On Sun, 28 Jun 2026 14:43:36 -0400
Eben King <eben@gmx.us> wrote:

I formerly had an Nvidia GX750, and something still thinks I have it.
startx runs but exits with error. Any idea where that's coming from?
I've done some investigation, but obviously not of the right things.

Blunderbuss shot in the dark here: have you tried rebuilding your
initrd?

--
Does anybody read signatures any more?

https://charlescurley.com
https://charlescurley.com/blog/

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.18
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sun, Jun 28, 2026 at 5:49?PM Eben King <eben@gmx.us> wrote:

I recently got a new-to-me video card:
00:1f.3 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation 100 Series/C230
Series Chipset Family HD Audio Controller (rev 31)

There is also the onboard hardware:
00:02.0 Display controller: Intel Corporation HD Graphics 530 (rev 06)

It is currently connected to one monitor, but that'll change after this
is fixed. One change at a time.

The computer boots fine. The POST and bootloader show on both
card-connected monitors and the boot sequence shows on the onboard one.
but I can live with that for now.

I formerly had an Nvidia GX750, and something still thinks I have it.
startx runs but exits with error. Any idea where that's coming from?
I've done some investigation, but obviously not of the right things.

Try "sudo modprobe -r --remove-holders nvidia"
You can also uninstall the nvidia driver with "sudo apt
purge nvidia-driver nvidia-driver-*"

Thanks.

~/.local/share/xorg/Xorg.0.log
[ 26.279]
X.Org X Server 1.21.1.7
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
[ 26.280] Current Operating System: Linux cerberus 6.1.0-49-amd64 #1
SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Debian 6.1.174-1 (2026-05-26) x86_64
[ 26.280] Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-6.1.0-49-amd64 root=UUID=6bb7e826-89c5-4a3b-bafa-ed2de4f102ec ro quiet
[ 26.280] xorg-server 2:21.1.7-3+deb12u12
(https://www.debian.org/support)
[ 26.280] Current version of pixman: 0.42.2
[ 26.281] Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
[ 26.281] Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[ 26.282] (==) Log file: "/home/eben/.local/share/xorg/Xorg.0.log",
Time: Sun Jun 28 13:55:18 2026
[ 26.284] (==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
[ 26.284] (==) Using config directory: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d"
[ 26.284] (==) Using system config directory
"/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
[ 26.286] (==) ServerLayout "Layout0"
[ 26.286] (**) |-->Screen "Screen0" (0)
[ 26.286] (**) | |-->Monitor "Monitor0"
[ 26.288] (**) | |-->Device "Device0"
[ 26.288] (**) | |-->GPUDevice "Card1"
[ 26.288] (**) |-->Input Device "Keyboard0"
[ 26.288] (**) |-->Input Device "Mouse0"
[ 26.288] (==) Automatically adding devices
[ 26.288] (==) Automatically enabling devices
[ 26.288] (==) Automatically adding GPU devices
[ 26.288] (==) Automatically binding GPU devices
[ 26.288] (==) Max clients allowed: 256, resource mask: 0x1fffff
[ 26.289] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist.
[ 26.289] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 26.291] (==) FontPath set to:
/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi,
built-ins
[ 26.291] (==) ModulePath set to "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
[ 26.291] (WW) Hotplugging is on, devices using drivers 'kbd',
'mouse' or 'vmmouse' will be disabled.
[ 26.291] (WW) Disabling Keyboard0
[ 26.291] (WW) Disabling Mouse0
[ 26.291] (II) Loader magic: 0x55861cfc1f00
[ 26.291] (II) Module ABI versions:
[ 26.291] X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
[ 26.291] X.Org Video Driver: 25.2
[ 26.291] X.Org XInput driver : 24.4
[ 26.291] X.Org Server Extension : 10.0
[ 26.293] (++) using VT number 1

