Ubuntu

Newest graphics-drivers/ppa Nvidia drivers cause no boot/black screen

Asked by Dan L.

Yesterday morning, I did my normal "sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade", saw there were some Nvidia updates and went ahead. Upon reboot, after selecting Ubuntu 20.04 from my boot options (I have Windows 10 and Kubuntu 20.04 installed) it went back to my mother board splash screen and froze (or froze on a black screen with nothing but a non-blinking cursor).

I went around looking for the problem and realized it may be the new Nvidia driver, so I uninstalled all Nvidia drivers (they had been installed using the graphics-drivers/ppa)… and rebooted using nouveau- everything worked fine (though this is suboptimal because one of my screens is old and flickers with nouveau).

So, I looked at my update history and saw that on 2021-05-07 I had installed the 460.73.01 Nvidia driver for Ubuntu 20.04.2 and everything worked fine then… Here is the relevant history log for that update:

Upgrade: update-manager-core:amd64 (1:20.04.10.6, 1:20.04.10.7), libwacom-common:amd64 (1.3-2ubuntu1, 1.3-2ubuntu3), alsa-ucm-conf:amd64 (1.2.2-1ubuntu0.6, 1.2.2-1ubuntu0.7), libnvidia-compute-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), libnvidia-compute-460:i386 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), libnvidia-encode-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), libnvidia-encode-460:i386 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), nvidia-kernel-common-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), xserver-xorg-video-nvidia-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), libnvidia-gl-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), libnvidia-gl-460:i386 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), libasound2-data:amd64 (1.2.2-2.1ubuntu2.3, 1.2.2-2.1ubuntu2.4), libnvidia-fbc1-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), libnvidia-fbc1-460:i386 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), libnvidia-decode-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), libnvidia-decode-460:i386 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), libwacom-bin:amd64 (1.3-2ubuntu1, 1.3-2ubuntu3), libnvidia-cfg1-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), alsa-utils:amd64 (1.2.2-1ubuntu2, 1.2.2-1ubuntu2.1), r-cran-class:amd64 (7.3-18-1.2004.0, 7.3-19-1.2004.0), iio-sensor-proxy:amd64 (2.8-1, 2.8-1ubuntu1), nvidia-utils-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), libxmlb1:amd64 (0.1.15-2, 0.1.15-2ubuntu1~20.04.1), nvidia-dkms-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), r-cran-matrix:amd64 (1.3-2-1.2004.0, 1.3-3-1.2004.0), apport:amd64 (2.20.11-0ubuntu27.16, 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.17), python3-update-manager:amd64 (1:20.04.10.6, 1:20.04.10.7), python3-apport:amd64 (2.20.11-0ubuntu27.16, 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.17), thunderbird-locale-en-gb:amd64 (1:78.7.1+build1-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 1:78.8.1+build1-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), nvidia-compute-utils-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), thunderbird-locale-en-us:amd64 (1:78.7.1+build1-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 1:78.8.1+build1-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libnvidia-ifr1-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), libnvidia-ifr1-460:i386 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), nvidia-driver-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), thunderbird:amd64 (1:78.7.1+build1-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 1:78.8.1+build1-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libasound2:amd64 (1.2.2-2.1ubuntu2.3, 1.2.2-2.1ubuntu2.4), code:amd64 (1.55.2-1618307277, 1.56.0-1620166262), thermald:amd64 (1.9.1-1ubuntu0.3, 1.9.1-1ubuntu0.4), libwacom2:amd64 (1.3-2ubuntu1, 1.3-2ubuntu3), libnvidia-common-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), linux-firmware:amd64 (1.187.11, 1.187.12), apport-kde:amd64 (2.20.11-0ubuntu27.16, 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.17), r-cran-lattice:amd64 (0.20-41-1cran1focal0, 0.20-44-1cran1.2004.0), libnvidia-extra-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), thunderbird-locale-en:amd64 (1:78.7.1+build1-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 1:78.8.1+build1-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), python3-problem-report:amd64 (2.20.11-0ubuntu27.16, 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.17), r-cran-survival:amd64 (3.2-10-1cran1.2004.0, 3.2-11-1cran1.2004.0), libatopology2:amd64 (1.2.2-2.1ubuntu2.3, 1.2.2-2.1ubuntu2.4), nvidia-kernel-source-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2)

