Stuck on "Loading initial ramdisk" after update

palexdev · March 25, 2023, 11:17pm

Hello,
Today I'm having this issue with my system, after a full update and reboot it remains stuck on the "Loading initial ramdisk" screen. I can boot to recovery mode and I can chroot into it from a live USB and restore it through snapper-tools.
How do I fix this permanently?

This is my garuda-inxi from recovery mode:

System:
  Kernel: 6.2.8-zen1-1-zen arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.1
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-linux-zen root=UUID=3b52a2cf-a724-4548-b109-e2a369bab4d2
    rw single rootflags=subvol=@
  Console: tty 1 Distro: Garuda Linux base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Micro-Star product: MS-7A34 v: 1.0 serial: N/A
  Mobo: Micro-Star model: B350 TOMAHAWK (MS-7A34) v: 1.0 serial: <filter>
    UEFI-[Legacy]: American Megatrends v: 1.M0 date: 01/23/2019
Battery:
  Device-1: gip0.0 model: Microsoft X-Box One pad serial: N/A charge: N/A status: not charging
CPU:
  Info: model: AMD Ryzen 5 1600 socket: AM4 bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Zen level: v3 note: check
    built: 2017-19 process: GF 14nm family: 0x17 (23) model-id: 1 stepping: 1 microcode: 0x8001137
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 6 tpc: 2 threads: 12 smt: enabled cache: L1: 576 KiB
    desc: d-6x32 KiB; i-6x64 KiB L2: 3 MiB desc: 6x512 KiB L3: 16 MiB desc: 2x8 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 3699 min/max: N/A base/boost: 3700/3700 volts: 1.2 V ext-clock: 100 MHz
    cores: 1: 3699 2: 3699 3: 3699 4: 3699 5: 3699 6: 3699 7: 3699 8: 3699 9: 3699 10: 3699 11: 3699
    12: 3699 bogomips: 88786
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm
  Vulnerabilities: <filter>
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA TU106 [GeForce RTX 2070 Rev. A] vendor: CardExpert driver: nvidia v: 530.41.03
    alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm non-free: 525.xx+ status: current (as of 2023-02) arch: Turing
    code: TUxxx process: TSMC 12nm FF built: 2018-22 pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16
    link-max: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s bus-ID: 1c:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:1f07 class-ID: 0300
  Display: server: X.org v: 1.21.1.7 with: Xwayland v: 23.1.0 driver: X: loaded: nvidia
    unloaded: modesetting alternate: fbdev,nouveau,nv,vesa gpu: nvidia tty: 192x54
  API: OpenGL Message: GL data unavailable in console for root.
Audio:
  Device-1: NVIDIA TU106 High Definition Audio vendor: CardExpert driver: snd_hda_intel
    bus-ID: 1-3:2 v: kernel pcie: chip-ID: 1b1c:0a51 class-ID: 0300 gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16
    link-max: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s bus-ID: 1c:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:10f9 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: AMD Family 17h HD Audio vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie:
    gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 1e:00.3 chip-ID: 1022:1457 class-ID: 0403
  Device-3: Corsair VOID ELITE Wireless Gaming Dongle type: USB
    driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid
  Sound API: ALSA v: k6.2.8-zen1-1-zen running: yes
  Sound Server-1: PulseAudio v: 16.1 running: no
  Sound Server-2: PipeWire v: 0.3.67 running: no
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Micro-Star MSI
    driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: f000 bus-ID: 19:00.0
    chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp25s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 2.31 TiB used: 1.66 TiB (71.7%)
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Sabrent model: N/A size: 238.47 GiB block-size:
    physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 type: SSD serial: <filter>
    rev: RKT303.3 temp: 28.9 C scheme: MBR
  SMART: yes health: PASSED on: 357d 13h cycles: 1,011 read-units: 42,881,681 [21.9 TB]
    written-units: 39,745,533 [20.3 TB]
  ID-2: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Western Digital model: WD10EZEX-00MFCA0 family: Blue
    size: 931.51 GiB block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B sata: 3.1 speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: HDD
    rpm: 7200 serial: <filter> rev: 1A01 temp: 30 C scheme: MBR
  SMART: yes state: enabled health: PASSED on: 2y 360d 1h cycles: 2270
  ID-3: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 vendor: Western Digital model: WD7500BPKT-75PK4T0
    family: Scorpio Black (AF) size: 698.64 GiB block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B
    sata: 2.6 speed: 3.0 Gb/s type: HDD rpm: 7200 serial: <filter> rev: 1A01 temp: 31 C
    scheme: GPT
  SMART: yes state: enabled health: PASSED on: 2y 292d 9h cycles: 3583 read: 42.95 TiB
    written: 15.6 TiB Old-Age: g-sense error rate: 45456
  ID-4: /dev/sdc maj-min: 8:32 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 850 EVO 500GB family: based SSDs
    size: 465.76 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B sata: 3.1 speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: SSD
    serial: <filter> rev: 2B6Q temp: 30 C scheme: GPT
  SMART: yes state: enabled health: PASSED on: 2y 330d 20h cycles: 2141 written: 32.67 TiB
  ID-5: /dev/sdd maj-min: 8:48 type: USB vendor: Lexar model: microSD RDR size: 29.83 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 0815 scheme: MBR
  SMART Message: Unknown USB bridge. Flash drive/Unsupported enclosure?
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 221.27 GiB size: 221.27 GiB (100.00%) used: 182.05 GiB (82.3%) fs: btrfs
    block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 maj-min: 259:1
  ID-2: /home raw-size: 221.27 GiB size: 221.27 GiB (100.00%) used: 182.05 GiB (82.3%) fs: btrfs
    block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 maj-min: 259:1
  ID-3: /var/log raw-size: 221.27 GiB size: 221.27 GiB (100.00%) used: 182.05 GiB (82.3%)
    fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 maj-min: 259:1
  ID-4: /var/tmp raw-size: 221.27 GiB size: 221.27 GiB (100.00%) used: 182.05 GiB (82.3%)
    fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 maj-min: 259:1
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 133 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 17.2 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
  ID-2: swap-2 type: zram size: 15.57 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100 dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 31.2 C mobo: N/A gpu: nvidia temp: 38 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Info:
  Processes: 265 Uptime: 0m wakeups: 6 Memory: 15.57 GiB used: 657.7 MiB (4.1%) Init: systemd
  v: 253 default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12.2.1 clang: 15.0.7 Packages: 2052
  pm: pacman pkgs: 2024 libs: 530 tools: gnome-software,pamac,paru,yay pm: flatpak pkgs: 28
  Shell: Bash v: 5.1.16 running-in: tty 1 inxi: 3.3.25
Garuda (2.6.16-1):
  System install date:     2023-03-19
  Last full system update: 2023-03-25
  Is partially upgraded:   No
  Relevant software:       snapper mkinitcpio nvidia-dkms
  Windows dual boot:       No/Undetected
  Failed units:

