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I'm on Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS. I was running Nouveau and everything was fine, but in order to run Android Studio and emulate an Android device, I needed to install the Nvidia driver. I used the Software & Updates -> Additional Drivers, selected the NVIDIA driver metapackage from nvidia-driver-390 (proprietary, tested) and applied the changes.

The driver works fine but it enforces a maximum resolution that is lower than what I use with Nouveau, so I decided to switch back after finishing with Android Studio.

I switched back to Nouveau using the same Software & Updates -> Additional Drivers process. Now when I boot, my machine hangs and never reaches the sign in screen.

TL;DR

  • Nouveau was working fine.
  • Switched to Nvidia using the Software & Updates GUI.
  • Used for a few days (including reboot/shutdown).
  • Switched back to Nouveau using the same GUI.
  • Boot now hangs and doesn't reach the sign in screen.

Errors at startup

[FAILED] Failed to start User Manager for UID 121.
See 'systemctl status user@121.service' for details.
[  OK  ] Removed slice User Slice of gdm.
[  OK  ] Created slice User Slice of gdm.
... (repeated messages)
[  OK  ] Started Session c15 of user gdm.
[  OK  ] Removed slice User Slice of gdm.
[  OK  ] Created slice User Slice of gdm.
[FAILED] Failed to start User Manager for UID 121.
See 'systemctl status user@121.service' for details.
... (repeated messages)

$ systemctl status user@121.service
* user@121.service - User Manager for UID 121
 Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/user@.service; static; vendor preset: enabled)
 Drop-In: /lib/systemd/system/user@.service.d
          |-timeout.conf
 Active: inactive (dead)

Current workaround (after multiple attempts)

  • I boot by using nomodeset as per here.
  • Switch to Nvidia using the Software & Updates GUI.
  • Reboot to default Ubuntu install (works fine).
  • Switch to Nouveau using the Software & Updates GUI.
  • Reboot to default Ubuntu install (works fine).
  • Change resolution with xrandr.
  • Works until I do a full shutdown/startup.

I've seen solutions elsewhere, but they're either outdated or don't work. Can anyone advise how I can switch back to Nouveau without these problems?

Edit 1

I've tried adding nomodeset as per here.

  • I can get into Ubuntu.
  • Screen resolution is very low.
  • Can't change resolution as per here because xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default.
Tom
  • 111

0 Answers0