[SOLVED] Nvidia driver messes up screen resolution for X11

[joneall]

I installed the Nvidia driver under Neon.

Now I have a real mess. It's as if the screen resolution were on some very low value. If I look in system settings or the nvidia conf editor, it says 1920x1200, which is correct. But all the windows are huge as are the characters on the bars above them. Curiously, tho, this page on Firefox looks fine, except for the X11-generated window bar at the top. Thunderbird, tho, looks like ... garbage, as does Chrome.

I tried deleting /etc/X11/xorg.conf and rebooting, but the system did not even build a new one and the problem persists.

The system is unusable in this state. Any urgent help appreciated.

Here's the contents of xorg.conf, if that is any help:

# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings: version 361.42 (buildd@lgw01-18) Tue Apr 5 14:33:28 UTC 2016

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Layout0"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
Option "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
# generated from default
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
# generated from default
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
# HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "Samsung SyncMaster"
HorizSync 27.0 - 81.0
VertRefresh 50.0 - 60.0
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Device0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
BoardName "GeForce GT 740"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Device0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
Option "Stereo" "0"
Option "nvidiaXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-1"
Option "metamodes" "nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
Option "SLI" "Off"
Option "MultiGPU" "Off"
Option "BaseMosaic" "off"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

I'm running KDE neon LTS 5.8 with an Nvidia GK107 [GeForce GT 740] graphics card.

I originally posted this under a different title, then moved it here. Sorry for any confusion.

[joneall]

I tried checking

Force fonts DPI 96

in system settings > fonts. The fonts are almost normal now, but the login screen is still a mess, so that is not the best solution. Plus, in Konsole, my cursor is 3 steps ahead of what I type, by which I mean that there are three blanks at the end of the line before the cursor, which is really weird. Makes it practically impossible to backspace and correct typos.

I may have to remove nvidia and go back to occasional crashes (nouveau 0000:01:00.0: fifo: SCHED_ERROR 0a [CTXSW_TIMEOUT]).

[stephen46710]

Hi,

you should be using the "nvidia-375" package according to the Nvidia drivers website!, (see supported products):

http://www.geforce.com/drivers/results/114708

If you can get into recovery mode (a network cable connection is required!), first go to "network" and then "root" and enter the following command:

sudo apt-get remove nvidia-361 && sudo apt-get install nvidia-375

Restart with Ctrl + Alt + Del, do not click on resume!.

[joneall]

Thanks for your reply. However, I don't understand, because 375 is what I installed.

$ dpkg -l nvidia-361
dpkg-query: no packages found matching nvidia-361
$ dpkg -l nvidia-375
Desired=Unknown/Install/Remove/Purge/Hold
| Status=Not/Inst/Conf-files/Unpacked/halF-conf/Half-inst/trig-aWait/Trig-pend
|/ Err?=(none)/Reinst-required (Status,Err: uppercase=bad)
||/ Name Version Architecture Description
+++-=======================-================-================-================================================== ==
ii nvidia-375 375.39-0ubuntu0. amd64 NVIDIA binary driver - version 375.39

Why is xorg.conf still talking about 361?

[oshunluvr]

xorg.conf isn't used by default anymore and putting settings there will work, until you upgrade your driver and then the file will be deleted. The "proper" way to pass settings to xorg is in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ and then use various .conf files to represent the former sections, like "device.conf" for your device section, etc.

Your log in screen isn't controlled by xorg, it's controlled by sddm. You could try editing /etc/init/sddm.conf and adding:

ServerArguments=-nolisten tcp -geometry 1920x1200 -dpi 96

Since you didn't post any log files, I would guess the issue is being caused by your monitor not being properly detected or EDID is missing or incorrect. This would explain most of what you're seeing. Try posting the output of xrandr and install the package "read-edid", then in the console type "sudo get-edid |parse-edid" and it will display what your monitor is showing to the system.

Also, another way to get these things fixed is to use xrandr to correct mis-shapen video.

As far as the cursor problem - likely being caused by the video issues so fix the resolution first.

