Xorg loads, no display on nvidia 390.77-0ubuntu0.18.04.1 even though WaylandEnable=false is set

[Tim Riker]

Lenovo ThinkPad W540 docked with an ultradock. 3 external displays running on VGA, DVI and display port all connected to the dock. BIOS mode set to run external displays ONLY with nvidia chipset. prime-select nvidia run.

When running under 4.15.0-36-generic with nvidia 390.77-0ubuntu0.18.04.1 I boot and all three external displays run fine.

Upgrading to 4.15.0-38 and Xorg starts up, but none of the displays light up.
---
ProblemType: Bug
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.4
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC2: timr 3768 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: timr 3768 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: timr 3768 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: GNOME-Flashback:GNOME
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-02-15 (1713 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" - Release amd64 (20131016.1)
MachineType: LENOVO 20BHS02400
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_modeset nvidia
Package: linux-image-generic 4.15.0.38.40
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm-256color
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-36-generic root=UUID=3fddcb3e-369a-45a1-bcf5-a73850ae7c9f ro video=1920x1080 "acpi_osi=!Windows 2012"
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-36.39-generic 4.15.18
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-4.15.0-36-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-4.15.0-36-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.173.1
Tags: bionic
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-36-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to bionic on 2018-08-17 (68 days ago)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dialout dip disk docker lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo vboxusers video www-data
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 03/16/2016
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: GNET79WW (2.27 )
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 20BHS02400
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: 0B98401 Pro
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvrGNET79WW(2.27):bd03/16/2016:svnLENOVO:pn20BHS02400:pvrThinkPadW540:rvnLENOVO:rn20BHS02400:rvr0B98401Pro:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.family: ThinkPad W540
dmi.product.name: 20BHS02400
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad W540
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO
---
ProblemType: Bug
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.4
Architecture: amd64
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-02-15 (1713 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" - Release amd64 (20131016.1)
MachineType: LENOVO 20BHS02400
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_modeset nvidia
Package: linux-generic 4.15.0.38.40
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm-256color
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-38-generic root=UUID=3fddcb3e-369a-45a1-bcf5-a73850ae7c9f ro video=1920x1080 "acpi_osi=!Windows 2012"
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-38.41-generic 4.15.18
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-4.15.0-38-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-4.15.0-38-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.173.1
Tags: bionic
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-38-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to bionic on 2018-08-17 (69 days ago)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dialout dip disk docker lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo vboxusers video www-data
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 03/16/2016
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: GNET79WW (2.27 )
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 20BHS02400
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: 0B98401 Pro
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvrGNET79WW(2.27):bd03/16/2016:svnLENOVO:pn20BHS02400:pvrThinkPadW540:rvnLENOVO:rn20BHS02400:rvr0B98401Pro:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.family: ThinkPad W540
dmi.product.name: 20BHS02400
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad W540
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO
---
ProblemType: Bug
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.4
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse: Error: command ['fuser', '-v', '/dev/snd/by-id', '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0c', '/dev/snd/controlC2', '/dev/snd/by-path', '/dev/snd/hwC1D0', '/dev/snd/pcmC1D0c', '/dev/snd/pcmC1D0p', '/dev/snd/controlC1', '/dev/snd/hwC0D0', '/dev/snd/pcmC0D10p', '/dev/snd/pcmC0D9p', '/dev/snd/pcmC0D8p', '/dev/snd/pcmC0D7p', '/dev/snd/pcmC0D3p', '/dev/snd/controlC0', '/dev/snd/seq', '/dev/snd/timer'] failed with exit code 1:
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-02-15 (1713 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" - Release amd64 (20131016.1)
MachineType: LENOVO 20BHS02400
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_modeset nvidia
Package: linux-generic 4.15.0.39.41
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm-256color
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-39-generic root=UUID=3fddcb3e-369a-45a1-bcf5-a73850ae7c9f ro video=1920x1080 "acpi_osi=!Windows 2012"
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-39.42-generic 4.15.18
PulseList: Error: command ['pacmd', 'list'] failed with exit code 1: No PulseAudio daemon running, or not running as session daemon.
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-4.15.0-39-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-4.15.0-39-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.173.1
Tags: bionic package-from-proposed
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-39-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to bionic on 2018-08-17 (69 days ago)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dialout dip disk docker lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo vboxusers video www-data
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 03/16/2016
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: GNET79WW (2.27 )
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 20BHS02400
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: 0B98401 Pro
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvrGNET79WW(2.27):bd03/16/2016:svnLENOVO:pn20BHS02400:pvrThinkPadW540:rvnLENOVO:rn20BHS02400:rvr0B98401Pro:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.family: ThinkPad W540
dmi.product.name: 20BHS02400
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad W540
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO
---
ProblemType: Bug
.proc.driver.nvidia.gpus.0000.01.00.0: Error: [Errno 21] Is a directory: '/proc/driver/nvidia/gpus/0000:01:00.0'
.proc.driver.nvidia.registry: Binary: ""
.proc.driver.nvidia.version:
 NVRM version: NVIDIA UNIX x86_64 Kernel Module 390.77 Tue Jul 10 18:28:52 PDT 2018
 GCC version: gcc version 7.3.0 (Ubuntu 7.3.0-27ubuntu1~18.04)
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.4
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
DistUpgraded: 2018-08-17 11:15:05,421 DEBUG Running PostInstallScript: './xorg_fix_proprietary.py'
DistroCodename: bionic
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
DistroVariant: ubuntu
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0416] (rev 06) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Lenovo 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller [17aa:221e]
 NVIDIA Corporation GK107GLM [Quadro K1100M] [10de:0ff6] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Lenovo GK107GLM [Quadro K1100M] [17aa:221a]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-02-15 (1713 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" - Release amd64 (20131016.1)
MachineType: LENOVO 20BHS02400
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_modeset nvidia
Package: xorg 1:7.7+19ubuntu7.1
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm-256color
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-39-generic root=UUID=3fddcb3e-369a-45a1-bcf5-a73850ae7c9f ro video=1920x1080 "acpi_osi=!Windows 2012"
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-39.42-generic 4.15.18
Tags: bionic ubuntu
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-39-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to bionic on 2018-08-17 (69 days ago)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dialout dip disk docker lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo vboxusers video www-data
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 03/16/2016
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: GNET79WW (2.27 )
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 20BHS02400
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: 0B98401 Pro
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvrGNET79WW(2.27):bd03/16/2016:svnLENOVO:pn20BHS02400:pvrThinkPadW540:rvnLENOVO:rn20BHS02400:rvr0B98401Pro:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.family: ThinkPad W540
dmi.product.name: 20BHS02400
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad W540
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.13.1+18.04.20180302-0ubuntu1
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.91-2
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 18.0.5-0ubuntu0~18.04.1
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 18.0.5-0ubuntu0~18.04.1
version.nvidia-graphics-drivers: nvidia-graphics-drivers-* N/A
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.19.6-1ubuntu4.1
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.10.5-1ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:18.0.1-1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.917+git20171229-1
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.15-2
xserver.bootTime: Thu Oct 25 09:56:31 2018
xserver.configfile: /etc/X11/xorg.conf
xserver.errors:

