View Full Version : black screen mouse pointer only
Hi All,
Just did an apt-get dist-upgrade as i tend to do every few weeks but now upon boot all i get is a black screen with mouse pointer but no prompt for login and thus no desktop, there is a small cursor on the top left of the screen if that makes any difference.
I have a same issue after upgrade kali 2019.3.
i just can access on recovery mode.
bambolbe
2019-10-06, 14:34
I have the same problem (i have kali on virtualbox ) , I tried to reinstall it and make updates and I get the same problem.
The_Bagel
2019-10-06, 15:55
I second that.. Been spending a good amount of time trying to debug this morning. when it hits the black screen with the mouse, I can't even switch tty. I have tried loading the previous kernel, same effect. I have been able to get into the recovery partition. but not finding any errors in log files that shed much light. I'm leaning toward gnome-shell or gdm3 as the issue, but have made little progress, still poking around though..
The_Bagel
2019-10-06, 15:57
I'll also add, I don't even see a login screen. It gets to this state quickly after drive decryption/grub.
MazenElzanaty
2019-10-06, 16:32
Same issue here, happened after apt upgrade which installed a new version of gdm, i even tried it on a fresh installation and had the same issue
MazenElzanaty
2019-10-06, 16:54
I have the exact same issue, i upgraded today, which installed a new version of gdm, and it doesn't work anymore, i actually tried it on a fresh installation and the same issue happened.
darkrift2012
2019-10-06, 16:58
I'm having the same problem with my Kali installation, however I have no cursor showing nor am I able to blind enter the username and password. I can access the GRUB start menu, change to recovery modes, but the logs (journalctl -xb) from recovery don't show any errors or warnings.
Before I dive into a repair, any one have a quick solution or corrective action? TIA
In a related incident, a few weeks ago I experienced a similar issue after an update, however I was able to blind enter the username and password and successfully log in to the OS. After login the video was skewed and unusable until I restarted the OS, and worked perfectly thereafter.
darkrift2012
2019-10-06, 17:04
Adding to my previous note, I can switch to the cli login screen (<ctrl>-<alt>-<F2>) but there is only a small flashing cursor in the upper left-hand corner that doesn't respond to any input. Switching back to the gui login shows the mouse cursor but no login input boxes and I still can't blind logon.
The_Bagel
2019-10-06, 17:45
got it working. you will need to downgrade "gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0" to an older version. Until the fix for this gets pushed out with an updated gnome-shell package. http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/g/gnome-desktop3/gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0_3.30.2.1-2_amd64.deb. You can just run apt install {your downloaded file name}.deb on that file to initiate a downgrade.
I have a same issue after upgrade Kali Linux 2019.3. I also can't change tty to login in console.
I just only can run console in recovery mode.
And bellow is file log fournalctl.log.
https://pastebin.com/0uYLvC3k
The_Bagel
2019-10-06, 17:51
got it working. you will need to downgrade "gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0" to an older version. Until the fix for this gets pushed out with an updated gnome-shell package. http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/g/gnome-desktop3/gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0_3.30.2.1-2_amd64.deb. You can just run apt install {your downloaded file name}.deb on that file to initiate a downgrade.
hackermantime
2019-10-06, 17:55
Hi, I also had this problem after the upgrade, after several tests I installed KDE and now i can log in with KDE. I think the problem is related to Gnome or something similar.
PS: I use kali on the virtualbox.
DradisAdjucator
2019-10-06, 19:47
Issues with GDM3.
What you need to do is boot in recovery mode. Then from the recovery mode do the following command:
init 3
That should allow you to boot into console.
From there you can login as normal. And perform the following command.
sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm3.
Provided you have some other desktop display manager, you can select lightdm as a temporary fix.
Actually there isn't any reason to use GDM3. It does not like to play with other display managers. Stick with lightdm it is faster (smaller footprint) than GDM3.
Same problem here, on 2 Installations.
newbrain
2019-10-06, 20:07
Same issue new install of 2019.3 large ISO -> apt update; apt dist-upgrade -> Black Screen with mousepointer
This fixed the problem for me: (downgrading gnome-shell)
sudo apt install gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0=3.30.2.1-2
sudo apt-mark hold gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0
Same problem; I see an issue has been created in the bugtracker (https://bugs.kali.org/view.php?id=5726) so I guess there are more of us.
straylight_
2019-10-07, 00:48
Thanks! The downgrade worked for me. I guess no upgrading until I see a fix.
