nvdia driver sometimes loads, sometimes does not boot

[slayer]

I have a laptop named ASUS TUF-F15, which comes with Intel and NVIDIA hybrid graphics.
I installed Linux Mint on secure boot and also entered the MOK keys.
Everything worked fine for the first boot,then after that, the Nvidia driver sometimes shows up and sometimes does not.
I am looking for a fix for this issue.

Thank You

[slayer]

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System:
  Kernel: 6.5.0-26-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: N/A
    Desktop: Cinnamon 6.0.4 tk: GTK 3.24.33 wm: muffin vt: 7 dm: LightDM 1.30.0
    Distro: Linux Mint 21.3 Virginia base: Ubuntu 22.04 jammy
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: ASUSTeK product: ASUS TUF Gaming F15 FX506HF_FX506HF
    v: 1.0 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: ASUSTeK model: FX506HF v: 1.0 serial: <superuser required>
    UEFI: American Megatrends LLC. v: FX506HF.307 date: 07/20/2023
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT1 charge: 44.7 Wh (92.0%) condition: 48.6/48.1 Wh (101.0%)
    volts: 12.2 min: 11.7 model: ASUS A32-K55 type: Li-ion serial: N/A
    status: Discharging
CPU:
  Info: 6-core model: 11th Gen Intel Core i5-11400H bits: 64 type: MT MCP
    smt: enabled arch: Tiger Lake rev: 1 cache: L1: 480 KiB L2: 7.5 MiB
    L3: 12 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 893 high: 1067 min/max: 800/4500 cores: 1: 800 2: 958
    3: 800 4: 800 5: 800 6: 800 7: 800 8: 970 9: 1048 10: 1067 11: 1012 12: 866
    bogomips: 64512
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel TigerLake-H GT1 [UHD Graphics] vendor: ASUSTeK driver: i915
    v: kernel ports: active: eDP-1 empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-1,HDMI-A-2
    bus-ID: 0000:00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:9a68 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: IMC Networks USB2.0 HD UVC WebCam type: USB driver: uvcvideo
    bus-ID: 3-7:3 chip-ID: 13d3:56a2 class-ID: fe01 serial: <filter>
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.4 driver: X: loaded: modesetting
    unloaded: fbdev,vesa gpu: i915 display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 508x285mm (20.0x11.2")
    s-diag: 582mm (22.9")
  Monitor-1: eDP-1 model: Chi Mei Innolux res: 1920x1080 dpi: 142
    size: 344x193mm (13.5x7.6") diag: 394mm (15.5") modes: 1920x1080
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel UHD Graphics (TGL GT1)
    v: 4.6 Mesa 23.2.1-1ubuntu3.1~22.04.2 direct render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Tiger Lake-H HD Audio vendor: ASUSTeK driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel bus-ID: 0000:00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:43c8 class-ID: 0403
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k6.5.0-26-generic running: yes
  Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 15.99.1 running: yes
  Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.48 running: yes
Network:
  Device-1: MEDIATEK MT7921 802.11ax PCI Express Wireless Network Adapter
    vendor: AzureWave driver: mt7921e v: kernel bus-ID: 0000:2d:00.0
    chip-ID: 14c3:7961 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp45s0 state: up mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
    vendor: ASUSTeK driver: r8169 v: kernel port: 3000 bus-ID: 0000:2e:00.0
    chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp46s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: IMC Networks Wireless_Device type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8
    bus-ID: 3-14:4 chip-ID: 13d3:3563 class-ID: e001 serial: <filter>
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: up address: <filter>
    bt-v: 3.0 lmp-v: 5.2 sub-v: 2303 hci-v: 5.2 rev: 2918
RAID:
  Hardware-1: Intel Volume Management Device NVMe RAID Controller driver: vmd
    v: 0.6 port: N/A bus-ID: 0000:00:0e.0 chip-ID: 8086:9a0b rev:
    class-ID: 0104
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 476.94 GiB used: 90.18 GiB (18.9%)
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: Intel model: SSDPEKNU512GZ size: 476.94 GiB
    speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 002C temp: 34.9 C
    scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 97.87 GiB used: 65.52 GiB (66.9%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p6
  ID-2: /boot/efi size: 96 MiB used: 31.1 MiB (32.4%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1
Swap:
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 2 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2
    file: /swapfile
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 52.0 C mobo: 27.8 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): cpu: 0
Repos:
  Packages: 2413 apt: 2383 flatpak: 30
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/graphics-drivers-ppa-jammy.list
    1: deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/graphics-drivers-ppa-jammy.gpg] https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/graphics-drivers/ppa/ubuntu jammy main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
    1: deb https://mirror.freedif.org/LinuxMint/packages virginia main upstream import backport
    2: deb https://mirrors.cloud.tencent.com/ubuntu jammy main restricted universe multiverse
    3: deb https://mirrors.cloud.tencent.com/ubuntu jammy-updates main restricted universe multiverse
    4: deb https://mirrors.cloud.tencent.com/ubuntu jammy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy-security main restricted universe multiverse
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pgdg.list
    1: deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/pgdg.pgp arch=amd64] https://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt jammy-pgdg main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscode.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64,arm64,armhf] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/code stable main
Info:
  Processes: 341 Uptime: 3m wakeups: 79 Memory: 15.35 GiB
  used: 2.19 GiB (14.2%) Init: systemd v: 249 runlevel: 5 Compilers:
  gcc: 11.4.0 alt: 11/12 Shell: Bash v: 5.1.16 running-in: gnome-terminal
  inxi: 3.3.13

