Jetson TK1 boots to black screen, won't load GUI

Started up the Jetson TK1 and logged in. Then executed the commands:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

The tried to run the command:

startx

Rebooted and an all black screen appeared except with a _ in the top left corner. Nothing happened.
Then typed ctrl+alt+F1 to bring me back to the terminal.

I then ran the command:

~/NVIDIA-INSTALLER/installer.sh

It responded as a successful install. We rebooted and it booted back to the all black screen with the _ in the top left corner.

Stuck and don’t know what to do please help.
Should I try and reinstall the installer.sh even though it warns you not too?
Did I miss anything in the setup?

Any help would be greatly appreaciated.

It sounds like video is not configured. Is this purely an HDMI cable all the way to the monitor? Or is there any adapter?

NOTE: The default version is a bit old, you might also consider flashing a newer version.

There is an adapter. We use an HDMI to VGA adapter.

VGA adapters literally cut the wire used to query a monitor automatically. You’ll have to find a “driver disk” and edit the “/etc/X11/xorg.conf” manually if you want to use VGA. GUI will work, but manual configuration is required in that case.

We switched from converting the HDMI to VGA to just using an HDMI to save the work/hassle of finding a driver disk and editing xorg.conf manually.

When booting from the HDMI and not converting the Jetson still boots to an all black screen with a _ in the top left corner. The only way I can do anything is with the ctrl+alt+F1 command.

You may need to install packages “read-edid” and “edid-decode” for this, what do you get from:

sudo get-edid | parse-edid
sudo get-edid | edid-decode

It sounds like you have not flashed anything recent, what is the current release of L4T? Use:

head -n 1 /etc/nv_tegra_release

You mentioned that you did run the nVidia installer directory…was it run sudo?

Here are my outputs:
1.

ubuntu@192.168.11.107's password:
Welcome to Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS (GNU/Linux 3.10.24-g6a2d13a armv7l)

 * Documentation:  https://help.ubuntu.com
 * Management:     https://landscape.canonical.com
 * Support:        https://ubuntu.com/advantage

30 packages can be updated.
1 update is a security update.

Last login: Tue Jan 17 22:32:49 2017 from 192.168.195.81
ubuntu@tegra-ubuntu:~$ sudo get-edid | parse-edid
[sudo] password for ubuntu:
This is read-edid version 3.0.2. Prepare for some fun.
Attempting to use i2c interface
No EDID on bus 0
No EDID on bus 1
No EDID on bus 2
No EDID on bus 4
No EDID on bus 5
1 potential busses found: 3
256-byte EDID successfully retrieved from i2c bus 3
Looks like i2c was successful. Have a good day.
Checksum Correct

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier "SyncMaster"
        ModelName "SyncMaster"
        VendorName "SAM"
        # Monitor Manufactured week 8 of 2009
        # EDID version 1.3
        # Digital Display
        DisplaySize 160 90
        Gamma 2.20
        Option "DPMS" "false"
        Horizsync 26-81
        VertRefresh 24-75
        # Maximum pixel clock is 230MHz
        #Not giving standard mode: 1280x800, 60Hz
        #Not giving standard mode: 1440x900, 60Hz
        #Not giving standard mode: 1440x900, 75Hz
        #Not giving standard mode: 1600x1200, 60Hz
        #Not giving standard mode: 1680x1050, 60Hz
        #Not giving standard mode: 1280x1024, 60Hz
        #Not giving standard mode: 1152x864, 75Hz
        #Not giving standard mode: 1280x960, 60Hz

