Ubuntu 12.10 boots into blank screen with mouse pointer

try this in terminal

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Thanks
~Jeet

Hi Jeet,

I tried that without success:

voellenk@voellenk-T430s:~$ sudo apt-get update
voellenk@voellenk-T430s:~$ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.

note that I use the most recent version of Ubuntu -12.10. So what's the point of dist-upgrade?

voellenk@voellenk-T430s:~$ uname -a
Linux voellenk-T430s 3.5.0-17-generic #28-Ubuntu SMP Tue Oct 9 19:31:23 UTC 2012 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

What is the output of:

sudo lshw -C display

Thanks

voellenk@voellenk-T430s:~$ sudo lshw -C display
  *-display
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
       version: 09
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
       resources: irq:45 memory:d0000000-d03fffff memory:c0000000-cfffffff ioport:5000(size=64)

In another thread I read about a suggestion to use the boot parameter "nomodeset". I tried to boot Linux with this additional kernel parameter, but the result was a empty purple screen, and I could not even switch to a console with <alt><ctrl><f2> etc. I had to power off the laptop and boot again (into the black screen with mouse pointer). One funny side effect is that the mouse pointer remains movable even in the "text" mode that is accessed by <alt><ctrl><f2>

Same thing happens to me, exactly the same behaviour.
Sometimes it takes a few reboots until log screen appears (started happening in 12.10)
Opening a different tty I can login to command line properly and everything seems to be working fine, so it seems only a graphical issue.
My output of lswh -C display:
  *-display
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
       version: 09
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
       resources: irq:43 memory:d0000000-d03fffff memory:c0000000-cfffffff ioport:6000(size=64)

Thanks,
Pablo

Same problem here with similar specs.

12.10 (64bit), Intel I7 Ivy Bridge with HD4000, 64GB SSD.

If I play around with the keyboard (random keys) long enough lightdm will eventually appear.

I can also go back and forth CTRL+ALT+F1 <---> F7 into a terminal but still doesn't load.

Completely new install with full updates. I also noticed that in Software Sources all the ticks are checked (main, universe, restricted and multiverse). Is this normal for a default install?

$ sudo lshw -C display
  *-display
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: Xeon E3-1200 v2/3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
       version: 09
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
       resources: irq:53 memory:f7800000-f7bfffff memory:e0000000-efffffff ioport:f000(size=64)

Exact same issue here - right down to 12.10, 64bit, T430 with SSD and 8GB ram (though Core i5 processor).

This is highly annoying.

Same issue here. Just went from windows 7 to 12.10 64 bit. (notice 32 is reccomended but my system is 64) More often than not loads into blank grey screen with movable curser arrow. but will not load or power down without pressing a hidden reset button inside computer. Computer is a Samsung laptop Model # NP-QX411 with Intel core i5 processor.
Also, briteness buttons do not work - can adjust with system backlight control but it always reverts back to full brightness.

Same issue here. I did a fresh install of Ubuntu 12.10 and all was working fine until a recent update (30-12-2012).

sudo lshw -C display
  *-display
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: Xeon E3-1200 v2/3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
       version: 09
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
       resources: irq:44 memory:f7800000-f7bfffff memory:e0000000-efffffff ioport:f000(size=64)