[SMG]

Graphics:
Device-1: Intel TigerLake-H GT1 [UHD Graphics] vendor: ASUSTeK driver: i915
v: kernel ports: active: eDP-1 empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-1,HDMI-A-2
bus-ID: 0000:00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:9a68 class-ID: 0300
Device-2: IMC Networks USB2.0 HD UVC WebCam type: USB driver: uvcvideo
bus-ID: 3-7:3 chip-ID: 13d3:56a2 class-ID: fe01 serial: <filter>

Welcome to the forum, slayer.

I'm not sure what setting you are using or what the issue might be, but there is no Nvidia graphics devices showing in this output. There is the Intel GPU and your webcam showing. This is usually an indication that somehow the Nvidia GPU was disabled.

What setting are you using in the BIOS/UEFI for graphics? Many, but not all, laptops do have a setting so you may or may not find one.

What is the output of

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dpkg -l | grep -i nvidia

Please enclose the results in code tags as described in this tutorial Displaying terminal output in a post which has a graphic on using code tags.

[slayer]

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dpkg -l | grep -i nvidia
ii  libnvidia-cfg1-535:amd64                   535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                amd64        NVIDIA binary OpenGL/GLX configuration library
ii  libnvidia-common-535                       535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                all          Shared files used by the NVIDIA libraries
ii  libnvidia-compute-535:amd64                535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                amd64        NVIDIA libcompute package
ii  libnvidia-compute-535:i386                 535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                i386         NVIDIA libcompute package
ii  libnvidia-decode-535:amd64                 535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                amd64        NVIDIA Video Decoding runtime libraries
ii  libnvidia-decode-535:i386                  535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                i386         NVIDIA Video Decoding runtime libraries
ii  libnvidia-encode-535:amd64                 535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                amd64        NVENC Video Encoding runtime library
ii  libnvidia-encode-535:i386                  535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                i386         NVENC Video Encoding runtime library
ii  libnvidia-extra-535:amd64                  535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                amd64        Extra libraries for the NVIDIA driver
ii  libnvidia-fbc1-535:amd64                   535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                amd64        NVIDIA OpenGL-based Framebuffer Capture runtime library
ii  libnvidia-fbc1-535:i386                    535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                i386         NVIDIA OpenGL-based Framebuffer Capture runtime library
ii  libnvidia-gl-535:amd64                     535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                amd64        NVIDIA OpenGL/GLX/EGL/GLES GLVND libraries and Vulkan ICD
ii  libnvidia-gl-535:i386                      535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                i386         NVIDIA OpenGL/GLX/EGL/GLES GLVND libraries and Vulkan ICD
ii  nvidia-compute-utils-535                   535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                amd64        NVIDIA compute utilities
ii  nvidia-dkms-535                            535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                amd64        NVIDIA DKMS package
ii  nvidia-driver-535                          535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                amd64        NVIDIA driver metapackage
ii  nvidia-firmware-535-535.161.07             535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                amd64        Firmware files used by the kernel module
ii  nvidia-kernel-common-535                   535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                amd64        Shared files used with the kernel module
ii  nvidia-kernel-source-535                   535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                amd64        NVIDIA kernel source package
ii  nvidia-prime                               0.8.17.1                                   all          Tools to enable NVIDIA's Prime
ii  nvidia-prime-applet                        1.3.9                                      all          An applet for NVIDIA Prime
ii  nvidia-settings                            510.47.03-0ubuntu1                         amd64        Tool for configuring the NVIDIA graphics driver
ii  nvidia-utils-535                           535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                amd64        NVIDIA driver support binaries
ii  screen-resolution-extra                    0.18.2                                     all          Extension for the nvidia-settings control panel
ii  xserver-xorg-video-nvidia-535              535.161.07-0ubuntu0.22.04.1                amd64        NVIDIA binary Xorg driver

[SMG]

Everything worked fine for the first boot,then after that, the Nvidia driver sometimes shows up and sometimes does not.
I am looking for a fix for this issue.

