Ubuntu 11.10 minimal install - black screen

Discussions about using Linux guests in VirtualBox.
Icoo
Posts: 4
Joined: 28. Sep 2011, 22:49
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: Ubuntu

Ubuntu 11.10 minimal install - black screen

Post by Icoo »

So this is a problem I am having for a while now. When I try to install Ubuntu via the mini.iso the whole installation goes right except that it wont boot (start the command line) after...I just get a black screen with a white blinking _ in the left corner. Sometimes it shows the purple ubuntu bootloader screen before going black again but thats it. It happens with 3D enabled and with 3D disabled. I know my installation is ok because I have a WinXP guest system where 3D and everything is working fine. Any ideas?

Host: Ubuntu 10.04
Guest: Ubuntu 11.10 Minimal ISO
VBox version: 4.1.2 (via VBox PPA)
Last edited by Icoo on 28. Sep 2011, 23:13, edited 1 time in total.
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: Ubuntu 11.10 minimal install - black screen

Post by Perryg »

You say via vbox PPA, do you mean the launchpad PPA?
Regardless 11.10 more that likely will not work on anything lower than 4.1.2 and even then have issue. The next maintenance release will work better.
Icoo
Posts: 4
Joined: 28. Sep 2011, 22:49
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: Ubuntu

Re: Ubuntu 11.10 minimal install - black screen

Post by Icoo »

I get it from here (deb http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian lucid contrib non-free)...I just updated to 4.1.2 and its still not working (although I havent tried doing a fresh install)
Icoo
Posts: 4
Joined: 28. Sep 2011, 22:49
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: Ubuntu

Re: Ubuntu 11.10 minimal install - black screen

Post by Icoo »

I tried a fresh install of the mini.iso with Vbox 4.1.2...still nothing. The weird thing is that when I try to run the usual LiveCD ISO it just works...but I need a minimal system.

Can someone try the mini.iso so I know I am not alone on this (and just ahve to wait for a VBox fix)...

The ISO (Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric):

http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/ ... t/mini.iso
Sasquatch
Volunteer
Posts: 17798
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Primary OS: Debian other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows XP, Windows 7, Linux
Location: /dev/random

Re: Ubuntu 11.10 minimal install - black screen

Post by Sasquatch »

Hold down the left Shift key when the VM boots. Grub will now appear where you can select the OS or recovery. Press 'e' to edit the normal OS line and remove 'quiet splash' from the kernel parameter line so you will see the boot process (else, it will be very minimal on what you see). Then look at the lines a bit up, it's below recordfail. Change the following:

Code: Select all

set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
to
set gfxpayload=text
Your problem is the framebuffer Ubuntu is using. VB doesn't work well with it.

To make it permanent, edit /etc/default/grub and add the following:

Code: Select all

GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=text
Run update-grub as root. Now you will have your screen as it should.
Read the Forum Posting Guide before opening a topic.
VirtualBox FAQ: Check this before asking questions.
Online User Manual: A must read if you want to know what we're talking about.
Howto: Install Linux Guest Additions
Howto: Use Shared Folders on Linux Guest
See the Tutorials and FAQ section at the top of the Forum for more guides.
Try searching the forums first with Google and add the site filter for this forum.
E.g. install guest additions site:forums.virtualbox.org

Retired from this Forum since OSSO introduction.
Icoo
Posts: 4
Joined: 28. Sep 2011, 22:49
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: Ubuntu

Re: Ubuntu 11.10 minimal install - black screen

Post by Icoo »

Ok I did that...now the system hangs while initializing (when the big list with [OK] at the right of each entry appears)...my system stops at

* Stopping System V runlevel compatibility [OK]

and it doesnt move from that point on...the only entry that has failed is:

* Starting load fallback graphic devices [fail]

Any ideas? This loading graphics devices fail is probably my problem...
lassekongo83
Posts: 1
Joined: 3. Oct 2011, 13:31
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Ubuntu, ArchLinux, Fedora
Location: Sweden
Contact:

Re: Ubuntu 11.10 minimal install - black screen

Post by lassekongo83 »

