So I just replaced all the important hardware except the GPU, which is an old but functional GeForce 1030. The new mobo is msi b650 tomahawk, the cpu is an amd 5 or whatever, and the ram is all compatible and stuff (at least according to pc part picker; this was my build cherry being popped)
I sorted out the shim error by disabling secure boot, but then the installer blacks out on me. I also updated the bios to the latest stable version (which Iāve heard causes problems on some mobos, but I had the same problem before and after reflashing).
With Rufus making an ISO image, I could choose between options on the live media, install or boot live and then install, plus the troubleshooting (all of these options, including low graphics mode, gave me a black screen that then moved me back to the list after 30 seconds). I tried again with etcher as I read that can help. It made the problem worse and now when I boot to that usb itās just a black screen and it stays there. Forever. No option list or anything. I tried using the vid card hdmi, but thatās got no output at the moment, I assume because I havenāt installed drivers for it yet.
Iām not sure what option to pick for downloading the media, however, as the gtx nvidia option didnāt work and itās very unclear what the integrated graphics model is. I just chose AMD legacy for that test. It did not work. I wasnāt able to find an install option that doesnāt have a separate GPU as a default, but Iām possibly dumb so thatās maybe on me.
I tried hooking into the shitty graphics card, I tried removing the graphics card entirely, and Iāve been through every help article on the topic I could find (tho most are for installs that actually did install, and give a black screen on boot) and have tried all the suggestions I could find.
The only thing I did not do is install fedora silverblue and rebase, because frankly Iām not that confident in myself. Iāve only ever used Debian-based systems, Iām not very good with them, and the guide to do it was intimidating, at best.
Anyone have any ideas that I could try to get this beast to load or boot? It still boots into the old Ubuntu install, with errors probably because the hardware changed or smth, but when I remove that drive and try without that backup boot option it still just doesnāt want to go. So at least itās not an issue with trying to dual boot, which I donāt want to do. I want to overwrite the Ubuntu install on the same drive, cuz itās a smol 128gb drive. Perfect for isolating my OS.
If I donāt find a solution Iāll probably just boot to the drive that still has Ubuntu and just update it (pc hasnāt been booted in years), but this pc is for gaming so Iād prefer something more friendly to gaming.
Iāve been at this for umm 5 hours nowā¦ so any help would be immensely appreciated.
If you need more info of any sort lmk and Iāll provide whatever I can. :)
Additional info: only one monitor is attached, and that and the wired keyboard are the only two peripherals. Some people have had issues with a second monitor holding the actual screen info, but that is not the cause here. I also donāt have windows on this thing at all, which I know does cause some issues sometimes.
Options for debugging in order of likelihood of working:
I canāt do anything when the screen goes black. Or at least I donāt know how to pull anything up. Itās basically just stuck and I have to reboot. I have tried pulling up the terminal before installing but I have no clue what to do with it. Itās just a blank terminal. On that note though I havenāt seen any errors other than when booting into the years-old Ubuntu install.
Only one monitor, as I said, so shouldnāt be the problem. When I try to access through the GPU, it says thereās no output. Also when I fully removed the GPU, leaving only the integrated graphics, same problem. I did try your suggestion, but it did nothing.
I donāt know how to drop the resolution on my monitor because itās a tv, and I canāt access anything related to these things other than via bios. If you have suggestions to do that Iām totally here for them! However I did try using the low graphics mode to install which I assume would bypass this, and that also didnāt work. Same black screen, as I mentioned.
I donāt know what fallback gui means in this context; thereās nothing to access. Itās just a list? The actual gui interface for bazzite never loads, just the bios screen, or the old ass Ubuntu install, or a black screen when I try to do anything with my live media.
Already updated the bios, as I mentioned. No change.
And as for the fedora live image, I can try making one but I donāt have faith in myself to do anything with it if it works, which I donāt honestly think it will. Thatās the only thing Iāve come across that I havenāt tried at all because like I said I donāt have confidence in myself to rebase. I guess for ruling stuff out thatās fine, thoughā¦ but if that also doesnāt work, then what?
So I did the ctrl-alt-fkeys and none of them did anything. Iām re-doing a live image now because the one I tried gave me a kernel panic (which is progress) with the only āmonitorā or anything else that wasnāt 4k or vga-only that I could find.
Itās still a tv and hdmi, but a much smaller 720p, and that got me something to work with anyway.
Iāll keep you posted. Thanks for the help thus far :)
The goal is to just find if SOMETHING works, or NOTHING works. Telling the difference is the first step in debugging the problem.
If you have any other monitor you can plug into, just try it. Also consider switching to DP if thatās an option.
Another thing: since you got a kernel panic on just booting, have you checked your .Emory timings and everything? You said you switched out your CPU, but are you sure that memory is compatible and set the proper timings? Does your BIOS have voltage and temp monitors? Sure your PSU can handle all this new hardware?
Ah, actually no this is an error I came across before, and the help article said using dd mode on Rufus or the etcher program should fix it, so Iām going to try that again with etcher, and see if it does. Like I said getting a screen saying kernel panic is big progress! It beats the lingering black screen (probably from it actually working but not displaying, like you said)
I donāt have another actual monitor that doesnāt only take VGA. I have been using TVs in place of monitors for a very long time because I mostly use my computer for media-related activities (hosting and maintaining Plex and watching that locally) so I donāt need much.
But like I said the tv I pilfered from my kitchen at least displayed why I had the black screen so Iām making progress and I hope I can move it seamlessly when I have everything :)
I never really considered I was using too good of a display deviceā¦ that was never mentioned as a possible cause in any of the articles I found, they were mostly other hardware related problems, like dual monitors or something.
Also I bought the motherboard, cpu, and ram (also a new cooling system, bc my liquid cool was very old and idk if it still works) all together based on pc part picker and advice I got in another post on the rimworld comm, so it should all be compatible, tho the gpu is iffy. Nvidia is always iffy.
Ok, so update from yesterday; I had to stop.
Anyway the new bazzite stuff didnāt work. Fedora live test environment sort of worked but it failed at 4.8%, which is identical to another issue I saw saying it has to do with windows and if you make it on Linux it should work.
Also to answer those other questions at the bottom - voltage and temp readings are normal, psu was a replacement for one that burned out and is 700w so it should be more than enough. The parts should all be compatible, pcpartpicker said they are, but no, I donāt know that they are for sure. Still, my old Ubuntu install loads just fine, tho with some minor errors. Wouldnāt that mean everything does work?
It would mean your old install works just fine-ish. If youāre loading new everything and still having issues at all, then something is wrong. You shouldnāt be having any of these issues at all.
Would you happen to have a different USB drive to this from? Also try and make sure youāre plugging it into the slower USB ports on your machine, and maybe skip any front ports extended by a USB extender inside the case.
Good news! I got fedora silverblue to install, tho not bazzite directly, and rebased to bazzite and it seems to be working. Figured whatās the worst that could happen if I tried, you know?
Anyway thanks for all the help!
š
I donāt have another flash drive big enough for this, no. The other one I have is 8gb and the utility says it requires 10, but I have been using the back ports. Iāll try again with one of the bottom ones and a bazzite install since I would need to remake the fedora one anyway. I had tried that previously but before having a workable display.
And hey, this kinda stuff happens whenever I try to do something a bit new. I refer to myself as the walking incarnation of Murphyās law. Iām used to it š it sucks for sure but Iām used to it lol (and I do tend to learn quite a bit in the process so not a total loss)