plymouth: blank/unanimated screen at boot (cat /proc/fb: 0 VGA16 VGA)

[gokul]

Binary package hint: plymouth

The screen at boot up starts off as blank (black) after grub and switches to an aubergine (magenta?) with no animation. Artifacts are seen at the top of the screen for about (20 pixels or so). [I don't have a camera, hence unable to attach a photograph]. Then the screen refreshes to the login screen (gdm) -- here the display is fine.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Fri Mar 19 10:58:48 2010
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
MachineType: Sony Corporation VPCEB16FG
Package: plymouth 0.8.0~-17
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-16-generic-pae root=/dev/mapper/linux-ubuntu ro splash vga=795 quiet splash
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.utf8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 VGA16 VGA
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-16.25-generic-pae
SourcePackage: plymouth
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-16-generic-pae i686
dmi.bios.date: 01/26/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: R0230Y8
dmi.board.asset.tag: N/A
dmi.board.name: VAIO
dmi.board.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.board.version: N/A
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: N/A
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrR0230Y8:bd01/26/2010:svnSonyCorporation:pnVPCEB16FG:pvrC60415RM:rvnSonyCorporation:rnVAIO:rvrN/A:cvnSonyCorporation:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: VPCEB16FG
dmi.product.version: C60415RM
dmi.sys.vendor: Sony Corporation
---
Architecture: i386
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
MachineType: Sony Corporation VPCEB16FG
Package: plymouth 0.8.1-1ubuntu1
PackageArchitecture: i386
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-17-generic-pae root=/dev/mapper/linux-ubuntu ro splash vga=789 quiet splash
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_US.utf8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 VGA16 VGA
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-17.26-generic-pae 2.6.32.10+drm33.1
Tags: lucid
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-17-generic-pae i686
UserGroups:

dmi.bios.date: 01/26/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: R0230Y8
dmi.board.asset.tag: N/A
dmi.board.name: VAIO
dmi.board.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.board.version: N/A
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: N/A
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrR0230Y8:bd01/26/2010:svnSonyCorporation:pnVPCEB16FG:pvrC60415RM:rvnSonyCorporation:rnVAIO:rvrN/A:cvnSonyCorporation:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: VPCEB16FG
dmi.product.version: C60415RM
dmi.sys.vendor: Sony Corporation

[lspci]
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: ATI Technologies Inc Redwood [Radeon HD 5600 Series] [1002:68c1]
 Subsystem: Sony Corporation Device [104d:9071]
---
Architecture: amd64
CheckboxSubmission: 6f54de70ed31c0d6ff1d9dd642dbdece
CheckboxSystem: b633b4f40868d491c2ae5b50030ce6f3
DefaultPlymouth: /lib/plymouth/themes/ubuntu-logo/ubuntu-logo.plymouth
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 "Lucid Lynx" - Beta amd64 (20100317.1)
MachineType: Sony Corporation VPCEB16FG
Package: plymouth 0.8.1-4
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-19-generic root=/dev/mapper/linux-ubuntu ro splash vga=795 quiet splash
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_IN
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 VGA16 VGA
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-19.28-generic 2.6.32.10+drm33.1
Tags: lucid
TextPlymouth: /lib/plymouth/themes/ubuntu-text/ubuntu-text.plymouth
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-19-generic x86_64
UserGroups:

dmi.bios.date: 01/26/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: R0230Y8
dmi.board.asset.tag: N/A
dmi.board.name: VAIO
dmi.board.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.board.version: N/A
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: N/A
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrR0230Y8:bd01/26/2010:svnSonyCorporation:pnVPCEB16FG:pvrC60415RM:rvnSonyCorporation:rnVAIO:rvrN/A:cvnSonyCorporation:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: VPCEB16FG
dmi.product.version: C60415RM
dmi.sys.vendor: Sony Corporation

