Laptop: ASUS ROG GL552VW
OS: Ubuntu 20.04
GRAPHICS: Nvidia Geforce GTX 960m AND Intel HD Graphics
Linux kernel version: 5.8.0-44-generic
SUMMARY:
From a fresh working install of Ubuntu 20.04, I wanted to downgrade from nvidia-driver-460 by installing nvidia-driver-440 (which actually is a transitional package to nvidia-driver-450). After reboot I couldn't reach login-screen and instead got a black screen.
Problem was that sudo apt-get install nvidia-driver-440 did not insert nvidia modules v450 in kernel since never versions v460 were found.
This was solved by dropping into safe mode and uninstalling linux-modules-nvidia-460 packages and instead installing linux-modules-nvidia-450 packages.
STEPS TO REPRODUCE:
Install Ubuntu 20.04. During installation, allow for the installation of proprietary drivers.
Once Ubuntu 20.04 has started, open a terminal and run the following:
After reboot, you can't reach login screen. Instead you get stuck during bootup.
WORKAROUND:
Remove the linux-modules-nvidia-460 packages and install the corresponding linux-modules-nvidia-450 packages. In my case I had Linux kernel versions 5.8.0-44-generic and 5.8.0-43-generic installed so I did as follows from recovery mode with network:
Why was the linux-modules-nvidia-460 packages installed by the Ubuntu installer to begin with? I ask since I later removed the linux-modules-nvidia-450 packages (OBSERVE: 450, not 460) and used the Additional Drivers GUI to update back to nvidia-driver-460. Now linux-modules-nvidia-460 packages are NOT installed but the following still outputs 460:
modinfo nvidia | grep -i version
LOG:
This is a relevant part of /var/log/apt/term.log for when I installed nvidia-driver-440
nvidia.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
Error! Module version 450.102.04 for nvidia.ko
is not newer than what is already found in kernel 5.8.0-44-generic (460.39).
You may override by specifying --force.
nvidia-modeset.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
Error! Module version 450.102.04 for nvidia-modeset.ko
is not newer than what is already found in kernel 5.8.0-44-generic (460.39).
You may override by specifying --force.
nvidia-drm.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
Error! Module version 450.102.04 for nvidia-drm.ko
is not newer than what is already found in kernel 5.8.0-44-generic (460.39).
You may override by specifying --force.
nvidia-uvm.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
- Original module
- No original module exists within this kernel
- Installation
- Installing to /lib/modules/5.8.0-44-generic/updates/dkms/
This is a relevant part of /var/log/apt/term.log for when I installed packages linux-modules-nvidia-450-5.8.0-44-generic and linux-modules-nvidia-450-5.8.0-43-generic
Good news! Module version 450.102.04 for nvidia.ko
exactly matches what is already found in kernel 5.8.0-43-generic.
DKMS will not replace this module.
You may override by specifying --force.
nvidia-modeset.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
Good news! Module version 450.102.04 for nvidia-modeset.ko
exactly matches what is already found in kernel 5.8.0-43-generic.
DKMS will not replace this module.
You may override by specifying --force.
nvidia-drm.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
Good news! Module version 450.102.04 for nvidia-drm.ko
exactly matches what is already found in kernel 5.8.0-43-generic.
DKMS will not replace this module.
You may override by specifying --force.
nvidia-uvm.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
- Original module
- No original module exists within this kernel
- Installation
- Installing to /lib/modules/5.8.0-43-generic/updates/dkms/
SYSTEM:
Laptop: ASUS ROG GL552VW
OS: Ubuntu 20.04
GRAPHICS: Nvidia Geforce GTX 960m AND Intel HD Graphics
Linux kernel version: 5.8.0-44-generic
SUMMARY:
From a fresh working install of Ubuntu 20.04, I wanted to downgrade from nvidia-driver-460 by installing nvidia-driver-440 (which actually is a transitional package to nvidia-driver-450). After reboot I couldn't reach login-screen and instead got a black screen.
Problem was that sudo apt-get install nvidia-driver-440 did not insert nvidia modules v450 in kernel since never versions v460 were found.
This was solved by dropping into safe mode and uninstalling linux-modules- nvidia- 460 packages and instead installing linux-modules- nvidia- 450 packages.
STEPS TO REPRODUCE:
Install Ubuntu 20.04. During installation, allow for the installation of proprietary drivers.
Once Ubuntu 20.04 has started, open a terminal and run the following:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics- drivers/ ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nvidia-driver-440
sudo shutdown reboot now
PROBLEM:
After reboot, you can't reach login screen. Instead you get stuck during bootup.
