Testing only starts on recovery

[noober1983]

Hi all.

I just installed Testing on an Acer Aspire E1 box. It works well. However it won't boot in 'normal' mode, only in recovery. If selected (or if I just let the GRUB timer go off) nothing will load, I get a black screen with a blinking cursor on the top left corner. I can boot in recovery mode and press Ctrl+D when prompted and X starts normally.

The only similar problem I found was this one: https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2120067. This doesn't seem to be my issue however; the radeon module is working, and I installed the following packages: radeontool, xserver-xorg-video-{amdgpu, radeon}, firmware-amd-graphics, and appropriate versions of headers for amd64 (I run kernel 4.12).

Is there anything I am missing? Any ideas?

Thanks a lot! Cheers!

[arochester]

Are you sure about the required firmware?

This: http://www.linlap.com/acer_aspire_e1-571
says the Graphics chip is an Inter i915

[noober1983]

Are you sure about the required firmware?

This: http://www.linlap.com/acer_aspire_e1-571
says the Graphics chip is an Inter i915

Not my model. I own an E1-421-0428, which is not listed on that site. This one has a Radeon 6320 HD card. I wasn't able to find a site in Enlgish for this model, but I found this one on Spanish: https://pcel.com/Acer-NX-M0ZAL-008-90971, just go to section "Gráficos" (I bought this box in Mexico). Thanks.

[noober1983]

Bump! Anybody? Please!

[GarryRicketson]

What does 'lspci' show ?

Are you sure there is not just some problem with Debian testing that is causing
the problem ?
https://wiki.debian.org/DebianTesting

How to use Debian (next-stable) Testing

First thing is to assess the current state of testing. Have a look at the recent topics in the debian-testing mailing list archive and the Status/Testing Wiki-Page. Besides using these specific resources you can also use the general debian-user and debian-devel mailing lists, IRC channels #debian or #debian-next, and of course the debian bug tracker. You may also have a look at the DebianDesktopHowTo.

[noober1983]

What does 'lspci' show ?

Are you sure there is not just some problem with Debian testing that is causing
the problem ?
https://wiki.debian.org/DebianTesting

How to use Debian (next-stable) Testing

First thing is to assess the current state of testing. Have a look at the recent topics in the debian-testing mailing list archive and the Status/Testing Wiki-Page. Besides using these specific resources you can also use the general debian-user and debian-devel mailing lists, IRC channels #debian or #debian-next, and of course the debian bug tracker. You may also have a look at the DebianDesktopHowTo.

I will read the wiki and try to find my way through the mailing lists. However I successfully installed Testing on a newer laptop (Inspiron 15) and this one boots normally. I'll post updates on Monday since the laptop in question here is the one I use at the office.

Thanks a lot!

[GarryRicketson]

Ok, the 'lspci' command should show for sure what drivers it actually has.
It might not be the same as it is on the site that shows the specs.

[stevepusser]

Or install inxi and give us the output of

Code: Select all

inxi -F

I find that gives a less techy, verbose yet even more informative (where it counts) output than the "lsXXX" commands.

[noober1983]

Hi all.

This is the output of inxi -Fxxx:

Code: Select all

System:    Host: baldrick Kernel: 4.12.0-1-amd64 x86_64 bits: 64 gcc: 6.4.0
           Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3 (Gtk 2.24.31) info: xfce4-panel dm: lightdm
           Distro: Debian GNU/Linux buster/sid
Machine:   Device: laptop System: Acer product: Aspire E1-421 v: V1.04
           Mobo: Acer model: EA40_BZ
           UEFI [Legacy]: Insyde v: V1.04 date: 05/02/2012
Battery    BAT1: charge: 34.8 Wh 100.0% condition: 34.8/47.5 Wh (73%)
           volts: 12.2/10.8
           model: SAMSUNG AS10D73 Li-ion serial: 2374 status: Full cycles: 0
CPU:       Dual core AMD E-450 APU with Radeon HD Graphics (-MCP-) 
           arch: Bobcat rev.0 cache: 1024 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4a ssse3 svm) bmips: 6587
           clock speeds: min/max: 825/1650 MHz 1: 1650 MHz 2: 1650 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Wrestler [Radeon HD 6320]
           bus-ID: 00:01.0 chip-ID: 1002:9806
           Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.3 )
           drivers: ati,radeon (unloaded: modesetting,fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1366x768@60.10hz
           OpenGL: renderer: Gallium 0.4 on AMD PALM (DRM 2.50.0 / 4.12.0-1-amd64, LLVM 3.9.1)
           version: 3.3 Mesa 13.0.6 (compat-v: 3.0) Direct Render: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] FCH Azalia Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:14.2 chip-ID: 1022:780d
           Card-2 Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Wrestler HDMI Audio
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:01.1 chip-ID: 1002:1314
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.12.0-1-amd64
Network:   Card-1: Qualcomm Atheros AR8151 v2.0 Gigabit Ethernet
           driver: atl1c v: 1.0.1.1-NAPI port: 2000
           bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 1969:1083
           IF: enp1s0 state: down mac: 04:7d:7b:e1:16:f2
           Card-2: Qualcomm Atheros AR9485 Wireless Network Adapter
           driver: ath9k bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 168c:0032
           IF: wlp2s0 state: up mac: 74:e5:43:4c:62:ab
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 500.1GB (3.4% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST500LT012 size: 500.1GB serial: S0V04CWA
Partition: ID-1: / size: 28G used: 8.1G (32%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-2: /home size: 427G used: 4.2G (2%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda6
           ID-3: swap-1 size: 4.00GB used: 0.00GB (0%)
           fs: swap dev: /dev/sda5
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 93.8C mobo: N/A gpu: 95.0
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 164 Uptime: 2 days Memory: 1105.1/3681.1MB
           Init: systemd v: 234 runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 7.2.0 alt: 6
           Client: Shell (bash 4.4.121 running in xfce4-terminal) inxi: 2.3.34 

This is the output of lspci -vv|grep -i vga:

Code: Select all

	Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
00:01.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Wrestler [Radeon HD 6320] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx+
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx+
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR- NoISA- VGA- MAbort- >Reset- FastB2B-
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR- NoISA- VGA- MAbort- >Reset- FastB2B-
	Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx+
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx+
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx+
	Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx+
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle+ MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR- NoISA- VGA- MAbort- >Reset- FastB2B-
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-

I googled the error above but nothing useful came up; there are reports of this error on machines that crash under Ubuntu, but nothing else.