[Fix] System doesn’t boot, boots to a black screen, or stops at a message

[jonathon]

Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆

Original author in old forum was @jonathon

While there are many potential reasons why your Manjaro installation doesn’t boot to a desktop, the primary reason is that the graphics drivers haven’t loaded correctly so your login/display manager (DM) doesn’t start. This is why you get a “black screen” or stuck at an

[   OK   ] Started some service

message.

The normal reason for this is that you have the incorrect driver version for the kernel. This happens when the mirror you are updating from is not fully synchronised and so has different sets of packages in [core] and [extra]. This means the driver extramodule package in [extra] has been built for a different kernel point-release than that in [core].

The first thing to try

Switch to a text console with CTRL+ALT+F2, log in with your normal username and password, then run a full update:

sudo pacman-mirrors -f3
sudo pacman -Syyu

The first command will refresh your mirror list, picking three of the most recently updated mirrors (so those mirrors will all be up-to-date).

The second command will force a download of the current package lists, then perform an update if any updated packages are available.

If any packages were updated, reboot.

Note: If you can’t log in to a text console, use a chroot instead.

The second thing to try

Log into a text console as above and run startx . This should either start X, in which case the issue lies with your Display Manager (e.g. GDM, LightDM, SDDM), OR you will be presented with some output and returned to the console. Of particular interest are Error (EE) lines.

If you can’t see anything obvious

If neither approach helps fix this issue (which the first one will in 90% of cases) then search the forum (https://forum.manjaro.org/search?q=black%20screen), and, if you can’t find anything, start a new thread mentioning what you have already tried.

If you want more detailed instructions

Read this thread:

[Fix] Can’t login - black screen & chroot guide

Original author on old forum @AlManja If you are stuck and you can’t log into your system, use one of these steps below. They are sorted from easiest at the top. Start with the first step and if it doesn’t work, try with the next one and so on… Once you get access to the system, then proceed with updating the system or installing/removing packages, checking log files… Steps (you only need one) are: log to tty terminal boot without X chroot auto (with manjaro-chroot) chroot (with manjaro-chro…

[pixel]

I had black screen after install of kernel 5.8 and 5.9rc. But I discovered it was due to nvidia. Reference:

[Nvidia] Deprecation of 340xx driver series

[image] We had a good run with Nvidia 340xx driver series. However, at some point also we have to drop that driver. With Manjaro 19.0 release we will remove that driver from mhwd-db. This means the driver won’t be recommended or detected by our distro by default. 340.108 was the last release by Nvidia to support X 1.20 and Kernel 5.4. As soon as there is an update to X that driver is gone. poll

Can't login to 5.8.6-1, no problem with 5.7.19 -2

For me it is with kernel 5.9 and Nvidia 450 drivers - the missing firmware for xhci error msg i get on every machine, but my nvidia (gtx970) machine just boots to a black screen. no log entries or something. but everything is fine with kernel 5.8 for me (fresh manjaro 20.1 kde install) my intel laptop and intel nuc are working fine with kernel 5.9. seems like a nvidia problem, yes.

and
https://forum.manjaro.org/t/how-to-set-automatically-xorg-with-free-driver-for-nvidia/26949/7
I hope it will help in some cases. Now I am able to run 5.9 with free driver.

[nkpro]

I solved the issue by reinstall NVIDIA Drivers.

1. Remove the NVIDIA driver by entering the following command into your terminal:
   sudo mhwd -r pci video-nvidia

2. Reboot your computer

3. Enter the following into your terminal:
   sudo gedit /etc/mkinitcpio.conf

4. delete the word nouveau from the following line:
   MODULES=" nouveau"
   It should now look like this (i.e. keep the speech marks ("")):
   MODULES=""

5. Save and close the file.

6. It is now necessary to reconfigure your existing kernel to take into account this change. The syntax of the necessary command to enter into your terminal is:
   sudo mkinitcpio -p [linux kernel version]
   For example, if you are currently using Kernel 5.10, you would enter the following:
   sudo mkinitcpio -p linux510

7. Now re-install the NVIDIA driver by entering the following command into your terminal:
   sudo mhwd -a pci nonfree 0300

8. Reboot your system. Now it should work

https://wiki.manjaro.org/index.php/Configure_NVIDIA_(non-free)_settings_and_load_them_on_Startup#Troubleshooting:_X-Server_Failed_to_Start_and_Install

[leoleonardomartinez]

Sorry but before install manjaro with gnome, I’m not access show black screen and not create user and password

try with root/manjaro and manjaro/manjaro
and nothing

[ducky]

You are a lifesaver, this worked without a hitch!

Just a heads up though, not everyone is going to have gedit installed. A better alternative would be to use vim, even tough in my case it was completely unnecessary since I didn’t have to do step 4.

[xypherhead]

The post doesn’t mention how to proceed with the issue corresponding to

This should either start X, in which case the issue lies with your Display Manager (e.g. GDM, LightDM, SDDM)

I am currently able to boot into my system using startx via tty but the login page GUI is still stuck. I’d like to get some help on that part. Also, newbie here, if you feel this needs to be raised as a separate question post entirely. Thank you.

[Fate]

Not everyone has vim installed as well. Nano is in manjaro by default however as a gnu tool.