[EN] (solved) Boots to blank screen with flashing cursor

[Dachs]

Hi.
I did a system upgrade and then shut down my laptop about 3 weeks ago before going on holiday. When I start up the screen boots to a blank screen with a flashing cursor, I checked the bios and the boot order starts HDD, I guess the next step is it use live cd but what is the best thing to use? should I use a siduction live cd or a recovery cd like systemRescueCd, if I use the siduction cd what do I do when I'm in? I've used recovery cd to fix the boot register on windows in the past but I'm sure this is different, any other ideas?


Grüß

[melmarker]

Blinkender cursor kann vieles sein - wie wäre es mit ein paar ergänzenden Informationen, z.B. Graka, verwendeter Treiber etc?

bis dahin erklären wir mal den Boot für ganz normal - im Bootmenu 'e' drücken und in der Kernelzeile eine 3 ans Ende sollte zumindest den Textmodus erreichen. Und von da kann man dann ganz bequem X reparieren.

[der_bud]

Blinking cursor on black screen could also be VT7 and login-manager not started. Probably dist-upgrade was incomplete or xorg-issues (as you said is was 3 weeks ago).

Can you switch to VT1 with Alt+F1 or at least Ctrl+Alt+F1? Login as root,  apt-get install -f  and update/dist-upgrade again (be aware that there are issues today regarding ongoing perl-transition, see forum section Upgrade Warnings).

[Dachs]

melmaker Vielen Dank für Ihre Antwort,

I've managed to boot into my siduction partition using a superprub 2 live cd and I did I system upgrade but this has not fixed to problem, it still boots with the flashing cursor but this time it gets stuck in a loop of rebooting and blinking. do you think it could be a problem with GRUB, would reinstalling GRUB help?
thanks, and sorry for the delay in reply,

Code: [Select]

cpu:                                                           
                       Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     T6570  @ 2.10GHz, 2100 MHz
                       Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     T6570  @ 2.10GHz, 2100 MHz
keyboard:
  /dev/input/event0    AT Translated Set 2 keyboard
mouse:
  /dev/input/mice      ALPS PS/2 Device
  /dev/input/mice      AlpsPS/2 ALPS GlidePoint
graphics card:
                       Intel Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller
                       Intel Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller
sound:
                       Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller
storage:
                       Intel 82801IBM/IEM (ICH9M/ICH9M-E) 4 port SATA Controller [AHCI mode]
network:
  wlan0                Broadcom BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY
  eth0                 Lenovo IdeaPad S10e
network interface:
  eth0                 Ethernet network interface
  lo                   Loopback network interface
  wlan0                WLAN network interface
disk:
  /dev/sda             WDC WD3200BEVT-2
partition:
  /dev/sda1            Partition
  /dev/sda2            Partition
  /dev/sda3            Partition
  /dev/sda5            Partition
cdrom:
  /dev/sr0             HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GT30N
usb controller:
                       Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4
                       Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5
                       Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #6
                       Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2
                       Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1
                       Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2
                       Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3
                       Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1
bios:
                       BIOS
bridge:
                       Intel Mobile 4 Series Chipset Memory Controller Hub
                       Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 1
                       Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 2
                       Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 3
                       Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 4
                       Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 6
                       Intel 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge
                       Intel ICH9M LPC Interface Controller
hub:
                       Linux 3.16-1.towo-siduction-amd64 uhci_hcd UHCI Host Controller
                       Linux 3.16-1.towo-siduction-amd64 uhci_hcd UHCI Host Controller
                       Linux 3.16-1.towo-siduction-amd64 uhci_hcd UHCI Host Controller
                       Linux 3.16-1.towo-siduction-amd64 uhci_hcd UHCI Host Controller
                       Linux 3.16-1.towo-siduction-amd64 ehci_hcd EHCI Host Controller
                       Linux 3.16-1.towo-siduction-amd64 uhci_hcd UHCI Host Controller
                       Linux 3.16-1.towo-siduction-amd64 ehci_hcd EHCI Host Controller
                       Linux 3.16-1.towo-siduction-amd64 uhci_hcd UHCI Host Controller
memory:
                       Main Memory
unknown:
                       FPU
                       DMA controller
                       PIC
                       Timer
                       Keyboard controller
                       Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) SMBus Controller
                       Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) Thermal Subsystem
  /dev/input/event9    Feiya Lenovo EasyCamera






[towo]

If you are able to boot into your system with supergrub, you propably have nomodeset or i915.modeset=0 in your grub.cfg.