[ 26.298] (II) systemd-logind: took control of session /org/freedesktop/login1/session/_31
[ 26.301] (II) xfree86: Adding drm device (/dev/dri/card0)
[ 26.301] (II) Platform probe for /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/drm/card0
[ 26.303] (II) systemd-logind: got fd for /dev/dri/card0 226:0 fd 13 paused 0
[ 26.315] (--) PCI: (0@0:2:0) 8086:1912:1458:d000 rev 6, Mem @ 0xdd000000/16777216, 0xb0000000/268435456, I/O @ 0x0000f000/64
[ 26.315] (--) PCI:*(1@0:0:0) 1002:6fdf:1002:0b31 rev 239, Mem @ 0xc0000000/268435456, 0xd0000000/2097152, 0xdf200000/262144, I/O @ 0x0000e000/256, BIOS @ 0x????????/131072
[ 26.315] (II) LoadModule: "glx"
[ 26.318] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libglx.so
[ 26.331] (II) Module glx: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 26.331] compiled for 1.21.1.7, module version = 1.0.0
[ 26.331] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 10.0
[ 26.331] (II) LoadModule: "nvidia"
[ 26.332] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/nvidia_drv.so
[ 26.342] (II) Module nvidia: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
[ 26.342] compiled for 1.6.99.901, module version = 1.0.0
[ 26.342] Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[ 26.343] (II) LoadModule: "modesetting"
[ 26.343] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/modesetting_drv.so
[ 26.345] (II) Module modesetting: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 26.345] compiled for 1.21.1.7, module version = 1.21.1
[ 26.345] Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[ 26.345] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 25.2
[ 26.345] (II) NVIDIA dlloader X Driver 470.256.02 Thu May 2
14:54:41 UTC 2024
[ 26.345] (II) NVIDIA Unified Driver for all Supported NVIDIA GPUs
[ 26.346] (II) modesetting: Driver for Modesetting Kernel Drivers: kms
[ 26.346] xf86EnableIO: failed to enable I/O ports 0000-03ff
(Operation not permitted)
[ 26.346] (WW) Falling back to old probe method for modesetting
[ 26.346] (II) modeset(0): using default device
[ 26.347] (II) modeset(G0): using drv /dev/dri/card0
[ 26.347] (WW) VGA arbiter: cannot open kernel arbiter, no multi-card support
[ 26.347] (EE) Screen 0 deleted because of no matching config section.
[ 26.347] (II) UnloadModule: "modesetting"
[ 26.347] (EE) Device(s) detected, but none match those in the config file.
[ 26.347] (EE)
Fatal server error:
[ 26.347] (EE) no screens found(EE)
[ 26.347] (EE)
Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
at http://wiki.x.org
for help.
[ 26.347] (EE) Please also check the log file at "/home/eben/.local/share/xorg/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.
[ 26.347] (EE)
[ 26.357] (EE) Server terminated with error (1). Closing log file.

sudo sh -c 'find /usr/lib/xorg -type f -print0 | xargs -0 grep -l nv' /usr/lib/xorg/Xorg.wrap
/usr/lib/xorg/Xorg
/usr/lib/xorg/protocol.txt
/usr/lib/xorg/modules/input/wacom_drv.so /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input/libinput_drv.so /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input/inputtest_drv.so /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libfbdevhw.so /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libglx.so /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/qxl_drv.so /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/fbdev_drv.so /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/modesetting_drv.so /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/vmware_drv.so /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/intel_drv.so
/usr/lib/xorg/modules/libexa.so
/usr/lib/xorg/modules/libglamoregl.so
/usr/lib/xorg/modules/libint10.so

--
???????
??????? Debian - The universal operating system
??????? https://www.debian.org/
?????


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.18
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-06-28, Eben King wrote:

That ran successfully and the restart worked (I didn't see it because the monitors were off and I couldn't get there fast enough), but same
behavior. startx still won't work even if I manually modprobe amdgpu.
Text mode works, but no X.

