boot stops at black screen (blinking cursor in top left corner); pulseaudio fails to intialize?

[Hannu E K N]

$ cat /etc/os-release
NAME="Ubuntu"
VERSION="20.04.5 LTS (Focal Fossa)"
ID=ubuntu
ID_LIKE=debian
PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS"
VERSION_ID="20.04"
HOME_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/"
SUPPORT_URL="https://help.ubuntu.com/"
BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/"
PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/legal/terms-and-policies/privacy-policy"
VERSION_CODENAME=focal
UBUNTU_CODENAME=focal

3 to 5 of 10 boot occasions stops prematurely.

dmesg (included here, I assume) indicates a pulseaudio failure stopping the booting.
I have NOT investigated further (knowledge limit).

This very latest bootup seemed to indicate that there is something waiting on the keyboard, as I got all the way "up" after beating repeatedly - alternating - on ESC and ENTER

--- dmesg tail on this boot ---
4 sec pause from previous line (at 9 secs)
[ 13.444028] xhci_hcd 0000:01:00.2: xHC error in resume, USBSTS 0x401, Reinit
[ 13.444031] usb usb3: root hub lost power or was reset
[ 13.444032] usb usb4: root hub lost power or was reset
[ 13.557170] Lockdown: Xorg: raw io port access is restricted; see man kernel_lockdown.7
[ 13.791732] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20210331/nsarguments-61)
[ 17.001076] Lockdown: systemd-logind: hibernation is restricted; see man kernel_lockdown.7
[ 17.105681] rfkill: input handler disabled
[ 28.694324] Bluetooth: RFCOMM TTY layer initialized
[ 28.694328] Bluetooth: RFCOMM socket layer initialized
[ 28.694331] Bluetooth: RFCOMM ver 1.11
[ 28.922797] rfkill: input handler enabled
[ 29.043050] Lockdown: Xorg: raw io port access is restricted; see man kernel_lockdown.7
[ 31.669031] Lockdown: systemd-logind: hibernation is restricted; see man kernel_lockdown.7
[ 31.907300] rfkill: input handler disabled
[ 41.959736] Lockdown: systemd-logind: hibernation is restricted; see man kernel_lockdown.7
[ 78.940836] xhci_hcd 0000:01:00.2: xHC error in resume, USBSTS 0x401, Reinit
[ 78.940840] usb usb3: root hub lost power or was reset
[ 78.940841] usb usb4: root hub lost power or was reset
[ 929.174665] xhci_hcd 0000:01:00.2: xHC error in resume, USBSTS 0x401, Reinit
[ 929.174669] usb usb3: root hub lost power or was reset
[ 929.174671] usb usb4: root hub lost power or was reset
-- end ---

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
Package: pulseaudio 1:13.99.1-1ubuntu3.13
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.13.0-52.59~20.04.1-generic 5.13.19
Uname: Linux 5.13.0-52-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_modeset nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.24
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse: Error: command ['fuser', '-v', '/dev/snd/controlC0', '/dev/snd/hwC0D2', '/dev/snd/hwC0D0', '/dev/snd/pcmC0D0c', '/dev/snd/pcmC0D0p', '/dev/snd/by-path', '/dev/snd/controlC1', '/dev/snd/hwC1D0', '/dev/snd/pcmC1D10p', '/dev/snd/pcmC1D9p', '/dev/snd/pcmC1D8p', '/dev/snd/pcmC1D7p', '/dev/snd/pcmC1D3p', '/dev/snd/seq', '/dev/snd/timer'] failed with exit code 1:
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
Date: Sun Sep 4 08:19:01 2022
PulseList: Error: command ['pacmd', 'list'] failed with exit code 1: No PulseAudio daemon running, or not running as session daemon.
SourcePackage: pulseaudio
Symptom: audio
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 02/19/2021
dmi.bios.release: 5.13
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: G731GU.312
dmi.board.asset.tag: ATN12345678901234567
dmi.board.name: G731GU
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
dmi.board.version: 1.0
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
dmi.chassis.version: 1.0
dmi.ec.firmware.release: 0.6
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrG731GU.312:bd02/19/2021:br5.13:efr0.6:svnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:pnROGStrixG731GU_G731GU:pvr1.0:rvnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:rnG731GU:rvr1.0:cvnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:ct10:cvr1.0:sku:
dmi.product.family: ROG Strix
dmi.product.name: ROG Strix G731GU_G731GU
dmi.product.version: 1.0
dmi.sys.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.

