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[Bug 1485258] [NEW] Nvidia 340+NVidia Prime + external monitor = system unusable, continuous xorg crashes, external monitor never works

 

Public bug reported:

SUMMARY

- laptop with NVidia card and Optimus technology
- xorg configured ages ago to automatically switch between built-in and external monitor when plugging/unplugging
- "clean" Ubuntu 15.04 after upgrading from 14.10 from 14.04
- no nvidia-* nor bumblebee-* was installed (that's what I mean by "clean")
- everything was working perfectly fine while only using integrated intel GPU
- I installed NVidia-340 and nvidia-prime (and whatever) via Software & Updates -> Additional Driver

Result:
* Boot with external monitor connected => keeps crashing forever at the login screen
* Boot without external monitor connected => seems to work with built-in screen (at least for the few minutes I tested)
* Connect external monitor after boot at login screen => xorg crashes once or twice, then both screens go black
* Connect external monitor after logging in => both screens go black
* Disconnect external monitor => built-in screen remains black, never turns on again, unless Xorg crashes

Basically, the laptop is completely unusable. NVidia-prime and nvidia-340 screw everything up beyond imagination.
I was lucky tojust  be able to recover from that, uninstall all nvidia-stuff, and get my working system back.


MORE DETAIL

Until recently I had Ubuntu 14.04.
I had nvidia-331 installed but unused since ages ago. I had disabled them (if I remember correctly) by going to 
  Software & Updates -> Additional drivers 
(the same I had used to install them)
and choosing to use Nouveau instead (back), because I had experiencing a lot of glitches with NVidia-331.
This was even before I upgraded to 14.04.

Because my laptop has Optimus technology, I was only using the
integrated Intel GPU.

At some point I had also installed bumblebee, but I had never figured
out how to actually make any use of it.

I had Xorg configured so that, when plugging an external monitor, only
the external monitor would be used and the built-in one would turn off;
and when unplugging the external monitor, the built-in monitor would
automatically turn on. So I only use one monitor at a time. I guess I
configured this via the System Settings -> Displays

All this was working fine.

When the fix for #1431753  was released, nvidia-340 got installed and,
against my will and without notice, they were somehow enabled, so I
started experiencing  #1220426 and  #1483388 (but nothing comparable to
what I'm describing in this report).

So, I apt-get removed nvidia-* and bumblebee.

After that (and across several reboots) all was working perfectly fine
again. Again, I was only using the shitty integrated Intel GPU (without
even the hardware acceleration that it supports, btw, but that's another
story), but I had no issues.

Then today I upgraded to 14.10 and immediately after, to 15.04.

Everything kept working smoothly, including automatic screen switching
when plugging/unplugging the external monitor.


Then I thoughy I'd give NVidia-340 another try. I thought maybe a fresh install on 15.04 would work.

I went to Software & updates -> Additional Drivers and I selected "use
NVidia-340"

That installed nvidia-340, nvidia-settings, nvidia-prime, and something-
nvidia-else.

I rebooted.

At the first reboot, I had the external screen already connected.

After the boot completed, xorg started to crash again and again like crazy. The login screen would appear and disappear from both screen at a few seconds intervals, and I would hear the drum sound every time (and could not finish typing my password and logging in).
THE SYSTEM WAS UNUSABLE, I COULD NOT LOG IN.

So I rebooted without the external monitor connected.
I then connected the external monitor while still at the login screen. Xorg crashed one or a couple of times, then the built-in screen turned off but the external one didn't turn on either.
So I disconnected the screen; after a while Xorg crashed again and only then the built-in screen turned on again
I rebooted again, and fully logged in without the external screen connected.
Then I plugged in the screen
=> again, the built-in screen turned off but the external one didn't turn on.
I disconnected the screen, and the built-in screen never turned on again.


So, I rebooted without the external monitor, uninstalled all the nvidia-related stuff, rebooted, and now again everything is working (without using the NVidia card, of course).

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 15.04
Package: xorg 1:7.7+7ubuntu4
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.19.0-25.26-generic 3.19.8-ckt2
Uname: Linux 3.19.0-25-generic x86_64
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:
 
