LiveUSB won't boot (broken GRUB?)

[martyn-smith]

Distribution (run cat /etc/os-release):

Pop!_OS 20.04 (Intel/AMD)

Related Application and/or Package Version (run apt policy $PACKAGE NAME):

GRUB/kernel.

Tested system is an XPS 13(9380) Intel i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620.

Issue/Bug Description:

After the grey bootloader screen, attempting to boot Pop!_OS results in blank screen. No keyboard input (including Ctrl-Alt-F5) except power button results in any response.

Steps to reproduce (if you know):

Download the LiveUSB .iso (Intel/AMD) and verify the checksum.

Burn to a USB disk with dd or disks utility (multiple 32GB USB disks verified)

Power on (F12), set boot mode to UEFI, secure boot OFF, USB boot enabled, Fastboot "thorough" (reproduced with any setting), LiveUSB in right (non-Thunderbolt) port, AC power optional (reproduced either way)

Expected behavior:

Booting, or at least an error message/ability to access TTY. When accessing GRUB cmdline, "videoinfo" should return a list of video options, instead of "command not found".

Other Notes:

Nomodeset has no effect, nor does fiddling with 915.modeset or attempting to boot to text, or adding --verbose to boot params.

When entering grub command line, "videoinfo" returns "command not found".

NOT reproduced with a ubuntu 20.04 LiveUSB, which both displays video options and boots.

[saz]

I think I'm seeing the same issue, except that the system is still working (e.g. caps lock or pressing Ctrl+alt+del will reboot the system).

Looks like as if after grub there's no video output anymore. Switching to a terminal isn't working either.

I'm trying to install on a Dell XPS 9370

[genbushi]

Have you tried with the BIOS option Settings -> Advanced Boot -> Allow Legacy Boot ROM Images ? Also try adding nouveau.modeset=0 in to GRUB boot line settings by pressing Shift key when booting, and e to edit.

[saz]

Legacy is working, UEFI not. Legacy booting can't update firmware (maybe more), so this isn't an option for me.

Not sure if nouveau.modeset=0 will help as graphics is an integrated Intel GPU, but I'll give it a try

[martyn-smith]

I've tried nouveau.modeset=0 and 915.modeset=0 (since it's integrated). I believe legacy works/UEFI doesn't but will confirm.

[martyn-smith]

Legacy is working, UEFI not. Legacy booting can't update firmware (maybe more), so this isn't an option for me.

Not sure if nouveau.modeset=0 will help as graphics is an integrated Intel GPU, but I'll give it a try

Saz - out of interest, what size USB stick? I've tried multiple - but all 32 GB, and have seen one rumour that this may be a factor.

[genbushi]

only reason I mention the Legacy ROM boot in BIOS is my main personal laptop is the Dell XPS 15 9570 (2019). I forget what USB creator tool I initially used, but I had similar behavior awhile back - but once I was able to get the USB to boot using Legacy ROM option in BIOS, I was still able to install the actual OS in UEFI and the disable the BIOS option on the next reboot.

[WereDev]

I have a similar issue on an MSI Prestige 15. I see the install menu and then it goes to a black screen. I can't escape to a terminal, it seems the system locks up. What's curious is that I had 20.04 running on this machine so the install worked at one time, but wanting to reinstall after tinkering with Manjaro, now I get stuck at the black screen.

Thinking something might have change with the installer, I tried various versions of the ISO. pop-os_20.04_amd64_nvidia_3.iso installs just fine. I also tried version 4, 5, 7, and 11; all had the black screen issue. It seems whatever changed in the installer between 3 and 4 is likely the culprit.

[saz]

Same is happening now with 20.10. Legacy is working, UEFI isn't. @genbushi how are you installing the actual OS in UEFI with Legacy ROM enabled?

[saz]

And I'm able to confirm what @WereDev wrote: using pop-os_20.04_amd64_intel_3.iso works without any issues. All newer versions won't work.

[mantzas]

I was unable to install even the pop-os_20.04_amd64_intel_3.iso. The lastest version at least showed the initial install screen, this one just hangs with an underscore at boot!

