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General discussion

Black Screen On Startup

by Big DB Jun 24, 2010 4:19AM PDT

I know there are other threads on the issue, but I need some help. When i turn on my Dell Laptop, I see the BIOS, then the ubuntu splash; but then instead of going to my desktop, the screen goes black. This has happened ever since the first restart after I installed the recommended driver for my video card. My problem is I cannot try most fixes out there because I do not know how to boot into a terminal since it automatically logs into my desktop without me needing to log in. Please help...

Discussion is locked

10 Posts
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You can get to terminal
by GODhack Jun 24, 2010 4:39AM PDT

With CTRL+ALT+F2 (and other F keys from 2 to ~ 8 to more terminals).
You can return back with CTRL+ALT+F1. Exact numbers may be different but I think you got the idea about Linux 8 'screens' one GUI and 7 CLI.

You can provide more info about you problem by posting:
/var/log/Xorg.0.log
file here. You can copy it with cp command or you can access it after boot from your Ubuntu liveCD.

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Black screen
by Ray_moe Jun 24, 2010 5:35AM PDT

Check which driver you are using for nvidia

Version 195 gave me the same problems I had to downgrade to 173

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RE
by Big DB Jun 24, 2010 6:52AM PDT

How can I uninstall the driver and install an older one from a terminal?

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When
by Big DB Jun 24, 2010 6:49AM PDT

When am I supposed to hit ctrl+alt+f2? when its on the desktop or during the startup?

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Got to the terminal
by Big DB Jun 24, 2010 6:57AM PDT

ok I figured out how to get into the terminal, any ideas on commands to try out to get my picture back? im also going to follow some sites that have solutions to very similar problems

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You have to create (or edit) xorg.conf file
by GODhack Jun 24, 2010 5:33PM PDT

login, then enter:
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop
X server will be stopped no more GUI interface. Then:
sudo nano /ext/X11/org.conf
Enter sudo password text editor litle bit similar to notepad will open.
Then write in this:
Section "Device"
Identifier "Video card name"
Driver "vesa"
EndSection
Save and exit. in this way you force to use generic video driver not firmware. Then try restarting X with:
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start

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Huge Xorg.conf example with detailed explanations
by GODhack Jun 24, 2010 5:34PM PDT
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upsie
by GODhack Jun 24, 2010 5:35PM PDT

sudo nano /ext/X11/org.conf
should be:
sudo nano /etc/X11/Xorg.conf

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Didn't Work
by Big DB Jun 26, 2010 1:44AM PDT

From the terminal it says "error writing /etc/x11/xorg.conf: No such file name or directory

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How to create xorg.conf
by GODhack Jun 26, 2010 6:37PM PDT
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