Strange Colors and System Freeze After Login

HanneMaes · 14 January 2025 16:02

I’ve been experiencing a strange issue with my system over the past few weeks. The login screen appears normal at startup, but after logging in, I see strange colors on my screen. I can still move the mouse, but nothing else works. Sometimes it resolves itself after a few seconds, but other times it takes several minutes before everything is back to normal.

When I log out and log back in, the same issue occurs. This is something I’ve never encountered before. Previously, everything worked without any problems.

Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this or how I can fix it?

OS: Zorin OS jammy 17 x86_64
Host: MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013/Mid 2014) (1.0)
WM: Mutter (X11)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M Mac Edition [Discrete]
Kernel driver in use: nvidia

Aravisian · 14 January 2025 16:16

Definitely looks like Nvidia graphics issue.

What Nvidia driver are you using? Nouveau or Proprietary?

Michel · 14 January 2025 16:19

The 750m should use the 390 driver with kernel 5.15

Ponce-De-Leon · 14 January 2025 18:02

What Kernel and what Driver are You use?

StarTreker · 15 January 2025 08:12

This picture taken from the net, as my system is far beyond the years of the 390 driver to even see it!

This is what you are looking for, just as @Michel said. Hit the SUPER key, and then type software and updates, and click on that. Once there, click settings, to take you to this part of the app, and then click on the Additional Driver tab.

If you indeed are running the Nvidia 750 GPU, then you should see the Nvidia 390 driver in the list. Click on it, then click on Apply Changes, and give it time to install, be patient, will take time.

Restart the computer, and you should be running the Nvidia 390 driver, and your system should be ready to go. Please note however, the 750 GPU is from circa 2013, so your not going to be running any new GPU intensive games on that system. So just install games from 2013 and prior, and you should be good.

HanneMaes · 15 January 2025 12:55

I think I'm using the correct Nvidia driver?

StarTreker · 15 January 2025 13:08

Yes you are, that is the correct driver indeed, good job.

My spidy senses are throwing a warning sign about your storage drive. If your machine is from 2013, you are likely using a hard drive in that machine. If you could please confirm you have a mechanical hard drive, we might be dealing with a failing hard drive due to age. A good place to check the status of your hard drive, is in the "Disks" utility.

When in the "Disks" utility, click on your drive to be tested on the left side column. Then on the upper right hand side, you will see 3 dots in vertical formation. Click on that, and then click on Smart Data & Self Test.

Picture for illustration purpose, you must post your own, in your response.

HanneMaes · 15 January 2025 13:35

Thanks for the fast reply!

I'm using an SSD, and everything seems to be OK:

Ponce-De-Leon · 15 January 2025 13:39

Would You try it with switching to the Nouveau Drivers to check if the Problem still exists?

Aravisian · 15 January 2025 14:59

Also, which kernel are you on?
The kernel does affect the Nvidia driver...

HanneMaes · 16 January 2025 10:02

I'm on kernel Linux 6.8.0-51-generic.

I tried all the drivers:

Nouveau: fixed the issue but made everything stutter a little, and was unusable with Blender, the software I use the most.
340: gave me an error
390 and 418: giving me the issue, but makes Blender work well.

It's not a breaking bug, so I can live with it, just a bit annoying

Ponce-De-Leon · 16 January 2025 10:39

I think, that could be the Problem. The Kernel with that older Driver. You should try it with an older Kernel. The 5.15 LTS Kernel for Example.

HanneMaes · 16 January 2025 21:14

Should I revert back to the latest working kernel or the latest LTS?

Is there any chance newer versions of the kernel will fix this issue or should I stay on an older version for as long my old hardware keeps living?

I'm trying to understand the kernel more.

Aravisian · 16 January 2025 21:22

The kernel includes a mass of general hardware drivers. An older kernel should have all that you need for an older system.
Newer kernels usually include updates to add driver compatibility for newer hardware.

That is a generic description. Yes, if we look closer, we can find bugs that are fixed or patched in later versions. In general, most bug-fixing or patching takes place during the supported Lifetime of the Kernel - so for bugs, you are really going to look for the patched kernels, not whether is is a Later or older release of kernel.

Ponce-De-Leon · 17 January 2025 10:59

The Thing here is: You need an older Nvidia Driver. So a newer Kernel wouldn't help much. You could use the latest working Kernel, yes. But there would be the Question if this Kernel gets still Updates. And You would have to try which Kernel would work there.

