Ubuntu 14.10 Graphics Troubles

[patrickjp93]

I installed Ubuntu 14.10 yesterday with full-disk encryption, installed all the updates, and then I installed G++, Clang 3.5, Intel Parallel Studio 2015 (Update 1), and Nvidia's newest stable proprietary driver. I did nothing else. I suspect the driver has a conflict with Linux itself, because sometimes I can't even reach the point where I am asked to decrypt my hard drive, but regardless, when I can get to the desktop, the application bar on the left doesn't load, and I'm not sure how to get it working.

Specs: 

• Core I7 2600k
• EVGA GTX 570
• Asus Maximus IV Extreme-Z, Bios Revision 3603

Also, I've tried using the ctrl+alt+t shortcut to get to terminal, but it doesn't work. I'm still just staring at the desktop splash.

What is the best way forward from here?

[Thermite]

I installed Ubuntu 14.10 yesterday with full-disk encryption, installed all the updates, and then I installed G++, Clang 3.5, Intel Parallel Studio 2015 (Update 1), and Nvidia's newest stable proprietary driver. I did nothing else. I suspect the driver has a conflict with Linux itself, because sometimes I can't even reach the point where I am asked to decrypt my hard drive, but regardless, when I can get to the desktop, the application bar on the left doesn't load, and I'm not sure how to get it working.

Specs: 

• Core I7 2600k
• EVGA GTX 570
• Asus Maximus IV Extreme-Z, Bios Revision 3603

Also, I've tried using the ctrl+alt+t shortcut to get to terminal, but it doesn't work. I'm still just staring at the desktop splash.

What is the best way forward from here?

You will probably need to reinstall, and instead of download the drivers from nvidia's website try this insted. http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/298939-install-nvidia-drivers-on-ubuntu-1410/

 

Fowllow exactly what I posted and it should work.

[patrickjp93]

You will probably need to reinstall, and instead of download the drivers from nvidia's website try this insted. http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/298939-install-nvidia-drivers-on-ubuntu-1410/

 

Fowllow exactly what I posted and it should work.

I installed directly using Ubuntu's software center application.

[Thermite]

I installed directly using Ubuntu's software center application.

yea that usuaylly won't work. If your going to use ubuntu you will need to get dirty with the terminal. Its not as simple as mac or pc.

[patrickjp93]

yea that usuaylly won't work. If your going to use ubuntu you will need to get dirty with the terminal. Its not as simple as mac or pc.

I'm aware of that as a CSE major. I've used Linux remotely via SSH CLI a LOT, but on desktop it's just a hairy mess lol. CentOS was so much easier than this

[Thermite]

I'm aware of that as a CSE major. I've used Linux remotely via SSH CLI a LOT, but on desktop it's just a hairy mess lol. CentOS was so much easier than this

Sorry not trying to talk down to you.

yea on the desktop it is pretty bad. Let me know if my guide works for you. I have a gtx660ti and it worked great for me.

[patrickjp93]

Sorry not trying to talk down to you.

yea on the desktop it is pretty bad. Let me know if my guide works for you. I have a gtx660ti and it worked great for me.

Oh I know you're not talking down to me. I'm just shocked it's this ugly even on the paragon of easily used distros... I tried Debian, and oh god is the install process so slow to erase a disk, and it had the same driver crash issues, and I need a 100% stable CUDA and OpenCL environment I can SSH into.

[Thermite]

Oh I know you're not talking down to me. I'm just shocked it's this ugly even on the paragon of easily used distros... I tried Debian, and oh god is the install process so slow to erase a disk, and it had the same driver crash issues, and I need a 100% stable CUDA and OpenCL environment I can SSH into.

ubuntu is completly stable at least for me. I run my plex server off of it and a few other things as well. But yea linux in general needs a lot of polish before it is ready for everyone.

[Satlen]

Instead of getting the drivers from NVIDIA, I would try installing drivers through the ubuntu additional drivers window b/c ubuntu picks the one that is the most stable.