        #Extension block found. Parsing...
        Modeline        "Mode 7" 74.25 1920 2008 2052 2200 540 542 547 562 +hsync +vsync interlace
        Modeline        "Mode 0" 148.50 1920 2008 2052 2200 1080 1084 1089 1125 +hsync +vsync
        Modeline        "Mode 1" 74.25 1280 1390 1430 1650 720 725 730 750 +hsync +vsync
        Modeline        "Mode 2" 148.500 1920 2008 2052 2200 1080 1084 1089 1125 +hsync +vsync
        Modeline        "Mode 3" 74.250 1920 2008 2052 2200 1080 1082 1087 1125 +hsync +vsync interlace
        Modeline        "Mode 4" 74.250 1920 2008 2052 2200 1080 1084 1089 1125 +hsync +vsync
        Modeline        "Mode 5" 74.250 1280 1390 1420 1650 720 725 730 750 +hsync +vsync
        Modeline        "Mode 6" 27.027 720 736 798 858 480 489 495 525 -hsync -vsync
        Modeline        "Mode 8" 74.25 1280 1390 1430 1650 720 725 730 750 +hsync +vsync
        Modeline        "Mode 9" 27.00 720 736 798 858 480 489 495 525 -hsync -vsync
        Option "PreferredMode" "Mode 7"
EndSection
ubuntu@tegra-ubuntu:~$
ubuntu@tegra-ubuntu:~$ sudo get-edid | edid-decode
This is read-edid version 3.0.2. Prepare for some fun.
Attempting to use i2c interface
No EDID on bus 0
No EDID on bus 1
The program 'edid-decode' is currently not installed. You can install it by typing:
sudo apt install edid-decode
No EDID on bus 2
No EDID on bus 4
No EDID on bus 5
1 potential busses found: 3
256-byte EDID successfully retrieved from i2c bus 3
Looks like i2c was successful. Have a good day.
ubuntu@tegra-ubuntu:~$ sudo apt install edid-decode
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  libfs6 libglu1-mesa libjte1 libqt4-designer libqt4-help libqt4-scripttools libqt4-svg
  libqt4-test python-attr python-cairo python-chardet python-dbus python-gi python-gobject-2
  python-gtk2 python-httplib2 python-pam python-pil python-pyasn1-modules python-serial
  python-service-identity python-twisted-bin python-twisted-core python-twisted-web
  python-zope.interface
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  edid-decode
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 37 not upgraded.
Need to get 15.3 kB of archives.
After this operation, 66.6 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports xenial/universe armhf edid-decode armhf 0.1~git20140128.afcf2a2e-1 [15.3 kB]
Fetched 15.3 kB in 0s (51.0 kB/s)
N: Ignoring file '50unattended-upgrades.ucf-dist' in directory '/etc/apt/apt.conf.d/' as it has an invalid filename extension
Selecting previously unselected package edid-decode.
(Reading database ... 145694 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../edid-decode_0.1~git20140128.afcf2a2e-1_armhf.deb ...
Unpacking edid-decode (0.1~git20140128.afcf2a2e-1) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.7.5-1) ...
Setting up edid-decode (0.1~git20140128.afcf2a2e-1) ...
N: Ignoring file '50unattended-upgrades.ucf-dist' in directory '/etc/apt/apt.conf.d/' as it has an invalid filename extension
ubuntu@tegra-ubuntu:~$ clear






ubuntu@tegra-ubuntu:~$ sudo get-edid | edid-decode
This is read-edid version 3.0.2. Prepare for some fun.
Attempting to use i2c interface
No EDID on bus 0
No EDID on bus 1
No EDID on bus 2
No EDID on bus 4
No EDID on bus 5
1 potential busses found: 3
256-byte EDID successfully retrieved from i2c bus 3
Looks like i2c was successful. Have a good day.
Extracted contents:
header:          00 ff ff ff ff ff ff 00
serial number:   4c 2d 5f 05 00 00 00 00 08 13
version:         01 03
basic params:    80 10 09 78 0a
chroma info:     ee 91 a3 54 4c 99 26 0f 50 54
established:     bf ef 80
standard:        81 00 95 00 95 0f a9 40 b3 00 81 80 71 4f 81 40
descriptor 1:    02 3a 80 18 71 38 2d 40 58 2c 45 00 a0 5a 00 00 00 1e
descriptor 2:    01 1d 00 72 51 d0 1e 20 6e 28 55 00 a0 5a 00 00 00 1e
descriptor 3:    00 00 00 fd 00 18 4b 1a 51 17 00 0a 20 20 20 20 20 20
descriptor 4:    00 00 00 fc 00 53 79 6e 63 4d 61 73 74 65 72 0a 20 20
extensions:      01
checksum:        fc

Manufacturer: SAM Model 55f Serial Number 0
Made week 8 of 2009
EDID version: 1.3
Digital display
Maximum image size: 16 cm x 9 cm
Gamma: 2.20
Supported color formats: RGB 4:4:4, YCrCb 4:2:2
First detailed timing is preferred timing
Established timings supported:
  720x400@70Hz
  640x480@60Hz
  640x480@67Hz
  640x480@72Hz
  640x480@75Hz
  800x600@56Hz
  800x600@60Hz
  800x600@72Hz
  800x600@75Hz
  832x624@75Hz
  1024x768@60Hz
  1024x768@70Hz
  1024x768@75Hz
  1280x1024@75Hz
  1152x870@75Hz
Standard timings supported:
  1280x800@60Hz
  1440x900@60Hz
  1440x900@75Hz
  1600x1200@60Hz
  1680x1050@60Hz
  1280x1024@60Hz
  1152x864@75Hz
  1280x960@60Hz
Detailed mode: Clock 148.500 MHz, 160 mm x 90 mm
               1920 2008 2052 2200 hborder 0
               1080 1084 1089 1125 vborder 0
               +hsync +vsync
Detailed mode: Clock 74.250 MHz, 160 mm x 90 mm
               1280 1390 1430 1650 hborder 0
                720  725  730  750 vborder 0
               +hsync +vsync
Monitor ranges (GTF): 24-75Hz V, 26-81kHz H, max dotclock 230MHz
Monitor name: SyncMaster
Has 1 extension blocks
Checksum: 0xfc (valid)

