Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Kali 2.0 + NVIDIA Drivers = Blinking Cursor of Death

  1. #1

    [SOLVED]Kali 2.0 + NVIDIA Drivers = Blinking Cursor of Death

    SEE BOTTOM FOR SOLUTION

    I have a very bad situation that makes working with Kali 2.0 a huge headache.
    My laptop will shutdown [seemingly unexpectedly] when performing certain tasks.
    More info on the shutdown here: https://forums.kali.org/showthread.p...nagement-issue
    But please, do not get stuck on that. This thread is about NVIDIA drivers.

    Specs:
    Mobo: HP ENVY dv7-7212nr Notebook PC
    CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3630QM CPU @ 2.40GHz/HM77
    Display: 1920x1080

    !!!!//VERY IMPORTANT:
    GPU:
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M[DiscreteGPU]
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 [Integrated]
    //

    After lots of troubleshooting, I have confirmed it is an issue with the nouveau drivers(or some other issue with GPU on linux). How do I know this?
    1) Only happens on Kali [and probably other Linux distros, havent tried others yet] (OSX and Windows are fine)
    2) If I run airodump-ng while terminal is MINIMIZED I can run it for hours. If however, the terminal is visable (and thus actively updating, the shutdown will happen).
    3) This happens even on a LiveUSB Kali (verified checksum)
    4) I can run airodump-ng while in failsafe (aka no GUI) for hours with no issue at all.

    So, now that I have isolated the issue- I can just install the NVIDIA Driver and be on with life right?
    WRONG. That is why I am posting this- I am having no luck getting the NVIDIA Drivers to "work."

    ================================================== ================================================== ========
    Keep in mind with each attempt I just flat out clean-installed Kali. So no, the methods did not conflict because they were attempted on separate installs.
    ================================================== ================================================== ========
    Method one (what I first tried):
    - Install kernel headers, and dkms
    Code:
    apt-get update
    apt-get dist-upgrade
    apt-get install -y linux-headers-$(uname -r) dkms
    - Download Nvidia driver installation, and change its permissions to executable
    Code:
    wget http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree8..._64-352.55.run
    chmod +x NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-352.55.run
    - Prevent nouveau from loading
    Code:
    sed 's/quiet/quiet nouveau.modeset=0/g' -i /etc/default/grub
    update-grub
    reboot
    - Once rebooted, switch to a virtual console (ctrl+alt+f1 for instance) and stop the gdm3 service
    Code:
    service gdm3 stop
    - Run the nvidia driver installation
    Code:
    ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-352.55.run
    - During the installation, choose yes to register the kernel module with DKMS, and no to install 32-bit compatibility libraries
    ---------------
    This worked- but unfortunately I get the dreaded blinking cursor. I can still access the virtual console with CTRL+ALT+F1. I tried some other things to try to get it working such as deleting xconfig, rebuilding it, modifying it- no dice. Same result or I ended up with the "Oh no" screen. For all intents and purposes, the above failed.
    ================================================== ================================================== ==========
    Method two (what I recorded [see video])
    // Keep in mind this was method was originally for KALI LINUX 1.1.0 - Kernel 3.18- however the owner of blackmoreops.com claimed he had recieved feedback stating his guide worked on Kali 2.0, so I gave this method a try.
    // The full guide is here, but I just made a text-only version for easier following along.
    // http://www.blackmoreops.com/2015/02/...nvidia-driver/
    // Source for claim that it works on 2.0: http://www.blackmoreops.com/2015/08/...tion-feedback/
    [Note that the kali repo has version 352.21 opposed to the latest 352.55.run file [released only a few days ago, so that is expected]

    [Ironically the shutdown crash happens at 0:21! - I almost opened terminal (not sure if I did sadly) this was a rare example of an instant-failure!]
    Note, this was only after running updates, not any modifications yet- which is why nouveau is likely culprit.
    Video:
    https://vimeo.com/143578560


    - PRE-CHECK
    //
    lsmod | grep nouveau
    uname -a
    lsb_release-a
    lspci | grep VGA
    //
    - PRE-Update
    apt-get update && apt-get upgrade -y && apt-get dist-upgrade -y
    reboot
    //
    - Driver PART 1
    -- Headers:

    aptitude -r install linux-headers-$(uname -r)
    -- NVIDIA Kernel:
    apt-get install nvidia-kernel-$(uname -r)
    -- DRIVER KERNEL DKMS
    aptitude install nvidia-kernel-dkms
    -- INSTALL XCONFIG
    aptitude install nvidia-xconfig
    -- GENERATE XCONFIG
    nvidia-xconfig
    reboot
    //
    - Driver PART 2
    -- Adding PCI Bus to xorg.conf
    lspci | grep VGA
    cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf (SPACE)/etc/X11/old-xorg.conf.prechangeofBUSID
    nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf
    Identifier "DiscreteNvidia"
    BusID "PCI:01:00.0" - '.' Or ':'? - tried both ways
    reboot
    //
    -- CHECK STATUS // I forgot to do this in the video, I took a picture of the output see after steps
    glxinfo | grep -i "direct rendering"
    lsmod | grep nvidia
    lsmod | grep nouveau
    ||| glxinfo | grep -i outputs "No display"
    ||| lsmod | grep nvidia
    ||| lsmod | grep nouveau does not output anything (which is good)
    //
    -- Troubleshooting A
    nvidia-xconfig
    reboot
    -- Troubleshoot B
    rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf
    reboot
    -- Troubleshoot C
    apt-get remove nvidia-kernel-dkms
    reboot
    -- Troubleshoot D - what a joke !
    apt-get remove --purge nouveau
    ================================================== ================================================== ========================
    Okay! So these are two methods I tried, and it results in a blinking cursor.
    Important! After following this (and before doing the troubleshooting)
    The --CHECK STATUS section outputs:
    Error: unable to open display.
    Image of checks:

    Hmm, suspicious.

    So, here are all the outputs (uploaded to pastebin) of all the installation commands.
    apt-get update && apt-get upgrade -y && apt-get dist-upgrade -y
    http://pastebin.com/rJvnwZP5
    aptitude -r install linux-headers-$(uname -r)
    http://pastebin.com/U2NK5JdV
    apt-get install nvidia-kernel-$(uname -r)
    http://pastebin.com/LQst8cs1
    aptitude install nvidia-kernel-dkms
    http://pastebin.com/M0P2cdhA
    aptitude install nvidia-xconfig
    http://pastebin.com/uudLPjAX

    Something I noticed:

    Possible pinpoint of the issue:
    Code:
    {COMMAND:}apt-get install nvidia-kernel-$(uname -r)
    {OUTPUT:}
    ...
    Get:5 http://http.kali.org/kali sana/contrib nvidia-modprobe amd64 340.46-1 [14.5kB]
    Get:6 http://http.kali.org/kali sana/non-free nvidia-alternative amd64 352.21-1~kali2 [144kB]
    Get:8 http://http.kali.org/kali sana/non-free nvidia-kernel-4.0.0-kali1-amd64 amd64 352.21+1kali1+1~kali1+4.0.4-1+kali2 [5,011 kB]
    Removing diverted 'libGL.so' symlink with unexpected target 'libGL.so.1.2.0'.
    Restoring diverted 'libGL.so' symlink
    
    //
    {COMMAND:}aptitude install nvidia-kernel-dkms
    {OUTPUT:}
    nvidia-current:
    Running module version sanity check.
    Error! Module version 352.21 for nvidia-current.ko
    is not newer than what is already found in kernel 4.0.0-kali1-amd64 (352.21)
    You may override by specifying --force.
    
    nvidia-uvm.ko:
    Running module version sanity check.
     - Original module
       - Found /lib/modules/4.0.0-kali1-amd64/nvidia/nvidia-uvm.ko
       - Storing in /var/lib/dkms/nvidia-current/original_module/4.0.0-kali1-amd64/x86_64/
    //
    Could this be the conflict?
    I am unsure.

    Any advice of what to do would be GREATLY appreciated as I am at a dead end!



    Edit:

    youtube

    Edit:
    vimeo

    Edit 11/27/2015
    SOLUTION: Install any other Linux Distro, install tools Kali 2.0 has: profit$$
    Now I can run cudahashcat, I have no crashing, no shutdown issues, and can do everything Kali could do...
    Why is Kali considered a useful OS for pen testing? The answer: It just has most pen-testing tools preinstalled.
    Trust me, its not worth running this buggy OS; Install the tools on a better distro.
    Last edited by hydratedscrub; 2015-11-28 at 03:07. Reason: Solved

  2. #2
    Join Date
    2015-Oct
    Posts
    5
    @hydratedscrub i have the same problem (Nvidia 755m).
    You are not alone D:

  3. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by orasio2 View Post
    @hydratedscrub i have the same problem (Nvidia 755m).
    You are not alone D:
    Do you also experience the crashes on Nouveau?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    2015-Oct
    Posts
    5
    What do you mean with "crashes of Nouveau"?
    I get every time the white screen with "oh no, something has gone wrong"
    (Sorry but i'm a new noob linux user D: )

  5. #5
    Join Date
    2015-Oct
    Posts
    2

    Blinking Cursor of Death

    I'm having the same trouble but with a Cedar PRO Radeon HD 5450 video card. I'm new to more technical troubleshooting Linux. I had to load the drivers manually after I installed 1.0 initially. I have an HP Z620 which does not come with an integrated video card. Is there a way to down grade the OS back to 1.1? I upgraded my Thinkpad 730 without a hitch. I figured this would be a cake walk, then Murphy smacked me across the room.

