[Nvidia] Annoying Black screen comes up frequently !!

Asked by Srinivas J R

I'm using Ubuntu 10.10 x64 and dual booting with Win 7 on my desktop. Ubuntu installation is fine and everything is seems to be.

While i'm working with my Ubuntu -- checking emails, browsing web and music, movies -- suddenly screen goes black. It has been happening for every 20-30 min of Ubuntu running.

My graphics card is Nvidia GeForce 7300/ 7200 GS. Driver version installed is - 260.19.06. At first i thought it was due to my flash player plugin in Firefox, but then it repeats more frequently even after I'd uninstalled it.

Now I've video card drivers installed and some applications installed.

This is so frustrating and irritating, as I have to hit the manual reboot button on my CPU very very frequently.

Any help ??

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#1

Set a different refresh rate in nvidia-settings, may help

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Srinivas J R (koolguy) said :
#2

I guess it has refresh rates from 60-75. Which is better? lower or higher value?

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Srinivas J R (koolguy) said :
#3

refresh rate in nvidia-settings didn't help at all. I've set to 75 (from 60) and after 20min of doing my work, again, it gave me black screen. No other option than to hit reboot.

At least I need to know what's the reason for this kind of problem??

Any ideas??

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Srinivas J R (koolguy) said :
#4

Refresh rat in nvidia-setting didn't solve anything at all, I've tried 60Hz, 70Hz , 75hz and even Auto. Nothing helped me so far and I'm yet facing the problem frequently with the gap of 20min !!

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Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#5
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Srinivas J R (koolguy) said :
#6

I didn't actually find anything related to my problem here at
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-nv

@Sam
But, I did use this solution
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/Nvidia#Screen%20Blanks/Monitor%20Turns%20Off
End result --> SAME, I still get those Black screens very often and I can't do a thing about it.

I didn't understand anything mentioned here at
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/KernelModeSetting
Could someone care to explain what it is here I’ve to look at and apply ?

Didn't solve anything at all, as of now :(

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Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#7

Sorry, KMS regards nouveau (standard) driver.
<Kernel mode-setting (KMS) shifts responsibility for selecting and setting up the graphics mode from X.org to the kernel.>

Maybe it helps to install the driver again and reconfigure.
Any errors in logfiles, dmesg, syslog, Xorg.0.log.old?
In case report a bug.

Regarding hardreset rather use MagicSysRq.
http://www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-use-magic-system-request-keys-in-ubuntu-linux.html

Just for exclusion.
I'd check hd health with S.M.A.R.T.
System administration -> disk utility
Run MEM test (available from boot menu).
And fsck.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SystemAdministration/Fsck

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Srinivas J R (koolguy) said :
#8

Hey I just ran the MEM test and it gave me an error saying :
error: too small lower memory (0x99100 > 0x8f000)
Press any key to continue...

@Sam
do you think it is because of MEM test error?? How do I solve it?

HD S.M.A.R.T. is healthy :)
Fsck - I think it runs automatically at every 30 reboots (in my case for every 2-3 days). It shows no error.

I'm checking MagicSysRq. now.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#9

If the test doesn't run without a hitch, the RAM can be suspected as bad. If you have more than one stick, I suggest you remove one (with the system powered off of course) then retest. If its still bad then swap them around. If your PC is under a warranty then tell them and they can advise. You may need to buy some RAM but its very cheap these days

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Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#10

In correlation with a black screen out of a sudden it might well be a RAM issue.

In the meantime please also note the bug report, include the output of MEM test and system specs there:
uname -a
lsb_release - d
Then wait until more info will be requested.

Further info regarding bug report and debug.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingProcedures
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/KnownHardwareIssues/10.10

Some reading about memory.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1084863
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/library/l-linux-memory.html

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Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#11

Erratum:
lsb_release -d

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Srinivas J R (koolguy) said :
#12

@actionparsnip
I've been using my PC for the past 3 years with Win XP, Vista and now Win 7. Never had any problem with RAM except when I first bought the PC (eventually replaced). My RAM is single stick 1GB. So just because Ubuntu is having trouble in recognizing the hardware, do I need to buy a new one? But, Windows is working perfectly without any flaw.

