Black screen after login on recent update | accelerate software rendering

thrax · 14 May 2025 02:24

when I boot into the system I see the splash screen, the desktop is visable briefly then it falshes black a couple times and the desktop never re apears.

I can still launch graphical programs through the terminal or through hot keys, but I can use any launchers.

any Ideas what might be going on?

system inxi:

System:
Kernel: 6.14.6-zen1-1-zen arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 15.1.1
clocksource: tsc avail: hpet,acpi_pm
parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-linux-zen
root=UUID=dd8fbd17-85e1-4696-b21f-ae7f79a26ffc rw rootflags=subvol=@
quiet resume=UUID=889dbd16-154e-46e4-8c99-77321a2bcacf loglevel=3 ibt=off
Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.3.5 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.14.0
wm: kwin_wayland vt: 1 dm: SDDM Distro: Garuda base: Arch Linux
Machine:
Type: Desktop System: LENOVO product: 30BFS7X600 v: ThinkStation P520
serial: <superuser required> Chassis: type: 3 serial: <superuser required>
Mobo: LENOVO model: 1036 v: SDK0Q40112 WIN 3305669825314
serial: <superuser required>
part-nu: LENOVO_MT_30BF_BU_Think_FM_ThinkStation P520
uuid: <superuser required> UEFI: LENOVO v: S03KT68A date: 10/24/2024
CPU:
Info: model: Intel Xeon W-2125 bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Skylake level: v4
note: check process: Intel 14nm family: 6 model-id: 0x55 (85) stepping: 4
microcode: 0x2007006
Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 1 clusters: 4 cores: 4 threads: 8 tpc: 2
smt: enabled cache: L1: 256 KiB desc: d-4x32 KiB; i-4x32 KiB L2: 4 MiB
desc: 4x1024 KiB L3: 8.2 MiB desc: 1x8.2 MiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 1200 min/max: 1200/4500 scaling: driver: intel_pstate
governor: powersave cores: 1: 1200 2: 1200 3: 1200 4: 1200 5: 1200 6: 1200
7: 1200 8: 1200 bogomips: 63999
Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
Vulnerabilities: <filter>
Graphics:
Device-1: NVIDIA GP107GL [Quadro P400] driver: nvidia v: 570.144
alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm non-free: 550-570.xx+ status: current (as of
2025-04; EOL~2026-12-xx) arch: Pascal code: GP10x process: TSMC 16nm
built: 2016-2021 pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: none
off: DP-1,DP-2 empty: DP-3 bus-ID: 65:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:1cb3
class-ID: 0300
Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.16 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.6
compositor: kwin_wayland driver: X: loaded: nvidia unloaded: modesetting
alternate: fbdev,nouveau,nv,vesa gpu: nvidia,nvidia-nvswitch
d-rect: 3840x1080 display-ID: 0
Monitor-1: DP-1 pos: right model: HP 27h serial: <filter> built: 2022 res:
mode: 1920x1080 hz: 75 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 82 gamma: 1.2
size: 597x336mm (23.5x13.23") diag: 685mm (27") ratio: 16:9 modes:
max: 1920x1080 min: 640x480
Monitor-2: DP-2 pos: primary,left model: HP 27h serial: <filter>
built: 2022 res: mode: 1920x1080 hz: 75 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 82 gamma: 1.2
size: 597x336mm (23.5x13.23") diag: 685mm (27") ratio: 16:9 modes:
max: 1920x1080 min: 640x480
API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: nvidia nouveau drv: nvidia platforms: device: 0
drv: nvidia device: 1 drv: nouveau device: 2 drv: swrast gbm: drv: nvidia
surfaceless: drv: nvidia wayland: drv: nvidia x11: drv: nvidia
API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: nvidia mesa v: 570.144
glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: Quadro P400/PCIe/SSE2
memory: 1.95 GiB display-ID: :1.0
API: Vulkan v: 1.4.313 layers: 1 device: 0 type: discrete-gpu
name: Quadro P400 driver: nvidia v: 570.144 device-ID: 10de:1cb3
surfaces: N/A
Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor gpu: nvidia-settings,nvidia-smi
wl: wayland-info x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Audio:
Device-1: Intel 200 Series PCH HD Audio vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_hda_intel
v: kernel alternate: snd_soc_avs bus-ID: 00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:a2f0
class-ID: 0403
Device-2: NVIDIA GP107GL High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
v: kernel pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 65:00.1
chip-ID: 10de:0fb9 class-ID: 0403
API: ALSA v: k6.14.6-zen1-1-zen status: kernel-api tools: N/A
Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.4.2 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
4: pw-jack type: plugin tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
Device-1: Intel Ethernet I219-LM vendor: Lenovo driver: e1000e v: kernel
port: N/A bus-ID: 00:1f.6 chip-ID: 8086:15b7 class-ID: 0200
