Groups | Search | Server Info | Login | Register

Groups > alt.os.linux.mint > #47138

Re: Sick HTPC

Show all headers | View raw

On Sat, 18 Apr 2026 22:02:33 +0100
pinnerite <pinnerite@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:08:00 -0400
> Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> wrote:
> 
> > On Thu, 4/16/2026 3:14 PM, pinnerite wrote:
> > > On Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:43:46 -0400
> > > Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> wrote:
> > > 
> > >> On Tue, 4/14/2026 4:08 PM, pinnerite wrote:
> > >>> (Sorry if you find this vverbose).
> > >>>
> > >>> I have an HTPC running on  Linux Mint 21.3
> > >>>
> > >>> It shares a Widescreen TV (as a monitor) with broadcast and streamed TV.
> > >>>
> > >>> Whenever I switch back from TV to HDMI1 (that the HTPC uses), the sound
> > >>> icon on the panel will have disappeared usually fixed with a reboot.
> > >>>
> > >>> Yesterday on a reboot it hung. Nothing would overcome this.
> > >>>
> > >>> I have two kernels installed: 5.15.0_173 generic and 174.
> > >>>
> > >>> From the grub menu I can get into repair mode with either kernel.
> > >>> From there I can continue to "normal boot" but the resultant display is
> > >>> both wider and deeper than the screen and hides the panel.
> > >>>
> > >>> By opening Nemo I can "open as root" and then open a root terminal.
> > >>> Nemo however doesn't show either "File" nor can I see "Start", nor the
> > >>> use [X] at top right for closing any application I might be able to
> > >>> open.
> > >>>
> > >>> It would be nice to able to boot up normally if only to create a
> > >>> back up Mythtv's database and recordings before deconstructing this
> > >>> machine and rebuilding it with modern components, originally planned
> > >>> for later this year. 
> > >>>
> > >>> I would welcome some ideas.
> > >>>
> > >>> Kind regards,
> > >>>
> > >>> Alan
> > >>>
> > >>
> > >>    "resume   resume normal boot"  <=== presumably what you selected, as seen here as an option
> > >>
> > >> https://unblog.ch/en/how-to-get-linux-mint-recovery-mode/
> > >>
> > >> It sounds like a display manager is not running, so the nemo windows
> > >> is not "decorated". Nemo may be using the XYWH of a previous session,
> > >> while the desktop is running at 640x480 or 800x600 sort of thing.
> > >>
> > >> When you don't have a display manager, you cannot bring a terminal
> > >> to the front if it is behind the other window (nemo).
> > >>
> > >> It's possible the DKMS for your video card has expired (kernel version
> > >> too new). This is just a wild guess on my part. It's the only
> > >> thing I can think of, when it is likely the HTPC is running Xorg X11
> > >> server.
> > >>
> > >> If the dialog boxes are too big, you can hold down the "alt" key and use
> > >> the mouse to move the item as desired. One of my VMs was also busted when
> > >> I went to use it, and to escape from the box I was in, required using
> > >> the "alt" key trick.
> > >>
> > >> Depending on your video card, a newer video card may work. My 1080
> > >> still has drivers, but they won't last forever. And the newer video cards
> > >> aren't exactly "cheap". It's probably $400 here for a piece of crap.
> > >> The iGPU can be used, and it might be a bit newer than the
> > >> plugin video card. Only newer equipment has made iGPUs more
> > >> plentiful. My 11 year old Test Machine, doesn't have an iGPU,
> > >> but it does have 42 PCIe lanes.
> > >>
> > >>    Paul
> > > 
> > > Thanks Paul but I am using the onboard Intel graphics.
> > > I decided to disconnect the HDMI lead andplug a spare monitor that I
> > > bought for doing rebuilds. Altough I can only get into Cinnamon from
> > > Repair Mode, I do now get a full screen. Tomorrow I plan to take a
> > > backup of Mythconverg and will try and copy the resultant file and the
> > > recordings to a 1TB plug-in NVme ready for the rebuild I will bring
> > > forward. 
> > > 
> > > I have the processor but I will probably have to nick my wife's
> > > running-away money to finance the rest. 
> > > 
> > > Regards,
> > > Alan
> > > 
> > 
> > Do you have any "similar" hardware you could use for test ?
> > To test that the storage devices are OK. I just figured that
> > some update session, pushed it over the edge.
> > 
> > You could try one of the older kernels in Recovery Mode in
> > the GRUB menu and see if that works.
> > 
> >    Paul
> > 
> I got it going and it is stable right now.

It is isn't. Despite the new kernel, the mouse cursor suddenly went
slow and the MythTV couldfn't get live TV. A reboot fixed it. For a
while. This has been going on for a fe years. I could nevedr pin down
the cause. But is now pretty old so a rebuild is imminent.

> I have taken a backup to an external plugpin SSD!
> I have another question arising (seperate thread).
> 
> By chance a new kernel was downloaded yesterday.
> That seems to have fixed it. 5.15.0-176 generic.
> ChatGPT turned its nose up at 174.
> 
> Thanks for the suggestions.
> Alan
> 

-- 
Linux Mint 22.1 kernel version 6.8.0-84-generic Cinnamon 6.4.8
AMD Ryzen 7 7700, Radeon RX 6600, 32GB DDR5, 2TB SSD, 2TB Barracuda

Back to alt.os.linux.mint | Previous | Next — Previous in thread | Next in thread | Find similar

Thread

Sick HTPC pinnerite <pinnerite@gmail.com> - 2026-04-14 21:08 +0100
  Re: Sick HTPC Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-04-15 06:43 -0400
    Re: Sick HTPC pinnerite <pinnerite@gmail.com> - 2026-04-16 20:14 +0100
      Re: Sick HTPC Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-04-16 17:08 -0400
        Re: Sick HTPC pinnerite <pinnerite@gmail.com> - 2026-04-18 22:02 +0100
          Re: Sick HTPC pinnerite <pinnerite@gmail.com> - 2026-04-19 21:44 +0100
            Re: Sick HTPC Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-04-19 17:03 -0400
      Re: Sick HTPC Mike Easter <MikeE@ster.invalid> - 2026-04-16 22:58 -0700

csiph-web