Ubuntu – Stuck on TTY – Ctrl+Alt+F7 returns black screen

OK, I found a fix for myself, and I am leaving it here in case other people with the same problem find this. First run sudo apt-get install v86d Then run cat /sys/bus/platform/drivers/uvesafb/uvesafb.0/vbe_modes, and remember the highest of the modes it outputs. (If this doesn't output anything you may need to restart your computer after installing v86d, I can't quite remember). Then run gksudo gedit /etc/default/grub, and make the grub_cmdline_linux_default look like this: GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash nomodeset video=uvesafb:mode_option=1024x768-32,mtrr=3,scroll=ywrap", also check if this file contains the GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=something or other line. If it does, then remove it. But replace 1024x768-32 with the highest listed resolution from the second step. Then run gksudo gedit /etc/initramfs-tools/modules, and add this to the bottom: uvesafb mode_option=1024x768-32 mtrr=3 scroll=ywrap Once again replacing 1024x768-32 with the mode you found. Then run gksudo gedit /etc/grub.d/10_linux, and find the part which looks like this:

function gfxmode {
    set gfxpayload="${1}"
    if [ "${1}" = "keep" ]; then
        set vt_handoff=7
    else
        set vt_handoff=
    fi
}

and make it look like this:

function gfxmode {
    set gfxpayload="${1}"
    if [ "${1}" = "keep" ]; then
        set vt_handoff=
    else
        set vt_handoff=
    fi
}

Then run sudo update-grub; sudo update-initramfs -u. Reboot and the problem will be fixed :)

You can specify DISPLAY environment to specify display for launching apps (see Graphical Environment) as follows from tty:

DISPLAY=:0 <app-command>

Example:

DISPLAY=:0 gedit
DISPLAY=:0 gnome-terminal

This will launch GUI applications in GUI mode (Ctrl+Alt+F7) from tty (Ctrl+Alt+F1-F6).