IF: eno1 state: down mac: <filter>
Device-2: Intel Wireless 8265 / 8275 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel pcie:
gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 17:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:24fd
class-ID: 0280
IF: wlp23s0 state: up mac: <filter>
IF-ID-1: virbr0 state: down mac: <filter>
Info: services: NetworkManager, smbd, systemd-timesyncd, wpa_supplicant
Bluetooth:
Device-1: Intel Bluetooth wireless interface driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB
rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-4:3 chip-ID: 8087:0a2b
class-ID: e001
Report: btmgmt ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 4.2
lmp-v: 8 status: discoverable: no pairing: no class-ID: 6c0104
RAID:
Hardware-1: Intel Volume Management Device NVMe RAID Controller driver: vmd
v: 0.6 port: N/A bus-ID: 16:05.5 chip-ID: 8086:201d rev: N/A class-ID: 0104
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 5.92 TiB used: 2.45 TiB (41.4%)
SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:3 vendor: Western Digital
model: WD BLACK SN770 1TB size: 931.51 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B
logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter>
fw-rev: 731100WD temp: 27.9 C scheme: GPT
ID-2: /dev/nvme1n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Samsung
model: MZVLB512HBJQ-000L7 size: 476.94 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B
logical: 512 B speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter>
fw-rev: 5M2QEXF7 temp: 28.9 C scheme: GPT
ID-3: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Western Digital
model: WD30EZRX-00MMMB0 size: 2.73 TiB block-size: physical: 4096 B
logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: N/A serial: <filter> fw-rev: 0A80
scheme: GPT
ID-4: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 vendor: Western Digital
model: WD Green 2.5 2TB size: 1.82 TiB block-size: physical: 512 B
logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 00WD
scheme: GPT
Partition:
ID-1: / raw-size: 862.59 GiB size: 862.59 GiB (100.00%)
used: 95.5 GiB (11.1%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:5
ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 300 MiB size: 299.4 MiB (99.80%)
used: 616 KiB (0.2%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 maj-min: 259:4
ID-3: /home raw-size: 862.59 GiB size: 862.59 GiB (100.00%)
used: 95.5 GiB (11.1%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:5
ID-4: /var/log raw-size: 862.59 GiB size: 862.59 GiB (100.00%)
used: 95.5 GiB (11.1%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:5
ID-5: /var/tmp raw-size: 862.59 GiB size: 862.59 GiB (100.00%)
used: 95.5 GiB (11.1%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:5
Swap:
Kernel: swappiness: 133 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default) zswap: no
ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 68.63 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%)
priority: -2 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3 maj-min: 259:6
ID-2: swap-2 type: zram size: 62.38 GiB used: 24.5 MiB (0.0%)
priority: 100 comp: zstd avail: lzo-rle,lzo,lz4,lz4hc,deflate,842
max-streams: 8 dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 44.0 C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Info:
Memory: total: 64 GiB available: 62.39 GiB used: 3.72 GiB (6.0%)
Processes: 320 Power: uptime: 2m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep
avail: s2idle wakeups: 0 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot,
suspend, test_resume image: 24.88 GiB services: org_kde_powerdevil,
power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 257 default: graphical
tool: systemctl
Packages: 1648 pm: pacman pkgs: 1622 libs: 429 tools: octopi,paru
pm: flatpak pkgs: 26 Compilers: clang: 19.1.7 gcc: 15.1.1 Shell: garuda-inxi
default: fish v: 4.0.2 running-in: konsole inxi: 3.3.38
Garuda (2.7.2-1):
System install date:     2025-04-07
Last full system update: 2025-05-13
Is partially upgraded:   No
Relevant software:       snapper NetworkManager dracut nvidia-dkms
Windows dual boot:       Probably (Run as root to verify)
Failed units:

SGS · 14 May 2025 05:44

when it start? after upd?
maybe edit date in

 cat /var/log/pacman.log | grep '2025-05-12' | grep -E 'installed|upgraded|removed'

chroot, upd system (or use tty).
try X11
try other kernel

thrax · 14 May 2025 15:15

yup, after I updated on the 13th, I rebooted my computer, then I was faced with this black screen bug.

funny enough, its only a slight inconvenience really, programs are still rendered, I still have a SDDM screen and lock screen, I can interact with everything, and I can even ALT+Tab. Its just the desktop bars, and wallpaper that’s gone.