What you have right now is a hardware problem and not an Nvidia driver problem.

If the operating system does not detect there is an Nvidia GPU, then the Nvidia drivers will not load.

Please check your computer's BIOS/UEFI and see if there is a setting to be able to switch between Hybrid graphics and the discrete (GPU) or some other similar GPU switching setting.

Are you dual-booting with Windows?

[slayer]

Yes, I am dual-booting Windows, both of them in UEFI mode, and both of them are on secure boot.
And there is a hybrid switch on the BIOS menu, but it is on Intel and Nvidia.

[SMG]

Yes, I am dual-booting Windows, both of them in UEFI mode, and both of them are on secure boot.
And there is a hybrid switch on the BIOS menu, but it is on Intel and Nvidia.

If the switch is on Hybrid mode, then both GPUs should show as devices in the inxi output (regardless of whether or not the Nvidia drivers load).

What does the following show

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lspci -nnk | grep -EA3 "3D|VGA"

[slayer]

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lspci -nnk | grep -EA3 "3D|VGA"
0000:00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation TigerLake-H GT1 [UHD Graphics] [8086:9a68] (rev 01)
	DeviceName: Onboard - Video
	Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. TigerLake-H GT1 [UHD Graphics] [1043:3088]
	Kernel driver in use: i915
ls /lib/modprobe.d/
aliases.conf                                     blacklist-nvidia.conf
blacklist_linux_5.15.0-101-generic.conf          fbdev-blacklist.conf
blacklist_linux-hwe-5.19_5.19.0-50-generic.conf  nvidia-graphics-drivers.conf
blacklist_linux-hwe-6.5_6.5.0-14-generic.conf    nvidia-runtimepm.conf
blacklist_linux-hwe-6.5_6.5.0-26-generic.conf    systemd.conf

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ls /etc/modprobe.d/
alsa-base.conf                  blacklist-oss.conf
amd64-microcode-blacklist.conf  blacklist-rare-network.conf
blacklist-ath_pci.conf          dkms.conf
blacklist.conf                  intel-microcode-blacklist.conf
blacklist-firewire.conf         iwlwifi.conf
blacklist-framebuffer.conf      nvidia-graphics-drivers-kms.conf
blacklist-modem.conf

[seasons]

You will probably need to use the prime-applet GUI switcher or prime-select command to switch back and forth (and then reboot).

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sudo prime-select query

I'd recommend using ondemand mode.

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sudo prime-select ondemand

(Reboot.) See this for some tips on how to use ondemand mode: viewtopic.php?p=2406728#p2406728

If Nvidia GPU doesn't show up with Hybrid graphics mode, then we may need to look at at dmesg or journalctl to see why

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sudo dmesg

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sudo journalctl -b

[slayer]

Hi there,
Despite doing what you said, my Nvidia GPU did not appear.
Here is the link to download the outputs of the two commands;
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ED5qkk ... drive_link

[SMG]

You will probably need to use the prime-applet GUI switcher or prime-select command to switch back and forth (and then reboot).

I've never seen the mode of the applet matter with regards to the GPUs showing in inxi output. The mode of the applet affects which drivers load, but not which GPUs show.

The setting in the BIOS/UEFI is usually what causes a GPU to show or not show. I have seen where people using bbswitch disable the Nvidia GPU, but there was no bbswitch listed in the nvidia package listing.

(I've not yet checked the dmesg output.)

[SMG]

Hi there,
Despite doing what you said, my Nvidia GPU did not appear.

Why are you using this kernel parameter nouveau.blacklist=1? Were you having a specific problem?

I checked inxi outputs of some other ASUS TUF's and the Nvidia GPU is on the usual busID 01:00.0 for those. I don't see any mention of that busID in this output nor anything which might suggest to me the presence of an Nvidia GPU.

I suggest you go into Windows and I think it is Device Manager where you check for the Nvidia GPU and make sure there is no yellow or red triangle on it.

[seasons]

I've never seen the mode of the applet matter with regards to the GPUs showing in inxi output. The mode of the applet affects which drivers load, but not which GPUs show.

Thanks. Makes sense.

[slayer]

Hello,
Every Windows driver is operating efficiently. I also had no problems with hybrid graphics in Arch Linux until I installed Linux Mint.
I guess I'll give Linux Mint another go and move to another distribution if it doesn't work.
I appreciate your help very much.

[SMG]

I guess I'll give Linux Mint another go ...

Boot to a live session of Linux Mint using the install usb and check the output of inxi -Gx to see if both GPUs show up.

There is nothing of which I am aware in Linux Mint which can prevent hardware from being recognized. If the system probes do not find the hardware, then the driver cannot load because the driver needs the hardware.