[drasch]

I had no luck getting any of the most recent 20.04 or 20.10 images to work on my Dell 9380 (booting in UEFI mode. They would boot in Legacy mode, but then the system wouldn't boot the OS after install).

After switching to the intel_3 image, it booted up perfectly.

https://pop-iso.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/20.04/amd64/intel/3/pop-os_20.04_amd64_intel_3.iso

[WereDev]

Has there been any movement on this? With 21.04 right around the corner, I'd like to do a clean install. However, testing the latest ISO, I still get the black screen after the countdown page to try/install PopOS. I'll be really sad if I have to go back to Ubuntu but if I can't install Pop, then I'm not sure what the other option is.

[kharidiron]

I just ran into this same issue trying to boot a Dell Optiplex 3010 using integrated graphics. I see the initial grub and boot process, but then black screen and switching to a TTY didn't work.

I was able to get the live-boot working by editing the boot line and adding nomodeset to the end of the linux line, just before the ---.

[martinvigg]

I just ran into this same issue trying to boot a Dell Optiplex 3010 using integrated graphics. I see the initial grub and boot process, but then black screen and switching to a TTY didn't work.

I was able to get the live-boot working by editing the boot line and adding nomodeset to the end of the linux line, just before the ---.

This solved the issue for me on a Dell Latitude 7490. Thank you.

[WereDev]

Sadly, the nomodeset bit doesn't seem to be working for me. I still can't install any iso after pop-os_20.04_amd64_nvidia_3.iso. I've tried nomodeset and i915.modeset=0 as suggested by another user.

[kennethsequeira]

Can confirm the problem existing on an intel UHD graphics card on an Asus UX431FA.

Settingnoveau.modeset=01 hasn't worked as well.

[jacobgkau]

@kennethsequeira That option is spelled nouveau, not noveau, and the valid options are 0, 1, and 2, not 01. Documentation about the option can be found here: https://nouveau.freedesktop.org/KernelModuleParameters.html#modeset

[WereDev]

Is nouveau even valid for the POP Live USB boot screen? I didn't think that the Live USB was using nouveau. I have been using either modeset=0 or i915.modeset=0 (neither of which worked for me). Is it worth trying nouveau.modeset=0?

[kennethsequeira]

@jacobgkau thanks for that.

BTW, I checked that the live USB tends to work on an external display. Hit Windows + P key to switch once you're in.

However, wasn't able to get the laptop's primary display working. This is a problem with Ubuntu as well. Ended up switching back to Windows on the device.

Reference to solve on Ubuntu: https://blog.revant.me/blog/asus-zenbook-ux431fa-linux-display/

Device: Asus Zenbook UX431FA. Graphics: Intel UHD integrated.

[jacobgkau]

@WereDev The NVIDIA ISO has the NVIDIA driver and should not be using nouveau. The AMD/Intel ISO would be using nouveau if an NVIDIA GPU is present. i915 is the driver for Intel integrated graphics, and would be present in either iso.

[Macuyiko]

Same problem here on a Dell XPS 13:

• secure boot is off
• fast boot is off
• UEFI is on
• RAID is off

i915.modeset=0, nomodeset, nouveau.modeset=0, acpi=off, GRUB_GFXMODE=vga=vesa all don't work. Hard black screen right after selecting the GRUB entry. I guess it has something to do with UEFI (Ubuntu installs and runs fine but I guess they're using the shim?)

[Macuyiko]

Update: for me it was indeed due to UEFI/Grub. I found the steps over at issue #730 and followed them (luckily, Ubuntu with an grub-mkimage was already installed). Added the boot option and successfully booted into Pop's installer!

[WereDev]

How did you get this to work? grub-mkimage is not included with PopOs and even after installing grub2, I get errors about other items missing.

[Macuyiko]

luckily, Ubuntu with an grub-mkimage was already installed

So I booted into Ubuntu and used grub-mkimage there to update make a fromub.efi and add that to the USB boot device.

[WereDev]

Ah, bugger. Thanks.

Maybe I can reformat my other laptop into ubuntu to give it a try...