The upgraded/installed packages :
2012-11-30 08:23:09 install linux-image-3.5.0-19-generic:amd64 <none> 3.5.0-19.30
2012-11-30 08:23:11 install linux-image-extra-3.5.0-19-generic:amd64 <none> 3.5.0-19.30
2012-11-30 08:22:55 upgrade coreutils:amd64 8.13-3.2ubuntu2 8.13-3.2ubuntu2.1
2012-11-30 08:22:58 upgrade perl:amd64 5.14.2-13 5.14.2-13ubuntu0.1
2012-11-30 08:22:58 upgrade libperl5.14:amd64 5.14.2-13 5.14.2-13ubuntu0.1
2012-11-30 08:22:58 upgrade perl-base:amd64 5.14.2-13 5.14.2-13ubuntu0.1
2012-11-30 08:23:01 upgrade perl-modules:all 5.14.2-13 5.14.2-13ubuntu0.1
2012-11-30 08:23:01 upgrade libapt-pkg4.12:amd64 0.9.7.5ubuntu5 0.9.7.5ubuntu5.1
2012-11-30 08:23:03 upgrade apt:amd64 0.9.7.5ubuntu5 0.9.7.5ubuntu5.1
2012-11-30 08:23:05 upgrade libapt-inst1.5:amd64 0.9.7.5ubuntu5 0.9.7.5ubuntu5.1
2012-11-30 08:23:05 upgrade google-chrome-stable:amd64 23.0.1271.91-r167501 23.0.1271.95-r169798
2012-11-30 08:23:08 upgrade libgtk-3-bin:amd64 3.6.0-0ubuntu3.1 3.6.0-0ubuntu3.2
2012-11-30 08:23:08 upgrade libgail-3-0:amd64 3.6.0-0ubuntu3.1 3.6.0-0ubuntu3.2
2012-11-30 08:23:09 upgrade libgtk-3-0:amd64 3.6.0-0ubuntu3.1 3.6.0-0ubuntu3.2
2012-11-30 08:23:09 upgrade libgtk-3-common:all 3.6.0-0ubuntu3.1 3.6.0-0ubuntu3.2
2012-11-30 08:23:10 upgrade apt-utils:amd64 0.9.7.5ubuntu5 0.9.7.5ubuntu5.1
2012-11-30 08:23:11 upgrade apt-transport-https:amd64 0.9.7.5ubuntu5 0.9.7.5ubuntu5.1
2012-11-30 08:23:11 upgrade gir1.2-gtk-3.0:amd64 3.6.0-0ubuntu3.1 3.6.0-0ubuntu3.2
2012-11-30 08:23:11 upgrade libboost-date-time1.49.0:amd64 1.49.0-3.1ubuntu1 1.49.0-3.1ubuntu1.1
2012-11-30 08:23:15 upgrade linux-image-generic:amd64 3.5.0.18.21 3.5.0.19.22
2012-11-30 08:23:15 upgrade linux-libc-dev:amd64 3.5.0-18.29 3.5.0-19.30

I recommend you install xfce4 and you will have a working desktop til you can get the OS squared off.

Just found a workaround from comment on issue : https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/libdrm/+bug/982889/comments/5

>
>A workaround is to add some sleep to /etc/init/lightdm.conf:
>
> sleep 10
> exec lightdm
>

This worked for me. Xubuntu was erratically booting - occasionally it would work, sometimes I would end up in tty1 normally (could start lightdm normally), sometimes in tty1 with a mouse pointer (had to killall -9 Xorg to start lightdm)

Setup:

Xubuntu 12.10 64 bit
dell E5420

sudo lshw -C display
  *-display
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
       version: 09
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
       resources: irq:45 memory:e1c00000-e1ffffff memory:d0000000-dfffffff ioport:7000(size=64)

Same issue. It started with a new software update which looks like updates kernel. Very annoying issue as it does not happen always but happens most of the times. This works "killall -9 Xorg"

=====
sudo lshw -C display
  *-display
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
       version: 09
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
       resources: irq:44 memory:f0000000-f03fffff memory:e0000000-efffffff ioport:4000(size=64)
=====

I appreciate any fix for this issue as its quite annoying to kill Xorg everytime I reboot my laptop.

I can confirm the same issue with the 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller, since the software update on 15-2-13.

I have this problem on a new installation of unbuntu 12.10 64bit .

I may get a blank screen if I try to switch user or restart my pc .I've also noticed that when I restart my pc (even) from my admin account into buts into a normal user account .

I have a similar related problem when I use laptop Dell E6230 in docking station with laptop display together with two other screens is enabled. With windows booted it works, could it be problem with useing the shared memory, becourse it is only 64mb real graphics memory available...

  *-display
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
       version: 09
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
       resources: irq:43 memory:f6400000-f67fffff memory:e0000000-efffffff ioport:f000(size=64)

I have same issue here guys, but I was helding my fingure on Power button till the power gone! then I switched on my pc pressing Enter and finally I'm on the sys after upgrading to Gnome3 but things have changed unlikely the way I imagined to see...

Every time I use this trick and I know it's not a solution or something, but it works!!!

Any help with that so I don't have to make this stupid thing again to work on this dist. ?

Same problem here. Right now I'm switching to a terminal (ctrl-shift-F1), and doing "killall Xorg", which immediately brings me back to the login screen. Any one have a "real" solution?

Same problem here. ThinkPad T430s with SSD, Ubuntu 13.04.

Same problem here with Thinkpad X1 Carbon running 13.04.