---
Architecture: amd64
CheckboxSubmission: 6f54de70ed31c0d6ff1d9dd642dbdece
CheckboxSystem: b633b4f40868d491c2ae5b50030ce6f3
DefaultPlymouth: /lib/plymouth/themes/ubuntu-logo/ubuntu-logo.plymouth
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 "Lucid Lynx" - Beta amd64 (20100317.1)
MachineType: Sony Corporation VPCEB16FG
Package: plymouth 0.8.2-2
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=/dev/mapper/linux-ubuntu ro quiet splash
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_IN
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 VGA16 VGA
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-21.32-generic 2.6.32.11+drm33.2
Tags: lucid
TextPlymouth: /lib/plymouth/themes/ubuntu-text/ubuntu-text.plymouth
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-21-generic x86_64
UserGroups:

dmi.bios.date: 01/26/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: R0230Y8
dmi.board.asset.tag: N/A
dmi.board.name: VAIO
dmi.board.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.board.version: N/A
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: N/A
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrR0230Y8:bd01/26/2010:svnSonyCorporation:pnVPCEB16FG:pvrC60415RM:rvnSonyCorporation:rnVAIO:rvrN/A:cvnSonyCorporation:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: VPCEB16FG
dmi.product.version: C60415RM
dmi.sys.vendor: Sony Corporation

---
Architecture: amd64
DefaultPlymouth: /lib/plymouth/themes/ubuntu-logo/ubuntu-logo.plymouth
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.10
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 "Lucid Lynx" - Beta amd64 (20100317.1)
MachineType: Sony Corporation VPCEB16FG
Package: plymouth 0.8.2-2ubuntu4
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=/dev/mapper/linux-ubuntu ro vga=792 splash quiet quiet splash
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_IN:en_GB:en
 LANG=en_IN.utf8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 radeondrmfb
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.35-22.32-generic 2.6.35.4
Tags: maverick
TextPlymouth: /lib/plymouth/themes/ubuntu-text/ubuntu-text.plymouth
Uname: Linux 2.6.35-22-generic x86_64
UserGroups: adm admin audio cdrom dialout lpadmin plugdev sambashare
dmi.bios.date: 01/26/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: R0230Y8
dmi.board.asset.tag: N/A
dmi.board.name: VAIO
dmi.board.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.board.version: N/A
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: N/A
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrR0230Y8:bd01/26/2010:svnSonyCorporation:pnVPCEB16FG:pvrC60415RM:rvnSonyCorporation:rnVAIO:rvrN/A:cvnSonyCorporation:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: VPCEB16FG
dmi.product.version: C60415RM
dmi.sys.vendor: Sony Corporation

[Steve Langasek (vorlon)]

Please test with plymouth 0.8.1-1ubuntu1 and let us know if you still have problems with that version.

[gokul (dotgokul)]

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[gokul (dotgokul)]

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[gokul (dotgokul)]

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[gokul (dotgokul)]

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[gokul (dotgokul)]

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[gokul (dotgokul)]

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[gokul (dotgokul)]

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[gokul (dotgokul)]

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[gokul (dotgokul)]

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[gokul (dotgokul)]

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[gokul (dotgokul)]

There is no change in the behavior.

[Steve Langasek (vorlon)]

Do you have the plymouth-theme-ubuntu-logo package installed?

[gokul (dotgokul)]

It was not installed.
I installed that and also the plymouth-theme-ubuntu-text and rebooted.
Still no change. Is there some other configuration utility that must be run after installing the themes packages?

[Steve Langasek (vorlon)]

No, installing the theme packages is enough to make them available to plymouth, and one will be autoselected if no other configuration choice is made.

So in *all* of these cases, you saw an aubergine screen with artifacts at the top of the screen and no animation?

[gokul (dotgokul)]

yes. That's correct. In all these cases I see an aubergine screen with artifacts at the top of the screen and there is no animation.

[Steve Langasek (vorlon)]

Well, I don't know how you had aubergine on your screen without the theme packages installed, because the aubergine /comes from/ the Ubuntu plymouth theme packages.

Do you have the cryptsetup package installed? Is it possible that you're booting into an old kernel which has an old plymouth in the initramfs?

[Robert Hooker (sarvatt)]

Do the artifacts go away if you remove vga=795 from the kernel command line?

[gokul (dotgokul)]

cryptsetup was not installed. After installing I get the boot animation.

