 1440 skew    0 clock  47.40KHz
        v: height  768 start  771 end  778 total  790           clock  59.99Hz
  1024x768 (0x59) 78.800MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width  1024 start 1040 end 1136 total 1312 skew    0 clock  60.06KHz
        v: height  768 start  769 end  772 total  800           clock  75.08Hz
  1024x768 (0x5a) 75.000MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width  1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1328 skew    0 clock  56.48KHz
        v: height  768 start  771 end  777 total  806           clock  70.07Hz
  1024x768 (0x5b) 65.000MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width  1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1344 skew    0 clock  48.36KHz
        v: height  768 start  771 end  777 total  806           clock  60.00Hz
  1024x576 (0x5c) 46.970MHz -HSync +VSync
        h: width  1024 start 1064 end 1168 total 1312 skew    0 clock  35.80KHz
        v: height  576 start  577 end  580 total  597           clock  59.97Hz
  832x624 (0x5d) 57.284MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width   832 start  864 end  928 total 1152 skew    0 clock  49.73KHz
        v: height  624 start  625 end  628 total  667           clock  74.55Hz
  800x600 (0x5e) 50.000MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width   800 start  856 end  976 total 1040 skew    0 clock  48.08KHz
        v: height  600 start  637 end  643 total  666           clock  72.19Hz
  800x600 (0x5f) 49.500MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width   800 start  816 end  896 total 1056 skew    0 clock  46.88KHz
        v: height  600 start  601 end  604 total  625           clock  75.00Hz
  800x600 (0x60) 40.000MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width   800 start  840 end  968 total 1056 skew    0 clock  37.88KHz
        v: height  600 start  601 end  605 total  628           clock  60.32Hz
  800x600 (0x61) 36.000MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width   800 start  824 end  896 total 1024 skew    0 clock  35.16KHz
        v: height  600 start  601 end  603 total  625           clock  56.25Hz
  848x480 (0x62) 33.750MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width   848 start  864 end  976 total 1088 skew    0 clock  31.02KHz
        v: height  480 start  486 end  494 total  517           clock  60.00Hz
  640x480 (0x63) 31.500MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width   640 start  656 end  720 total  840 skew    0 clock  37.50KHz
        v: height  480 start  481 end  484 total  500           clock  75.00Hz
  640x480 (0x64) 31.500MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width   640 start  664 end  704 total  832 skew    0 clock  37.86KHz
        v: height  480 start  489 end  491 total  520           clock  72.81Hz
  640x480 (0x65) 30.240MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width   640 start  704 end  768 total  864 skew    0 clock  35.00KHz
        v: height  480 start  483 end  486 total  525           clock  66.67Hz
  640x480 (0x66) 25.200MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width   640 start  656 end  752 total  800 skew    0 clock  31.50KHz
        v: height  480 start  490 end  492 total  525           clock  60.00Hz
  720x400 (0x67) 28.320MHz -HSync +VSync
        h: width   720 start  738 end  846 total  900 skew    0 clock  31.47KHz
        v: height  400 start  412 end  414 total  449           clock  70.08Hz
DP1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
	Identifier: 0x43
	Timestamp:  25189
	Subpixel:   unknown
	Clones:    
	CRTCs:      0 1
	Transform:  1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
	            0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
	            0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
	           filter: 
	Broadcast RGB: Automatic 
		supported: Automatic, Full, Limited 16:235
	audio: auto 
		supported: force-dvi, off, auto, on
HDMI2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
	Identifier: 0x44
	Timestamp:  25189
	Subpixel:   unknown
	Clones:    
	CRTCs:      0 1
	Transform:  1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
	            0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
	            0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
	           filter: 
	Broadcast RGB: Automatic 
		supported: Automatic, Full, Limited 16:235
	audio: auto 
		supported: force-dvi, off, auto, on
DP2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
	Identifier: 0x45
	Timestamp:  25189
	Subpixel:   unknown
	Clones:    
	CRTCs:      0 1
	Transform:  1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
	            0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
	            0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
	           filter: 
	Broadcast RGB: Automatic 
		supported: Automatic, Full, Limited 16:235
	audio: auto 
		supported: force-dvi, off, auto, on

sudo lshw -C video > lshw.txt shows

Code: Select all

  *-display:0
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
       version: 03
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
       resources: irq:42 memory:fe400000-fe7fffff memory:e0000000-efffffff ioport:dc00(size=8)
  *-display:1 UNCLAIMED
       description: Display controller
       product: 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2.1
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.1
       version: 03
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
       configuration: latency=0
       resources: memory:fea00000-feafffff

[daniel.martello]

I have upgraded from LMDE1 to LDME2 - in principle successfully. The system boots and runs but for one exeption: when connecting the monitor by HDMI, the monitor goes black when using the new (3.16.0-4) kernel. It is clear the system still boots, but I can see neither the MDM session nor a console. The monitor gives an error message about a "non-supported mode". The signal gets lost more or less immediately after grub starts the kernel.

