Ubuntu

Screen blinking problem

Bug #1956263 reported by Bruce Miller on 2022-01-03

This bug affects 1 person

Affects		Status	Importance	Assigned to	Milestone
	Ubuntu	Invalid	Undecided	Unassigned

Bug Description

I have been using ubuntu for nearly ten years, but have only recently started taking things seriously. My particular issue is that every now and then I have a screen blinking problem. I have done a bunch of research, and it points to the grub configuration. I have downloaded and installed grub customizer. But I am not sure what all the options are and am afraid of messing anyting up. Not sure that coming here will help, or how I can pay for any help. Thanks for reading, and for any help you are able to provide. PS I am running Ubundu 20.03 on a System 76 Mini box.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
Package: xorg 1:7.7+19ubuntu14
Uname: Linux 5.15.5-76051505-generic x86_64
.tmp.unity_support_test.0:

ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.21
Architecture: amd64
BootLog:

CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
CompositorRunning: None
Date: Mon Jan 3 18:28:39 2022
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: focal
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DpkgLog:

ExtraDebuggingInterest: I just need to know a workaround
GraphicsCard:
Intel Corporation Iris Plus Graphics 655 [8086:3ea5] (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Iris Plus Graphics 655 [8086:2074]
Lsusb:
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0bda:8176 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8188CUS 802.11n WLAN Adapter
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 046d:c52b Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 8087:0aaa Intel Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
MachineType: System76 Meerkat
ProcEnviron:
PATH=(custom, no user)
LANG=en_US.UTF-8
SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.15.5-76051505-generic root=UUID=bcaa96a9-3ebb-4f61-8b4d-bf8382de31aa ro
Renderer: Software
SourcePackage: xorg
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 11/28/2018
dmi.bios.release: 5.6
dmi.bios.vendor: Intel Corp.
dmi.bios.version: BECFL357.86A.0056.2018.1128.1717
dmi.board.name: NUC8BEB
dmi.board.vendor: Intel Corporation
dmi.board.version: J72693-304
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: System76
dmi.chassis.version: meer4
dmi.ec.firmware.release: 3.20
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnIntelCorp.:bvrBECFL357.86A.0056.2018.1128.1717:bd11/28/2018:br5.6:efr3.20:svnSystem76:pnMeerkat:pvrmeer4:rvnIntelCorporation:rnNUC8BEB:rvrJ72693-304:cvnSystem76:ct3:cvrmeer4:skuBOXNUC8i3BEK:
dmi.product.family: Intel NUC
dmi.product.name: Meerkat
dmi.product.sku: BOXNUC8i3BEK
dmi.product.version: meer4
dmi.sys.vendor: System76
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.14.1+20.04.20200211-0ubuntu1
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.107-8ubuntu1pop0~1634226451~20.04~d7878ab~dev
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 21.2.2-1ubuntu1pop0~1634226723~20.04~b715ae2~dev
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 21.2.2-1ubuntu1pop0~1634226723~20.04~b715ae2~dev
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.20.11-1ubuntu1~20.04.2
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.10.6-1
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:19.1.0-1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.917+git20200226-1
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.16-1
xserver.bootTime: Tue Dec 17 17:36:58 2019
xserver.configfile: default
xserver.devices:
input Power Button KEYBOARD, id 6
input Power Button KEYBOARD, id 7
input Sleep Button KEYBOARD, id 8
xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log
xserver.version: 2:1.19.6-1ubuntu4.3

Tags:

Revision history for this message

Bruce Miller (bmillerworks) wrote on 2022-01-03:

CurrentDmesg.txt Edit (86.6 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
Dependencies.txt Edit (25.9 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
DkmsStatus.txt Edit (539 bytes, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
Lspci.txt Edit (32.5 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
Lspci-vt.txt Edit (1.2 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
Lsusb-t.txt Edit (579 bytes, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
Lsusb-v.txt Edit (24.5 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
ProcCpuinfo.txt Edit (5.7 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
ProcCpuinfoMinimal.txt Edit (1.4 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
ProcInterrupts.txt Edit (3.4 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
ProcModules.txt Edit (8.5 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
UdevDb.txt Edit (208.9 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
UnitySupportTest.txt Edit (620 bytes, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
XorgLog.txt Edit (39.3 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
XorgLogOld.txt Edit (45.4 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
Xrandr.txt Edit (5.5 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
acpidump.txt Edit (1.5 MiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
xdpyinfo.txt Edit (144.9 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
xserver.errors.txt Edit (326 bytes, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
xserver.outputs.txt Edit (480 bytes, text/plain; charset="utf-8")

Revision history for this message

Chris Guiver (guiverc) wrote on 2022-01-04:

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better.