Does plymouth 'depend' on themes and cryptsetup? I have done things like 'fix broken packages' and package upgrades many times using synaptic, since I have been using lucid from alpha 3.

Also doesn't this apport filed bug report [this very bug report i.e, bug #541700 ] have a list of installed packages? -- curious, so that I can file the next bug report (if any) in a more useful way.

[gokul (dotgokul)]

Another note, If I install cryptsetup my screen refresh rate seems to be affected once I login into gnome desktop... It is too low (refresh seems to happen in steps). I am guessing that a different driver is being used now (VESA instead of ati? I don't know how to check this.)

one thing I have observed is cat /proc/fb gives:
1) [when cryptsetup is not installed]

0 VGA16 VGA

2) [when cryptsetup is installed]

0 VESA VGA
1 VGA16 VGA

[Steve Langasek (vorlon)]

No, plymouth does not depend on cryptsetup. I wasn't suggesting its installation as a solution, I was asking whether it was installed to rule it out as a cause for your current problem. :)

Do you have the fglrx binary driver package installed?

Do you see the expected splash on shutdown?

[gokul (dotgokul)]

* No, there is no splash on shutdown/restart and this true for both with and without cryptsetup installed.

* fglrx is installed, but 'Hardware Drivers' from the administrator menu (jockey?) does not show me any drivers [I don't know if these are related].
 -- the fglrx package installed is fglrx itself and not xorg-driver-fglrx.

[gokul (dotgokul)]

I installed fglrx a while back (at the time of reporting this bug it was already installed), I removed it now to see if it makes a difference.

Here is a summary of the effects of different combinations:

fglrx + cryptsetup + vga=795 => proper boot splash, then gdm starts, slow refresh rate from gdm onwards

fglrx + cryptsetup - vga=xxx => boot splash at very low res, then gdm starts, slow refresh rate from gdm onwards

fglrx - cryptsetup + vga=795 => aubergine screen at boot with artifacts at the top (as originally reported in this bug), then gdm starts, expected refresh rate from gdm onwards

- fglrx - cryptsetup + vga=795 => a very short unanimated augergine screen (just a glimpse), then gdm starts, expected refresh rate from gdm onwards

- fglrx - cryptsetup - vga=xxx => a glimpse of artifacts after grub in the middle of the screen, then a black screen, then a glimpse of an unanimated splash screen (I can see the ubuntu logo and the progress dots), then gdm starts, expected refresh rate from gdm onwards

[Steve Langasek (vorlon)]

> Also doesn't this apport filed bug report [this very bug report i.e, bug
> #541700 ] have a list of installed packages? -- curious, so that I can
> file the next bug report (if any) in a more useful way.

apport includes the versions of packages that are dependencies of the
package you're filing a bug against. The interesting questions here have
all been about packages that are not dependencies, and may or may not be
installed.

> Another note, If I install cryptsetup my screen refresh rate seems to be
> affected once I login into gnome desktop... It is too low (refresh seems
> to happen in steps). I am guessing that a different driver is being used
> now (VESA instead of ati? I don't know how to check this.)

> one thing I have observed is cat /proc/fb gives:
> 1) [when cryptsetup is not installed]

> 0 VGA16 VGA

> 2) [when cryptsetup is installed]

> 0 VESA VGA
> 1 VGA16 VGA

*very* strange. Do you have the grub package installed, or grub-pc? I
notice that you have two different sets of apport results on this bug, and
the /proc/cmdline is different between them - after installing cryptsetup,
what boot options are you using? What happens if you boot with the *same*
options as before, but remove cryptsetup again?

It may be that we only handle vga= options if the initramfs FRAMEBUFFER
option is set, and otherwise nothing will load the vesafb driver as
requested.

I don't know why loading vesafb would cause refresh rate problems under X,
but it's possible.

On Sun, Mar 28, 2010 at 09:00:06AM -0000, gokul wrote:
> * No, there is no splash on shutdown/restart and this true for both with
> and without cryptsetup installed.

Right, the cryptsetup package should not affect this. What do you see at
shutdown, if not a splash screen? Do you see text?