[oshunluvr]

Thanks for your reply. However, I don't understand, because 375 is what I installed.

$ dpkg -l nvidia-361
dpkg-query: no packages found matching nvidia-361
$ dpkg -l nvidia-375
Desired=Unknown/Install/Remove/Purge/Hold
| Status=Not/Inst/Conf-files/Unpacked/halF-conf/Half-inst/trig-aWait/Trig-pend
|/ Err?=(none)/Reinst-required (Status,Err: uppercase=bad)
||/ Name Version Architecture Description
+++-=======================-================-================-================================================== ==
ii nvidia-375 375.39-0ubuntu0. amd64 NVIDIA binary driver - version 375.39

Why is xorg.conf still talking about 361?

Here's the contents of xorg.conf, if that is any help:

# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings: version 361.42 (buildd@lgw01-18) Tue Apr 5 14:33:28 UTC 2016

Your xorg.conf is being created by nvidia-settings, not the driver. Install nvidia-settings 375. You should also check the output of dkms status to be sure your driver is properly installed. Xorg errors and warnings are in /var/log/Xorg.0.log at every boot.

[stephen46710]

Also, on the following line:

|/ Err?=(none)/Reinst-required (Status,Err: uppercase=bad)

it looks like it is saying you need to re-install the drivers? (I might be reading that wrong?).

[oshunluvr]

Also, on the following line:

|/ Err?=(none)/Reinst-required (Status,Err: uppercase=bad)

it looks like it is saying you need to re-install the drivers? (I might be reading that wrong?).

No, that output looks normal to me. It's the last line you have to read, the rest is just explanations of what you might see. At the beginning of the last line, "ii " means "install", "installed" and the third character is blank, meaning no errors. See "man dpkg-query" for a full description.

[FONT=monospace][COLOR=#000000]The first three columns of the output show the desired action, the package status, and errors, in that order.[/COLOR]

          Desired action:
            u = Unknown
            i = Install
            h = Hold
            r = Remove
            p = Purge

          Package status:
            n = Not-installed
            c = Config-files
            H = Half-installed
            U = Unpacked
            F = Half-configured
            W = Triggers-awaiting
            t = Triggers-pending
            i = Installed

          Error flags:
            <empty> = (none)
            R = Reinst-required

          An uppercase status or error letter indicates the package is likely to cause severe problems. Please refer to  [COLOR=#000000][B]dpkg[/B][/COLOR][COLOR=#000000](1)  for  information  about  the[/COLOR]
          above states and flags.
[/FONT]

[stephen46710]

HI oshunluvr,

this part of your post is what I meant. (The last bit of what I posted: !|/ Err?=(none)/Reinst-required (Status,Err: uppercase=bad)").

"An uppercase status or error letter indicates the package is likely to cause severe problems"

Maybe try the following terminal command?:

sudo apt-get remove nvidia-375 && sudo apt-get install nvidia-375

Another way is to go into recovery mode and activate network (network cable connection required) and then run "dpkg" and restart with Ctrl + Alt + Del (Don't click on resume!).

[joneall]

Hi,

you should be using the "nvidia-375" package according to the Nvidia drivers website!, (see supported products):

http://www.geforce.com/drivers/results/114708

If you can get into recovery mode (a network cable connection is required!), first go to "network" and then "root" and enter the following command:

sudo apt-get remove nvidia-361 && sudo apt-get install nvidia-375

Restart with Ctrl + Alt + Del, do not click on resume!.

Are you telling me you cannot install the Nvidia driver under X11? But that is what I have always done, before now with the system graphical driver tool, yesterday by line commands.

[joneall]

Thanks for your help, everybody.

