blank screen, no ttys, no mouse on boot after last update

[josvanr]

Have been running kubuntu 9.10 with kde and gnome (on laptop
packard bell bg46). After running the last update and
rebooting, I see the blue kubuntu logo with progress bar, but
then only a blank screen. I tried to switch to a text terminal
(alt-fn) but that doesn't work. When I choose the previous
kernel in grub (2.6.31-14-generic) I see the same. Using the
kernel before that to start up (2.6.27-14-generic) kubuntu
starts in a low graphics mode (hence I can write this mail).
Then kdm start up and I can start kde or gnome.
But still I have no mouse, but my wacom graphics tablet does
work. What is the way to proceed in a case like this? Is there
some way to repeat the update (in case something went wrong?)

Here I some error messages I see when kubuntu is saying it is
starting in low graphics mode:

(EE) intel(0): [drm] Failed to open DRM device for: No such file or directory
(EE) intel(0): [drm] Failed to open DRM master
(EE) intel(0): [drm] Failed to initialize kernel memory manager
(EE) SynPS/2 Synaptics touch pad: Unable to query/initialize Synaptics hardware
(EE) PreInt failed for input device "SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad"
(EE) config/hal: New input device request failed (8 )

Have been running kubuntu 9.10 with kde and gnome (on laptop
packard bell bg46). After running the last update and
rebooting, I see the blue kubuntu logo with progress bar, but
then only a blank screen. I tried to switch to a text terminal
(alt-fn) but that doesn't work. When I choose the previous
kernel in grub (2.6.31-14-generic) I see the same. Using the
kernel before that to start up (2.6.27-14-generic) kubuntu
starts in a low graphics mode (hence I can write this mail).
Then kdm start up and I can start kde or gnome.
But still I have no mouse, but my wacom graphics tablet does
work. What is the way to proceed in a case like this? Is there
some way to repeat the update (in case something went wrong?)

Here are some error messages I see when kubuntu is saying it is
starting in low graphics mode:

(EE) intel(0): [drm] Failed to open DRM device for: No such file or directory
(EE) intel(0): [drm] Failed to open DRM master
(EE) intel(0): [drm] Failed to initialize kernel memory manager
(EE) SynPS/2 Synaptics touch pad: Unable to query/initialize Synaptics hardware
(EE) PreInt failed for input device "SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad"
(EE) config/hal: New input device request failed (8 )

My graphics card is Intel GM965/GL960

josvanr

[josvanr (josvanr)]

hello, I just tried the latest (9.10) live cd. This boots up the system with no trouble...

[Oscar Andreis (oscarand77)]

I have the same problem too. My karmic worked well for a couple of days after the last software update. Suddently I've the "Ubuntu running in low-graphics mode" error at startup, and the very strange thing is that if I clink OK and than select "Run in console mode", th boot continue correctly and I use Kubuntu without any problem...

[Gary Scott (garygsscott)]

Same problem for me on Samsung NC-10

[R4v3n (philippe-raven)]

Same problem with Dell Lattitude E4300 just after the X.org upgrade from last update. Can't do anything, can't use ubuntu.

[Gerald Senarclens de Grancy (trainer)]

I have the same issue on a Toshiba Satellite U400. It uses an Intel 4500MHT graphics chip. The problem occurs since restarting after the update to kernel 2.6.31-15-generic (and whatever came along with that update), but is still there for kernel 2.6.31-16-generic. Booting in the safe mode doesn't work either. Kernel 2.6.28 boots in low-graphics mode but it's horribly slow and the mouse doesn't work. The error messages in the log are
184:(EE) intel(0): [drm] Failed to open DRM device for : No such file or directory
185:(EE) intel(0): Failed to become DRM master.
391:(EE) intel(0): Failed to initialize kernel memory manager
532:(EE) SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad Unable to query/initialize Synaptics hardware.
533:(EE) PreInit failed for input device "SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad"
535:(EE) config/hal: NewInputDeviceRequest failed (8)

The failsafe error log has the following output:
1789:(EE) config/hal: couldn't initialise context: unknown error (null)
1867:(EE) SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad Unable to query/initialize Synaptics hardware.
1868:(EE) PreInit failed for input device "SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad"
1870:(EE) config/hal: NewInputDeviceRequest failed (8)

The same issue occurs also on my work laptop which uses an Intel graphics device as well, also since rebooting after the update to Kernel 2.6.31-15.

[jconstable (jconstable007)]

same issue here, how ever after about the third reboot, I do get a message pop up about "running in low graphics mode" and click on "ok" (i think) another screen comes up with a couple of different selections
-run in low graphics mode this one time
-start troubleshooting...
and some others.
upon selecting run in low graphics mode
the system goes to a terminal login screen.
after logging in, I type "startx" and all things are normal.
Dell Latitude CPX-j with ATI Rage Mobility graphics.
if you need a log to review, please let me know which one. I do have a Xorg.O.log but it is something like 30k.

here is part of it relating to the graphics driver.

II) LoadModule: "ati"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers//ati_drv.so
(II) Module ati: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
 compiled for 1.6.4, module version = 6.12.99
 Module class: X.Org Video Driver
 ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 5.0
(II) LoadModule: "mach64"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers//mach64_drv.so
(II) Module mach64: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
 compiled for 1.6.3, module version = 6.8.2
 Module class: X.Org Video Driver
 ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 5.0
(II) LoadModule: "vesa"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers//vesa_drv.so
(II) Module vesa: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
 compiled for 1.6.3, module version = 2.2.1
 Module class: X.Org Video Driver
 ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 5.0
(II) LoadModule: "fbdev"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers//fbdev_drv.so
(II) Module fbdev: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
 compiled for 1.6.0, module version = 0.4.0
 ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 5.0
(II) MACH64: Driver for ATI Mach64 chipsets
(II) VESA: driver for VESA chipsets: vesa
(II) FBDEV: driver for framebuffer: fbdev
(II) Primary Device is: PCI 01@00:00:0
(WW) Falling back to old probe method for vesa
(WW) Falling back to old probe method for fbdev
(II) Loading sub module "fbdevhw"

[Gary Scott (garygsscott)]

Interesting, this problem seems to be related to using Kubuntu/KDE in my case (on the Samsung NC10) as issuing the following statement :-

sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm

and selecting gdm as the default desktop for ubuntu and after reboot using "gnome" session from the login drop-down (instead of kde) solved the issue.

I did have some problems with my synaptics touchpad after this (e.g. not working) but an update to the latest kernel 2.6.31-16 solved this also.

Hopefully this may help some others and point others also in the direction of what the issue may be.

Cheers,
Gary