Then yesterday morning I had done the following updates:

Upgrade: intel-microcode:amd64 (3.20201110.0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 3.20210216.0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libnvidia-compute-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libnvidia-compute-460:i386 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libnvidia-encode-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libnvidia-encode-460:i386 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), nvidia-kernel-common-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), xserver-xorg-video-nvidia-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libnvidia-gl-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libnvidia-gl-460:i386 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libnvidia-fbc1-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libnvidia-fbc1-460:i386 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libnvidia-decode-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libnvidia-decode-460:i386 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libnvidia-cfg1-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), nvidia-utils-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), nvidia-dkms-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libxnvctrl0:amd64 (460.39-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), nvidia-compute-utils-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libnvidia-ifr1-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libnvidia-ifr1-460:i386 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), nvidia-driver-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libnvidia-common-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), libnvidia-extra-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), nvidia-kernel-source-460:amd64 (460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.2, 460.80-0ubuntu0.20.04.1), nvidia-settings:amd64 (460.39-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 460.73.01-0ubuntu0.20.04.1)

So, thinking maybe it was some strange error due to the 460.80 version or something, I decided to manually download and install the 460.73.01 driver version. (steps summarized at https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-install-the-nvidia-drivers-on-ubuntu-20-04-focal-fossa-linux under section “Manual install using the official Nvidia.com driver step by step instructions”)

Upon doing that, and reboot, everything is working perfectly again. I’m just looking for an idea as to why the official release/update through graphics-drivers/ppa seems to be failing/causing system crash while (what seems to be) the same version installed manually is working fine?

Thanks for any help provided, and again I’m running Kubuntu 20.04 and here is my output of "lsb_release -a":

No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS
Release: 20.04
Codename: focal

I also posted this issue here: https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/black-screen-after-nvidia-460-73-01-460-80-install/178189

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Dan L.
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Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#1

Q: "I’m just looking for an idea as to why the official release/update through graphics-drivers/ppa seems to be failing"

A: Your starting point is wrong. A package from a PPA is not the official release.

PPA stands for Personal Package Archives and is software that some independent person outside Ubuntu builds and offers for public use, with all responsibility being with the provider of the PPA and the user installing software from there.

If you look at the Launchpad page for graphics-drivers/ppa https://launchpad.net/~graphics-drivers/+archive/ubuntu/ppa you see:

For questions and bugs with software in this PPA please contact Graphics Drivers https://launchpad.net/~graphics-drivers

For further reading see also https://help.launchpad.net/Packaging/PPA

Revision history for this message
Dan L. (dlevings) said : 		#2

Sorry for my mistaken terminology.

I saw that the team/PPA is hosted through launchpad, and didn't see any place to post/file a 'bug' report or anything like that so I thought posting it was the only/correct course. However, I see now that team members can be emailed, so I assume that must be what I'm supposed to do.

Thank you and sorry for my confusion!

Revision history for this message
Rico Tzschichholz (ricotz) said : 		#3

These PPA packages for 460.80 are currently plain binary copies from *-proposed.

See https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/nvidia-graphics-drivers-460

Revision history for this message
Dan L. (dlevings) said : 		#4

Thanks Rico! So if I'm understanding correctly, when I updated through graphics-drivers/ppa it would have installed the new 460.80 version, and this is likely what led to my problems. So, to recreate the issue/verify, I could try installing the 460.80 drivers directly from Nvidia (https://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverResults.aspx/175203/en-us) and then if it breaks my system/won't boot, I should file a bug with them (or edit/follow up on the one I already filed)... correct?

Thank you very much!

- Dan