BluishHumility · March 25, 2023, 11:37pm

Try to rebuild your initramfs and check for any errors.

sudo mkinitcpio -P

Paste the input and output into the thread. Then reboot and test again.

palexdev · March 26, 2023, 12:20am

Hello, unfortunately it still didn't boot
Here's the mkinitcpio output:

==> Building image from preset: /etc/mkinitcpio.d/linux-zen.preset: 'default'
  -> -k /boot/vmlinuz-linux-zen -c /etc/mkinitcpio.conf -g /boot/initramfs-linux-zen.img --microcode /boot/amd-ucode.img
==> Starting build: '6.2.8-zen1-1-zen'
  -> Running build hook: [base]
  -> Running build hook: [udev]
  -> Running build hook: [autodetect]
  -> Running build hook: [modconf]
  -> Running build hook: [block]
==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'xhci_pci'
  -> Running build hook: [keyboard]
  -> Running build hook: [keymap]
  -> Running build hook: [consolefont]
  -> Running build hook: [plymouth]
==> ERROR: file not found: '/usr/share/fonts/cantarell/Cantarell-VF.otf'
  -> Running build hook: [resume]
  -> Running build hook: [filesystems]
  -> Running build hook: [grub-btrfs-overlayfs]
==> Generating module dependencies
==> Creating zstd-compressed initcpio image: '/boot/initramfs-linux-zen.img'
==> WARNING: errors were encountered during the build. The image may not be complete.
==> Building image from preset: /etc/mkinitcpio.d/linux-zen.preset: 'fallback'
  -> -k /boot/vmlinuz-linux-zen -c /etc/mkinitcpio.conf -g /boot/initramfs-linux-zen-fallback.img -S autodetect --microcode /boot/amd-ucode.img
==> Starting build: '6.2.8-zen1-1-zen'
  -> Running build hook: [base]
  -> Running build hook: [udev]
  -> Running build hook: [modconf]
  -> Running build hook: [block]
==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'aic94xx'
==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'bfa'
==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'qed'
==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'qla1280'
==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'qla2xxx'
==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'wd719x'
==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'xhci_pci'
  -> Running build hook: [keyboard]
  -> Running build hook: [keymap]
  -> Running build hook: [consolefont]
  -> Running build hook: [plymouth]
==> ERROR: file not found: '/usr/share/fonts/cantarell/Cantarell-VF.otf'
  -> Running build hook: [resume]
  -> Running build hook: [filesystems]
  -> Running build hook: [grub-btrfs-overlayfs]
==> Generating module dependencies
==> Creating zstd-compressed initcpio image: '/boot/initramfs-linux-zen-fallback.img'
==> WARNING: errors were encountered during the build. The image may not be complete.