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

xserver.version: 2:1.19.6-1ubuntu4
---
ProblemType: Bug
.proc.driver.nvidia.gpus.0000.01.00.0: Error: [Errno 21] Is a directory: '/proc/driver/nvidia/gpus/0000:01:00.0'
.proc.driver.nvidia.registry: Binary: ""
.proc.driver.nvidia.version:
 NVRM version: NVIDIA UNIX x86_64 Kernel Module 390.77 Tue Jul 10 18:28:52 PDT 2018
 GCC version: gcc version 7.3.0 (Ubuntu 7.3.0-27ubuntu1~18.04)
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.4
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
DistUpgraded: 2018-08-17 11:15:05,421 DEBUG Running PostInstallScript: './xorg_fix_proprietary.py'
DistroCodename: bionic
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
DistroVariant: ubuntu
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0416] (rev 06) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Lenovo 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller [17aa:221e]
 NVIDIA Corporation GK107GLM [Quadro K1100M] [10de:0ff6] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Lenovo GK107GLM [Quadro K1100M] [17aa:221a]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-02-15 (1713 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" - Release amd64 (20131016.1)
MachineType: LENOVO 20BHS02400
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_modeset nvidia
Package: xorg 1:7.7+19ubuntu7.1
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm-256color
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-38-generic root=UUID=3fddcb3e-369a-45a1-bcf5-a73850ae7c9f ro video=1920x1080 "acpi_osi=!Windows 2012"
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-38.41-generic 4.15.18
Tags: bionic ubuntu
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-38-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to bionic on 2018-08-17 (69 days ago)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dialout dip disk docker lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo vboxusers video www-data
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 03/16/2016
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: GNET79WW (2.27 )
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 20BHS02400
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: 0B98401 Pro
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvrGNET79WW(2.27):bd03/16/2016:svnLENOVO:pn20BHS02400:pvrThinkPadW540:rvnLENOVO:rn20BHS02400:rvr0B98401Pro:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.family: ThinkPad W540
dmi.product.name: 20BHS02400
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad W540
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.13.1+18.04.20180302-0ubuntu1
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.91-2
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 18.0.5-0ubuntu0~18.04.1
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 18.0.5-0ubuntu0~18.04.1
version.nvidia-graphics-drivers: nvidia-graphics-drivers-* N/A
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.19.6-1ubuntu4.1
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.10.5-1ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:18.0.1-1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.917+git20171229-1
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.15-2
xserver.bootTime: Thu Oct 25 09:56:31 2018
xserver.configfile: /etc/X11/xorg.conf
xserver.errors:

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

xserver.version: 2:1.19.6-1ubuntu4

[Ubuntu Kernel Bot (ubuntu-kernel-bot)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem. While running an Ubuntu kernel (not a mainline or third-party kernel) please enter the following command in a terminal window:

apport-collect 1799994

and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

apport information

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Cristian Aravena Romero (caravena)]

Did this issue start happening after an update/upgrade? Was there a
prior kernel version where you were not having this particular problem?

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer
to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest
v4.19 kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following
tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag:
'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as
"Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.19

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

Yes. I upgraded yesterday. On booting today into -38 the displays did not light up. On reverting to -36 I get displays again. I'll test the mainline kernel and report back.

[Cristian Aravena Romero (caravena)]

We already know that your linux '4.15.0-36' works well. You could try to boot with your kernel '4.15.0-38' and then start your system switch to terminal mode (CTRL + ALT + F3) and execute:

apport-collect 1799994

The idea is to review the 'logs' and discover why it fails.
--
Cristian

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

As this is with the nvidia driver, I think I need a kernel with modules-extra included. Any hint on how to find the last one of those?

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

Second log set it from running -38. Xorg running, all displays are black.

[Cristian Aravena Romero (caravena)]

There is a new version of the kernel '4.15.0-39.42', to install, you must follow [0]this guide
[0] https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Testing/EnableProposed

And then see if it works. In any case, execute then with this version of the kernel:

apport-collect 1799994

Thanks for your time,
--
Cristian

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

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[Tim Riker (timriker)]

Last ones are from no-display -38 kernel

[Cristian Aravena Romero (caravena)]

Tim Riker,

Try this:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1800022/comments/17
"It was about nvidia drivers, I've reinstalled 'em and everything working
as before."

Best regards,
--
Cristian

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

$ sudo apt install --reinstall nvidia-driver-390 nvidia-dkms-390

rebuilt driver, initrd, rebooted, same. X runs, all monitors have no signal.

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

sudo apt purge $(dpkg -l|awk '/nvidia/ {print $2}')

reboot

Login shows up on internal (intel) video. Login and display turns off and system is unresponsive. :(

Not sure what's happening. reboot causes kernel crash messages, and then system lockup. Reverting to -36 and the system boots ok.

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

reinstalled nvidia with:
# sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall
Reboot into -38 and same black screens.
Reboot into -36 and same previous working Xorg

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

ok, I take that back. Rebooting to -36 after reinstalling nvidia gets a successful boot, but does NOT get working displays. Looks like this is an nvidia driver issue, and NOT a kernel issue.

Though I was getting lockups on the same setup without the nvidia drivers installed. Not sure the cause with that.

When was nvidia-390 last upgraded? I'll look into trying to revert the drivers....

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

Tried ppa drivers 410, 390, same issue.

I've discovered that although restarting gdm3 does not work:

$ sudo /etc/init.d/gdm3 stop
$ sudo /etc/init.d/gdm3 start

If I sudo to root, stop gdm3, start Xorg -verbose, stop it, restart gdm3, the displays wake up.

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

Any ideas what to try next? Starting gdm3 on boot results in black screen. Stopping display-manger, starting Xorg manually, stopping Xorg, restarting display-manager and I'm up. I need to do this every time I boot the machine.