[Dachs]

I couldn't find any reference to nomodeset or i915 in the grub. cfg. does this tell you anything? should I post more of the file?

Code: [Select]

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  set have_grubenv=true
  load_env
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
   set default="${next_entry}"
   set next_entry=
   save_env next_entry
   set boot_once=true
else
   set default="0"
fi

if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
  menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
  menuentry_id_option=""
fi

export menuentry_id_option

if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
  set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
    saved_entry="${chosen}"
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}
function load_video {
  if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
    insmod all_video
  else
    insmod efi_gop
    insmod efi_uga
    insmod ieee1275_fb
    insmod vbe
    insmod vga
    insmod video_bochs
    insmod video_cirrus
  fi
}

if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
   font=unicode
else
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,gpt3'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt3 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt3 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt3  1d56e351-6572-483c-885a-76c5d8b4c8a5
else
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 1d56e351-6572-483c-885a-76c5d8b4c8a5
fi
    font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi

if loadfont $font ; then
  set gfxmode=auto
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
  set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
  set lang=en_GB
  insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ] ; then
  set timeout=-1
else
  if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
    set timeout_style=menu
    set timeout=5
  # Fallback normal timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
  # unavailable.
  else
    set timeout=5
  fi
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=cyan/blue
set menu_color_highlight=white/blue
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
    set gfxpayload="${1}"
}
set linux_gfx_mode=
export linux_gfx_mode
menuentry 'siduction 2013.2.1 december (kde) GNU/Linux' --class siduction --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-1d56e351-6572-483c-885a-76c5d8b4c8a5' {
    load_video
    insmod gzio
    insmod part_gpt
    insmod ext2
    set root='hd0,gpt3'

[musca]

Hello Dachs,

The menuentry for your siduction seems to be cut off. I hope it's only a  Copy 'n Paste Error?

also " set linux_gfx_mode= " looks weird. Why is there no value set to the variable?
greetings
musca

[Dachs]

Hi Musca
no copy and past error but just in case here it is again, is it safe to past the whole file or would that be a security risk? I have no idea why no value is set to the variable to be honest, could that be part of my problem?
thanks

Code: [Select]


### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  set have_grubenv=true
  load_env
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
   set default="${next_entry}"
   set next_entry=
   save_env next_entry
   set boot_once=true
else
   set default="0"
fi

if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
  menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
  menuentry_id_option=""
fi

export menuentry_id_option

if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
  set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
    saved_entry="${chosen}"
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}
function load_video {
  if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
    insmod all_video
  else
    insmod efi_gop
    insmod efi_uga
    insmod ieee1275_fb
    insmod vbe
    insmod vga
    insmod video_bochs
    insmod video_cirrus
  fi
}

if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
   font=unicode
else
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,gpt3'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt3 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt3 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt3  1d56e351-6572-483c-885a-76c5d8b4c8a5
else
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 1d56e351-6572-483c-885a-76c5d8b4c8a5
fi
    font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi

if loadfont $font ; then
  set gfxmode=auto
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
  set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
  set lang=en_GB
  insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ] ; then
  set timeout=-1
else
  if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
    set timeout_style=menu
    set timeout=5
  # Fallback normal timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
  # unavailable.
  else
    set timeout=5
  fi
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=cyan/blue
set menu_color_highlight=white/blue
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
    set gfxpayload="${1}"
}
set linux_gfx_mode=
export linux_gfx_mode
menuentry 'siduction 2013.2.1 december (kde) GNU/Linux' --class siduction --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-1d56e351-6572-483c-885a-76c5d8b4c8a5' {
    load_video
    insmod gzio
    insmod part_gpt
    insmod ext2
    set root='hd0,gpt3'
    if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then 

[piper]

Hello Dachs,

The menuentry for your siduction seems to be cut off. I hope it's only a  Copy 'n Paste Error?

also " set linux_gfx_mode= " looks weird. Why is there no value set to the variable?
greetings
musca

I don't have a value set either, actually, none of my installs do.

