Score:0

Unreadable console text when booting Ubuntu Live USB

cn flag
Nyx

While booting up Ubuntu Live USB I get my screen covered in these unreadable lines of what I guess is text of some kind, viewable in the linked image. Things are fine again when landing in the GUI environment. However, I don't want to use the GUI version. I created a USB with the Server LTS version instead, and it's the same thing there, but now totally unusable. Help!? =S

Highlighting question: look at the picture and the problem will be clear. The text is unreadable, and so the system cannot be used. How to fix?

I assume I will need to modify the contents or config files on the USB drive in some way or form. I am on Windows 10, but I also have the Ubuntu "app" installed in Windows that I can use for this if needed.

Some of the hardware specs:

  • Clevo Laptop
  • Intel i9-10900KF 3.70GHz 10 cores, 20 threads
  • RAM 32 GB
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU (MXM module) 16 GB

Photo of screen

Thank you! =D

Edit: highlighting question, as requested by the 'community bot'

guiverc avatar
cn flag
Please be specific as to which ISO you used & what release you're talking about (you mention LTS which narrows it down somewhat, but which LTS?) Did you verify the ISO prior to write to media?
Nyx avatar
cn flag
Nyx
https://ubuntu.com/download/server The top one you can download there by clicking the green button! And, no, I didn't verify either that one or the one for the desktop environment version - same thing on both though, so I don't think it's caused by any corruption or any such thing!
Nyx avatar
cn flag
Nyx
I don't know how to make it more clear - I can't really use the CLI when the text is not readable! I think the picture is showing the problem - no?
sudodus avatar
jp flag
I think it is a problem because there is no standard linux driver that works correectly for your nvidia graphics card. Have you tried with the [boot option](http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2230389&p=13370808#post13370808) `nomodeset` ?
Nyx avatar
cn flag
Nyx
That sounds plausible - how do I go about adding that boot option, please?
sudodus avatar
jp flag
Try according to the red link in my previous comment. If you still have questions, you are welcome back :-)
Nyx avatar
cn flag
Nyx
My apologies, I didn't even notice that there was a link there. I checked out your link and I will see if I can manage that when I get back to that machine. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but am I supposed to wait for the GRUB menu to load, and then hit 'e' followed by me adding "nomodeset" on a line by itself in there somewhere?
sudodus avatar
jp flag
When booting via grub, you add `nomodeset` near the end of the line starting with 'linux' (not on a separate line). (When booting via syslinux it will be different.)
Nyx avatar
cn flag
Nyx
You're my hero, @sudodus - that did it! Still small enough print for ants to tightrope on, but readable now!
sudodus avatar
jp flag
I'm glad, that I could help :-) After installation, you can try with a proprietary nvidia driver get full control of your graphics. -- I know how to do it with Ubuntu Desktop (with a graphical desktop environment), but I have not done it with Ubuntu Server and text mode, but it should work too. If problems, you might install a simple graphical window manager, that does not use as much horsepower as a full graphical desktop environment.
Nyx avatar
cn flag
Nyx
Very grateful for your help! =)
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