Why amdgpu ? You told about intel. One of your logs show something
about radeon, perhaps you have some old config files left ?
You should move away /etc/X11/xorg.conf and /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/*
and see if X could detect your cards.
Also do you have needs_root_rights=no in /etc/X11/Xwrapper.config ?

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.18
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Eben King composed on 2026-06-28 14:43 (UTC-0400):

I recently got a new-to-me video card:
00:1f.3 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation 100 Series/C230 Series Chipset Family HD Audio Controller (rev 31)

There is also the onboard hardware:
00:02.0 Display controller: Intel Corporation HD Graphics 530 (rev 06)

# grep framebuffer /var/log/Xorg.0.log
[ 6.774] (==) modeset(0): Depth 24, (==) framebuffer bpp 32
#
That's as many such lines as should be expected. Your Xorg.0.log has mainly bad ones, showing (EE), something clearly wrong that X should be trying to use framebuffer.

What you should see that is missing includes the following (from a Trixie boot).
/var/log/Xorg.0.log:[ 4.096] (II) xfree86: Adding drm device (/dev/dri/card0)
/var/log/Xorg.0.log:[ 4.152] (II) modeset(0): using drv /dev/dri/card0

The absence of required firmware can produce their absence.

In your OP, I spotted nothing to tell us anything about your "new" GPU, only the
onboard Intel 530. How about sharing better information:

inxi -GSaz --vs --za
dpkg -l | grep -E 'mwar|xorg-video'
lsmod | sort | grep -E 'video|amdgpu|radeon|i915'

Also, if there are any .conf files remaining in /etc/X11/ or /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/, rename or delete them all, unless there is one for only keyboard you can keep it. Intel and AMD GPU users normally don't need anything in
/etc/X11/ for GPU. By default, there is nothing there.

Make sure xserver-xorg-video-amdgpu is installed if your new dGPU is AMDGPU. If your "new" GPU is actually old, or if it's too new, it may require one or more kernel cmdline options.

Don't try to use both motherboard graphics connectors and dGPU connectors at the
same before you get the problem sorted. Generally it can be done with suitable BIOS config and manual config, but if your "new" dGPU is truly new, you don't want
your OS to see the 530. Stick to dGPU connectors at least for now.
--
Evolution as taught in public schools is, like religion,
based on faith, not based on science.

Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 ** a11y rocks!

Felix Miata

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.18
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Eben King wrote:

On 6/29/26 01:14, Michel Verdier wrote:

On 2026-06-28, Eben King wrote:

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Polaris 20 XL [Radeon RX 580 2048SP] (rev ef)

I have this.

2b:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Polaris 20 XL [Radeon RX 580 2048SP] (rev ef) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])

Here's what I need for Debian stable:

Packages:

firmware-amd-graphics
xserver-xorg-video-amdgpui
libdrm-amdgpu1

Config:

/etc/X11/Xwrapper.config contains:
allowed_users=console

startx and lightdm both work.

-dsr-

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.18
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Eben King composed on 2026-06-29 09:41 (UTC-0400):

Felix Miata wrote:

What you should see that is missing includes the following (from a Trixie boot).
/var/log/Xorg.0.log:[ 4.096] (II) xfree86: Adding drm device (/dev/dri/card0)
/var/log/Xorg.0.log:[ 4.152] (II) modeset(0): using drv /dev/dri/card0

The absence of required firmware can produce their absence.

That was indeed the problem. I did "modinfo amdgpu" and noticed a lot of lines about various firmwares, so I went looking for the appropriate firmware for amdgpu on Debian. The wiki told me it was "firmware-amd-graphics" so I installed that, rebooted (maybe I could
have just reloaded the module) and boom X worked. Boot sequence looked
odd too, because part of it was on the R monitor (Intel) and then it switched to the center one (AMD).

Initial boot phase depends on motherboard firmware for GPU output, as may be adjusted by bootloader configuration. At some point kernel loads the firmware and
GPU module and switches to it. That's when kernel switched your active display from R to C.