    My kingdom for a backup....

    I'm going to try your suggestions above

    Z

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by orasio2 View Post
    What do you mean with "crashes of Nouveau"?
    I get every time the white screen with "oh no, something has gone wrong"
    (Sorry but i'm a new noob linux user D: )
    Ah okay. So you don't have any crashing issues with nouveau driver- you just want NVIDIA driver for performance and CUDA Hashcat I assume??

  7. #7
    Join Date
    2015-Oct
    Posts
    2
    Quote Originally Posted by Zwolle View Post
    I'm having the same trouble but with a Cedar PRO Radeon HD 5450 video card. I'm new to more technical troubleshooting Linux. I had to load the drivers manually after I installed 1.0 initially. I have an HP Z620 which does not come with an integrated video card. Is there a way to down grade the OS back to 1.1? I upgraded my Thinkpad 730 without a hitch. I figured this would be a cake walk, then Murphy smacked me across the room.

    My kingdom for a backup....

    I'm going to try your suggestions above
    Z
    update: neither method worked for me either. I found an updated driver for the AMD Cedar PRO that is supposed to work. While trying to install, I get an error message saying there is already an ati driver installed, the driver must be uninstalled at /usr/share/ati/amd-uninstall.sh, and the install aborts. When I try the uninstall as directed, I get a message that says the installed files have been changed since they were installed. They can be removed with the -force switch, but it is not recommended.... back to the drawing board...

  8. #8
    Join Date
    2013-Jul
    Posts
    6
    Hi

    i have the same problem that hydratedscrub in fact i have a hp Envy to the only diferent is that graphics card is a gt 750 i have two desktop computer with a gtx 970 and gtx 550 and my idea was make a cluster of the 3 gpu with pyrit but it seem to appear that is not possible with this laptop

    i have to say that i not experimented crash with noveau drivers yet, i would like to know if you can solved this because i lost the count how many times i reinstall kali to try again install this drivers

    Regards

  9. #9
    Join Date
    2015-Nov
    Posts
    5
    I'm having the same issue as well. I have tried all methods posted online and nothing has worked. I really hope someone comes up with a solution. This setup worked perfectly with Kali 1.10

    PC Specs:
    Core i7 920
    Asus P6T Deluxe V2
    3GB RAM
    Nividia 9500 GT w/ 512 MB RAM

    I do have an older 8800 GTS w/ 640 MB RAM that I will throw into this system just for the **** of it and see if that makes a difference. Thank you.

  10. #10
    Hi all,

    Still no luck over here. I am resorting to running Kali via VM and using a USB Wireless card to direct-connect to the VM.
    Just for clarity, are all of you experiencing just an issue with NVIDIA install, or also the shutdown issue?
    Also DeadlyFoez, are you the same guy who was notorious for Wii hacking?

  11. #11
    Hi, i am same issue Notebook msi gtx 880m kali old work with installer nvidia oficial, kali 2.0 only terminal. issue is xorg.conf search nouveau always.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    2015-Nov
    Posts
    5
    Quote Originally Posted by hydratedscrub View Post
    Also DeadlyFoez, are you the same guy who was notorious for Wii hacking?
    That would be me. I am the one and only DeadlyFoez, and I like it like that.

    I figured out my issue. My card was just too old and not supported in the latest version of the driver package. I figured it out once I finally paid attention to what was written on the screen instead of just blowing through it.

  13. #13
    Glad to hear your problem was solved. Mine unfortunately, is more of a bug and not a user error sadly.
    Though from this experience, I opted to switch distros and install tools on there- a much better choice and has solved all my linux problems!

  14. #14
    hydratedscrub, which distro install?

Similar Threads

  1. Blinking Cursor of Death when trying to install
    By longooglite in forum Installing Archive
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 2014-11-14, 01:36
  2. Kali 1.0.8 on VirtualBox: Black screen + blinking cursor
    By Revelation in forum Installing Archive
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 2014-08-30, 15:51
  3. Nvidia drivers - blinking cursor after installing
    By populusnigra in forum Installing Archive
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 2014-06-16, 11:28

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •