F12 LIVE problem with gui loading

[akopacsi]

I have an annoying problem with F12 LIVE. The boot sequence runs without any problem, but when the graphical interface (the login screen) is about to be loaded the system crashes and it leaves me with a black screen with a mouse cursor.
The downloaded ISO was checked and the CD works perfectly with another computer.
I think it's all caused by the NVidia GeForce 9500 GT video card, but I don't know how to fix it. Adding "nomodeset" to the boot parameters didn't help.

Thanks for reading. I'd be grateful if somebody could help me.

[SlowJet]

try adding with nomodeset
xdriver=vesa vga=ask

SJ

[akopacsi]

I tried it, but I ran into the same problem. I even tried to start it in different modes (very low level VESA, my normal "Windows" 1024*768*24 mode and some better ones). The only difference I could see was that there was a graphical status display instead of the progress bar. It reached 100% and the screen went black. I still could see (and move) the mouse cursor. Anyway, thanks for your reply. Any other idea?

---------- Post added at 10:54 PM CST ---------- Previous post was at 10:01 PM CST ----------

I've been playing with this and I discovered two interesting things...

I added "3" to the boot parameters to start the system in run-level 3. It could boot, so I got a (text) login prompt. I could log in as root and I entered startx. It loaded the gui, but I got a similar problem. There was an empty screen with the default wallpaper (not a blue background, but the actual default wallpaper) and a moveable mouse pointer. I waited for several minutes, but nothing happened.

Another try... I started the LIVE CD, as it is, no extra parameters were added. When the graphical interface crashed (black screen, moveable mouse pointer) I noticed that the keyboard doesn't work either. I mean, I can not switch on/off the NumLock, CapsLock keys.

[SlowJet]

I think you're having too much fun.

Try again on the last version with startx
Put this on the kernel line and make sure you spelled nomodeset correctly and backspace over rhgb quiet

nomodeset enforcing=0 xdriver=vesa vga=ask 3
Wen you see the message for vga modes, press enter to "Get more"
Over on the left there s/b vesa modes for 1024x768 and maybe 1280x1024.

This is to test these;
1. You spelled nomodeset incorrectly
2. You have a strange default theme for Plymouth
3. Your video card is too new for KMS - (each variation may need to be tweaked in the drv.

The test is that it is #3 if this does not start up, so enter all the stuff carefully.

later,

SJ

[akopacsi]

I tried all these tricks. It still doesn't work. What do you mean by too modern video card? It's a GeForce 9500, I bought it one year ago. Anyway, I googled its name along with the words "black screen", "mouse pointer"... I couldn't find any solutions. :-P

[ryptyde]

Originally Posted by akopacsi

I tried all these tricks. It still doesn't work. What do you mean by too modern video card? It's a GeForce 9500, I bought it one year ago. Anyway, I googled its name along with the words "black screen", "mouse pointer"... I couldn't find any solutions. :-P

I have a GeForce 9500 GT installed in a Emachines desktop and the F12 Live on a usb device boots to a gui login and desktop. Sorry that this info may not help with your problem but just to let you know it works here without adding any extra boot parameters.

[akopacsi]

Okay, thanks. I will check it out if it works with a usb drive here.

[SlowJet]

The usb device is not the solution. It does not matter.

With a newer 9500 series you may be running in to a KMS (Kerenl Mode Setting) bug or conflict.
Since it is the livecd and it is hung at there is no way to viem the xorg log to see the errors.

Or there could actually be another problem.

The easiest workaround is to do what we all had to do for windows upgrades.
Start out with a know working basic vedio card, boot with the vesa drv, nomodeset enforcing=0
Once the system is install and first boot is up, do a yum update.
reboot the system with the same kerenl parms
nomodeset enfocing=0 xdriver=vesa to make sure it boots.

Shutdown
swith the cards
startup and go thru the process.
If it hangs there is now an xorg log and other logs to view by booting with int 3

GForce 9500 is a chip set, the actual manufacture can use a range of standards to produce that card.
One bug report indicates "... it is a 9500 gt but really a 9400, with a 9600 thingy and a blah, blah , blah."
Loosely translated a cheap manufactured windows device.

SJ

[akopacsi]

Thanks for your answer.

[jonathonp]

Originally Posted by akopacsi

I googled its name along with the words "black screen", "mouse pointer"... I couldn't find any solutions. :-P

That is a very funny thing to do.