> * fglrx is installed, but 'Hardware Drivers' from the administrator menu (jockey?) does not show me any drivers [I don't know if these are related].
> -- the fglrx package installed is fglrx itself and not xorg-driver-fglrx.

The fglrx package contains both the kernel and X drivers.

Note that, while I want to get to the bottom of this bug and understand
what's happening to your system, the quickest way to solve the problem for
yourself is probably to uninstall the fglrx package and use the radeon
driver.

[gokul (dotgokul)]

to add to the summary in comment #24, there is no splash at shutdown in all of the scenarios described , no text either. Just a blank screen and it does not last for more than a couple of seconds (too fast?).

to answer the questions in comment #25:

* the installed package is grub-pc, not grub

* the /proc/cmdline changed because of kernel upgrades (that explains the kernel version) and secondly after I saw the splash working with cryptsetup installed, I tried to get the best out of it by changing the vga=xxx option (through system->administration-startup-manager)

* booting with the same options with and without cryptsetup is probably explained by comment #24

* at shutdown/restart there is no text or graphics (in any of the combinations mentioned in comment #24). I see just blank screen.

* xserver-xorg-video-radeon and xserver-xorg-video-ati are both installed. I can manually remove fglrx or any of these drivers. I understand that Xorg.conf is not required these days. How do I know which driver is being used after boot and how do I force a driver of my choice?
--- and you are welcome to ask me to try out things here. I am just as curious about this.

[gokul (dotgokul)]

Does the fact that the screen has a native resolution of 1920x1080 (full HD) have anything to do with any of these symptoms seen?

I removed xserver-xorg-video-ati and I suppose that forces the use of a mesa/vesa driver (I can't keep xserver-xorg-video-ati and remove xserver-xorg-video-radeon. I guess they are dependent on each other. So the last question in comment #26 is not valid). With this, I get the aubergine screen with artifacts during shutdown/restart and there is the aubergine screen with artifacts at boot as originally described. Gdm and gnome desktop all have color problems with this (unknown to me) driver.

[gokul (dotgokul)]

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[gokul (dotgokul)]

update:
I have installed 64bit lucid for my needs. I have run apport-collect and updated this bug report. Now I am on kernel 2.6.32-19 and plymouth 0.8.1-4.

More information:
* This is a fresh installation through alternate install image of beta 1 and then updated with synaptic.
* fglrx is not installed
* with no vga=xxx option in kernel command line:
I get a lot of blank screen, then an unanimated plymouth splash for very short time (less than a second) when fsck does not run and then I get gdm. When fsck runs, I can see an animation while disk is being checked, but the animation freezes after that. I do not get gdm. ctrl+alt+del responded but alt+F1 (F2... etc) did not get me a virtual terminal.
* with vga=795, I get the aubergine screen with artifacts at the top and gdm after that.

[gokul (dotgokul)]

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[gokul (dotgokul)]

* with no vga=xxx in the kernel command line, there is a short boot animation but the blank screen is predominant. There is no shutdown animation.

* with vga=795 in the kernel command line, there is a predominant blank screen and an aubergine screen with artifacts at the top. There is no shutdown animation.

[T. Dalbo (tdalbo)]

This bug also affects me. I had the Alpha installed, which booted correctly without the Fglrx driver installed. When the RC came out, I did a clean install over it and it failed to show the boot screen correctly, except for a quick flash at the very end of the boot sequence just before GNOME showed - no animations. Installing Fglrx resulted in absolutely no splash screen and a much longer boot time, running a Radeon HD 3870.

Installing cryptsetup fixes everything. I experience a pretty speedy boot time of ~20 seconds on a conventional 7200 rpm hard disk, the Plymouth splash screen pops up and animates correctly at the right time, and most importantly I do /not/ experience any performance drops at all. I'm not using the fglrx drivers, instead using the open source radeon.

Hope this helps anybody.

[gokul (dotgokul)]

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[gokul (dotgokul)]

Works perfectly in maverick.

Since this is not a problem for me any more with the latest development release, I am marking this as 'fix released'.