Aside from the font, it doesn't seem to be any significant error, or is it?

I also tried to run update-grub, here's the output:

Generating grub configuration file ...
Found theme: /usr/share/grub/themes/garuda/theme.txt
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-linux-zen
Found initrd image: /boot/amd-ucode.img /boot/initramfs-linux-zen.img
Found fallback initrd image(s) in /boot:  amd-ucode.img initramfs-linux-zen-fallback.img
Warning: os-prober will be executed to detect other bootable partitions.
Its output will be used to detect bootable binaries on them and create new boot entries.
grub-probe: error: cannot find a GRUB drive for /dev/sdd1.  Check your device.map.
grub-probe: error: cannot find a GRUB drive for /dev/sdd1.  Check your device.map.
Found Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster) on /dev/nvme0n1p1
Adding boot menu entry for UEFI Firmware Settings ...
Detecting snapshots ...
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 23:30:21 | @/.snapshots/788/snapshot     | post   | openrgb-git                                                              |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 23:30:17 | @/.snapshots/787/snapshot     | pre    | /usr/bin/pamac-daemon                                                    |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 23:20:40 | @/.snapshots/786/snapshot     | post   | otis-theme-git proton-ge-custom-bin rtl8821au-dkms-git sweet-theme-git u |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 23:19:21 | @/.snapshots/785/snapshot     | pre    | /usr/bin/pamac-daemon                                                    |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 23:16:54 | @/.snapshots/784/snapshot     | post   | nvidia-dkms ruffle-git                                                   |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 23:14:28 | @/.snapshots/783/snapshot     | pre    | pacman -Syu nvidia-dkms                                                  |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 21:46:43 | @/.snapshots/782/snapshot     | post   | a2ps alacritty alsa-firmware alsa-oss alsa-tools alsa-topology-conf apps |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 21:41:47 | @/.snapshots/781/snapshot     | pre    | pacman -Su                                                               |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 21:41:14 | @/.snapshots/780/snapshot     | post   | flutter                                                                  |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 21:41:08 | @/.snapshots/779/snapshot     | pre    | pacman -S --overwrite * flutter                                          |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 19:37:42 | @/.snapshots/778/snapshot     | post   | alacritty                                                                |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 19:37:32 | @/.snapshots/777/snapshot     | pre    | [kworker/u24:4-btrfs-endio]                                              |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 17:55:10 | @/.snapshots/776/snapshot     | post   | otis-theme-git proton-ge-custom-bin rtl8821au-dkms-git sweet-theme-git u |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 17:53:41 | @/.snapshots/775/snapshot     | pre    | /usr/bin/pamac-daemon                                                    |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 17:50:00 | @/.snapshots/774/snapshot     | post   | a2ps appstream-glib at-spi2-core bind bison calf cmake coreutils cryptse |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 17:45:20 | @/.snapshots/773/snapshot     | pre    | /usr/bin/pamac-daemon                                                    |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 17:45:06 | @/.snapshots/772/snapshot     | post   | archlinux-keyring                                                        |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 17:45:01 | @/.snapshots/771/snapshot     | pre    | /usr/bin/pamac-daemon                                                    |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 17:30:01 | @/.snapshots/770/snapshot     | post   | archlinux-keyring                                                        |
Found snapshot: 2023-03-25 17:29:55 | @/.snapshots/769/snapshot     | pre    | /usr/bin/pamac-daemon                                                    |
Found snapshot: 2023-02-08 22:47:55 | @_backup_20232503193926275    | N/A    | N/A                                                                      |
Found snapshot: 2023-02-08 21:20:23 | @/.snapshots/626/snapshot     | single | Before Pulseaudio                                                        |
Found snapshot: 2022-11-02 21:35:40 | @/.snapshots/296/snapshot     | single | Post Restore 42                                                          |
Found snapshot: 2022-11-02 21:32:29 | @_backup_20230802224755418    | N/A    | N/A                                                                      |
Found snapshot: 2022-11-02 19:51:57 | @_backup_20220211213229504_42 | N/A    | N/A                                                                      |
Found snapshot: 2022-09-20 23:41:34 | @_backup_20220211195157106    | N/A    | N/A                                                                      |
Found snapshot: 2022-08-07 21:00:50 | @/.snapshots/1/snapshot       | single | Manual Snapshot                                                          |
Found snapshot: 2022-08-01 20:10:08 | @_backup_20222009234134168    | N/A    | N/A                                                                      |
Found 28 snapshot(s)
Unmount /tmp/grub-btrfs.eoYqECyqn4 .. Success
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+/memtest.bin
/usr/bin/grub-probe: warning: unknown device type nvme0n1.
done