I can see the system on the monitor

• when using a VGA connection
• can't tell you about DVI, I have no cable at hand
• when booting with the old (3.11-2) kernel

Also, when booting the live LMDE2 DVD, the the HDMI connection works just fine with the 3.16 kernel.

System - LMDE2 Cinnamon 64bit
Processor - Pentium Dual Core E5300
Grafics - Intel 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller G41
Monitor - Samsung SyncMaster P2270HD

My conclusion is it's not the kernel itself that poses the problem but some sort of missconfiguration. But at what part of the system?

Same hapoened to me?
Why are there 2 kernel versions of LMDE2?
What is the difference?
Could you solve the issue?

[ccprog]

Why are there 2 kernel versions of LMDE2?
What is the difference?

The kernel from before the upgrade isn't deinstalled. (And that's a prety good idea, if you ask me.)

Could you solve the issue?

Not solve, but I found a dirty trick for now.

I am now certain the culprit is not the Xorg part of the driver, but the kerrnel module. The monitor looses the signal on the 3.16 kernel boot long before the X server starts. When the signal gets lost with the 3.11 kernel, xrandr is not aware of any mode change.

Nonetheless, it can do something about it. As I said, if I have an active console at the time the signal gets corrupted, I can type on blindly. If at that time the screen mode is 1920x1080, and I type

Code: Select all

xrandr --output HDMI1 --mode 1920x1080

nothing happens. But if I type

Code: Select all

xrandr --output HDMI1 --mode 1280x1024

the monitor comes back to life, albeit at the lower resolution. But that is easily corrected by changing it back.

So, in the first case the X server does nothing because it thinks that the signal mode has never changed. But if another change is made, the driver gets back into a mode the monitor can handle.

And that is my dirty trick. I run a startup script after the X server has started that decreases the screen resulution and changes it back immediately. After that, I have a working monitor even with the 3.16 kernel.

So what is wrong with the kernel module? It can not be the module itself, as the two kernels run seperate versions. It must be some extra configuration file somewhere else, but I have no idea where to search for that.

[daniel.martello]

Well, sadly I am an quite rookie linux user, i cant help much. i wonder if this issue hsppens in a clean installation too

[daniel.martello]

I finally did a clean install and works alright!

[nldeur01]

Although you solved the problem by a clean install, I can tell you why the xrandr command did not work.
You must first give the command:
xrandr --addmode HDMI1 1920x1080
This adds the 1920x1080 resolution to HDMI1 as an allowable resolution.
After this, your command "xrandr --output HDMI1 --mode 1920x1080" will accepted.
Today I had a similar problem to get a correct resolution for one of my screens. I solved it in the above way.

[biggocharley]

I am getting the same results with VGA instead of HDMI1. running LDME2 (upgraded from LDME1). The system won't boot normally --the boot is interrupted with the message from the monitor re the "wrong resolution". However the system boots flawlessly in the recovery mode. My system is 64 bit lmde2 mate.

[ccprog]

I finally found two variants that worked for me. To display the splash screen at system boot, the program plymouth tries to use a DRM driver to establish the screen characteristics, and that is where things go wrong.

Solution 1: Disable the splash screen
To try this out, enter the grub menu and edit the startup command. Delete "splash" in the line where it says

Code: Select all

linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.16.0-4-amd64 root=... ro  quiet splash

If this works, you can make it permanent by editing /etc/default/grub. Delete "splash" in the line where it says

Code: Select all

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"

Then run

Code: Select all

sudo update-grub

Solution 2: Disable the uvesafb driver in initrd

I am not completely sure if this entry is there after a fresh install, but I have now seen it on two systems after an upgrade from LMDE1. Look at the file /etc/initramfs-tools/modules. For me, there is one active line:

Code: Select all

uvesafb mode_option=1024x768-24 mtrr=3 scroll=ywrap

This seems to be the offending driver, which is loaded with a fixed screen resolution (and which by the way is not a DRM driver but a generic framebuffer device driver). I have now disabled loading the driver for the initramfs, which seems not to have any detrimental effects, but solves the screen problem and displays the splash screen just fine. Maybe it would have sufficed to change the mode_option, or to leave out this argument, I have not tried it.

Disabling is done by commenting the line ("# " at the start of the line) and running

Code: Select all

sudo update-initramfs -u