ApportVersion: 2.17.2-0ubuntu1.2
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
CompositorRunning: compiz
CompositorUnredirectDriverBlacklist: '(nouveau|Intel).*Mesa 8.0'
CompositorUnredirectFSW: true
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Sat Aug 15 23:25:52 2015
DistUpgraded: 2015-08-15 21:46:56,607 DEBUG enabling apt cron job
DistroCodename: vivid
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DkmsStatus:
 bbswitch, 0.7, 3.19.0-25-generic, x86_64: installed
 vboxhost, 4.3.14, 3.13.0-61-generic, x86_64: installed
 vboxhost, 4.3.14, 3.16.0-44-generic, x86_64: installed
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, if not too technical
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller [8086:0166] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device [1025:0647]
 NVIDIA Corporation GF117M [GeForce 610M/710M/820M / GT 620M/625M/630M/720M] [10de:1140] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] GeForce 710M [1025:0691]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-10-11 (673 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.04 "Raring Ringtail" - Release amd64 (20130424)
MachineType: Acer Aspire V3-571G
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-25-generic.efi.signed root=UUID=5830b30e-69e8-4bb4-8a2b-bc2b43c7414a ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: xorg
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to vivid on 2015-08-15 (0 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 10/15/2012
dmi.bios.vendor: Acer
dmi.bios.version: V2.07
dmi.board.asset.tag: Type2 - Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: VA50_HC_CR
dmi.board.vendor: Acer
dmi.board.version: Type2 - Board Version
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Acer
dmi.chassis.version: V2.07
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAcer:bvrV2.07:bd10/15/2012:svnAcer:pnAspireV3-571G:pvrV2.07:rvnAcer:rnVA50_HC_CR:rvrType2-BoardVersion:cvnAcer:ct10:cvrV2.07:
dmi.product.name: Aspire V3-571G
dmi.product.version: V2.07
dmi.sys.vendor: Acer
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.12.1+15.04.20150410.1-0ubuntu1
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.60-2
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 10.5.2-0ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 10.5.2-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.17.1-0ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.9.0-1ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:7.5.0-1ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.917-1~exp1ubuntu2.2
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.11-1ubuntu2build1
xserver.bootTime: Sat Aug 15 23:24:41 2015
xserver.configfile: default
xserver.errors:
 Failed to load module "nvidia" (module does not exist, 0)
 Failed to load module "nvidia" (module does not exist, 0)
 NOUVEAU(G0): [XvMC] Failed to initialize extension.
xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log
xserver.outputs:
 product id                                8940 
 vendor                                     AUO
xserver.version: 2:1.17.1-0ubuntu3

** Affects: nvidia-graphics-drivers-340 (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

** Affects: nvidia-prime (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

** Affects: xorg (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: amd64 apport-bug compiz-0.9 ubuntu vivid

** Also affects: nvidia-graphics-drivers-340 (Ubuntu)
   Importance: Undecided
       Status: New

** Also affects: nvidia-prime (Ubuntu)
   Importance: Undecided
       Status: New

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Touch seeded packages, which is subscribed to xorg in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1485258

Title:
  Nvidia 340+NVidia Prime + external monitor = system unusable,
  continuous xorg crashes, external monitor never works

Status in nvidia-graphics-drivers-340 package in Ubuntu:
  New
Status in nvidia-prime package in Ubuntu:
  New
Status in xorg package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  SUMMARY

  - laptop with NVidia card and Optimus technology
  - xorg configured ages ago to automatically switch between built-in and external monitor when plugging/unplugging
  - "clean" Ubuntu 15.04 after upgrading from 14.10 from 14.04
  - no nvidia-* nor bumblebee-* was installed (that's what I mean by "clean")
  - everything was working perfectly fine while only using integrated intel GPU
  - I installed NVidia-340 and nvidia-prime (and whatever) via Software & Updates -> Additional Driver

  Result:
  * Boot with external monitor connected => keeps crashing forever at the login screen
  * Boot without external monitor connected => seems to work with built-in screen (at least for the few minutes I tested)
  * Connect external monitor after boot at login screen => xorg crashes once or twice, then both screens go black
  * Connect external monitor after logging in => both screens go black
  * Disconnect external monitor => built-in screen remains black, never turns on again, unless Xorg crashes

  Basically, the laptop is completely unusable. NVidia-prime and nvidia-340 screw everything up beyond imagination.
  I was lucky tojust  be able to recover from that, uninstall all nvidia-stuff, and get my working system back.

  
  MORE DETAIL

  Until recently I had Ubuntu 14.04.
  I had nvidia-331 installed but unused since ages ago. I had disabled them (if I remember correctly) by going to 
    Software & Updates -> Additional drivers 
  (the same I had used to install them)
  and choosing to use Nouveau instead (back), because I had experiencing a lot of glitches with NVidia-331.
  This was even before I upgraded to 14.04.

  Because my laptop has Optimus technology, I was only using the
  integrated Intel GPU.

  At some point I had also installed bumblebee, but I had never figured
  out how to actually make any use of it.

  I had Xorg configured so that, when plugging an external monitor, only
  the external monitor would be used and the built-in one would turn
  off; and when unplugging the external monitor, the built-in monitor
  would automatically turn on. So I only use one monitor at a time. I
  guess I configured this via the System Settings -> Displays

  All this was working fine.

  When the fix for #1431753  was released, nvidia-340 got installed and,
  against my will and without notice, they were somehow enabled, so I
  started experiencing  #1220426 and  #1483388 (but nothing comparable
  to what I'm describing in this report).

  So, I apt-get removed nvidia-* and bumblebee.

  After that (and across several reboots) all was working perfectly fine
  again. Again, I was only using the shitty integrated Intel GPU
  (without even the hardware acceleration that it supports, btw, but
  that's another story), but I had no issues.