[patrickjp93]

Instead of getting the drivers from NVIDIA, I would try installing drivers through the ubuntu additional drivers window b/c ubuntu picks the one that is the most stable.

That's what I did, which is why I was so confused.

[Satlen]

That's what I did, which is why I was so confused.

Hmm, maybe its not even a video driver issue but something else. Are you actually seeing video glitches or just the problem of things not loading?

 

Edit: Also, do you happen to have any TV's or something else connected to your video card that is off? I remember when I re-installed windows, it set my HDMI as my default display (It was my TV and it was off) so when I booted all I got was a windows wallpaper screen.

[patrickjp93]

Hmm, maybe its not even a video driver issue but something else. Are you actually seeing video glitches or just the problem of things not loading?

 

Edit: Also, do you happen to have any TV's or something else connected to your video card that is off? I remember when I re-installed windows, it set my HDMI as my default display (It was my TV and it was off) so when I booted all I got was a windows wallpaper screen.

Nothing else is attached. I'm going through DVI.

[patrickjp93]

ubuntu is completly stable at least for me. I run my plex server off of it and a few other things as well. But yea linux in general needs a lot of polish before it is ready for everyone.

Edit: I ran sudo apt-get update, then ran sudo nvidia-config. It came up error free. I restarted the machine, but now all I get is a black screen after moving on to ubuntu in GRUB. Thoughts?

 

Edit 2: Upon first starts I can't get to GRUB. Upon a restart with that black screen I get to GRUB and choose Ubuntu, I get a black screen where I should be giving it my encryption key for the disk, but that isn't always coming up. If I choose generic with the .30 kernel, the encryption key entry does not come up. If I choose .23 generic, it does come up, I can enter the key, I can proceed to the login screen, enter my networking data, log in to desktop, but I only get the splash screen. Right click does not work, but ctrl-alt-delete brings up the process viewing window. ctrl-alt-t can't get me to terminal.

 

Edit3: Even in failsafe graphics mode I can't get my application/utility bar. WTF did Nvidia do?!

 

Edit4: Upon doing a fresh install and NOT choosing full disk encryption, and following your steps, I installed nvidia-current, and it seems to be working fine. I'm really hoping this doesn't break at some point...

[rws0654]

you will probably need to purge the nvidia driver go back to the noveau driver and do some research this can be done inthe terminal mode. After you do that and get the system back up do some research and see which drivers have a bug in them and cause lock ups. I have lock ups with nvidia drivers on mageia, opensuse, ubuntu with newer drivers. I hade to revert back to an older nvidia driver to get past this.

 

Here is a link for nvidia driver that migh work and instructions on how to purge the driver.

 

http://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/2014/11/install-nvidia-driver-346-16-beta/

 

This link is on problems

 

http://askubuntu.com/questions/560174/ubuntu-14-10-and-nvidia-331-problem. It also exlpains how to stop lightdm and use the terminal to purge and install the default driver.

 

Honestly I found installing the oldest version that supports your card usually works the best, as the bugs are usually worked out by then.

[Thermite]

Edit: I ran sudo apt-get update, then ran sudo nvidia-config. It came up error free. I restarted the machine, but now all I get is a black screen after moving on to ubuntu in GRUB. Thoughts?

 

Edit 2: Upon first starts I can't get to GRUB. Upon a restart with that black screen I get to GRUB and choose Ubuntu, I get a black screen where I should be giving it my encryption key for the disk, but that isn't always coming up. If I choose generic with the .30 kernel, the encryption key entry does not come up. If I choose .23 generic, it does come up, I can enter the key, I can proceed to the login screen, enter my networking data, log in to desktop, but I only get the splash screen. Right click does not work, but ctrl-alt-delete brings up the process viewing window. ctrl-alt-t can't get me to terminal.