[WereDev]

Ok, worked through the instructions from the above link with grub-mkimage and it did make the PopOs screen a standard font instead of the tiny UHD font, and working in grub was much more performant. However, it still just sits on a black screen after getting past the PopOs countdown. :(

[Macuyiko]

Not sure if you did this, though just wanted to highlight you still need to enter these commands on a GRUB command line (press 'c' - so don't wait for the normal countdown):

set prefix=(hd0)/boot/grub
set root=(hd0)
insmod linux
insmod normal
normal

I also had to explicitly add a boot mapping to /efi/boot/fromub.efi in my setup.

[jclark-line45]

I wanted to chime in that I am experiencing a similar issue with a Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB. Grub would give me a out of memory error and then I would get a kernel panic during boot.

I am seeing this issue on the pop-os_20.04_amd64_intel_29.iso, pop-os_20.10_amd64_intel_17.iso, and pop-os_21.04_amd64_intel_3.iso images.

My solution was to use the pop-os_20.04_amd64_intel_3.iso image as noted in previous posts and then I was able to install and boot into the installed image without issue. The various modeset options did not work for me and I didn't have a spare Ubuntu system around to attempt the fromub.efi workaround.

[WereDev]

@Macuyiko I did follow the extra grub instructions. Though I don't think that fix applies here as the people on that thread have had issues since the 19.10 ISOs. Similar to @jclark-line45 I have been able to install 19.10 without issue and pop-os_20.04_amd64_nvidia_3.iso. Any 20.04 ISO version after that, eg pop-os_20.04_amd64_nvidia_4.iso, has resulted in the same issue I am having now. Nothing from 20.04 after _3, nor 20.10, nor 21.04 have worked for me.

I believe the issue has something to do with the support for Intel UHD graphics on newer ISOs as that seems to be the commonality I've seen among those that have this issue where the various modeset solutions don't work.

[ericduvic]

I was able to follow the steps in https://github.com/pop-os/pop/issues/730#issuecomment-605551241 except when it got to the part about changing the boot options, I was not able to do so in my BIOS (Lenovo Yoga 9i). My workaround there was to hit c during the grub menu of the installer media and tell grub to boot my newly created grub executable (the clear command is useful here because the old grub session will still appear with the new one overlaid on top).

From there I was able to install popos without an issue, and it continues to work without any other hacks needed!

[abhiabhi2306]

I'm using an HP Pavilion Notebook 15-eg0104TX, I'm also having the black screen when trying to install through the bootmenu, it happens after i proceed to the installation.

Tried all versions including LTS, unfortunately it is not working.

I do not have legacy boot option since my laptop is a quite new one that has its BIOS firmware only supporting UEFI.

[SFTa51]

I have a similar issue on an MSI Prestige 15. I see the install menu and then it goes to a black screen. I can't escape to a terminal, it seems the system locks up. What's curious is that I had 20.04 running on this machine so the install worked at one time, but wanting to reinstall after tinkering with Manjaro, now I get stuck at the black screen.

Thinking something might have change with the installer, I tried various versions of the ISO. pop-os_20.04_amd64_nvidia_3.iso installs just fine. I also tried version 4, 5, 7, and 11; all had the black screen issue. It seems whatever changed in the installer between 3 and 4 is likely the culprit.

Hello, during a lot of googling I found that you were having the same issue. I also have an MSI Prestige 15 with a 4K display which seems to be a problem for many Linux Distro Live USB ISOs. Someone gave me a fix that is working for me on the Zorin forum:

https://forum.zorin.com/t/live-usb-install-black-screen-on-4k-display-fix/9174/7?u=tabarnacst

Essentially crack open the ISO and change this line in the grub.cfg file:

change ' set gfxmode=auto ' into set gfxmode=800×600 or 1366×768

This worked for me right away and I suspect it will also work for Zorin and Elementary.

Good hunting.

[martyn-smith]

Adding some information:

• This still occurs with the 22.04 Pop!_OS LiveUSB.
• The laptop (xps 9380) has the 4k screen.
• I'm currently booing this laptop with Manjaro, with GRUB_GFXMODE=auto; changing this on the Pop!_OS LiveUSB at boot time (i.e. press 'e' and edit from there) had no effect.
• GRUB does render, at a 4k resolution, from the LiveUSB.
• Otherwise the same as my first post.