@Sam
Thanks for the MagicSysRq advice. It works :)
Now it gotten even worse, just goes blank in 10-15min span. I wonder how do I report a bug in that small time as I'm fairly learning to use Ubuntu for the past 20days.

I appreciate your help regarding this issue, but I think I got here a HUGE learning curve. Why does using an ubuntu requires this much trouble? Anyhow I'm gonna report a bug now and wait for further info.

Finally, does my problem of screen going black out of a sudden is solely related to RAM?

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Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#13

> HUGE learning curve

Roopa,
indeed, it may become huge because something doesn't work as expected, if everything is well it may tend to be rather flat or none. ;-)

You didn't give feedback about investigation of logfiles and reinstalling the driver.
Did you test nouveau (standard) driver?
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Troubleshooting/NvidiaDriverSwitching

MEM test errors usually point to RAM issue, it may also be related to the mentioned bug report in this case. Untill now there is just too less info to say something.
Click on 'Does this bug affect you?' (on top of bug report) and provide the relevant info in the 'Add comment' field.

Please also provide output of:
free -m
df -h

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Srinivas J R (koolguy) said :
#14

@Sam

Sorry, for not giving any feedback on log files and reinstalling the driver. As of now my Ubuntu stands for at most 20-25min; Reinstalling driver takes almost 30min of downloading (low speed Internet). Which in my case I guess I've to repeat that process again and again until it stops giving black screens (purely luck). Anyway I'll try that one now. Will check nouveau (standard) driver too.

Please check the commands you've asked for :

*free -m

             total used free shared buffers cached
Mem: 996 858 138 0 43 282
-/+ buffers/cache: 532 464
Swap: 3069 0 3069

*df -h

Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda6 5.5G 3.4G 2.0G 64% /
none 492M 268K 492M 1% /dev
none 499M 116K 499M 1% /dev/shm
none 499M 92K 499M 1% /var/run
none 499M 0 499M 0% /var/lock

*uname -a
Linux roopa-desktop 2.6.35-22-generic #35-Ubuntu SMP Sat Oct 16 20:45:36 UTC 2010 x86_64 GNU/Linux

*lsb_release -d
Description: Ubuntu 10.10

As for the log files are concerned,
dmesg has 790 lines, syslog has 143518 lines very big file, and Xorg.0.log.old 255 lines what I'm I supposed to check there? I did find some lines containing "error" keyword (by ctrl+f search)on all three of these log files. What does it mean?

I'm going to add the same info on 'Does this bug affect you?' > 'Add comment'.

Btw, MagicSysRq trick works only when I'm using left hand side 'ALT key' on keyboard and it doesn't work on the right hand side 'ALT key' on the keyboard (though it worked for the first 5 times earlier) now.

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Srinivas J R (koolguy) said :
#15

@Sam

I think command ouputs here are not formatted, so I made a Drop so u can check my Log files and command outputs if you want to.
Check it at - http://drop.io/qxqvdbz

Let me know if you want anything more !!

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Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#16

You can attach logfiles to a bug report by using at the bottom of page 'Add attachment or patch'.

Please provide output:
grep -i error /var/log/Xorg.0.log.old
grep -i fail /var/log/Xorg.0.log.old

btw. you can redirect the output of a logfile into a textfile in order to attach it to bug report.
e.g. (it'll be in your /home/user):
cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log.old > Xorg.0.log.old.txt

Since logfiles may be overwritten after reboot you'll need logfiles from the time right after the freeze.
Compare timestamp of logfile with time of freeze.
e.g. in /var/log there're maybe a dmes.0, syslog.1, kern.log.1

Another option would be to shutdown after the freeze, boot from LiveCD, mount local hd, search logfiles and attach it to bug report.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Backtracing

> right hand side 'ALT key'

Is usually not ALT but ALTGr, depending on keyboard layout.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout

Make sure you don't have 'switching accessability via keyboard' enabled.
System preferences -> keyboard -> accessability

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Srinivas J R (koolguy) said :
#17

Didn't see that 'Add attachment or patch', will check it now.

output of grep -i error /var/log/Xorg.0.log.old
 (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.

output of grep -i fail /var/log/Xorg.0.log.old
 (nothing actually, just entered into a new command line)

I tried reinstalling of drivers, but out of three attempts I did, all them are in vain as I got black screen.