Here is xrandr:

$ xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 8 x 8, current 1920 x 1200, maximum 16384 x 16384
VGA-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DVI-D-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-0 connected primary 1920x1200+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 160mm x 90mm
1920x1200 59.95*+
1920x1080 60.00 59.94 50.00 60.05 60.00 50.04
1680x1050 59.95
1600x1200 60.00
1440x900 59.89
1280x1024 60.02
1280x960 60.00
1280x800 59.81
1280x720 60.00 59.94 50.00
1024x768 60.00
800x600 60.32 56.25
720x576 50.00
720x480 59.94
640x480 59.94
DVI-D-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y ax

The odd-ball alignment is what I see. Any display with columns, such as "ls -l", has the columns all skewed.

Here is read-edid.

1$ sudo get-edid |parse-edid
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 3
No EDID on bus 4
No EDID on bus 5
No EDID on bus 6
No EDID on bus 7
No EDID on bus 9
1 potential busses found: 8
256-byte EDID successfully retrieved from i2c bus 8
Looks like i2c was successful. Have a good day.
Checksum Correct

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "SyncMaster"
ModelName "SyncMaster"
VendorName "SAM"
# Monitor Manufactured week 31 of 2008
# EDID version 1.3
# Digital Display
DisplaySize 160 90
Gamma 2.60
Option "DPMS" "true"
Horizsync 27-81
VertRefresh 50-60
# Maximum pixel clock is 170MHz
#Not giving standard mode: 1600x1200, 60Hz
#Not giving standard mode: 1280x1024, 60Hz
#Not giving standard mode: 1280x960, 60Hz
#Not giving standard mode: 1280x800, 60Hz
#Not giving standard mode: 1440x900, 60Hz
#Not giving standard mode: 1680x1050, 60Hz

#Extension block found. Parsing...
Modeline "Mode 10" 74.25 1280 1390 1430 1650 720 725 730 750 +hsync +vsync
Modeline "Mode 0" 154.00 1920 1968 2000 2080 1200 1203 1209 1235 +hsync -vsync
Modeline "Mode 1" 148.50 1920 2008 2052 2200 1080 1084 1089 1125 +hsync +vsync
Modeline "Mode 2" 148.500 1920 2008 2052 2200 1080 1084 1089 1125 +hsync +vsync
Modeline "Mode 3" 148.500 1920 2448 2492 2640 1080 1084 1089 1125 +hsync +vsync
Modeline "Mode 4" 74.250 1920 2008 2052 2200 1080 1082 1087 1125 +hsync +vsync interlace
Modeline "Mode 5" 74.250 1920 2448 2492 2640 1080 1082 1089 1125 +hsync +vsync interlace
Modeline "Mode 6" 74.250 1280 1390 1420 1650 720 725 730 750 +hsync +vsync
Modeline "Mode 7" 74.250 1280 1720 1760 1980 720 725 730 750 +hsync +vsync
Modeline "Mode 8" 27.027 720 736 798 858 480 489 495 525 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "Mode 9" 27.000 720 732 796 864 576 581 586 625 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "Mode 11" 74.25 1280 1720 1760 1980 720 725 730 750 +hsync +vsync
Modeline "Mode 12" 74.25 1920 2008 2052 2200 540 542 547 562 +hsync +vsync interlace
Modeline "Mode 13" 74.25 1920 2448 2492 2640 540 542 547 562 +hsync +vsync interlace
Option "PreferredMode" "Mode 10"
EndSection

I don't know what it is supposed to say, but it does find the screen type (Samsung Syncmaster) correctly. I wonder, tho, about that line

DisplaySize 160 90

What does that mean? And then

1$ dkms status
bbswitch, 0.8, 4.4.0-66-generic, x86_64: installed
nvidia-375, 375.39, 4.4.0-66-generic, x86_64: installed

and

1$ dpkg -l nvidia-375
Desired=Unknown/Install/Remove/Purge/Hold
| Status=Not/Inst/Conf-files/Unpacked/halF-conf/Half-inst/trig-aWait/Trig-pend
|/ Err?=(none)/Reinst-required (Status,Err: uppercase=bad)
||/ Name Version Architecture Description
+++-=======================-================-================-================================================== ==
ii nvidia-375 375.39-0ubuntu0. amd64 NVIDIA binary driver - version 375.39

No capital letters.