In your OP, I spotted nothing to tell us anything about your "new" GPU, only the
onboard Intel 530. How about sharing better information:

Well, it works now, so the info might be different. But here goes:

inxi -GSaz --vs --za

It's a tool to easily show you what's going on using just one command with various
options, virtually indispensible for getting good help. The options quoted are

-G: graphics
-S: system, including boot cmdline parameters
-a: virtually maximum detail
-z: hold back sensitive information that may not be suited for sharing
--vs: show inxi version standalone
--za: extra filtering

GPU output is limited when not run from within X, moreso if using wayland.

bash: inxi: command not found

Hmm.

apt install inxi

dpkg -l | grep -E 'mwar|xorg-video'

ii firmware-amd-graphics
ii firmware-linux-free
ii firmware-misc-nonfree
ii intel-microcode
ii xserver-xorg-video-amdgpu
ii xserver-xorg-video-ati
ii xserver-xorg-video-fbdev
ii xserver-xorg-video-intel
ii xserver-xorg-video-nvidia-tesla-470
ii xserver-xorg-video-qxl
ii xserver-xorg-video-radeon
ii xserver-xorg-video-vesa
ii xserver-xorg-video-vmware

I should uninstall all the nvidia stuff now that this card works.

Technically you need not a single one of those (unless possibly you use vmware).
xserver-xorg-video-amdgpu may or may not prove better than the default modesetting
display driver. Likely newer GPUs like yours can do better with it, but without testing you won't know. I use a simple tool named glmark2 (which likely isn't designed for Wayland users). xserver-xorg-video-radeon is primarily for GPUs designed before AMD bought ATI, IOW, rather ancient.

lsmod | sort | grep -E 'video|amdgpu|radeon|i915'

amdgpu 9633792 75
cec 61440 2 drm_display_helper,i915
drm 614400 22 gpu_sched,drm_kms_helper,drm_display_helper,drm_buddy,amdgpu,drm_ttm_helper,i915,ttm
drm_buddy 20480 2 amdgpu,i915
drm_display_helper 184320 2 amdgpu,i915
drm_kms_helper 212992 5 drm_display_helper,amdgpu,i915
drm_ttm_helper 16384 1 amdgpu
gpu_sched 53248 1 amdgpu
i2c_algo_bit 16384 3 igb,amdgpu,i915
i915 3059712 3
ttm 94208 3 amdgpu,drm_ttm_helper,i915
video 65536 2 amdgpu,i915
wmi 36864 2 video,intel_wmi_thunderbolt

I can't recall ever using an AMD dGPU on a motherboard with Intel iGPU, so probably shouldn't try to comment. I suppose it's fine.

This and another PC here run on Intel HD 630 alone with up to 3 displays
(DP primary/bottom, HDMI upper left, DVI upper right; VGA also supported, but GPU
limit is total of 3).

Possibly if your R display only has VGA input you might be just as well off skipping finding an adapter, but simple DVI-to-VGA adapters were common for a long
time if not still. I think both of mine came with retail boxed motherboards.

Also, if there are any .conf files remaining in /etc/X11/ or
/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/, rename or delete them all, unless there is one for only
keyboard you can keep it. Intel and AMD GPU users normally don't need anything in
/etc/X11/ for GPU. By default, there is nothing there.

There are not. In fact xorg.conf.d has been renamed.

It's an optional directory. AIUI, absence has become a Debian default on fresh installations, but required by at least some NVidia proprietary drivers in lieu of
directly in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.

I have:
# ls -gGh /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/??-*conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 404 Dec 18 2024 /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/00-keyboard.conf
-rw-rw-r-- 1 266 Mar 2 2022 /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/60-flags.conf
-rw-rw-r-- 1 78 Jul 15 2011 /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/70-extensions.conf

None affect graphics in X.
--
Evolution as taught in public schools is, like religion,
based on faith, not based on science.

Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 ** a11y rocks!

Felix Miata

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.18
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)