Dell Inspiron 17r 5737 Ubuntu 18.04 Video Looks Very Strange

[Merlin]

When booting 18.04 on my Dell 5737 built-in screen the colours are incorrect and the display looks to be of low resolution. This is true whether booting from a fresh distribution copy on a memory stick or the subsequent patched install. A screenshot:
https://launchpadlibrarian.net/374791190/2018-06-16%2016.46.54.jpg

The image on an external monitor is fine, and unplugging the external monitor doesn't change anything.

WORKAROUND: Use kernel parameter:
nomodeset

---
ProblemType: Bug
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.2
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: merlin 1635 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: merlin 1635 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-04-28 (52 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 18.04 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Release amd64 (20180426)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Inspiron 5737
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm-256color
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-23-generic root=UUID=649ad923-d0b7-420a-a0e8-c5753dea246c ro quiet splash vt.handoff=1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-23.25-generic 4.15.18
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-4.15.0-23-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-4.15.0-23-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.173.1
Tags: bionic
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-23-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 08/25/2016
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A09
dmi.board.name: 0V3MXK
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A00
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: A09
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA09:bd08/25/2016:svnDellInc.:pnInspiron5737:pvrA09:rvnDellInc.:rn0V3MXK:rvrA00:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvrA09:
dmi.product.family: 00
dmi.product.name: Inspiron 5737
dmi.product.version: A09
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Merlin (merlin-skinner)]

This post from https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1300349 looks particularly relevant:

    Peter-jezdec (peter-jezdec) wrote on 2014-11-11: #49

    Christopher, the first good commit is 344c5bbcb7a282cc59e2f111c8801106c4fe315c.

    Fortunately I learned something from the first time I did this. Since the problem was in the function intel_dp_compute_config in the file drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_dp.c, there were only 4 commits to check. The first good commit was one of them, but the later commit 2d65a9f48fcdf7866aab6457bc707ca233e0c791 looks like a further refinement.
    Changed in linux (Ubuntu):
    status: Incomplete → Confirmed

Of course this could be a red herring.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Merlin, thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. Please execute the following command only once, as it will automatically gather debugging information, in a terminal:
apport-collect 1777257

When reporting bugs in the future please use apport by using 'ubuntu-bug' and the name of the package affected. You can learn more about this functionality at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs.

[Merlin (merlin-skinner)]

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[Merlin (merlin-skinner)]

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[Merlin (merlin-skinner)]

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[Merlin (merlin-skinner)]

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[Merlin (merlin-skinner)]

apport-collect was run on an installed and fully patched system as it did not appear to run correctly from the distribution memory stick. The video behavior is identical in both cases.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Merlin:

1) For you personally with your hardware, what was the most recent kernel/release where this issue did not happen?

2) As per the sticker of the monitor itself (not from the Bug Description, or the result of a terminal command), could you please provide the full manufacturer and model?

3) How are you connecting the laptop to the monitor, via straight HDMI cord, adapter/dongle, etc.?

[Merlin (merlin-skinner)]

Hi Christopher.

Answering your questions in turn:

1) All I can say for the moment is that it was OK in Ubuntu 17.10 and not OK in 18.04.

2) The monitor is actually a Samsung television, model no. UE40EH5000. However, I want to be clear that the issue is with the screen in the laptop itself, not anything external. The issue occurs whether or not an external monitor (television) is connected.

3) Straight HDMI cable.

To be clear, the behavior as I see it is exactly as bug 1300349.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Merlin:

I) The scope of LP#1300349 is how a pre-3.18-rc4 kernel had an issue, which 3.18-rc4 fixed. However, you are using a 4.15 kernel. Hence, the scope and root cause are different (i.e. not relevant).

II) In order to allow additional upstream mainline kernel developers to examine the issue, at your earliest convenience, could you please test the latest mainline kernel? Please keep in mind the following:
1) The one to test is in a folder at the very top of the page (not the daily folder).
2) The release names are irrelevant.
3) The folder time stamps aren't indicative of when the kernel actually was released upstream.
4) Install instructions are available at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/MainlineBuilds .

If testing on your main install would be inconvenient, one may:
1) Install Ubuntu to a different partition and then test this there.
2) Backup, or clone the primary install.

If the latest kernel did not allow you to test to the issue (ex. you couldn't boot into the OS) please make a comment in your report about this, and continue to test the next most recent kernel version until you can test to the issue. Once you've tested the mainline kernel, please comment on which kernel version specifically you tested. If this issue is not reproducible in the mainline kernel, please add the following tags by clicking on the yellow circle with a black pencil icon, next to the word Tags, located at the bottom of the Bug Description:
kernel-fixed-upstream
kernel-fixed-upstream-X.Y-rcZ

Where X, and Y are the first two numbers of the kernel version, and Z is the release candidate number if it exists.

If the issue is reproducible with the mainline kernel, please add the following tags:
kernel-bug-exists-upstream
kernel-bug-exists-upstream-X.Y-rcZ

Please note, an error to install the kernel does not fit the criteria of kernel-bug-exists-upstream.

Also, you don't need to apport-collect further unless specifically requested to do so.

It is most helpful that after testing of the latest mainline kernel is complete, you mark this report Status Confirmed.

Lastly, to keep this issue relevant to upstream, please continue to test the latest mainline kernel as it becomes available.

Thank you for your help.

[Merlin (merlin-skinner)]

A recent update has fixed it! 18.04 as released comes with kernel 4.15.0-20-generic, which has the bad video effect. Latest update (2/7/2018) includes 4.15.0-24-generic, which does not (it works perfectly).

Thanks for your interest!