It's just a simple bug in Ubuntu. I'm surprised that they haven't fixed it yet, it has been there since 10.10. Everything should work fine if you press ALT+F1 (or CTRL+ALT+F1.) It tries to boot into TTY7 which is bugged when there's no graphical login-manager installed. Switching to another TTY solves this so you can login normally.
ssantosh78
Posts: 3
Joined: 2. Sep 2011, 08:55
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: windows7

Re: Ubuntu 11.10 minimal install - black screen

Post by ssantosh78 »

i would suggest to go for new release of VirtualBOX i.e. 4.1.4 & Ubuntu 11.10 Beta2 Or wait for couple of days as Final release is on 13 Oct 2011.. There are no issues with Ubuntu 11.10 Beta2+ VirtualBox. Some users are facing issues with Ubuntu 11.10 Beta2+ Vmware workstation 8 i.e graphical user interface issue. Check below guide for more help..

http://www.mytricks.in/2011/10/guide-in ... ic-in.html

http://www.mytricks.in/2011/10/guide-in ... in_07.html
eriohm
Posts: 6
Joined: 25. Sep 2008, 20:27

Re: Ubuntu 11.10 minimal install - black screen

Post by eriohm »

I still have this problem with VBox 4.0.14 and Ubuntu Server 11.10. I have Mac OS X 10.6.8 as host OS.

I see the Ubuntu splash screen and then the screen goes black with a blinking _. However I can connect to the Ubuntu Server over SSH.
I have had this problem since I upgraded to Ubuntu Server 11.04.
eriohm
Posts: 6
Joined: 25. Sep 2008, 20:27

Re: Ubuntu 11.10 minimal install - black screen

Post by eriohm »

BUMP!
chrisinspace
Posts: 6
Joined: 18. Jan 2010, 16:37
Primary OS: Other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Ubuntu, Windows XP, Windows 2008, Debian, Puppy, CrunchBang
Location: Alexandria, VA

Re: Ubuntu 11.10 minimal install - black screen

Post by chrisinspace »

eriohm wrote:I see the Ubuntu splash screen and then the screen goes black with a blinking _. However I can connect to the Ubuntu Server over SSH. I have had this problem since I upgraded to Ubuntu Server 11.04.
I have the exact same problem. The only differences are that my host is Debian 6 (Squeeze) and I'm using VBox 4.1.6. I am running Ubuntu server as a guest. It was at version 10.10 and everything was fine. I upgraded to 11.04 and this problem began. I was able to SSH into the server, so I went ahead and upgraded to 11.10, but the issue persists. VBoxAdditions are installed and up to date.
deesto
Posts: 30
Joined: 6. Jan 2010, 19:12
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu, Windows XP

Re: Ubuntu 11.10 minimal install - black screen

Post by deesto »

I had a similar problem with the previous VB version when upgrading my Ubuntu 11.04 VM guest to 11.11. I eventually got past that with a /var/[run|lock] trick and by repeating the installation a few times. Then it was running fine again for a while, until yesterday, when I upgraded VB from 4.1.4 to 4.1.6, rebooted the host, tried to fire up the guest VM, and now I'm back at the black screen after grub loads.
deesto
Posts: 30
Joined: 6. Jan 2010, 19:12
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu, Windows XP

Re: Ubuntu 11.10 minimal install - black screen

Post by deesto »

I just booted my broken VM with an Ubuntu 11.10 64-bit ISO mounted, and got the following error:
This kernel requires an x86-64 CPU, but only detected an i686 CPU.
Unable to boot - please use a kernel appropriate for your CPU.
This is certainly peculiar, as this _was_ a 64-bit Ubuntu VM before I upgraded VirtualBox to 4.1.6. What would make the Ubuntu Live CD think the VB guest was 32-bit?
Perryg
Site Moderator
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Re: Ubuntu 11.10 minimal install - black screen

Post by Perryg »

No VT-x/AMD-v in the bios. (hardware virtualization)
deesto
Posts: 30
Joined: 6. Jan 2010, 19:12
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu, Windows XP

Re: Ubuntu 11.10 minimal install - black screen

Post by deesto »

Perryg wrote:No VT-x/AMD-v in the bios. (hardware virtualization)
Doh! Thanks Perry. You're right: I'd done a BIOS upgrade and I guess the default is to disable virtualization.

For anyone else having trouble: try downloading and booting your VM from a live ISO, and then mount and poke around in your VM disk for clues: logs, etc.
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