 

Edit3: Even in failsafe graphics mode I can't get my application/utility bar. WTF did Nvidia do?!

 

Edit4: Upon doing a fresh install and NOT choosing full disk encryption, and following your steps, I installed nvidia-current, and it seems to be working fine. I'm really hoping this doesn't break at some point...

Yea I'll let you know if mine breaks and how to fix it if I can find it. I was hopeing it would just update with the system, but since this is ubuntu I guessing that is way to much to ask. Anyway make sure to pick an answer don't want to leave any of the threads open.

[patrickjp93]

Yea I'll let you know if mine breaks and how to fix it if I can find it. I was hopeing it would just update with the system, but since this is ubuntu I guessing that is way to much to ask. Anyway make sure to pick an answer don't want to leave any of the threads open.

I have one final, not totally related question. I installed to a single drive because Linux Linux really doesn't like installing to a raid volume. I have 3 drives I'd like to run in Raid 0. How do I migrate the system to span 3 drives?

[Thermite]

I have one final, not totally related question. I installed to a single drive because Linux Linux really doesn't like installing to a raid volume. I have 3 drives I'd like to run in Raid 0. How do I migrate the system to span 3 drives?

yay, you've literally copied my setup exactly. I have 3ssd in raid zero too. It is actually extreemly hard to do this. At least installing to them is very hard, but I got it to work after 4-5 tries. Anyway you could create the raid and then once you have booted into your original ubuntu install clone your install to the raid. This is assuming you arent using any of your raid drives to already run ubuntu on. If you have ubuntu installe onto one of the drives you want to put into raid, you will have to reinstall.

 

Important tip when installing to a raid array with ubuntu it will see all the drives in the raid including the actualy raid drive itself. Baisically if you have 3 120 GB SSD's in raid zero and your ubuntu installer will see three 120 GB SSD, and then a 360 GB volume which is what you actually want to install to.

[patrickjp93]

yay, you've literally copied my setup exactly. I have 3ssd in raid zero too. It is actually extreemly hard to do this. At least installing to them is very hard, but I got it to work after 4-5 tries. Anyway you could create the raid and then once you have booted into your original ubuntu install clone your install to the raid. This is assuming you arent using any of your raid drives to already run ubuntu on. If you have ubuntu installe onto one of the drives you want to put into raid, you will have to reinstall.

 

Important tip when installing to a raid array with ubuntu it will see all the drives in the raid including the actualy raid drive itself. Baisically if you have 3 120 GB SSD's in raid zero and your ubuntu installer will see three 120 GB SSD, and then a 360 GB volume which is what you actually want to install to.

Yeah except mine always broke when I tried to install to a RAID volume and then GRUB would fail. What about moving the entire distribution over to an external drive via a backup, going into "Try Ubuntu" via disk, and then moving that over to the RAID volume in the live instance?

[Thermite]

Yeah except mine always broke when I tried to install to a RAID volume and then GRUB would fail. What about moving the entire distribution over to an external drive via a backup, going into "Try Ubuntu" via disk, and then moving that over to the RAID volume in the live instance?

I wouldn't suggest doing that, it would probably be a lot more work than its worth to copy the whole drive over. You need to install it directly to the raid. Also when you install to the raid you cant use the normal install you have to click the option for do something else once it becomes an option in the installer.

[patrickjp93]

I wouldn't suggest doing that, it would probably be a lot more work than its worth to copy the whole drive over. You need to install it directly to the raid. Also when you install to the raid you cant use the normal install you have to click the option for do something else once it becomes an option in the installer.

Yuck. Last few times I tried it all went to Hell in a hand basket...

[Thermite]

Yuck. Last few times I tried it all went to Hell in a hand basket...

Yea I know it took me a while to figure it out. Just go slow and when it tells you to create an efi partition don't forget to do it. It should be around 35MB then do the rest of the raid for what ever amount of storage you have left. If you have 8GB of ram or more you won't need a SWAP partition either.