  Then today I upgraded to 14.10 and immediately after, to 15.04.

  Everything kept working smoothly, including automatic screen switching
  when plugging/unplugging the external monitor.

  
  Then I thoughy I'd give NVidia-340 another try. I thought maybe a fresh install on 15.04 would work.

  I went to Software & updates -> Additional Drivers and I selected "use
  NVidia-340"

  That installed nvidia-340, nvidia-settings, nvidia-prime, and
  something-nvidia-else.

  I rebooted.

  At the first reboot, I had the external screen already connected.

  After the boot completed, xorg started to crash again and again like crazy. The login screen would appear and disappear from both screen at a few seconds intervals, and I would hear the drum sound every time (and could not finish typing my password and logging in).
  THE SYSTEM WAS UNUSABLE, I COULD NOT LOG IN.

  So I rebooted without the external monitor connected.
  I then connected the external monitor while still at the login screen. Xorg crashed one or a couple of times, then the built-in screen turned off but the external one didn't turn on either.
  So I disconnected the screen; after a while Xorg crashed again and only then the built-in screen turned on again
  I rebooted again, and fully logged in without the external screen connected.
  Then I plugged in the screen
  => again, the built-in screen turned off but the external one didn't turn on.
  I disconnected the screen, and the built-in screen never turned on again.

  
  So, I rebooted without the external monitor, uninstalled all the nvidia-related stuff, rebooted, and now again everything is working (without using the NVidia card, of course).

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 15.04
  Package: xorg 1:7.7+7ubuntu4
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.19.0-25.26-generic 3.19.8-ckt2
  Uname: Linux 3.19.0-25-generic x86_64
  .tmp.unity.support.test.0:
   
  ApportVersion: 2.17.2-0ubuntu1.2
  Architecture: amd64
  CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
  CompositorRunning: compiz
  CompositorUnredirectDriverBlacklist: '(nouveau|Intel).*Mesa 8.0'
  CompositorUnredirectFSW: true
  CurrentDesktop: Unity
  Date: Sat Aug 15 23:25:52 2015
  DistUpgraded: 2015-08-15 21:46:56,607 DEBUG enabling apt cron job
  DistroCodename: vivid
  DistroVariant: ubuntu
  DkmsStatus:
   bbswitch, 0.7, 3.19.0-25-generic, x86_64: installed
   vboxhost, 4.3.14, 3.13.0-61-generic, x86_64: installed
   vboxhost, 4.3.14, 3.16.0-44-generic, x86_64: installed
  ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, if not too technical
  GraphicsCard:
   Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller [8086:0166] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
     Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device [1025:0647]
   NVIDIA Corporation GF117M [GeForce 610M/710M/820M / GT 620M/625M/630M/720M] [10de:1140] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
     Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] GeForce 710M [1025:0691]
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-10-11 (673 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.04 "Raring Ringtail" - Release amd64 (20130424)
  MachineType: Acer Aspire V3-571G
  ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-25-generic.efi.signed root=UUID=5830b30e-69e8-4bb4-8a2b-bc2b43c7414a ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
  SourcePackage: xorg
  UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to vivid on 2015-08-15 (0 days ago)
  dmi.bios.date: 10/15/2012
  dmi.bios.vendor: Acer
  dmi.bios.version: V2.07
  dmi.board.asset.tag: Type2 - Board Asset Tag
  dmi.board.name: VA50_HC_CR
  dmi.board.vendor: Acer
  dmi.board.version: Type2 - Board Version
  dmi.chassis.type: 10
  dmi.chassis.vendor: Acer
  dmi.chassis.version: V2.07
  dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAcer:bvrV2.07:bd10/15/2012:svnAcer:pnAspireV3-571G:pvrV2.07:rvnAcer:rnVA50_HC_CR:rvrType2-BoardVersion:cvnAcer:ct10:cvrV2.07:
  dmi.product.name: Aspire V3-571G
  dmi.product.version: V2.07
  dmi.sys.vendor: Acer
  version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.12.1+15.04.20150410.1-0ubuntu1
  version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
  version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.60-2
  version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 10.5.2-0ubuntu1
  version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
  version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 10.5.2-0ubuntu1
  version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.17.1-0ubuntu3
  version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.9.0-1ubuntu2
  version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:7.5.0-1ubuntu2
  version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.917-1~exp1ubuntu2.2
  version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.11-1ubuntu2build1
  xserver.bootTime: Sat Aug 15 23:24:41 2015
  xserver.configfile: default
  xserver.errors:
   Failed to load module "nvidia" (module does not exist, 0)
   Failed to load module "nvidia" (module does not exist, 0)
   NOUVEAU(G0): [XvMC] Failed to initialize extension.
  xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log
  xserver.outputs:
   product id                                8940 
   vendor                                     AUO
  xserver.version: 2:1.17.1-0ubuntu3

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