CEA extension block
Extension version: 3
25 bytes of CEA data
  Video data block
    VIC 16 1920x1080@60Hz (native)
    VIC 05 1920x1080i@60Hz
    VIC 34 1920x1080@30Hz
    VIC 04 1280x720@60Hz
    VIC 03 720x480@60Hz
  Audio data block
    Linear PCM, max channels 1
    Supported sample rates (kHz): 48 44.1 32
    Supported sample sizes (bits): 24 20 16
  Speaker allocation data block
  Extended tag: video capability data block
    YCbCr quantization: No Data (0)
    RGB quantization: No Data (0)
    PT scan behaviour: No Data (0)
    IT scan behaviour: Support both over- and underscan (3)
    CE scan behaviour: Support both over- and underscan (3)
  Vendor-specific data block, OUI 000c03 (HDMI)
    Source physical address 1.0.0.0
    Supports_AI
    DC_36bit
    DC_30bit
    DC_Y444
    Maximum TMDS clock: 225MHz
Underscans PC formats by default
Basic audio support
Supports YCbCr 4:4:4
Supports YCbCr 4:2:2
1 native detailed modes
Detailed mode: Clock 74.250 MHz, 160 mm x 90 mm
               1920 2008 2052 2200 hborder 0
                540  542  547  562 vborder 0
               +hsync +vsync interlaced
Detailed mode: Clock 74.250 MHz, 160 mm x 90 mm
               1280 1390 1430 1650 hborder 0
                720  725  730  750 vborder 0
               +hsync +vsync
Detailed mode: Clock 27.000 MHz, 0 mm x 0 mm
                720  736  798  858 hborder 0
                480  489  495  525 vborder 0
               -hsync -vsync
Checksum: 0xfb (valid)

ubuntu@tegra-ubuntu:~$

Here is our release of L4T:

ubuntu@tegra-ubuntu:~$ head -n 1 /etc/nv_tegra_release
# R19 (release), REVISION: 2.0, GCID: 3896695, BOARD: ardbeg, EABI: hard, DATE: Fri Apr 18 23:10:46 UTC 2014
ubuntu@tegra-ubuntu:~$

The nVidia installer directory was run as sudo.

Thanks for all your help so far.

For reference, if interested, you can paste the EDID into this URL and see your monitor’s capabilities:
http://www.edidreader.com

EDID Data from the get-edid outputs:

00 ff ff ff ff ff ff 00
4c 2d 5f 05 00 00 00 00 08 13
01 03
80 10 09 78 0a
ee 91 a3 54 4c 99 26 0f 50 54
bf ef 80
81 00 95 00 95 0f a9 40 b3 00 81 80 71 4f 81 40
02 3a 80 18 71 38 2d 40 58 2c 45 00 a0 5a 00 00 00 1e
01 1d 00 72 51 d0 1e 20 6e 28 55 00 a0 5a 00 00 00 1e
00 00 00 fd 00 18 4b 1a 51 17 00 0a 20 20 20 20 20 20
00 00 00 fc 00 53 79 6e 63 4d 61 73 74 65 72 0a 20 20
01
fc

Your monitor and the query of its abilities (the EDID reply) works correctly. If you go that URL you’ll see a section “Timing Bitmap”. Note that modes listed on the right are “standard” fallback timings, and the “X” on the left indicates if your monitor supports those standard modes. Other modes may exist. The parse-edid block you ran shows a list of all timings your monitor supports, plus a subset of that list which fall in the standard known timings (this monitor has quite a wide range of modes supported).

Your Jetson should be able to work correctly with this monitor and cable combination.

The current L4T release (from nv_tegra_release) is very old (R19.2 is the very first version used on a JTK1…somewhere in the neighborhood of 4 years ago or more). I can’t promise the display would work better under the current R21.5, but many things were improved, and I would suggest flashing to R21.5 before putting more time into it (it could be video will just work after that).

Note that the “NVIDIA-INSTALLER” step adds nVidia-specific driver support. Without that only text mode would work, and the install would be purely Ubuntu. Once running the NVIDIA-INSTALLER is complete hardware acceleration is added and it then becomes possible for graphics mode to work (this is also a prerequisite to CUDA install). If you choose to flash this step is included in the flash process (if using JetPack this is taken care of, if using command line flash.sh then the apply_binaries.sh step does this…JetPack is a front end for flash and other packages), so I’d recommend flash and see if it boots to graphical mode.

If you flash with JetPack your host must be Ubuntu 14. If you just use the command line flash any desktop type Linux 64-bit host will work. Choosing JetPack also allows some extra package install steps (JetPack merely runs the command line flash.sh followed by rebooting the Jetson and then using networking to install extra packages).