bug#65572: Black screen in installer

bug#65572: Black screen in installer

[Iku-Tulo Vilutar]

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Hello,

I'm trying to install Guix system on an i386 laptop. When the installer
should reach the GUI, only a black screen is displayed.

I tried to boot by editing Linux boot parameters in GRUB and set
`nomodeset` and removed `quiet`. Now without `quiet` I saw the following
messages before the black screen:

```
intelfb: Version 0.9.6
intelfb: Cannot reserve FB region
```

Then I tried `nomodeset video=uvesafb` Linux parameters and the GUI now
rendered. I don't know if these work as a global workaround for other
machines, should they be documented in the installation instructions?

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bug#65572: Black screen in installer

[pelzflorian (Florian Pelz)]

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Hello Iku-Tulo, thank you for the report.

Vilutar <ikutulovilutar@gmail.com> writes:
> intelfb: Version 0.9.6
> intelfb: Cannot reserve FB region

An unlikely guess: I have had problems with a black screen when using a
television as a screen.  However this does not sound like it.

> Then I tried `nomodeset video=uvesafb` Linux parameters and the GUI
> now rendered. I don't know if these work as a global workaround for
> other machines,

No, there have been reports that uvesafb does not work on every machine.

> should they be documented in the installation
> instructions?

Yes, if we can give proper instructions.  Perhaps the attached patch?

Regards,
Florian


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[-- Type: text/x-patch, Size: 1519 bytes --]

From: Florian Pelz <pelzflorian@pelzflorian.de>
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2023 12:44:55 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] doc: Describe black screen issue when booting the installer.

With suggestions by Iku-Tulo Vilutar <ikutulovilutar@gmail.com>.
Fixes <https://issues.guix.gnu.org/65572>.

* doc/guix.texi (System Installation): Add suggestion when
booting the installer fails with a black screen.
---
 doc/guix.texi | 10 ++++++++++
 1 file changed, 10 insertions(+)

diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
index 04e5875925..5aeed7851d 100644
--- a/doc/guix.texi
+++ b/doc/guix.texi
@@ -2402,6 +2402,16 @@ BIOS or UEFI boot menu, where you can choose to boot from the USB stick.
 In order to boot from Libreboot, switch to the command mode by pressing
 the @kbd{c} key and type @command{search_grub usb}.
 
+Sadly, on some machines, the installation medium cannot be properly
+booted and you only see a black screen after booting.  This may
+indicate that your machine cannot run Guix System; perhaps you instead
+want to install Guix on a foreign distro (@pxref{Binary
+Installation}).  If you are adventurous, a possible workaround is
+pressing the @kbd{e} key in the GRUB boot menu and appending
+@option{nomodeset video=uvesafb} to the Linux bootline.  Sometimes the
+black screen issue can also be resolved by connecting a different
+display.
+
 @xref{Installing Guix in a VM}, if, instead, you would like to install
 Guix System in a virtual machine (VM).
 

base-commit: 299d0463d54c97b237deb2fe9e464108544344c0
-- 
2.41.0

bug#65572: Black screen in installer

[Iku-Tulo Vilutar]

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Looks good to me. Thank you.

On Thu, 31 Aug 2023 at 13:52, pelzflorian (Florian Pelz) <
pelzflorian@pelzflorian.de> wrote:

> Hello Iku-Tulo, thank you for the report.
>
> Vilutar <ikutulovilutar@gmail.com> writes:
> > intelfb: Version 0.9.6
> > intelfb: Cannot reserve FB region
>
> An unlikely guess: I have had problems with a black screen when using a
> television as a screen.  However this does not sound like it.
>
> > Then I tried `nomodeset video=uvesafb` Linux parameters and the GUI
> > now rendered. I don't know if these work as a global workaround for
> > other machines,
>
> No, there have been reports that uvesafb does not work on every machine.
>
> > should they be documented in the installation
> > instructions?
>
> Yes, if we can give proper instructions.  Perhaps the attached patch?
>
> Regards,
> Florian
>
>

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bug#65572: [PATCH v2] doc: Describe black screen issue when booting the installer.

[Florian Pelz]

With suggestions by Iku-Tulo Vilutar <ikutulovilutar@gmail.com>.
Fixes <https://issues.guix.gnu.org/65572>.

* doc/guix.texi (System Installation): Add suggestion when
booting the installer fails with a black screen.
---
Improved wording:
* added "after waiting for two minutes"

 doc/guix.texi | 10 ++++++++++
 1 file changed, 10 insertions(+)

diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
index 04e5875925..fba9df1cce 100644
--- a/doc/guix.texi
+++ b/doc/guix.texi
@@ -2402,6 +2402,16 @@ BIOS or UEFI boot menu, where you can choose to boot from the USB stick.
 In order to boot from Libreboot, switch to the command mode by pressing
 the @kbd{c} key and type @command{search_grub usb}.
 
+Sadly, on some machines, the installation medium cannot be properly
+booted and you only see a black screen after booting even after you
+waited for two minutes.  This may indicate that your machine cannot run
+Guix System; perhaps you instead want to install Guix on a foreign
+distro (@pxref{Binary Installation}).  If you are adventurous, a
+possible workaround is pressing the @kbd{e} key in the GRUB boot menu
+and appending @option{nomodeset video=uvesafb} to the Linux bootline.
+Sometimes the black screen issue can also be resolved by connecting a
+different display.
+
 @xref{Installing Guix in a VM}, if, instead, you would like to install
 Guix System in a virtual machine (VM).
 

base-commit: b51e45d3aaa8a85d39a8a4c3d18e8b57254aeaf2
-- 
2.41.0

bug#65572: Black screen in installer

[pelzflorian (Florian Pelz)]

Hi Iku-Tulo, one more thing, could you confirm that `nomodeset` alone
without video=uvesafb really is not enough?

Regards,
Florian

bug#65572: Black screen in installer

[Iku-Tulo Vilutar]

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Actually, just `nomodeset` seems to work. Sometimes booting to GUI can take
up to 10 minutes, so it might be I gave up just trying `nomodeset`
previously and added `video=uvesafb` and re-tried.

On Thu, 31 Aug 2023 at 23:56, pelzflorian (Florian Pelz) <
pelzflorian@pelzflorian.de> wrote:

> Hi Iku-Tulo, one more thing, could you confirm that `nomodeset` alone
> without video=uvesafb really is not enough?
>
> Regards,
> Florian
>

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bug#65572: [PATCH v3] doc: Describe black screen issue when booting the installer.

[Florian Pelz]

With suggestions by Iku-Tulo Vilutar <ikutulovilutar@gmail.com>.
Fixes <https://issues.guix.gnu.org/65572>.

* doc/guix.texi (System Installation): Add suggestion when
booting the installer fails with a black screen.
---
changes:
 - tell users to wait 10 minutes, not 2
 - don't suggest video=uvesafb which is without effect
 - more positive wording (don't give up just yet)

 doc/guix.texi | 10 ++++++++++
 1 file changed, 10 insertions(+)

diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
index 04e5875925..464060f42c 100644
--- a/doc/guix.texi
+++ b/doc/guix.texi
@@ -2402,6 +2402,16 @@ BIOS or UEFI boot menu, where you can choose to boot from the USB stick.
 In order to boot from Libreboot, switch to the command mode by pressing
 the @kbd{c} key and type @command{search_grub usb}.
 
+Sadly, on some machines, the installation medium cannot be properly
+booted and you only see a black screen after booting even after you
+waited for ten minutes.  This may indicate that your machine cannot run
+Guix System; perhaps you instead want to install Guix on a foreign
+distro (@pxref{Binary Installation}).  But don't give up just yet; a
+possible workaround is pressing the @kbd{e} key in the GRUB boot menu
+and appending @option{nomodeset} to the Linux bootline.
+Sometimes the black screen issue can also be resolved by connecting a
+different display.
+
 @xref{Installing Guix in a VM}, if, instead, you would like to install
 Guix System in a virtual machine (VM).
 

base-commit: b51e45d3aaa8a85d39a8a4c3d18e8b57254aeaf2
-- 
2.41.0

bug#65572: [PATCH v3] doc: Describe black screen issue when booting the installer.

[Csepp]

Florian Pelz <pelzflorian@pelzflorian.de> writes:

> With suggestions by Iku-Tulo Vilutar <ikutulovilutar@gmail.com>.
> Fixes <https://issues.guix.gnu.org/65572>.
>
> * doc/guix.texi (System Installation): Add suggestion when
> booting the installer fails with a black screen.
> ---
> changes:
>  - tell users to wait 10 minutes, not 2
>  - don't suggest video=uvesafb which is without effect
>  - more positive wording (don't give up just yet)
>
>  doc/guix.texi | 10 ++++++++++
>  1 file changed, 10 insertions(+)
>

There was a thread about having a dedicated "safe video" option in the
GRUB menu, like a lot of distros do.  I still think we should do that as
well, because having to edit the kernel boot arguments is much more
difficult, and because the user wouldn't have to go consult the manual
to know that there is such an option, it would be right in front of
them.
But of course documenting the workaround like this is the next best
thing.

bug#65572: [PATCH v3] doc: Describe black screen issue when booting the installer.

[pelzflorian (Florian Pelz)]

Pushed as 2890114a708e3a54a14ceb762f0726b013ffdc85.

Csepp <raingloom@riseup.net> writes:
> There was a thread about having a dedicated "safe video" option in the
> GRUB menu, like a lot of distros do.  I still think we should do that

Yes, I agree.  It would need a way to make a custom GRUB menu entry that
refers to a Guix System generation, and adding that feature is
complicated because it best worked for other non-GRUB bootloaders too.
If it were added, “safe video” could be described in the same place.

Regards,
Florian

bug#65572: [PATCH v3] doc: Describe black screen issue when booting the installer.

[Csepp]

"pelzflorian (Florian Pelz)" <pelzflorian@pelzflorian.de> writes:

> Pushed as 2890114a708e3a54a14ceb762f0726b013ffdc85.
>
> Csepp <raingloom@riseup.net> writes:
>> There was a thread about having a dedicated "safe video" option in the
>> GRUB menu, like a lot of distros do.  I still think we should do that
>
> Yes, I agree.  It would need a way to make a custom GRUB menu entry that
> refers to a Guix System generation, and adding that feature is
> complicated because it best worked for other non-GRUB bootloaders too.
> If it were added, “safe video” could be described in the same place.
>
> Regards,
> Florian

I think we should just handle a (nested?) (a-)list of operating-system
objects.  It would be useful for a lot of other use cases too.  I for
one would like to have the option to boot my Thinkpad with libre
software by default but have the ability to use drivers from The
Forbidden Channel when I bring it to campus and need wifi.
Or to be able to choose a noPAE kernel on old machines.  Or have both an
LTS kernel and the latest release, and maybe even a nightly build for
testing.