I have seen similar messages posted by some other users under the “Install/Boot/Login” thread.
Well, let me explain my problems. I have purchased a new Acer Aspire E5-511 Laptop. I opted
for “Legacy” mode boot options and after a few rounds of problems in coming over to “starting
udev…” screen, finally I succeeded in DVD mode installation of the OpenSuse 13.1.
However, after first round of installation as soon as the DVD takes for FIRST TIME REBOOT
(with time count 8, 7, 6, …1, 0), I again faced problems as the REBOOT was leading to strange
screen problems. Very first time BOOT Option (including Installtion, Boot from Hard Disk) was coming
properly. Afterwards, the OpenSuse 13.1, and advanced version screen came slightly blurred and
further it lead to strange screen.
Further with your support (various threads), I entered to “e” mode of grub and could complete the
installation. For 100% sure, I have successfully installed the OS now. But as soon as I am rebooting
the computer, it goes to first “OPENSUSE 13.1 …, ADVANCED MODE”, and it finally leads to
strange screen where all the text mode letters appear very very big boxes (can’t read them at all).
I presume, I am struggling with graphics due to missing drivers or so. I don’t know how to come over
this problem. Can anybody please suggest me, how to repair the strange screen problem ?
How do I enter into the laptop with proper display, and later which files do I need to install or edit
to get rid of this problem ?
I don’t fully understand that.
I suppose you mean you select “Advanced Options” on the boot menu and boot to recovery mode?
Or do you mean you get a screen which says “openSUSE 13.1” and “Advanced Options”?
Well, that’s normal. That is your boot menu, where you can select which operating system to boot, if you have more than one installed.
and it finally leads to
strange screen where all the text mode letters appear very very big boxes (can’t read them at all).
Do you mean the text is too big?
Or do you mean you only get boxes instead of characters?
Or do you only get text mode instead of a graphical system.
I presume, I am struggling with graphics due to missing drivers or so. I don’t know how to come over
this problem. Can anybody please suggest me, how to repair the strange screen problem ?
What graphics card do you actually have?
You can check in KInfocenter, YaST->Hardware->Hardware Information, or with “/sbin/lspci” f.e.
How do I enter into the laptop with proper display, and later which files do I need to install or edit
to get rid of this problem ?
Try to select “Recovery Mode” in the “Advanced Options” in the boot menu.
Many thanks for your quick response.
Let me respond back to your queries:
(1) To get into the system somehow, I opted for “Advance Options”
and after selecting recovery mode, I could install the system.
(2) Text appears like boxes (not readable).
(3) Since I am not able to see display properly, presently
I am using OpenSuse 11.2 LIVE DVD and working.
Through this way, when I explore “/sbin/lspci”, it shows
many answers. Pertaining to Graphics, it shows:
But it worked before? Have you done anything yourself that could cause this? (installing packages/updates f.e.)
Would sound like a hardware problem then. I suppose you successfully use the 11.2 LiveCD on the same Laptop though, right? So I guess we can rule that out.
Can you please describe in more detail what’s happening when you boot to recovery mode?
Where does it hang/stop? Try to press ESC, do you see any messages?
Do you get to text mode?
You should have more than one recovery mode entry. Have you tried the other one?
For an intel graphics chip you don’t need to install any additional drivers.
There’s only the open source driver, which is included in openSUSE.
No, I have not updated any software as so far I am not able to boot into OpenSuse 13.1 OS.
To get rid of this, I tried once again to install the OS through DVD.
THis time, I opted to UPDATE the existing OS. But once again, after completion of OS installation,
the system reboots and whichever option I choose (default - OpenSuse 13.1, or Advance Mode - Safe or Recovery),
the system start booting with “loading …” and in no time, the texts turns very wild box type of characters,
and even if I press ESCAPE, the system does not do anything.
I am still trying. Please let me know, what else can I do ?
And as you said - with OpenSuse 11.2 LIVE DVD, I don’t have any issue in working, but needs a permanent solution.
Try to disable plymouth, the boot splash.
Press ‘e’ at the boot menu, look for the line starting with “linux” and append “plymouth.enable=0” to it. Then press ‘F10’ to boot.
Thanks again for your help and information. I made two changes.
First as you suggested …I added "plymouth.enable=0’.
Secondly, somehow while I was updating the packages, I changed
the boot loader settings through Yast → Boot Loader —> Boot
Loader Options —> Vga Mode.
