Hangs Loading, please wait... Dual display 8.7.1 vs. 7.2

[faradayent]

Hi,
Some Linux experience, but not a lot. Stumped by this one.

Synopsis: Boots on 7.2, hangs on 8.7.1, likely display adapter related.

Note: Although I have monitors plugged into both the mobo VGA and adapter VGA this is NOT about getting second monitor running. I'll have to cross that bridge later.

Platform: Old HP dc7600 (Intel mobo) with 7200GS display adapter.

History: Had 7.2 LXDE running on this hardware with no problems. I didn't actually use it for dual monitor under Linux (I did under windows), but did have the card installed, and the monitor was plugged into the card as primary monitor. 7.2 LXDE had no problem booting.

Now: Tried to run 8.7.1 Jessie LXDE from live DVD, using Live (amd64) Mode. It goes through a couple of steps and freezes saying: "Loading, please wait...", totally unresponsive to any keys or front panel power. Same hardware config as with 7.2, primary monitor plugged into display adapter card, secondary into mobo.

If, on the other hand, I boot from the live 8.7.1 DVD using Live (amd64 failsafe) Mode, it boots fine, same hardware config.

I went ahead and installed 8.7.1 on HDD. Install went fine, but on booting got the same hang with "Loading, please wait..."

Then I reboot using "Advanced options for Debian GNU/Linux"
"Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 3.16.0-4-amd64 (recovery mode)"
Let it initialize, give root password, then:
# startx

LXDE comes right up. It does however give an error "No session for pid 696" and "The wicd daemon has shut down."

Are there any simple things I can try?

[debiman]

tl;dr

don't start a gui as root.
that alone could have messed up things.

likely display adapter related.

post output of

Code: Select all

lspci -k | grep -iEA5 'vga|3d'
grep -C5 EE /var/log/Xorg.0.log

[faradayent]

lspci -k | grep -iEA5 'vga|3d'
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation G72 (GeForce 7200 GS / 7300 SE] (rev a1)
subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 8250
Kernel driver in use: nouveau

grep -C5 EE /var/log/Xorg.0.log
[ 113.704] Current version of pixman: 0.32.6
[ 113.706] Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
[ 113.706] Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[ 113.711] (==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Fri Mar 3 12:21:18 2017
[ 113.734] (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
[ 113.744] (==) No Layout section. Using the first Screen section.
[ 113.744] (==) No screen section available. Using defaults.
[ 113.744] (**) |-->Screen "Default Screen Section" (0)
--
[ 113.893] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 18.0
[ 113.893] (II) LoadModule: "nv"
[ 113.894] (WW) Warning, couldn't open module nv
[ 113.894] (II) UnloadModule: "nv"
[ 113.894] (II) Unloading nv
[ 113.894] (EE) Failed to load module "nv" (module does not exist, 0)
[ 113.894] (II) LoadModule: "modesetting"
[ 113.894] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/modesetting_drv.so
[ 113.899] (II) Module modesetting: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 113.899] compiled for 1.16.4, module version = 0.9.0
[ 113.899] Module class: X.Org Video Driver

[faradayent]

With a few installation warnings that I still need to resolve, the problem is partially fixed by removing the nouveau driver and installing the most current NVIDIA driver:

http://www.allaboutlinux.eu/remove-nouv ... ebian-8/2/

for the 7200GS:

http://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverRe ... 4714/en-us

Although both monitors now light up, only one monitor is present in Preferences > Monitor Settings.

I did some further testing. Using the Debian LXDE 7.2 live DVD on the same hardware and setup, both monitors show up in Monitor Settings, and using arandr I'm able to extend the desktop. (both monitors are plugged into the 7200GS card).

And, the 7.2 setup is using the Nouveau driver. I'm assuming it's an earlier version that works, and the version shipped with 8.7.1 is somehow broken.

[debiman]

glad you got it partially solved.

i hope you're not starting X as root anymore.
if you don't break your system, it's at least a security desaster.

you seem to have only 1 gpu, yet you describe it in post #1 as if there were 2 distinct places to plugin monitors.
how can that be?
are they both VGA plugs?

also i think we would need the complete xorg.log, not just grepped for errors. sorry about that.