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

Sometimes it finds the displays, and sometimes it does not. Uploading two Xorg.0 log files from /var/lib/gdm3/.local/share/xorg/ One from before stopping gdm, running Xorg as root, stopping Xorg as root and then restarting gdm. The first one finds no displays:

+(II) NVIDIA(0): "NULL"
+(II) NVIDIA(0): Virtual screen size determined to be 640 x 480
+(WW) NVIDIA(0): Unable to get display device for DPI computation.
+(==) NVIDIA(0): DPI set to (75, 75); computed from built-in default

Where as the second gets:

-(--) NVIDIA(0): Valid display device(s) on GPU-0 at PCI:1:0:0
-(--) NVIDIA(0): DFP-1.1
-(--) NVIDIA(0): DFP-1.2
-(--) NVIDIA(0): DFP-1.3
-(--) NVIDIA(0): DFP-0
-(--) NVIDIA(0): DFP-1 (boot)

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

Switching to lightdm works around the issue:
# apt install lightdm-gtk-greeter lightdm

[Cristian Aravena Romero (caravena)]

After comment #107 I add gdm3
--
Cristian Aravena Romero (caravena)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

I'm not sure we should be looking in gdm here.

Tim has mentioned several times that kernel 4.15.0-36-generic works and kernel 4.15.0-38 fails.

I wonder though, if the Nvidia driver might have just failed to build for the newer kernels.

[Ubuntu Kernel Bot (ubuntu-kernel-bot)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

After completely removing the nvidia drivers, rebooting, and reinstalling the nvidia drivers, even the old kernel fails to boot. This appears to be an nvidia driver issue that shows up because of the gdm3 setup where it runs two different Xorg instances. Under lightdm+gnome the displays light up normally.

re-removing the kernel versions as with the new nvidia drivers on the old kernel we're still broken.

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

nvidia drivers build and install just fine. Starting gdm3 fails to detect displays, but Xorg does start. Stopping gdm3 and running a bare Xorg gets working displays. Restarting gdm3 and displays work.

Displays light up fine with lightdm-gtk-greeter and the single Xorg instance.

If anyone has more suggestions of tests to try, I'm happy to try them.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Sounds like bug 1705369 or bug 1798790.

Please try the workarounds mentioned in bug 1705369.

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

Adding nomodeset rebuilding initrd and rebooting does not fix it.

The Lenovo ThinkPad W540 has no option to disable the integrated video card. The internal display is always run by the intel. I have it set to use the nvidia on external displays because that allows supporting more displays.

So neither suggestions from bug 1705369 works.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Please try this:

Edit /etc/gdm3/custom.conf and uncomment the line:
  #WaylandEnable=false
as
  WaylandEnable=false

If that works then maybe we can merge this into bug 1798790.

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

I'm already not running Wayland. When I was running Wayland, it started up on the internal display using the Intel driver. When docked, I don't use the internal display, so I disabled Wayland.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

OK. Next we probably want to get an idea of what gdm is doing.

Please reproduce the problem, then reboot and collect the system log of the previous boot where the problem occured:

  journalctl -b-1 > prev_boot.txt

and attach prev_boot.txt.

[Chris McDonough (chrism-plope)]

For the record, I have a Lenovo P50 running Ubuntu MATE (which uses lightdm), also in am Ultradock. It is running in "Discrete" (NVIDIA) mode using nvidia-396 from the graphics-driver ppa, and had been working well since at least -34.

When I upgraded to -38 (from -36), the system comes up to the greeter screen in a low resolution, and though it works, when I log in, the low resolution remains. When I boot to -36 again, same problem, but if I boot to -34, strangely, it works. When I compare the xorg.log between a "good" boot (in -34) and a "bad" boot (in -38), I can see that in the "bad" boot, it's just not finding any nvidia drivers, while in the "good" boot it is.

I've been booting to -34 as a workaround, but I suspect this is the same problem as is described by the OP, and if there's anything I can do to help, please let me know.

[Tim Riker (timriker)]

I uninstalled lightdm and lightdm-gtk-greeter to get the log. I reinstalled lightdm and lightdm=gtk-greeter, restarted display-manager, and I'm up and running again.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. This particular bug has already been reported and is a duplicate of bug 1716857, so it is being marked as such. Please look at the other bug report to see if there is any missing information that you can provide, or to see if there is a workaround for the bug. Additionally, any further discussion regarding the bug should occur in the other report. Feel free to continue to report any other bugs you may find.