I didn't quite understand below lines -
"Compare timestamp of logfile with time of freeze.
e.g. in /var/log there're maybe a dmes.0, syslog.1, kern.log.1"

I've checked the /ver/log folder and following are the list of files and directories inside
alternatives.log dmesg.1.gz mail.info Xorg.0.log
apparmor dmesg.2.gz mail.log Xorg.0.log.old
apt dmesg.3.gz mail.warn Xorg.1.log
auth.log dmesg.4.gz messages Xorg.1.log.old
boot dpkg.log news Xorg.2.log
boot.log faillog pm-powersave.log Xorg.2.log.old
bootstrap.log fontconfig.log pycentral.log Xorg.3.log
btmp fsck samba Xorg.3.log.old
ConsoleKit gdm speech-dispatcher Xorg.4.log
cups installer syslog Xorg.4.log.old
daemon.log jockey.log udev Xorg.5.log
debug kern.log ufw.log Xorg.5.log.old
dist-upgrade lastlog unattended-upgrades
dmesg lpr.log user.log
dmesg.0 mail.err wtmp

I'm still studying nouveau (standard) driver.
Thanks again on MagicSysRq, it works somehow now on both ALT keys.

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Srinivas J R (koolguy) said :
#18

@Sam,

What are the log files do I need to attach in bug report?

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Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#19

> Didn't see that 'Add attachment or patch'

Please note mentioned link about 'Reporting Bugs' which incl. related screenshots like this one.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs?action=AttachFile&do=get&target=extra-options.png
## btw. I don't post links just for fun, those pages exist in order to help you.

> Compare timestamp of logfile with time of freeze

e.g.
Freeze on Oct. 25th at 12:53 h
Logfile from Oct. 25th, related lines around the same time or last change of file at 12:53 h

Minimum to upload:
cat /proc/version_signature > version.log
dmesg > dmesg.log
sudo lspci -vvnn > lspci-vvnn.log
cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log.old > Xorg.0.log.old

Is it possible for you to switch to tty (text only, no GUI) after the freeze (black screen)?
CTRL+ALT+F1 (session)
CTRL+ALT+F2 bis F6 (free tty)
CTRL+ALT+F7 (GUI)

If yes try this:
Take note of cmds or create a text file with Gedit and insert those (not the log files of course, only the cmds):
cat /proc/version_signature > ~/Desktop/version.log
dmesg > ~/Desktop/dmesg.log
sudo lspci -vvnn > ~/Desktop/lspci-vvnn.log
cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log > ~/Desktop/Xorg.0.log

Save the file in your /home/user with e.g. name: mybug

After the freeze switch to tty via: CTRL+ALT+F1
Login with your username and pwd.

cat ~/mybug

Now you'll see the cmds which you've inserted before in the text file.

Run each cmd one after one in order to create the log files. (be aware that CLI is case sensitive)
When finished:
sudo reboot

After reboot upload the log files to your bug report.

Reference.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LinuxLogFiles
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=833765

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Srinivas J R (koolguy) said :
#20

You have misunderstood my statement of "didn't see that.."; I was referring that I’m unaware of it until u told me there's something that I can upload to in Bug reports.

>Is it possible for you to switch to tty (text only, no GUI) after the freeze (black screen)?
CTRL+ALT+F1 (session)
CTRL+ALT+F2 bis F6 (free tty)
CTRL+ALT+F7 (GUI)
Ans: No, not at all. I've tried everything, only thing that works MagicSysRq or hardreset.

Btw, I did read your posted links, problem is I’m a slow learner :(

Last time system freezed on Oct 23rd at 01:38, log files I've attached on bug report are
version.log, dmesg.log, lspci-vvnn.log, Xorg.0.log.old.txt

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Srinivas J R (koolguy) said :
#21

@Sam
And now again it freezed on Oct 23rd at 02:10, do u want me upload log files again?

U said me to compare log files around time of freeze , but I didn't get any clue while reading those lines and not to mention those are in 100's of lines at the time of Freeze.

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Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#22

> upload log files again

Roopa,
thanks, it's fine for now, but I'd rather create an extra bug on this specific issue.
Because it may not be necessarily MEM test if you look at the upstream bug.
http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=549429#13
To exclude it you could actually run MEM test from LiveCD.

Since we don't know at the moment which package is indeed the cause I'd say file a bug against linux via apport as soon as you login (since the freeze occurs every 30 min.).
ubuntu-bug linux

## which will incl. necessary info automatically.

Thanks for your patience to work through the issue.
Please incl. in your bug description after what steps precisely the freeze occurs and if it happens only on a certain action or random.
http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/bugs.html

If possible test nouveau and lets hope it'll work, don't forget to remove the other driver before testing nouveau.
e.g.
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/129821

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Srinivas J R (koolguy) said :
#23

@Sam

I can't emphasis enough how 'exasperated' I'm now. This is the third writing this comment, before which Ubuntu freezed (same black screen). I can't even complete the bug report due it. Within a gap of 10min, system freezed three times in a row.

Anyway, while trying to install 'nouveau' driver from
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Troubleshooting/NvidiaDriverSwitching#Problem:%20%20Need%20to%20fully%20remove%20-nvidia%20and%20installing%20or%20reinstall%20-nouveau%20from%20scratch

First command " sudo nvidia-settings --uninstall" itself gave an error saying --
nvidia-settings: unrecognized option: "--uninstall"

ERROR: Invalid commandline, please run `nvidia-settings --help` for usage
       information.

proceed further ignoring this line?

And do you want to report bug now itself or after installing "nouveau" driver?

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Srinivas J R (koolguy) said :
#24

@Sam

Ok, I'll try the method that described in here.
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/129821

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Srinivas J R (koolguy) said :
#25

Sam,

Now I've successfully uninstalled nvidia drivers.

Changes I've observed after uninstalling nvidia.
--> I'm now seeing ubuntu logo everytime on login and shutdown.
--> When nvidia drivers are installed, everytime i shutdown/restart I see some lines stating "disconneting init.. " or something like that, but not ubuntu logo.

So, file a bug report now?

on the other note, I've other problem
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-nettool/+question/129251
since ubuntu 10.10 :(
just letting you know, in-case if both are related !!

Revision history for this message
Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#26

> successfully uninstalled nvidia drivers

Congratulations.

> So, file a bug report now?

Roopa,
when there is no nvidia or nouveau driver currently installed and there is no freeze, a bug report obviously wouldn't make sense.

> see some lines stating "disconneting init.. " or something like that

Not very helpful, but could be related to your network issue.
File a bug if it worked before and not anymore with 10.10.

Anyway, if one likes to be on the comfortable side LTS is a good choice.
Releases which come after an LTS are kind of preparation for the next LTS.

Revision history for this message
Srinivas J R (koolguy) said :
#27

Sam,

But my problem didn't solve yet right? without those nvidia drivers my visual screen looks bad. I mean I see green dots/green lines across my desktop.

Main reason that I've updated to Ubuntu 10.10 is because of BLACK SCREENS (since 10.04). Because I've installed 10.04 through wubi (thought installing ubuntu using wubi is unstable) and now reinstalled 10.10 normally with live cd. So, I know my problem will remain same even if I downgrade to 10.04. How do I solve this problem -- Black Screen ??

In addition to that, 10.10 can't connect me to internet reliably using DSL.

Finally, I liked Ubuntu, I want to use on daily basis not until I can resolve this Black Screen issue (which I can't, apparently !!).

Anything I can do about it?

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Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#28
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Srinivas J R (koolguy) said :
#29

Did you rename xorg.conf (after removal of nvidia*) as suggested in Q #129821?
--> if u are asking about executing this command?
sudo mv /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf_old
I did that :)

Premise: nvidia drivers must be removed.
In case the issue remains test this:
sudo apt-get install libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental
## Reboot afterwards.
--> Hey, I couldn't wait for your answer, so I went to IRC #nouveau channel in freenode.net and followed these exact steps. Yes, it is working now :)
Have to use it one or two days to test its stability !!

Sam,
To make my point clear, I've no problem installing Ubuntu at all. My black screens are only those which come "suddenly" again and again after doing some work in Ubuntu.
My issue is not at all related to black screen at startup (since you've pointed me to some of those issues in your links on above post). Yeah even with 10.04 same exact problem with black screens as of now.

But, I've no plans in installing LucidLynx now. If "libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental" has some stability I'll continue with Maverick Meerat.

Can you help with this problem?

Provide an answer of your own, or ask Srinivas J R for more information if necessary.

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