Input signal out of range error

[jamesva3]

Context: ubuntu 12.04 had just installed about 100 packages and needed to restart however i also wanted to update my graphics drivers as i have been experiencing ocasional and extreme stutter in videos specificly youtube videos. I also reset my hp2009m to factory default as i was getting ready to calibtate the monitor which is also why i was interested in finding the nvidia control panel to ensure output was in 24-bit mode.

I also wanted to look at my nvidia control panel settings but couldnt find it ( or least something that was similar to what i had in windows)

So i downloaded new nvidia drivers as i recall version 304.xx and installed them via the concole command line (copy/paste from a website) it installed and so i exited the command line and went to restart the computer, but when it turned back on i got a "input signal out of range" error. This was typical for my machine, i alwalys get this message for a few seconds after a restart but i goes away and i am then presented with the log in screen, this has not hqppened this time qround and i dont know how to fix this. I ahe tried blindly logging in as i thought this would fix the problem but nothing happened. So i restarted and tried to use the ctr + alt + num +\- to change screen settings via keyboad this did not help.(i waited on averag. 4 seconds between each press and did so a few times using both + and - keys). I am using a stock hp slimline w/geforce 6150 (endig in either se or le) integrated on mobo.

While i am at it i will also pose another question

I have my hardrive split into 3 partitions one for windows, then hp's factory default image and then ubuntu portion however i cannot figure out how to access windows anymore as i am not presented with a dual boot screen (the one that askes which OS to boot into) thanks guys

[pissedoffdude]

Do you get a console screen if you try to boot into recovery mode? Also, please post the instructions you used to install the drivers

[jamesva3]

http://www.techlw.com/2012/03/instal...untu-1204.html

i never seen the grub loader menu i keep reading about it but have never seen it pop up when i turn on my computer(from what i have read it is what gets me into recovery mode right?), first i see the bios screen starting then black then the error message, but that usually disappears and then the log in shows up. i tried to hit esc anyway during the black screen which is right after the bios menu and during the error message but nothing happened.

[jamesva3]

bump

[pissedoffdude]

Before you installed Ubuntu, did you ever see anything before you got to the desktop on Windows? I'm wondering if this is strictly a grub issue, or if it's got something to do with your integrated graphics card and the bios settings.

For now, boot off the cd or usb that you used to install Ubuntu. Once booted, type this command:

sudo fdisk -l

Look for a large partition that says linux. That will be your Ubuntu install. Find out which partition it is (/dev/sdaX). If you're unsure, post the output here and we'll let you know

Then type:

sudo mkdir /media/ubuntu
sudo mount /dev/sdaX /media/ubuntu (where X is your partition number)
sudo chroot /media/ubuntu
sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bak (if you get an error here about the file not existing, don't worry)
sudo rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf (again, don't worry if it doesn't exist)
sudo nvidia-xconfig
exit

Reboot, and let us know if that works

[jamesva3]

yes id did, on windows i would see the bios menu then the windows os would start up.

i successfully booted from usb on the 32-bit 12.04 desktop Ubuntu i386 version

here is what i typed in terminal and the output (copy/paste)

1) sudo fdisk -l relevant partition: /dev/sda5 430860288 594659327 81899520 83 Linux

2) sudo mkdir /media/ubuntu output: nothing

3) sudo mount /dev/sda5 /media/ubuntu output: nothing but i noticed my harddrive linux partition icon is now in the GUI sidebar

4) sudo chroot /media/ubuntu output: nothing, but the user changed from ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ to root@ubuntu:/#

5) sudo cp /etc/x11/xorg.conf /ect/x11/xorg.conf.bak output: sudo: unable to resolve host ubuntu, then next line down cp: cannot stat `/etc/x11/xorg.conf': No such file or directory

6) sudo rm /ect/x11/xorg.conf output: sudo: unable to resolve host ubuntu, then next line down rm: cannot remove `/ect/x11/xorg.conf': No such file or directory

7) sudo nvidia-xconfig
output:

sudo: unable to resolve host ubuntu

Using X configuration file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf".

VALIDATION ERROR: Data incomplete in file /etc/X11/xorg.conf.
Device section "Default Device" must have a Driver line.

Cannot find /proc/version - is /proc mounted?
Backed up file '/etc/X11/xorg.conf' as '/etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup'
New X configuration file written to '/etc/X11/xorg.conf'

and for good measure im going paste the entire terminal session here,

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x1549f232

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 63 430859437 215429687+ 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda2 430860286 600684543 84912129 5 Extended
/dev/sda3 600686415 625137344 12225465 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda5 430860288 594659327 81899520 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 594661376 600684543 3011584 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 15.8 GB, 15812526080 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 1922 cylinders, total 30883840 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 128 30883839 15441856 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mkdir /media/ubuntu
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount /dev/sda5 /media/ubuntu
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo chroot /media/ubuntu
root@ubuntu:/# sudo cp /etc/x11/xorg.conf /ect/x11/xorg.conf.bak
sudo: unable to resolve host ubuntu
cp: cannot stat `/etc/x11/xorg.conf': No such file or directory
root@ubuntu:/# sudo rm /ect/x11/xorg.conf
sudo: unable to resolve host ubuntu
rm: cannot remove `/ect/x11/xorg.conf': No such file or directory
root@ubuntu:/# sudo nvidia-xconfig
sudo: unable to resolve host ubuntu

Using X configuration file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf".

VALIDATION ERROR: Data incomplete in file /etc/X11/xorg.conf.
Device section "Default Device" must have a Driver line.

Cannot find /proc/version - is /proc mounted?
Backed up file '/etc/X11/xorg.conf' as '/etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup'
New X configuration file written to '/etc/X11/xorg.conf'

root@ubuntu:/# exit
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

this post is before the computer restart, will be switching the boot device back to my internal hdd and start machine will post results afterwards

[jamesva3]

so i just rebooted from internal hdd and same error as before, also no grub loader menu

[pissedoffdude]

Sorry for the late reply. Do the first two steps from my last post, then:

sudo mount --bind /dev /media/ubuntu/dev
sudo mount --bind /proc /media/ubuntu/proc
sudo mount --bind /sys /media/ubuntu/sys
sudo rm /etc/resolv.conf
sudo touch /etc/resolv.conf
sudo echo 8.8.8.8 > /etc/resolv.conf
sudo echo 8.8.4.4 >> /etc/resolv.conf
sudo cp /etc/resolv.conf /media/ubuntu/etc/resolv.conf
sudo chroot /media/ubuntu
rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf
nvidia-xconfig
exit

Reboot, and see if you can boot into Ubuntu. If you're still having issues, then we'll just uninstall the Nvidia drivers. You will do the same steps as above, but instead of

nvidia-xconfig
exit

Do

apt-get purge nvidia-current
exit

Let me know if that works, then we can focus on the grub issue.

[Sunfist]

I had the same problem and while I think I could have fixed it, I ended up just removing the Nvida driver and that solved the problem. Someday when I am feeling energetic and have some time on my hands I may go in and try to fix it but it works fine with the regular default Ubuntu driver.

[jamesva3]

sudo: unable to resolve host ubuntu, i get this error every time i try these commands. should i just do a fresh ubuntu install? if i do is there a way to keep the installed programs, settings documents ect..