I use 40_custom, but that shouldn't matter

Code: [Select]

### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
    set gfxpayload="${1}"
}
set linux_gfx_mode=
export linux_gfx_mode
menuentry 'siduction 2013.2.0 paintitblack (kde) GNU/Linux' --class siduction --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-db14072c-79bf-4a93-a269-eebeebc77c5a' {
    load_video
    insmod gzio
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='hd0,msdos3'
    if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
      search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos3 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos3 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos3 --hint='hd0,msdos3'  db14072c-79bf-4a93-a269-eebeebc77c5a
    else
      search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root db14072c-79bf-4a93-a269-eebeebc77c5a
    fi
    echo    'Loading Linux 3.16-1.towo-siduction-amd64 ...'
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-3.16-1.towo-siduction-amd64 root=UUID=db14072c-79bf-4a93-a269-eebeebc77c5a ro  quiet
    echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-3.16-1.towo-siduction-amd64
}

[der_bud]

... should I post more of the file? ...

Yes please!!  To debug errors normally as much information as possible is needed, so we want to see the whole content of /boot/grub/grub.cfg, there are no secrets hidden within. If you look again at the first paste you gave us it ends with

Code: [Select]

    set root='hd0,gpt3'Your next paste ends with

Code: [Select]

    set root='hd0,gpt3'
    if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then  so one more line, interrupted in the very middle of an {if;then}, and possibly the most interesting information is in the lines you have not posted yet.

Additionally the output of 'blkid' to see Partitions/UUIDs might be interesting. Are you able to boot siduction into rescue.target?

[Dachs]

Hi der-bud the file was too big to paste so i have attached it, here is the output from blkid, I have Ubuntu on the partition labelled 'Ferdora' and siduction on sda2 and a data partition on sda5. hope this sheds some light on the problem, thanks for all the help so far.   

Code: [Select]

root@cheekybadger:~# blkid
/dev/sr0: LABEL="ISOIMAGE" TYPE="iso9660"
/dev/sda1: UUID="bbd8e2eb-54de-46f2-9a49-52c7102abe16" TYPE="swap"
/dev/sda2: UUID="24226c50-924f-4a0b-9013-22b795e2cd91" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sda3: LABEL="_Fedora-15-Beta-" UUID="1d56e351-6572-483c-885a-76c5d8b4c8a5" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sda5: LABEL="data" UUID="dd529d7b-012d-4b9f-95ad-a63a31f58b85" TYPE="ext4"


[musca]

Hello Dachs,

the UUID is wrong. Your grub.cfg points siduction to the partition with the "_Fedora-15-Beta" label.

greetings
musca

[Dachs]

Hi musca, thanks for checking it, what should I edit it to?

[musca]

Hello Dachs,

you said your siduction lives on /dev/sda2 and
your blkid says  /dev/sda2: UUID="24226c50-924f-4a0b-9013-22b795e2cd91" TYPE="ext4"

so, the menuentry for siduction in your grub.cfg should refer to this UUID.

But simply changing this file will not be sufficient, because there is this warning in grub.cfg:

Code: [Select]

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

The real question is: Why was your grub.cfg automatically created with a wrong UUID?

greetings
musca

[Dachs]

Hi musca
sorry for the delay, after some head scratching I can't think why it was changed I haven't been playing around with the file, It happened after a system upgrade, could it possibly be the result of a grub update?I was having some problems with my other kubuntu/ubuntu partition as well problems with the login and graphics driver but I don't think it should affect the grub on this partition, before I chain-loaded aptosid using grub from the kubuntu partition but when I switched to siduction I did a fresh install using the siduction grub, I don't suppose any of this is relevant though!

cheers

Dachs