Installing ubuntu 20 in a Desktop with no VGA port

[aldcar]

My desktop is a Acer Aspire XC-704G with no VGA port, it has only 2 HDMI port. I'm trying to install ubuntu 20 with a flashdrive but when the pc boot from the flashdrive, nothing is shown in the TV, it's black.

What can I do to install ubuntu ? Why didn't ubuntu recognize the HDMI port ?

the pc is working fine with Windows 10 right now.

thanks.

[mikewhatever]

There isn't a special proceedure for HDMI, as having a VGA was never a requirement to install Ubuntu. There isn't any info to diagnose the problem. Perhaps you could add the hardware specs and the release of Ubuntu ("ubuntu 20" does not exist).

[aldcar]

ubuntu desktop 20.04.2.0

ENERAL
Product Form Factor
Small form factor
Packaged Quantity
1
Manufacturer
Acer

PROCESSOR / CHIPSET
CPU
Intel Celeron N3050 / 1.6 GHz
Max Turbo Speed
2.16 GHz
Number of Cores
Dual-Core
Processor Main Features
Intel Burst Technology

CACHE MEMORY
Installed Size
L2 cache - 2 MB
Cache Per Processor
2 MB
Type
L2 cache
Per Processor Size
2 MB
Installed Size
2 MB

RAM
Technology
DDR3L SDRAM
Memory Speed
1600 MHz
Configuration Features
1 x 4 GB
Technology
DDR3L SDRAM
Installed Size
4 GB

STORAGE
Interface Type
Serial ATA-600
Type
none

MEMORY
Form Factor
SO-DIMM 204-pin

DISPLAY
Type
none.

HARD DRIVE
Capacity
1 x 500 GB
Interface Type
SATA 6Gb/s
Spindle Speed
7200 rpm
Type
HDD
Interface Class
Serial ATA
Installed Qty
1
Capacity
500 GB

HARD DRIVE (2ND)
Type
none

STORAGE CONTROLLER
Type
Serial ATA
Installed Qty
1

INPUT
Type
keyboard, mouse

HARD DRIVE (3RD)
Type
none

OPTICAL STORAGE
Drive Type
DVD SuperMulti
Type
DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM
Interface Type
Serial ATA

PROCESSOR
Installed Qty
1
Max Supported Qty
1
Type
Celeron
Processor Number
N3050
Manufacturer
Intel
Clock Speed
1.6 GHz

OPTICAL STORAGE (2ND)
Drive Type
no optical drive

CARD READER
Type
card reader
Supported Flash Memory Cards
SD Memory Card

STORAGE REMOVABLE
Type
none

HEADER
Brand
Acer
Product Line
Acer Aspire
Model
XC-704G_WCDC
Country Kits
United States
Packaged Quantity
1
Compatibility
PC

NETWORKING
Data Link Protocol
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet

MONITOR
Monitor Type
None.

SYSTEM
Type
personal computer
Hard Drive Capacity
500 GB

GRAPHICS CONTROLLER
Graphics Processor
Intel HD Graphics

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
Width
3.9 in
Depth
14.6 in
Height
10.5 in

CHASSIS
Form Factor
desktop slimline
Manufacturer Form Factor
small form factor

MANUFACTURER WARRANTY
Type
1 year warranty

AUDIO OUTPUT
Compliant Standards
High Definition Audio

PRINTER
Type
none

KEYBOARD
Interface
USB

EXPANSION / CONNECTIVITY
Interfaces
2 x USB 2.0 (2 in front)
2 x audio line-out/headphones (1 front, 1 rear)
2 x microphone (1 front, 1 rear)
1 x audio line-in
1 x LAN (Gigabit Ethernet)
2 x USB 3.0
2 x HDMI

MOUSE
Interface
USB

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Form Factor
desktop slimline
Weight
19.84 lbs

POWER
Type
power adapter

OPERATING SYSTEM / SOFTWARE
OS Provided: Type
Windows 10 Home 64-bit Edition
OS Provided
Windows 10 Home 64-bit Edition

HARD DRIVE (4TH)
Type
none

VIDEO OUTPUT
Graphics Processor
Intel HD Graphics
Graphics Processor Series
Intel HD Graphics

SERVICE & SUPPORT
Type
1 year warranty

SERVICE & SUPPORT DETAILS
Type
limited warranty
Full Contract Period
1 year

GENERAL
Manufacturer
Acer

[Tadaen_Sylvermane]

I've never heard of this one. In my case the only time I didn't have video from my video card was when I forgot to plug in the external power connector. Did you try both ports? First thing I'd check. Might require a full power cycle instead of just plugging in and out while it's already on.

[aldcar]

I tried both ports. The thing is the pc boot ok from the flash drive, I can see in the tv the booting process but when it start loading the ubuntu files the tv turns blank and nothing happens

[mitesh.agrwl]

This is might be a hardware restrain. Ubuntu 20.04 is 64 bit edition only and might be taking too long to process, my suggestion is to try a network install or 32-bit version from old repositories or Xubuntu.

[scorp123]

Acer Aspire XC-704G

I own a similar PC: Acer Aspire XC-605. It also has 1 x HDMI port. And Ubuntu works tip top here. You said you have 2 x HDMI ports? Did you try changing ports, e.g. connecting the HDMI cable into the other port? Have you tried connecting that PC to a PC monitor via HDMI? If you don't have one: can you ask a friend or a neighbour to borrow you one so you could try what happens if you connect a PC monitor instead of the TV?

Maybe your TV is at fault here, e.g. it does not properly detect the video signal? I have this problem too sometimes. In my case I sometimes have to switch sources via the remote control (e.g. select "HDMI 1" as a source, then back to "HDMI 3" where the PC is connected ...) before my TV will recognise that there's indeed a video signal coming from the PC.

[scorp123]

... the tv turns blank and nothing happens

This might be a problem with your TV, e.g. it does not like the resolution and frequency the PC has switched into. Some TV's only want 1920x1080 at exactly 60 Hz when a PC is attached to it. Try any other resolution at any other refresh rate .... aaaand the TV screen goes black.

Can you try what happens when you connect that PC to a normal PC monitor?

Alternative idea: When starting Ubuntu there should be an option to select "Safe Graphics". Can you try that?

[mastablasta]

my nvidia card does this as well. no matter when it was windows and now linux it would first boot only on TV and only then switch to monitor. at first i thought the card is not working, then i remembered it might be throwing pic to TV. as others said you may need to replug the cable into different HDMI and try to booz or use safe mode and then set up the correct resolution and make the correct output primary output.

i am curious what happens if you press ctrl+alt+F2 - does it drop you to console? can you see anything on the screen? crtl+alt+F1 through F7 are virtual terminals. i think F7 is where desktop is running.

[ActionParsnip]

Check BIOS settings for display as well. Try a different HDMI port and cable too.