[joneall]

I forgot to mention that the logon screen is back to normal. But the Konsole borders on unusable.

Should I remove/purge and reinstall driver-375?

Thanks for your input.

[oshunluvr]

HI oshunluvr,

this part of your post is what I meant. (The last bit of what I posted: !|/ Err?=(none)/Reinst-required (Status,Err: uppercase=bad)").

"An uppercase status or error letter indicates the package is likely to cause severe problems"

I'm sorry Stephen I guess I didn't explain well enough. That message that you keep referring to above is NOT saying that he needs to re-install. On the contrary, it's saying it was installed and there are NO errors regarding the package installation.

The bit you posted again that I have quote above is an INFORMATION string explaining how to read the last line of the output. The last line of the output is the ONLY line showing actual status information of the package that has been queried. Here is the query output from my system on my nvidia driver:

[FONT=monospace]
Desired=Unknown/Install/Remove/Purge/Hold
| Status=Not/Inst/Conf-files/Unpacked/halF-conf/Half-inst/trig-aWait/Trig-pend
|/ Err?=(none)/Reinst-required (Status,Err: uppercase=bad)
||/ Name                                Version                Architecture           Description
+++-===================================-======================-======================-============================================================================
ii  nvidia-378                          378.13-0ubuntu0~gpu16. amd64                  NVIDIA binary driver - version 378.13
[/FONT]

The first three lines above EXPLAIN the meaning of the the first three LETTERS of the last line.

The first "i" in the last line above means an install was DESIRED of the package. Thus the first info line is labeled "Desired="
The second "i" in the last line above means the STATUS of the package is installed. Thus the second info line is labeled "Status="
The third character in the last line above is blank. This means NO ERRORS. Thus the third info line is labeled "Err?=". Also note this last info line states "uppercase=bad". None of the first three characters in the first line are uppercase. Therefore nothing is "bad"

If you are still unclear as to what I am trying to explain, please open a terminal and type "man dpkg-query" to read the full help file.

[oshunluvr]

I forgot to mention that the logon screen is back to normal. But the Konsole borders on unusable.

Should I remove/purge and reinstall driver-375?

Thanks for your input.

Joneall, see the above post. I do not believe a reinstall is necessary or will help anything. BTW, the "dkms status" output is good. "installed" means the nvidia driver is present in the kernel so the installation went fine. Again, no need to re-install.

Looking through your output above I see two problems:

DisplaySize 160 90

and

Option "PreferredMode" "Mode 10"

Unless your monitor is 6.2 inches (160mm) by 3.5 inches (90mm) that DisplaySize is way off.
The second line above refers to the Modes. The two important ones are:

Modeline "Mode 10" 74.25 1280 1390 1430 1650 720 725 730 750 +hsync +vsync
Modeline "Mode 0" 154.00 1920 1968 2000 2080 1200 1203 1209 1235 +hsync -vsync

The numbers in bold are the important piece. Mode 10 is 1280x720 and Mode 0 is 1920x1200. Your system is claiming Mode 10 is preferred. Obviously, this is wrong.

Either your monitor has incorrect EDID information or Xorg is reading it wrong. Could be a bad HDMI cable or just bad luck. If you have another cable, swap it and try the get-edid thing again. You could also try and install nvidia-378 which is the newest driver. Likely the answer will be to correct xorg. The best way to do this IMO is to create a file in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ named "monitor.conf" and put this in it:

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "HDMI-0"
DisplaySize 520 290
Option "DPMS" "true"
[COLOR=#3E3E3E] Modeline "1920x1200" 154.00 1920 1968 2000 2080 1200 1203 1209 1235 +hsync -vsync [/COLOR]
EndSection

In theory, this will fix it.
The DisplaySize above is my 24" monitor. I couldn't find good measurements of yours online but you can measure it yourself or look for someone else's posted xorg.conf files. Xorg should - once it has the size and resolution correct - correctly set the DPI. If not, we can fix that too.

[stephen46710]

Thanks for the info oshunluvr.