[XPEric]

I’m experiencing the same issue on a 2022 Razer Blade 17 (RZ09-0423PED3-R3U1). Doesn’t support CSM or legacy mode, and noveau flags didn’t make a difference.

[lukewarmcustard]

I also have a 2022 Razer Blade 17 and glad to know I am not the only one with this issue.

[ghost]

It is mind blowing that this issue hasn't been addressed. I tried Pop! oS year and half ago and this issue was happening. I gave up at that time. I am trying Pop OS again today and still facing this issue. Can't figure out what is causing it.

[leviport]

@hackedWifi I've been unable to reproduce the bug on any of the hardware I use regularly. If you have any information that would help us investigate it, that would be immensely helpful. Fixing bugs we can't reproduce is... tricky, to say the least.

[ghost]

@hackedWifi I've been unable to reproduce the bug on any of the hardware I use regularly. If you have any information that would help us investigate it, that would be immensely helpful. Fixing bugs we can't reproduce is... tricky, to say the least. My hardware is Dell XPS 9550. Running MacOS Monterrey. The OS really doesn't matter. Years ago I had the same bug when I was running MacOS and Gentoo Linux. If you turn legacy mode off. The blank screen happens. But if you leave legacy mode on and UEFI mode on. The out of memory-press a key screen shows up. Press a key and can't mount root=null happens. (Kernel panic) stating root=(0,0) cannot be mounted. I suspect it has something do with the grub.cfg not being correct or the grub64.efi causing a bug I can provide as many details as you need. Right now I am just replying from a mobile.

[ghost]

I have fixed my issue by simply changing the gfxmode=800x600,autoin the grub.cfg inside the ISO. My Dell XPS 9550 is an 15.6" 4K UHD 3840x2160. I also have secure boot disabled, legacy mode enabled and UEFI enabled. The gfxmode was a guess since the videoinfo command in Grub Bootloader is not found. I think the developers should consider taking a look at this issue. Thank you

[martyn-smith]

Don't know if https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/initramfs-tools/+bug/1970402 is relevant?

Can confirm my XPS 9380 reproduces that bug as well, seems to have been introduced at similar times. Some sort of 100 MB barrier being hit whilst loading modules, despite laptop having 8 GB?

Pop!_OS doesn't display an error message, but that might just be different config.

[lestephane]

Having this issue on Dell XPS 9500, the suggested workaround from @hackedWifi did not work for me (I pressed 'e' and added the set gfxmode=800x600,auto line, then F10, to no avail).

To @martyn-smith's point, it looks like debug symbols are enabled, which would indeed increase the size of the iniramfs by a factor of 15.

I see in the pop-os_22.04_amd64_nvidia_25.iso image file the grub.cfg casper_pop-os_22.04_amd64nvidiadebug_407 with an initrd of 128.3 MiB.

menuentry "Try or Install Pop_OS" --class pop-os {
    set gfxpayload=keep
    linux /casper_pop-os_22.04_amd64_nvidia_debug_407/vmlinuz.efi boot=casper live-media-path=/casper_pop-os_22.04_amd64_nvidia_debug_407 hostname=pop-os username=pop-os noprompt  modules_load=nvidia nvidia-drm.modeset=0 ---
    initrd /casper_pop-os_22.04_amd64_nvidia_debug_407/initrd.gz
}

Is there an ISO image without debug symbols we could try?

[XPEric]

I was eventually able to get Pop installed by booting the installer ISO using a USB drive with Ventoy and selecting the GRUB2 boot option. Might be worth a try.

https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html

[kylebakerio]

friend ran into this issue. his usb would boot on my older thinkpad (x370 yoga), but not on his (P17 gen 2 I think?). Would drop to a grub shell.

Legacy mode is not available on the bios of modern thinkpads, only UEFI, fwiw. That said, on the old one I attempted disabling legacy boot and it still booted, so not sure what the root issue was.

Eventually solved by using ventoy. Note that ventoy supports "GPT or MBR"--you need to select GPT.