I consider it might be a hardware issue so I switched my older quadro to a 1030, no luck. I’ll give those suggestions a try and report back.

nepti · 14 May 2025 15:32

Maybe it’s just a theming issue. Have you tried a different theme (for example “Breeze”) and checked whether the issue also occurs with it?
You can also try this:

lookandfeeltool --resetLayout --apply Dr460nized

thrax · 14 May 2025 15:54

Changing themes changes the program windows, but there is no change to the desktop or layout.

Running the suggested command changes the theme, but doesn’t change the lack of desktop layout or wallpaper.

thrax · 14 May 2025 15:59

I don’t know what “UPD” is so I couldn’t address that suggestion.

However I tried changing the kernel to linux-lts, no change.
I change my display server from wayland to x11, no change.

On thing I do remember modifying, I got a little popup on the system tray noting I might have degraded rendering. I clicked it and it gave me the option to do pick from “automatic”, “opengl”, or “vulkan”.

I garnered this specifying the drives to use to accelerate software rendering, I changed it to vulkan and selected the forced option. I didn’t think much of it, but I’m worried I might have messed up some rendering setting.

nepti · 14 May 2025 16:04

Open ~/.config/kdeglobals with an editor (for example kate) and see if you have this entry:

[QtQuickRendererSettings]
SceneGraphBackend=software

If yes, then simply delete these two lines, save and exit and then reboot.

thrax · 14 May 2025 16:04

So more details about what happens when I log in.

I see my desktop wallpaper, my auto start programs launch ( at this point only konsol) I see the dock and the top bar start to appear, but they freeze, the desktop goes black, the wallpaper reappears briefly, then it goes black for the last time.
During all this any windowed programs stay in view.

My hotkeys still work, so I can open more terminal windows or other hotkey programs, and in my terminal sessions I can still open basically any program.

thrax · 14 May 2025 16:11

Thanks Boss.

Before we close this thread, do you have any resources more novas users could look at to learn more about variable allowed in the kdeglobals config file?

I did a quick search engine query and there I couldn’t find any documentation that I could immediately understand.

Thanks for the help!

SGS · 14 May 2025 16:15

Btw, Linux is case-sensitive
Sorry for that, it means update, it is also used in terminal for garuda-update (or alias update or upd)

One problem per thread, please.

tbg · 14 May 2025 17:57

I ran into a similar black screen situation a few weeks back on KDE. I tested many fixes, but the only thing that I found that worked was creating a new user account.

I did not find your fix anywhere online @nepti, perhaps my cause was different than than this case (or maybe you simply have better search skills @nepti).

nepti · 14 May 2025 18:45

The issue itself happens when Plasma falls into software rendering mode, for example due to a hiccup in the graphics driver or a issue with QT (sometimes just because Plasma is a diva ). However, the effects are completely different - ranging from incorrect display of a single widget, incorrect display of individual applications, missing panels and wallpapers to a completely lame and unusable plasma desktop. Two simple examples:

Sometimes the “QtQuick Rendering” dialog is displayed in this case, but not always.

Either you set the settings to automatic when the dialog is displayed or you delete the two corresponding lines in the kdeglobals if present. You can also call the QtQuick render settings manually:

kcmshell6 kcm_qtquicksettings

This setting is part of the KDE “System Settings”, but is not officially displayed in these. Some of the settings are not (or no longer) displayed, but the modules are still available. You can list all modules of the KDE “System Settings” with:

kcmshell6 --list

And you can call up the individual modules with kcmshell6 <module name>, for example the deprecated “Background Services” module:

kcmshell6 kcm_kded

/offtopic

thrax · 14 May 2025 20:26

I think the cause might be, in my case definitely, of manually setting the QT rendering option to the incorrect option.

if it resolved when you made a new account you could check your previous user’s config to see if the incorrect QT renderer was set.

nepti · 14 May 2025 20:41

Something went wrong beforehand, otherwise the dialog would not have been displayed at all:

SGS · 15 May 2025 04:20

A post was split to a new topic: Circuit in kicad | notification pop up

SGS · 15 May 2025 04:21

Please.