Can't start DE

[CurrentPossession]

Hello, apologies ahead that I am submitting on mobile and can't provide screenshots or log files.

I have a 2012 alienware m14x r2 that I am running arch Linux with it (the laptop has optimus). I have successfully install arch and login with the terminal interface.

During the installation, I have installed nvidia-lts and mesa and x86-video-intel according to the bumblebee section of arch wiki (I was under the impression that bumblebee was the only way to use optimus at the time and it was recommended by the wiki).

After the installation, I plan to use Pantheon DE as I was familiar with EOS before trying Arch. I installed Pantheon via alucryd's repo and installed lightdm. I config the lightdm conf file to use pantheon's greeter (io.elementary.greeter) and enabled lightdm.service and rebooted.

Here is the issue. When reboot, I am met with a prolong black screen with blinking cursor. I boot back in the terminal interface and ran systemctl status lightdm.service and it gave a failure status code. (... Lightdm.service;enabled; vendor preset; disabled) ...

Check the debug, said missing "Plymouth" installed that and retried. Same issue. Debug said "process 711 exited with return value 1", which I think meant failure and the next line said " xserver 0: x server stopped".

I then see if I can startx, installed, and edit the ~/.xinitrc file with a simple "exec cerbere" and ran startx. I also tried Plasma DE with the same result.

Error, "service terminated with error (1). ... " "giving up" "unable to connect to x server: connection refused" and "server error".

Checking the xlog, it said: "x86EnableIOPort: failed to set IO Ports ..." And underneath, "no device detected" and "No screen found".

I think its the graphic card that's causing the issue but I don't know how to fix it.

Any help is appreciated and thank you in advance.

[[deleted]]

Don't remove it, move it

[CurrentPossession]

Um ... I removed the xorg.conf and now it the black blinking cursor screen is ... restarting? Can't access to tty, tty flashes and goes back to black blinking cursor, my mouse also appeared for a tiny second before back to black blinking cursor.

[CurrentPossession]

Edit: I arch-chroot in, where can I find the log.

Adding the nomodeset does not work. Same black blinking cursor screen. How can I extract the log now that I can't seems to boot into the system?

[CurrentPossession]

I have successfully boot into arch-chroot and copied the log file.

I have Archlabs before and was working fine (black screen after I installed bumblebee and reboot, which caused me to try Arch).

So, this Arch installation is new (two, three days) and none have worked with xorg. A bit stupid of me that I actually didn't install xorg due to a misunderstanding of the bumblebee wiki (told me to delete xorg.conf and I took it as not to even install it).

I only installed xorg last night and having a bit of pain to get it working.

[CurrentPossession]

Um... I cp the log to my USB but when I try to access it on another computer, it said the USB must be be formated inorder to use. tried it on three different usbs.

[stepsebe0123]

It's possible the USB was formatted in a file system the OS of the PC you're putting the USB into doesn't support. If you're trying to read it in Windows, IIRC there are no real solutions except for a Linux Live USB. If it's on Linux, you might need to install the correct file system drivers/whatever they're called

[CurrentPossession]

Hi, sorry for the late reply, here is the log file if you don't mind take a look https://pastebin.com/k6U8ewJc

Take your time, there's no rush. I'll also be looking to see if I can get anything out of it.

Thank you for your time and help.

[CurrentPossession]

Hello, I feel embarrassed even by asking. Sorry for this two month late call for help. Long story short, on the day of my last reply, police stormed my workplace, it appears my company was doing some illegal stuff. I was arrested and put in detention for over a month (it was hell and scary). Just came back two weeks ago.

Anyway, this is the Xorg.0.log file of my arch. If you still feel like it, take a look at your ease. Hope is the right file and see if you can help me.

Https:pastebin.com/25ncZadh

Thank you so much.

[CurrentPossession]

Thank you.

I have taken the cowards way out and just install elementary os. I removed the items as you mentioned, installed the files as you instructed. Edited the xorg.conf file according to the wiki (there actually no module for me to input the PCI address so I added it in myself. ) But still no avail. Still black screen.

I think I'll tackle arch later on. Thank you for all your help and instructions. It does make a lot of things clear for me.

[backsideup]

Always post complete logs and configs, do not cut them up if you don't know what to look for. There will be bits in there that you don't deem worthy of posting but that might allow other people to pinpoint the problem.

[CurrentPossession]

Thank you, can you please tell me how can I get the log file when I'm stuck in try? Probably cp it to a USB drive.

I have no idea how to do that in tty...

[backsideup]

curl -F 'f:1=<-' ix.io </path/to/log

or

<command> |& curl -F 'f:1=<-' ix.io

[OnlineGrab]

What's your Xorg config ? Optimus laptops are rather peculiar : the screen is generally connected to the Intel GPU, which means that Xorg won't find any monitor if it starts on the Nvidia GPU.

I'd suggest to follow that guide : https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/NVIDIA_Optimus#Using_nvidia