...I rather wish I'd seen this before I reinstalled. Oh well, more system tinkering and reinstalling! It's educational, right? ;)
I installed the kde iso instead, found I quite like it and will stick with it for awhile.
got it working. you will need to downgrade "gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0" to an older version. Until the fix for this gets pushed out with an updated gnome-shell package. http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/g/gnome-desktop3/gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0_3.30.2.1-2_amd64.deb. You can just run apt install {your downloaded file name}.deb on that file to initiate a downgrade.
This fixed the problem for me: (downgrading gnome-shell)
sudo apt install gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0=3.30.2.1-2
sudo apt-mark hold gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0
Thanks guy.
install gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0=3.30.2.1-2 really fixed this issue for me.
This fixed the problem for me: (downgrading gnome-shell)
sudo apt install gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0=3.30.2.1-2
sudo apt-mark hold gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0
This worked for me, thanks.
darkrift2012
2019-10-07, 16:32
This fixed the problem for me: (downgrading gnome-shell)
sudo apt install gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0=3.30.2.1-2
sudo apt-mark hold gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0
Downgrading gnome-shell and setting it to hold worked for me. Thnx!
newbrain
2019-10-07, 17:45
This worked for me, thanks.
And for me too
This fixed the problem for me: (downgrading gnome-shell)
sudo apt install gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0=3.30.2.1-2
sudo apt-mark hold gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0
why i get
E: version 3.30.2.1-2 was not found ???
i see on https://packages.debian.org/sid/gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0
This fixed the problem for me: (downgrading gnome-shell)
sudo apt install gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0=3.30.2.1-2
sudo apt-mark hold gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0
ok thanks work like a charm
but i only try
sudo apt install gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0
because i get version not found , just update to 3.30..0-4
Balamaheshwar
2019-10-20, 17:53
hello how can i do downgrade ?? can you help me out .. ? I am aslo stucked with these same problem am using 2017
whether its is for kali l inux 2017 or kali linux 2019 ...
Balamaheshwar
2019-10-22, 14:36
This fixed the problem for me: (downgrading gnome-shell)
sudo apt install gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0=3.30.2.1-2
sudo apt-mark hold gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0
How can i perform downgrade am even unable to access terminal or console..
am stucked at boot screen ....? after gnome has started am get black screen with cursor over
akash_srf
2019-12-01, 20:15
This fixed the problem for me: (downgrading gnome-shell)
sudo apt install gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0=3.30.2.1-2
sudo apt-mark hold gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0
Issue is not getting resolved by this also..
i guess the lightdm service is starting..
i want to start the gnome gui...how can i do it? i downgraded also
akash_srf
2019-12-01, 20:23
The downgrade is also not working for me...idk why....help me pls
While upgrading Kali Linux my Kali Linux automatically started showing a black screen and a loading underscore at the top left of the screen what should I do
borny2007
2020-05-20, 12:07
While upgrading Kali Linux my Kali Linux automatically started showing a black screen and a loading underscore at the top left of the screen what should I do
Hey, found an article about this that might help you http://www.linuxandubuntu.com/home/kali-linux-stuck-at-black-screen-on-boot, follow those steps, and after you get into the GUI of Kali Linux, go over to your terminal and do:
sudo su
nano /etc/default/grub
add "<yourvideodriverhere>.modeset=0" or "nomodeset" (if you don't know your video drivers) and type it between "quiet" and "splash"
now do "Ctrl + O" to save it, "Enter" and then "Ctrl + X" to exit the nano text editor.
after that just type in "update-grub" in terminal
I fixed my problem with this solution, also the problem was with the video drivers, I have intel drivers so I typed in "intel915.modeset=0", after that everything worked perfectly.
Zainab HA
2020-05-26, 07:17
I had had the same problem and I solved it by the following steps and it worked
While at the login screen press
CTRL + ALT + F1
Or
CTRL + ALT + F2 if you are on a Virtual Machine
You should now see a shell.
Login with your credentials.
Then just run the following commands in this order:
1. dpkg --configure -a
2. sudo apt-get update
3. sudo apt-get upgrade
4. sudo reboot
U can skip the update and upgrade