How to fix a black screen when installing Qubes 4.1.1, due to an AMD 6800 XT (or similar) GPU revisions

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Revision #3

Edited on
2023-09-07
Edited by user
deeplow

Revision #2

Edited on
2022-10-13
Edited by user
homeliss
I'm sharing how I fixed a black screen during install, due to the 6800XT graphics card, to hopefully save someone else the many hours it took me. The problem: - USB install (version 4.1.1) > GRUB menu > black screen with cursor in upper left, never reaches installer - The official troubleshooting pages on editing boot options were out of date and didn't apply to 4.1.1 - Tried all the UEFI + legacy mode configs in BIOS, bought a new USB, but it turns out none of that was needed! How to fix: I was getting a black screen during install. The GRUB menu loaded fine, but after selecting an install option I got a black screen (with a cursor in upper right) and never reached the installer. I spent hours trying the following: - Official troubleshooting pages were out of date and didn't apply to 4.1.1. - I tried all the UEFI + legacy mode configs in BIOS - Bought a new USB It turns out none of that was needed though! All you need is to add an option while in the GRUB menu. **How to fix:**
After install: **After install:**
What is `nomodeset`? **What is `nomodeset`?**
The newest kernels have moved the video mode setting into the kernel. So all the programming of the hardware specific clock rates and registers on the video card happen in the kernel rather than in the X driver when the X server starts.. This makes it possible to have high resolution nice looking splash (boot) screens and flicker free transitions from boot splash to login screen. Unfortunately, on some cards this doesnt work properly and you end up with a black screen. Adding the nomodeset parameter instructs the kernel to not load video drivers and use BIOS modes instead until X is loaded. The newest kernels have moved the video mode setting into the kernel. So all the programming of the hardware specific clock rates and registers on the video card happen in the kernel rather than in the X driver when the X server starts.. This makes it possible to have high resolution nice looking splash (boot) screens and flicker free transitions from boot splash to login screen. Unfortunately, on some cards this doesnt work properly and you end up with a black screen. Adding the nomodeset parameter instructs the kernel to not load video drivers and use BIOS modes instead until X is loaded.
Credits: **Credits:**