BluishHumility · March 26, 2023, 12:51am

That font appears to be needed for plymouth-git:

pacman -Sii cantarell-fonts
Repository      : extra
Name            : cantarell-fonts
Version         : 1:0.303.1-1
Description     : Humanist sans serif font
Architecture    : any
URL             : https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/cantarell-fonts
Licenses        : custom:SIL
Groups          : None
Provides        : None
Depends On      : None
Optional Deps   : None
Required By     : all-repository-fonts  gnome-themes-extra  gsettings-desktop-schemas  gsettings-desktop-schemas-git  gtk3
                  gtk3-patched-filechooser-icon-view  gtk4  gtk4-telegrand  plymouth-git  ttf-google-fonts-git
...

Try installing it:

pacman -S cantarell-fonts

Then rebuild the initramfs again.

Your other option would be to remove the quiet quiet splash kernel parameters, which would allow you to get through the boot process without Plymouth–that is what your fallback image is doing.

palexdev · March 26, 2023, 9:25am

Unfortunately it didn't work, I've been having that font error for months I was kinda expecting it to not be the issue
Is reinstall my only option?

Edit: I also tried removing quiet splash (there's only one quiet in my cmd) but it's the same
Edit 2: I also tried with linux-lts and it doesn't work either

BluishHumility · March 26, 2023, 10:52am

Before reinstalling, can you try switching to Dracut and see if you get a different outcome?

sudo pacman -S garuda-dracut-support

Confirm the removals, then build a new image.

sudo dracut-rebuild

If not, lets see what's in the journal. Boot to the initial ramdisk prompt where it gets stuck, then switch to a TTY (Ctrl+Alt+F3), sign in and run:

sudo journalctl -b | tb

Add the termbin url to the thread so we can take a look.

filo · March 26, 2023, 11:10am

Before reinstalling I’d also try restoring the latest working snapshot and holding back the Nvidia packages.
Then at the next Nvidia drivers update, I’d try removing the hold.
And before that, I’d try the dkms things here:

palexdev · March 26, 2023, 11:46am

Sorry guys I really needed my PC, I reinstalled (and switched to KDE just for fun)

I'll keep this in mind if I'll ever have the same issue again

BluishHumility · March 26, 2023, 12:04pm

No worries, I’m glad you were able to get up and running again.

What had you initially installed, Gnome? I wonder if it was another weird GDM bug…

palexdev · March 26, 2023, 9:11pm

Yes, I was on Gnome

I spent an entire day re-setting the PC with all the apps, scripts and so on that I need for work and gaming but...omg it was totally worth it.
I don't know why but gaming is so much smoother on KDE, I was experiencing weird stutters on Elden Ring and I had an avarage of 45/50fps, on KDE I have no stutter and i'm at 60fps all the time

Also, I was having issues with pipewire, bluetooth experience was very bad, stutters, crackling and often even stopped reproducing audio, finally on KDE it works flawlessly

system · April 9, 2023, 9:11pm

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