When I start up Ubuntu (11.10), no graphical interface loads. This is the case both in normal and recovery mode. Instead I'm being presented with a console, logged as 'root@ubuntu'. From there I can call exit
and then log into my default (and only) account, and once there I can load the unity with the command startx
but to get to unity I have to repeat above everytime I start up the PC.
I hope some of the details below might be able to indicate what's exactly the problem. I tried several solutions I found on the web, but to no avail.
My graphics card: Nvidia GeForceGT 540M
Result of typing in console:
unity
WARNING: no DISPLAY variable set, setting it to :0
unity-panel-service: no process found
compiz (core) - Fatal: Couldn't open display :0
Result of typing
nvidia-settings
ERROR: The control display is undefined; please run 'nvidia-settings --help' for usage information.
Content of default xorg.conf:
Section "Device"
Identifier "Default Device"
Option "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection
Content of xorg.conf created with nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig: version 280.13 (buildmeister@swio-display-x86-rhel47-03.nvidia.com) Wed Jul 27 17:15:58 PDT 2011
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Layout0"
Screen 0 "Screen0"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection
Section "Files"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
# generated from default
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
# generated from default
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "Unknown"
HorizSync 28.0 - 33.0
VertRefresh 43.0 - 72.0
Option "DPMS"
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "Device0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Device0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection
The problem occurs with both xorg.conf versions.
I tried installing, purging, reinstalling nvidia drivers, editing blacklist as per
NVIDIA drivers not working after upgrade. Why can I only see terminal?
all to no avail. I would greatly appreciate any pointers that would help me resolve the issue.
The reason I tried messing with nvidia drivers in the first place is that some gtk/OpenGL stuff didn't work correctly. In particular, the Xorg.0.log contains the following error:
(EE) Failed to initialize GLX extension (Compatible NVIDIA X driver not found)
Well, fixing the lack of any desktop whatsoever is the priority, but should you happen to know how I might be able to resolve the GLX extension problem, I would be happy to keen to hear you out.
Best Answer
You could try running
lspci
in a terminal, if you see:you will need to install bumblebee (the instructions on the git wiki are quite clear). It's needed to switch between the intel and nvidia optimus card.
The correct xorg.conf is the first one, and remove nvidia driver from the blacklist.