[Hannu E K N (hannu-n)]

--- seen in dmesg ---
[ 5.815777] Bluetooth: hci0: Firmware revision 0.1 build 26 week 11 2020
[ 5.881465] NET: Registered protocol family 38
[ 9.328954] wlo1: authenticate with 94:18:65:08:59:ae
[ 9.338666] wlo1: send auth to 94:18:65:08:59:ae (try 1/3)
[ 9.382307] wlo1: authenticated
[ 9.384831] wlo1: associate with 94:18:65:08:59:ae (try 1/3)
[ 9.389564] wlo1: RX AssocResp from 94:18:65:08:59:ae (capab=0x431 status=0 aid=3)
[ 9.392938] wlo1: associated
[ 9.505267] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlo1: link becomes ready
[ 64.717314] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:1f.3: couldn't bind with audio component
[ 64.772851] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0: autoconfig for ALC294: line_outs=1 (0x17/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0) type:speaker
[ 64.772856] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0: speaker_outs=0 (0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0)
[ 64.772858] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0: hp_outs=1 (0x21/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0)
[ 64.772860] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0: mono: mono_out=0x0
[ 64.772862] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0: inputs:
[ 64.772863] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0: Headset Mic=0x19
[ 64.772865] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0: Internal Mic=0x12
[ 65.227287] snd_hda_codec_hdmi hdaudioC0D2: No i915 binding for Intel HDMI/DP codec
[ 65.231312] hdaudio hdaudioC0D2: Unable to configure, disabling
[ 65.232125] input: HDA Intel PCH Headset Mic as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.3/sound/card0/input21
[ 65.232353] input: HDA Intel PCH Headphone as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.3/sound/card0/input22
[ 481.066720] kauditd_printk_skb: 22 callbacks suppressed
[ 481.066723] audit: type=1400 audit(1663175820.795:34): apparmor="DENIED" operation="capable" profile="/usr/sbin/cups-browsed" pid=2107 comm="cups-browsed" capability=23 capname="sys_nice"
[ 482.476639] xhci_hcd 0000:01:00.2: xHC error in resume, USBSTS 0x401, Reinit
[ 482.476642] usb usb3: root hub lost power or was reset
[ 482.476643] usb usb4: root hub lost power or was reset
[ 482.598315] Lockdown: Xorg: raw io port access is restricted; see man kernel_lockdown.7
[ 482.687635] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20210331/nsarguments-61)
[ 484.946351] Lockdown: systemd-logind: hibernation is restricted; see man kernel_lockdown.7
[ 485.054903] rfkill: input handler disabled
[ 491.657064] Bluetooth: RFCOMM TTY layer initialized
[ 491.657070] Bluetooth: RFCOMM socket layer initialized
[ 491.657073] Bluetooth: RFCOMM ver 1.11
[ 491.886727] rfkill: input handler enabled
[ 492.013259] Lockdown: Xorg: raw io port access is restricted; see man kernel_lockdown.7
[ 493.174837] Lockdown: systemd-logind: hibernation is restricted; see man kernel_lockdown.7
[ 493.434596] rfkill: input handler disabled

--- end of dmsg ---
" autoconfig for ALC294" =>

$ sudo lshw | grep ALC294 | wc -l
0
$
---
https://www.google.com/search?q=ALC294+%2Bg731 -> notably "g731" doesn't seem to be present in the google-search for ALC294

https://www.google.com/search?q=%2BALC294+%2Bg731 => no match on g731

Why is there an attempt to initialize this non-existant hardware?