The 5.15 LTS Kernel is an older one but is still supported. So, I would say that this Kernel would be a good Point to start.

HanneMaes · 24 January 2025 14:05

So, if Is understand correctly: the kernel is mostly hardware drivers, and since I have very old hardware the chances of updates for my specific hardware is very small?
To limit the risk of not missing security updates, I should choose an LTS version?

StarTreker · 24 January 2025 14:09

Generally, I find running an LTS to be the better approach. Its more about the fact that the OS is better tested, and made to work overall. As opposed to POP OS's approach of, push for the latest and greatest, and break the system.

Now yes, its also true, you will get updates for a long time with an LTS release. With that said, with Zorin OS 16 dropping support by April of this year, it is wise to install and use Zorin OS 17, which will soon be getting an update in April to 17.3 so I have read.

HanneMaes · 24 January 2025 14:15

I'm running Zorin OS 17.
When I revert to an LTS kernel, can I still install the new 17.3 version?

StarTreker · 24 January 2025 14:20

Zorin OS will simply update the OS, you don't have to install anything. As long as you've enabled OS updates, it will simply update.

Now, when OS 18 is released, you would have to manually initiate an OS upgrade. But OS 17 to 17.3 is simply an interim update as I understand it, so you shouldn't be installing anything.

HanneMaes · 24 January 2025 15:00

I'm trying to install another kernel with the Ubuntu mainline kernel installer.
I did not find 5.15, but I did find 6.1 (also an LTS).
Should I install the lasted 6.1.119 kernel of the 6.1 one?

❯ mainline list
mainline 1.4.10
Updating Kernels...
----------------------------------------------------------------      
Available Kernels
----------------------------------------------------------------
6.12.3                     
6.12.2                     
6.12.1                     
6.12                       
6.11.11                    
6.11.10                    
6.11.9                     
6.11.8                     
6.11.7                     
6.11.4                     
6.11.3                     
6.11.2                     
6.11.1                     
6.11                       
6.10.14                    
6.10.12                    
6.10.11                    
6.10.10                    
6.10.9                     
6.10.8                     
6.10.7                     
6.10.6                     
6.10.5                     
6.10.4                     
6.10.3                     
6.10.2                     
6.10.1                     
6.9.12                     
6.9.11                     
6.9.10                     
6.9.9                      
6.9.8                      
6.9.7                      
6.9.6                      
6.9.5                      
6.9.4                      
6.9.3                      
6.9.2                      
6.9.1                      
6.9                        
6.8.12                     
6.8.11                     
6.8.10                     
6.8.8                      
6.8.7                      
6.8.6                      
6.8.5                      
6.8.4                      
6.8.3                      
6.8.1                      
6.8.0-51.52~22.04.1    Running    
6.8.0-51.52~22.04.1_22.04    Installed  
6.8.0-50.51~22.04.1    Installed  
6.8.0-49.49~22.04.1    Installed  
6.8.0-48.48~22.04.1    Installed  
6.8.0-47.47~22.04.1    Installed  
6.8.0-45.45~22.04.1    Installed  
6.8.0-40.40~22.04.3    Installed  
6.8                        
6.7.10                     
6.7.9                      
6.7.8                      
6.7.7                      
6.7.6                      
6.7.5                      
6.7.3                      
6.7                        
6.6.63                     
6.6.62                     
6.6.61                     
6.6.60                     
6.6.57                     
6.6.56                     
6.6.55                     
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6.6.45                     
6.6.40                     
6.6.35                     
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6.6.15                     
6.6.10                     
6.6.5                      
6.6                        
6.5.11                     
6.5.10                     
6.5.9                      
6.5.8                      
6.5.7                      
6.5.5                      
6.5.0-45.45~22.04.1    Installed  
6.5.0-44.44~22.04.1    Installed  
6.5.0-41.41~22.04.2    Installed  
6.5.0-35.35~22.04.1    Installed  
6.5                        
6.4                        
6.3                        
6.2                        
6.1.119                    
6.1.118                    
6.1.117                    
6.1.116                    
6.1.112                    
6.1.111                    
6.1.110                    
6.1.109                    
6.1.108                    
6.1.105                    
6.1.100                    
6.1.95                     
6.1.85                     
6.1.80                     
6.1.70                     
6.1.25                     
6.1.20                     
6.1.15                     
6.1.10                     
6.1                        
6.0.19                     
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6.0.15                     
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6.0.5                      
6.0                        
mainline: done