Earlier it was “Unspecified”, I made it to “1366x768, 24 bits”.
This is actually my screen resolution.
Now when I am rebooting, immediately after boot screen, it shows
some error messages, but system is booting fine and going to
opensuse 13.1. I am able to work as well. So I am quite relieved.
But, now I am facing two other problems (hope I will be able to solve
soon). (1) System is not accepting SHUTDOWN. It goes for shutdown
mode, but actually does not shut down. MOnitor remains ON with slight
dim light. (2) Sound card is also not activated.
May be I will give attempt from my end, and post it in another mail.
Really? That setting shouldn’t even offer 1366x768 AFAIK.
You shouldn’t set the resolution there anyway. That’s deprecated and not even used with Kernel Mode Setting.
Probably that causes at least one of the error messages you see.
Better switch that back to “Unspecified”.
You can change the boot menu’s resolution below in “Console Resolution”, but with an intel chip grub2 should be able to automatically detect the correct resolution.
Can you please post the file /var/log/Xorg.0.log to see whether the intel driver is actually in use?
(upload it to http://susepaste.org or similar and post a link)
May be I will give attempt from my end, and post it in another mail.
Yes, please open a new thread in the corresponding sub-forum for each problem.
Thanks for your previous messages. As per your advice, I reverted back to Boot Loader VGA option to “Unspecified”.
However, this change has once again brought me back to my initial problem. Once again, it is showing strange characters
as soon as it crossed boot menu option. I am having a single OS in my laptop, hence the bootmenu shows:
openSuSe 13.1
Advance Options for openSuSe 13.1
With my limited knowledge, I tried to edit the GNU GRUB version 2.00 boot menu lines by appending “plymouth.enable=0”.
But this does not help.
For your kind information, I am pasting the actual menu options, as I see:
>>>>>>>>>>>>
setparams ‘openSUSE 13.1’
load_video
set gfxpayload=keep
insmod gzio
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,gpt2'
if x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0, gpt2 --\hint=efi=hd0,gpt2 --hint-baremetal=ahcio,
gpt2 --hint='hd0,gpt2', 37...........(big number) ..........
else
search --no-floppy -fs-uuid --set=root 37.............(big number) .............
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 3.11.6-4-desktop ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.11.6.4-desktop root=UUID=37..........(big number).............
acpi=off resume=dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST500LT\some number splash=silent quiet showopts
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd-3.11.6-4-desktop
Please help me to come over this problem. How do I enter into my system now ?
I tried adding “plymouth.enable=0” at the end of “linux” line, but did not help me.
I am able to login to my system again, but for logging in, I am forced to change the Boot Loader Options — VGA from unspecified to my screen resolution.
Is it harmful ?
Sorry for not replying earlier, but I was away from my computer.
Well, if you need that option then just use it.
It’s not harmful.
But some other notes:
Please update your system, you still use the kernel 3.11.6 that shipped with 13.1. There have been 3 kernel updates since then already, and many others as well.
You use the “acpi=off” boot option. Are you doing that on purpose?
Try to remove that as it prevents certain functions to work correctly.
Maybe your system will work then without that vga option?
Your system uses the generic vesa driver instead of the intel driver.
I’m not completely sure why, but it might be related to the “acpi=off” option as well.
You shouldn’t edit /boot/grub2/grub.cfg directly, because your changes will get lost when the config is recreated automatically/the boot loader is reinstalled (by an update f.e.).
But for a quick test this is ok though of course.
For a permanent change use YaST->Boot Loader->Boot Loader Options, or edit /etc/default/grub and run “grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg”.
You can temporarily change a menu entry for the current boot by pressing ‘e’ at the boot menu.
After making your changes, press ‘F10’ to boot.
Those changes will not be saved at all, so this is mainly for testing or for getting into the system if the saved options don’t work.
My extreme thanks for your detailed reply.
Right now, I have not tested the points you mentioned,
but I am confident that - soon I will resolve the issues.
I will soon update you with the latest status.
Once again, thanks a million. Your detailed reply would
help many more who are facing similar issues.
If this produced behavior that pleases you, I suggest you consider to remove
it, and also uninstall Plymouth, which will make updating take less time, use
less HD space, and make your initrds smaller for faster loading and boot. The
reason Plymouth even exists borders on utter silliness.
Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 ** a11y rocks!
