After grub updates the video display is wrong

[Gordon Uretsky]

After today's updates, including:
 grub-common:amd64 2.02-2ubuntu8.18
 grub-efi-amd64-bin:amd64 2.02-2ubuntu8.18
 grub-pc-bin:amd64 2.02-2ubuntu8.18
 grub2-common:amd64 2.02-2ubuntu8.18
 grub-pc:amd64 2.02-2ubuntu8.18
 grub-efi-amd64-signed:amd64 1.93.20+2.02-2ubuntu8.18

I was dual booting into Windows and back, so that I can say with certainty that the bug started affecting me today when I came back into Ubuntu.

I get the error "Failed to start Load Kernel Modules" and my video monitor is restricted to "Unknown Display" 1024 x 768 but works correctly otherwise.

On August 26 the kernel updated to 4.15.0-115 from 4.15.0-112 which seemed to cause no problems.

I don't see any other likely suspects in today's upgrade, BUT it is fixed by booting into the prior kernel version 4.15.0-112, leaving an interplay between grub and the newer kernel as a likely culprit.

Description: Ubuntu 18.04.5 LTS
Release: 18.04
grub2-common Installed: 2.02-2ubuntu8.18
(etc as above)

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
Package: grub2-common 2.02-2ubuntu8.18
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-115.116-generic 4.15.18
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-115-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.17
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Sun Sep 6 21:53:36 2020
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-08-26 (742 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Release amd64 (20180725)
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: grub2
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
---
ProblemType: Bug
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.17
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC2: dad 1973 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: dad 1973 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: dad 1973 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-08-26 (743 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Release amd64 (20180725)
IwConfig:
 lo no wireless extensions.

 enp33s0 no wireless extensions.
MachineType: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. MS-7A33
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm-256color
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 EFI VGA
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-115-generic root=UUID=2fea891a-30dd-4cc5-b0d9-162620100266 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-115.116-generic 4.15.18
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-4.15.0-115-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-4.15.0-115-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.173.19
RfKill:

Tags: bionic
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-115-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 12/20/2018
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 3.G0
dmi.board.asset.tag: To be filled by O.E.M.
dmi.board.name: X370 SLI PLUS (MS-7A33)
dmi.board.vendor: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.
dmi.board.version: 2.0
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: To be filled by O.E.M.
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.
dmi.chassis.version: 2.0
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr3.G0:bd12/20/2018:svnMicro-StarInternationalCo.,Ltd.:pnMS-7A33:pvr2.0:rvnMicro-StarInternationalCo.,Ltd.:rnX370SLIPLUS(MS-7A33):rvr2.0:cvnMicro-StarInternationalCo.,Ltd.:ct3:cvr2.0:
dmi.product.family: To be filled by O.E.M.
dmi.product.name: MS-7A33
dmi.product.version: 2.0
dmi.sys.vendor: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.

[Julian Andres Klode (juliank)]

There were no changes in that grub update affecting normal boot, only microcode loading was disabled for recovery boots and a feature to reorder kernels was added.

[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 1894589

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.

[Gordon Uretsky (inhissteps)]

Just corrupted my system trying to upgrade my amdgpu driver and had to move to Focal (20.04) a few years sooner than planned. In doing so I realized posthumously that the newest driver did not support versions of the linux kernel greater than Linux 4.15.0-112. As it was an AMD issue I have marked my report as "invalid".
(written from my new 20.04 system)