[Hannu E K N (hannu-n)]

--- audio in the output of lshw ---

           *-multimedia
                description: Audio device
                product: TU116 High Definition Audio Controller
                vendor: NVIDIA Corporation
                physical id: 0.1
                bus info: pci@0000:01:00.1
                version: a1
                width: 32 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
                configuration: driver=snd_hda_intel latency=0
                resources: irq:17 memory:a5080000-a5083fff
---

        *-multimedia
             description: Audio device
             product: Cannon Lake PCH cAVS
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f.3
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.3
             version: 10
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm msi bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=snd_hda_intel latency=32
             resources: irq:150 memory:a5418000-a541bfff memory:a5100000-a51fffff
---

[Hannu E K N (hannu-n)]

Hmm...

$ cat /sys/class/sound/hwC0D0/chip_name
ALC294

[Hannu E K N (hannu-n)]

$ cat /sys/class/sound/hwC0D0/vendor_name
Realtek

[Hannu E K N (hannu-n)]

$ lspci | grep -i audio
00:1f.3 Audio device: Intel Corporation Cannon Lake PCH cAVS (rev 10)
01:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation TU116 High Definition Audio Controller (rev a1)

*** Is there REALLY Realtek audio hardware in here too?
*** or just a partly initialized driver due to the missing hardware?

Looks as that driver(?) in linux-modules-extra-(uname -r)...

$ apt-file find snd-hda-intel | grep $(uname -r)
linux-modules-extra-5.13.0-52-generic: /lib/modules/5.13.0-52-generic/kernel/sound/pci/hda/snd-hda-intel.ko

$ apt-file find snd-hda-intel | wc -l
576

[Hannu E K N (hannu-n)]

Oh, I DO have sound in the speakers, BT high def (A2DP) audio too...

[Hannu E K N (hannu-n)]

Current status:
$ grep hda /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
blacklist snd_hda_codec_realtek

Seems to stop the problems.

[Hannu E K N (hannu-n)]

Sadly, that wasn't it... still does the same (Only at start from "cold"? is it?)

[Hannu E K N (hannu-n)]

Another attempt:

$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist_i2c-nvidia-gpu.conf
# https://askubuntu.com/a/1289997
blacklist i2c_nvidia_gpu

Didn't make any difference.

My judgment is that this is NOT a hardware issue, a plain software one indicated by:

As the flow of dmesg items ends; if I start tapping ESC ant Enter keys repeatedly I will see the X / Wayland GUI Login screen within 10 seconds.

If i do NOT do that key-tapping, then the boot stop just prior to the login screen; screen is black, cursor flashing in upper left corner (at least to begin with), it stays like that indefinitely, after some time cooling fans start blowing - so there appears to be some CPU-intensive thing going on.
The only way out of this is holding the power button until power drops off.
Looking into the dmesg log, there is nothing after the 10 second mark.

What appears after 10 seconds on a tap-a-long-boot doesn't seem to be related, the list isn't long and does not seem to contain any leads into the issue.

[Hannu E K N (hannu-n)]

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/module-init-tools/+bug/240553

$ sudo rmmod evbug
[sudo] password for hannu:
$

[Hannu E K N (hannu-n)]

$ journalctl --disk-usage
Archived and active journals take up 624.0M in the file system.

[Hannu E K N (hannu-n)]

Might it be the case that I somehow removed or emptied /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf ?

--- pre ---
# https://askubuntu.com/a/67028/289138
$ dpkg -S /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
dpkg -S /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
$ sudo apt install --reinstall -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confask,confnew,confmiss" kmod
--- /pre ---

[Hannu E K N (hannu-n)]

Might i have emptied or removed
/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
by mistake? It was awfully empty!?

--- pre ---
# https://askubuntu.com/a/67028/289138

$ dpkg -S /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
kmod: /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

$ sudo apt install --reinstall -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confask,confnew,confmiss" kmod
...
--- /pre ---

[Hannu E K N (hannu-n)]

The empty blacklist.conf seems to have caused all this.

- CLOSE -