Unfortunately, we cannot work on this bug because your description didn't include enough information. You may find it helpful to read "How to report bugs effectively" http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/bugs.html. We'd be grateful if you would then provide a more complete description of the problem.

We have instructions on debugging some types of problems at http://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingProcedures.

At a minimum, we need:

1. The specific steps or actions you took that caused you to encounter the problem.
2. The behavior you expected.
3. The behavior you actually encountered (in as much detail as possible).

Bug reporting is mostly about finding & fixing problems thus preventing future users from hitting the same bug.

I suspect a Support site would be more appropriate, eg. https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu. You can also find help with your problem in the support forum of your local Ubuntu community http://loco.ubuntu.com/ or asking at https://askubuntu.com or https://ubuntuforums.org, or for more support options please look at https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/community-support/709

You mention `grub` which is a boot loader; thus it's a boot issue and the OS doesn't start? Screen blanking can occur during the boot process (video hardware switches modes) for some hardware setups. Grub config has documentation; eg. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2/Setup but it's all geared at altering the boot process; or making the grub menu more appealing.

You're also not using Ubuntu kernel, with various 3rd party packages, such as what is found in a 3rd OS/source (eg. not `21.0.3-0ubuntu0.3~20.04.5` but `21.2.2-1ubuntu1pop0~1634226723~20.04~b715ae2~dev` so issues should be addressed with the 3rd party packager (possibly system76) as you're not using Ubuntu packages.

Changed in xorg (Ubuntu):
status:	New → Incomplete
affects:	xorg (Ubuntu) → xorg-server (Ubuntu)

Revision history for this message

Bruce Miller (bmillerworks) wrote on 2022-01-04: Re: [Bug 1956263] Re: Situationm

Download full text (6.4 KiB)

Thanks for getting back to me. Can you recommend one or two books to
help?

On Mon, Jan 3, 2022, 8:55 PM Chris Guiver <email address hidden>
wrote:

Thanks for getting back to me.  Can you recommend one or two books to
help?

On Mon, Jan 3, 2022, 8:55 PM Chris Guiver <1956263@bugs.launchpad.net>
wrote:

> Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make
> Ubuntu better.
>
> Unfortunately, we cannot work on this bug because your description
> didn't include enough information. You may find it helpful to read "How
> to report bugs effectively"
> http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/bugs.html. We'd be grateful
> if you would then provide a more complete description of the problem.
>
> We have instructions on debugging some types of problems at
> http://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingProcedures.
>
> At a minimum, we need:
>
> 1. The specific steps or actions you took that caused you to encounter the
> problem.
> 2. The behavior you expected.
> 3. The behavior you actually encountered (in as much detail as possible).
>
> Bug reporting is mostly about finding & fixing problems thus preventing
> future users from hitting the same bug.
>
> I suspect a Support site would be more appropriate, eg.
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu. You can also find help with your
> problem in the support forum of your local Ubuntu community
> http://loco.ubuntu.com/ or asking at https://askubuntu.com or
> https://ubuntuforums.org, or for more support options please look at
> https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/community-support/709
>
> You mention `grub` which is a boot loader; thus it's a boot issue and
> the OS doesn't start?  Screen blanking can occur during the boot process
> (video hardware switches modes) for some hardware setups. Grub config
> has documentation; eg. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2/Setup but
> it's all geared at altering the boot process; or making the grub menu
> more appealing.
>
> You're also not using Ubuntu kernel, with various 3rd party packages,
> such as what is found in a 3rd OS/source (eg. not
> `21.0.3-0ubuntu0.3~20.04.5` but
> `21.2.2-1ubuntu1pop0~1634226723~20.04~b715ae2~dev` so issues should be
> addressed with the 3rd party packager (possibly system76) as you're not
> using Ubuntu packages.
>
>
> ** Changed in: xorg (Ubuntu)
>        Status: New => Incomplete
>
> ** Package changed: xorg (Ubuntu) => xorg-server (Ubuntu)
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1956263
>
> Title:
>   Situationm
>
> Status in xorg-server package in Ubuntu:
>   Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
>   I have been using ubuntu for nearly ten years, but have only recently
>   started taking things seriously.  My particular issue is that every
>   now and then I have a screen blinking problem. I have done a bunch of
>   research, and it points to the grub configuration.  I have downloaded
>   and installed grub customizer.  But I am not sure what all the options
>   are and am afraid of messing anyting up.  Not sure that coming here
>   will help, or how I can pay for any help.  Thanks for reading, and for
>   any help you are able to provide.  PS  I am running Ubundu 20.03 on a
>   System 76 Mini box.
>
>   ProblemType: Bug
>   DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
>   Package: xorg 1:7.7+19ubuntu14
>   Uname: Linux 5.15.5-76051505-generic x86_64
>   .tmp.unity_support_test.0:
>
>   ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.21
>   Architecture: amd64
>   BootLog:
>
>   CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
>   CompizPlugins: No value set for
> `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
>   CompositorRunning: None
>   Date: Mon Jan  3 18:28:39 2022
>   DistUpgraded: Fresh install
>   DistroCodename: focal
>   DistroVariant: ubuntu
>   DpkgLog:
>
>   ExtraDebuggingInterest: I just need to know a workaround
>   GraphicsCard:
>    Intel Corporation Iris Plus Graphics 655 [8086:3ea5] (rev 01) (prog-if
> 00 [VGA controller])
>      Subsystem: Intel Corporation Iris Plus Graphics 655 [8086:2074]
>   Lsusb:
>    Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
>    Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0bda:8176 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8188CUS
> 802.11n WLAN Adapter
>    Bus 001 Device 002: ID 046d:c52b Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver
>    Bus 001 Device 004: ID 8087:0aaa Intel Corp.
>    Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
>   MachineType: System76 Meerkat
>   ProcEnviron:
>    PATH=(custom, no user)
>    LANG=en_US.UTF-8
>    SHELL=/bin/bash
>   ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.15.5-76051505-generic
> root=UUID=bcaa96a9-3ebb-4f61-8b4d-bf8382de31aa ro
>   Renderer: Software
>   SourcePackage: xorg
>   UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
>   dmi.bios.date: 11/28/2018
>   dmi.bios.release: 5.6
>   dmi.bios.vendor: Intel Corp.
>   dmi.bios.version: BECFL357.86A.0056.2018.1128.1717
>   dmi.board.name: NUC8BEB
>   dmi.board.vendor: Intel Corporation
>   dmi.board.version: J72693-304
>   dmi.chassis.type: 3
>   dmi.chassis.vendor: System76
>   dmi.chassis.version: meer4
>   dmi.ec.firmware.release: 3.20
>   dmi.modalias:
> dmi:bvnIntelCorp.:bvrBECFL357.86A.0056.2018.1128.1717:bd11/28/2018:br5.6:efr3.20:svnSystem76:pnMeerkat:pvrmeer4:rvnIntelCorporation:rnNUC8BEB:rvrJ72693-304:cvnSystem76:ct3:cvrmeer4:skuBOXNUC8i3BEK:
>   dmi.product.family: Intel NUC
>   dmi.product.name: Meerkat
>   dmi.product.sku: BOXNUC8i3BEK
>   dmi.product.version: meer4
>   dmi.sys.vendor: System76
>   version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.14.1+20.04.20200211-0ubuntu1
>   version.libdrm2: libdrm2
> 2.4.107-8ubuntu1pop0~1634226451~20.04~d7878ab~dev
>   version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri
> 21.2.2-1ubuntu1pop0~1634226723~20.04~b715ae2~dev
>   version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx
> 21.2.2-1ubuntu1pop0~1634226723~20.04~b715ae2~dev
>   version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.20.11-1ubuntu1~20.04.2
>   version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.10.6-1
>   version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:19.1.0-1
>   version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel
> 2:2.99.917+git20200226-1
>   version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.16-1
>   xserver.bootTime: Tue Dec 17 17:36:58 2019
>   xserver.configfile: default
>   xserver.devices:
>    input        Power Button         KEYBOARD, id 6
>    input        Power Button         KEYBOARD, id 7
>    input        Sleep Button         KEYBOARD, id 8
>   xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log
>   xserver.version: 2:1.19.6-1ubuntu4.3
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg-server/+bug/1956263/+subscriptions
>
>

Revision history for this message

Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt) wrote on 2022-01-05:

Thanks for the bug report.

It appears your graphics packages are not from Ubuntu but are from Pop!_OS. We can't support them here and they are most likely the cause of this problem.

I would suggest either:

* Report the bug to System76; or

* Install regular Ubuntu: https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop