Xorg repeatedly fails to start [Cannot run in framebuffer mode. Please specify busIDs for all framebuffer devices]

[Jonathan]

On restart it sometimes happens that I get a message to the effect that my graphics are operating in some kind of limited mode. An Xorg error is mentioned. On OK I get a few options such as 'try starting in default mode' and other options involving various possible tests, none of which seem to do much or have much effect.
Clicking on 'start in default mode' always (so far) allows me to continue normally however there follows a message 'ubuntu has experienced an error'
Wondering what's going on and whether I should be doing something different.
Somewhat ashamed of my ignorance. Been using Ubuntu for years but haven't bothered to delve into the OS :-)

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: xorg 1:7.7+13ubuntu3.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-66.75~16.04.1-generic 4.15.18
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-66-generic x86_64
.tmp.unity_support_test.0:

ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.19
Architecture: amd64
BootLog:

CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
CompositorRunning: compiz
CompositorUnredirectDriverBlacklist: '(nouveau|Intel).*Mesa 8.0'
CompositorUnredirectFSW: true
Date: Wed Oct 23 19:22:45 2019
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: xenial
DistroVariant: ubuntu
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, if not too technical
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2a42] (rev 07) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Lenovo Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller [17aa:20e4]
   Subsystem: Lenovo Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller [17aa:20e4]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2019-04-20 (186 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.6 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20190227)
MachineType: LENOVO 2241WJE
PccardctlIdent:
 Socket 0:
   no product info available
PccardctlStatus:
 Socket 0:
   no card
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-66-generic root=UUID=aade17ba-9d15-4eac-86b2-2a2a6c6230bf ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: xorg
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 12/14/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: 6FET92WW (3.22 )
dmi.board.name: 2241WJE
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: Not Available
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr6FET92WW(3.22):bd12/14/2011:svnLENOVO:pn2241WJE:pvrThinkPadT500:rvnLENOVO:rn2241WJE:rvrNotAvailable:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.family: ThinkPad T500
dmi.product.name: 2241WJE
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad T500
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.12.3+16.04.20180221-0ubuntu1
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.91-2~16.04.1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 18.0.5-0ubuntu0~16.04.1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 18.0.5-0ubuntu0~16.04.1
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core N/A
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev N/A
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati N/A
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel N/A
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau N/A
xserver.bootTime: Wed Oct 23 19:13:21 2019
xserver.configfile: default
xserver.devices:

xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log
xserver.outputs:

xserver.version: 2:1.19.6-1ubuntu4.1~16.04.2

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

This seems to be a recurring error in your logs:

[ 26.747] (EE)
Fatal server error:
[ 26.747] (EE) Cannot run in framebuffer mode. Please specify busIDs for all framebuffer devices

That's probably the issue.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

This looks like bug 982889, but that was fixed in 2013.

Still, since this is the only remaining instance of this bug I have heard of I would recommend upgrading to Ubuntu 18.04. It is also a long term support release and if you find gnome-shell is not well suited to this machine then you can still reinstall Unity (unity-session package).

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

See also bug 1865870