WORKAROUND:
Remove the linux-modules- nvidia- 460 packages and install the corresponding linux-modules- nvidia- 450 packages. In my case I had Linux kernel versions 5.8.0-44-generic and 5.8.0-43-generic installed so I did as follows from recovery mode with network:
sudo apt-get autoremove --purge linux-modules- nvidia- 460-5.8. 0-44-generic linux-modules- nvidia- 460-5.8. 0-43-generic nvidia- 450-5.8. 0-44-generic linux-modules- nvidia- 450-5.8. 0-43-generic
sudo apt-get install linux-modules-
sudo shutdown reboot now
QUESTION:
Why was the linux-modules- nvidia- 460 packages installed by the Ubuntu installer to begin with? I ask since I later removed the linux-modules- nvidia- 450 packages (OBSERVE: 450, not 460) and used the Additional Drivers GUI to update back to nvidia-driver-460. Now linux-modules- nvidia- 460 packages are NOT installed but the following still outputs 460:
modinfo nvidia | grep -i version
LOG:
This is a relevant part of /var/log/ apt/term. log for when I installed nvidia-driver-440
nvidia.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
Error! Module version 450.102.04 for nvidia.ko
is not newer than what is already found in kernel 5.8.0-44-generic (460.39).
You may override by specifying --force.
nvidia-modeset.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
Error! Module version 450.102.04 for nvidia-modeset.ko
is not newer than what is already found in kernel 5.8.0-44-generic (460.39).
You may override by specifying --force.
nvidia-drm.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
Error! Module version 450.102.04 for nvidia-drm.ko
is not newer than what is already found in kernel 5.8.0-44-generic (460.39).
You may override by specifying --force.
nvidia-uvm.ko: 5.8.0-44- generic/ updates/ dkms/
Running module version sanity check.
- Original module
- No original module exists within this kernel
- Installation
- Installing to /lib/modules/
This is a relevant part of /var/log/ apt/term. log for when I installed packages linux-modules- nvidia- 450-5.8. 0-44-generic and linux-modules- nvidia- 450-5.8. 0-43-generic
Building module: BUILD_MODULES= '' KERNEL_ UNAME=5. 8.0-43- generic IGNORE_ XEN_PRESENCE= 1 IGNORE_ CC_MISMATCH= 1 SYSSRC= /lib/modules/ 5.8.0-43- generic/ build LD=/usr/bin/ld.bfd modules............ dkms/nvidia/ 450.102. 04/5.8. 0-43-generic/ x86_64/ module/ nvidia- modeset. ko dkms/nvidia/ 450.102. 04/5.8. 0-43-generic/ x86_64/ module/ nvidia- uvm.ko dkms/nvidia/ 450.102. 04/5.8. 0-43-generic/ x86_64/ module/ nvidia- drm.ko dkms/nvidia/ 450.102. 04/5.8. 0-43-generic/ x86_64/ module/ nvidia. ko
cleaning build area...
unset ARCH; [ ! -h /usr/bin/cc ] && export CC=/usr/bin/gcc; env NV_VERBOSE=1 'make' -j8 NV_EXCLUDE_
Signing module:
- /var/lib/
- /var/lib/
- /var/lib/
- /var/lib/
Secure Boot not enabled on this system.
cleaning build area...
DKMS: build completed.
nvidia.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
Good news! Module version 450.102.04 for nvidia.ko
exactly matches what is already found in kernel 5.8.0-43-generic.
DKMS will not replace this module.
You may override by specifying --force.
nvidia-modeset.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
Good news! Module version 450.102.04 for nvidia-modeset.ko
exactly matches what is already found in kernel 5.8.0-43-generic.
DKMS will not replace this module.
You may override by specifying --force.
nvidia-drm.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
Good news! Module version 450.102.04 for nvidia-drm.ko
exactly matches what is already found in kernel 5.8.0-43-generic.
DKMS will not replace this module.
You may override by specifying --force.
nvidia-uvm.ko: 5.8.0-43- generic/ updates/ dkms/
Running module version sanity check.
- Original module
- No original module exists within this kernel
- Installation
- Installing to /lib/modules/
ProblemType: Bug ature: Ubuntu 5.8.0-44. 50~20.04. 1-generic 5.8.18 dules: nvidia_modeset nvidia 0ubuntu27. 16 esult: skip /casper/ vmlinuz file=/cdrom/ preseed/ ubuntu. seed maybe-ubiquity quiet splash ---
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
Package: ubiquity (not installed)
ProcVersionSign
Uname: Linux 5.8.0-44-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelMo
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckR
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Fri Feb 26 01:26:35 2021
InstallCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=
InstallationDate: Installed on 2021-02-24 (1 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 20.04.2.0 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Release amd64 (20210209.1)
SourcePackage: ubiquity
Symptom: installer
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)