SparkyLinux Forums

Software & hardware support => Desktops => Topic started by: msbln on August 04, 2015, 03:32:14 PM

Title: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: msbln on August 04, 2015, 03:32:14 PM
Hello, I installed Sparky4Openbox and after that mate-desktop-environment.

Every second boot there is only a black screen with a non-blincking prompt in the upper left.
(Mate did not introduce that problem, it was already present with Openbox)

I don't know where to start to fix it.

Any ideas?

Thanks.
Title: Re: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: msbln on August 06, 2015, 02:14:35 PM
Ok, I tried it on another computer, a Thinkpad X41 Tablet.

The behaviour could not be reproduced.
(But it was the 32-bit version)

On the "faulty" machine (64-bit) I can circumvent the problem by using
booting with Recovery Mode. This will boot always correctly,
BUT it seems
some previous changes, i.e. in the conky config file, are overriden by default values.
Therefore this might be not a real fix.
Title: Re: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: msbln on August 06, 2015, 02:46:15 PM
Well, the mysterious boot behaviour seems to be gone for now.

I don't understand, all I did was
uncomment the "quiet splash" in Grub.

Maybe something with Grub that fixed itself after an update-grub.


Btw, how can activate boot logging?

Title: Re: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: msbln on September 19, 2015, 12:10:38 PM
I can launch Sparky only if I choose Recovery option in the Grub menu.

Otherwise now it ALWAYS gets stuck.

Other Linux systems on the same computer start without problems.

What's the difference between normal and recovery option and
what's Sparky doing differently while booting than other Linux systems?

Title: Re: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: msbln on September 28, 2015, 09:38:00 PM
Ok, I uploaded all boot loader information possible:

http://paste.ubuntu.com/12604693/

What the hell is wrong with sda7 ?

Btw,
after re-installing GRUB I can normal-boot Sparky (on sda7) without problems for ONE time only.
After that it always gets stuck, STRG+ALT+F1... shows no reaction.
Title: Re: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: carlo on September 30, 2015, 01:42:29 PM
i have a similar issue:

when i turn pc office on, the first time it would get stuck soon after the grub screen
the only sure way to make it boot properly is to turn it off (by pressing the power button for 4 seconds) and turn it on again, no matter what kernel i choose
Title: Re: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: msbln on September 30, 2015, 03:16:30 PM
Hi carlo,

have you tried choosing Recovery Mode in GRUB
and pressing Ctrl+D after the boot lines stop?
Title: Re: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: carlo on September 30, 2015, 07:38:03 PM
Hi
Nope
I' going to test it tomorrow 
Title: Re: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: carlo on October 01, 2015, 06:17:09 PM
i've tried, but fruitlessly
even "lock leds" are stuck; ctrl-alt-can, ctr-alt-f1, etc don't have any effect
Title: Re: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: msbln on October 02, 2015, 01:51:12 PM
Hi carlo,

you are experiencing the same problem I had at the beginning.
Good to know I'm not alone.

You might try the following:

- install the bootlogd package
- see the output in /var/log/boot.log

1) after successful boot
2) after unsuccessful boot (for example via live-cd)

I have tried the above BUT
my boot.log was always empty!
Maybe you have more luck.

Title: Re: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: carlo on October 02, 2015, 02:04:48 PM
Thank you msbin
ill try to do it this evening

I've taken a screen shot of one of the booking failures which give some debug meaage this morning
but since I'm from mobile cannot upload it right now

I'll keep you updated
Title: Re: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: carlo on October 02, 2015, 04:52:20 PM
i'm installing the two programs,
however this happens every now and then
(http://www.federproprietaabruzzo.it/Carlo/boot.jpg)
Title: Re: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: carlo on October 02, 2015, 06:31:23 PM
Quote from: msbln on October 02, 2015, 01:51:12 PM
...
I have tried the above BUT
my boot.log was always empty!
Maybe you have more luck.


Mine too!
when i have the underscroll *or whoever( blinking i guess grub just ... fails..
Title: Re: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: msbln on October 03, 2015, 10:51:22 PM
Hi carlo,

thanks for the screenshot, but the lines are way over my head.
Maybe a pro can help to interpret them.

Quote from: carlo on October 02, 2015, 06:31:23 PM
Mine too!
(...) i guess grub just ... fails..

If GRUB fails, why does it NOT fail
after cold restart - in your case
OR
after choosing GRUB's Recovery mode  - in my case,
I don't understand.

AND the empty boot.log  >:(

Btw,
how did you upload the screenshot?
I could deliver a screenshot from my disk layout,
but I cannot see how to attach a pic to a post.
Title: Re: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: carlo on October 03, 2015, 11:50:44 PM
Quotebut the lines are way over my head.
it's incredibly tooo much difficult for me :'( :'( :'( :'(

QuoteIf GRUB fails, why does it NOT fail
after cold restart - in your case
OR
after choosing GRUB's Recovery mode  - in my case,
I don't understand.

odd indeed..
but i guess i have issues with my mobo (a loosy -to be gentle- asrock):
when i used ubuntu mint on that pc i had far more issues in booting, and sometimes it just froze while using,
so i had a memtest, tried and tried the two ram blocks again ad again, and it turned out that if i use only one, no matter what slot i use i would never have any error, but if i use both of the ram thingies i have errors
Now besides booting issues i notice i have some random major failure when i leave some radio player on and the screensaver starts: i would have to kill xorg or reboot so that pc properly works again...

did you try a memtest?


Quotehow did you upload the screenshot?
i manage a website, so i have put the image online, and added the link to it between the "img" tags
Title: Re: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: msbln on October 05, 2015, 03:35:25 PM
Ok, I let memtest run for hours yesterday - no error found.

Maybe you can have a look at my disk partitioning:


# fdisk -l /dev/sda

Disk /dev/sda: 1 TiB, 1120239009792 bytes, 2187966816 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0x000aa32b

Device     Boot     Start        End    Sectors   Size Id Type
/dev/sda1  *         2048   30722047   30720000  14.7G  7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT "win7_32bit"
/dev/sda2       234442752 2187966463 1953523712 931.5G  7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT "disc"
/dev/sda3        40962048  234442751  193480704  92.3G  5 Extended
/dev/sda5        40964096   81981439   41017344  19.6G 83 Linux "LMDE"
/dev/sda6       140285952  234442751   94156800  44.9G 83 Linux "virtual"
/dev/sda7        81983488  111296511   29313024    14G 83 Linux "sparky"
/dev/sda8       111298560  140283903   28985344  13.8G 83 Linux "ubuntu"


Correct partition order on disk is:

- Windows (sda1)
- Free Space (unallocated)
- Extended Partition (sda3)
- Data (sda2)

Extended partitioning order:
- LMDE (sda5)
- Sparky (sda7)
- Ubuntu (sda8)
- Virtual (sda6)


Maybe there is something similar to your disk partitioning.
Title: Re: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: carlo on October 05, 2015, 05:24:08 PM
really not a clue..

maybe we should try with lilo?
Title: Re: No Desktop every 2nd boot
Post by: msbln on October 07, 2015, 03:19:31 PM
Interesting idea!

I've never used LILO before. Worth a try.