Q4OS Forum

Michael_

Member

Registered: 2023-01-29

Posts: 43

Unable to Install Q4OS (Most likely Nvidia GPU Issue)

I just bought a new laptop with an nvidia rtx 4070 dgpu.
When i boot from the q4os plasma live cd it halts at:

[OK] Finished systemd-update-utmp-runlevel.service - Record Runlevel Change in UTMP.

If i press Crtl + Alt + F3 then type startx i get to the desktop and i can install q4os.
After the installation the problem persists.

I tried installing the nvidia driver using different methods, nothing worked:

Try 1:
1. Boot from LiveCD and wait until it halts at "[OK] Finished systemd-update-utmp-runlevel.service - Record Runlevel Change in UTMP."
2. Now press Ctrl + Alt + F3 and wait for the terminal (tty3) to show up https://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?t=155493
3. Type "startx" and press Enter, now the desktop should show up
4. Use the Graphical installer to install Q4OS
5. After installation boot and wait until it halts at "[OK] Finished systemd-update-utmp-runlevel.service - Record Runlevel Change in UTMP."
6. Now press Ctrl + Alt + F3 and wait for the terminal (tty3) to show up
7. Login with your username (NOT root) + password
8. Type "startx" and press Enter, now the desktop should show up
9. After a few config windows a window to install the nvidia gpu driver will pop up. Install the driver! (This installs version 535.183.01-1~deb12u1)
--> Does not work (Driver not loaded (inxi -Fz: n/a) but can still login to desktop)
[Failed] Failed to start nividia-persistenced.service - NVIDIA Persistence Daemon.
See 'systemctl status nvidia-persistenced.service' for details.

Try 2:
1. Boot from LiveCD and wait until it halts at "[OK] Finished systemd-update-utmp-runlevel.service - Record Runlevel Change in UTMP."
2. Now press Ctrl + Alt + F3 and wait for the terminal (tty3) to show up https://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?t=155493
3. Type "startx" and press Enter, now the desktop should show up
4. Use the Graphical installer to install Q4OS
5. After installation boot and wait until it halts at "[OK] Finished systemd-update-utmp-runlevel.service - Record Runlevel Change in UTMP."
6. Now press Ctrl + Alt + F3 and wait for the terminal (tty3) to show up
7. Login with your username (NOT root) + password
8. Type "startx" and press Enter, now the desktop should show up
9. Download the nvidia driver version 550 directly from nvidia and save in Downloads directory named "nvidia550.run" https://www.nvidia.com/en-in/drivers/details/236036/
10. Right click the .run file and make executable
11. Open Terminal and execute 1. "sudo apt update" then "sudo apt install build-essential" then "sudo apt-get install manpages-dev" Source: https://linuxize.com/post/how-to-instal … debian-10/
12. Open Terminal and execute "sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r)" https://www.reddit.com/r/debian/comment … tallation/
13. Reboot and wait until it halts at "[OK] Finished systemd-update-utmp-runlevel.service - Record Runlevel Change in UTMP."
14. Now press Ctrl + Alt + F3 and wait for the terminal (tty3) to show up
15. Login with your username (NOT root) + password
16. Execute "cd Downloads"
17. Execute "sudo ./nvidia550.run --ui=none" (--ui=none because the graphical installer is buggy and does not work)
--> Does not work (Not able to boot anymore AT ALL)

Try 3:
1. Boot from LiveCD and wait until it halts at "[OK] Finished systemd-update-utmp-runlevel.service - Record Runlevel Change in UTMP."
2. Now press Ctrl + Alt + F3 and wait for the terminal (tty3) to show up https://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?t=155493
3. Type "startx" and press Enter, now the desktop should show up
4. Use the Graphical installer to install Q4OS
5. After installation boot and wait until it halts at "[OK] Finished systemd-update-utmp-runlevel.service - Record Runlevel Change in UTMP."
6. Now press Ctrl + Alt + F3 and wait for the terminal (tty3) to show up
7. Login with your username (NOT root) + password
8. Type "startx" and press Enter, now the desktop should show up
9. Open Terminal and execute "sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list" then add line "deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware" and save (probably not needed in Q4OS, stock debian only)
10.Open Terminal and execute "sudo apt update" then "sudo apt install nvidia-driver firmware-misc-nonfree"
11. Reboot
--> Does not work (same result for stock debian) and if trying Ctrl + Alt + F3 & startx it returns:
(EE) Fatal server error: (EE) Cannot run in framebuffer mode. Please specify busIDs for all framebuffer devices (EE) (EE) Please consult the x.org foundation support at http://wiki.x.org for help. (EE) Please a lso check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional information. (EE) (EE) Server terminated with error (1). Closing log file.
xinit: giving u
xinit: unable to connect to X server: Connection refused
xinit: server error
https://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php … 65#p784160
https://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsD … ookworm.22

Can you guys help me?
I'm having the same problem with stock debian.
Linux Mint Cinnamon does work out of the box but that's not what i want.

Last edited by Michael_ (2024-11-30 08:00)

Michael_

Member

Registered: 2023-01-29

Posts: 43

Re: Unable to Install Q4OS (Most likely Nvidia GPU Issue)

I consulted my laptop manufacturer (novacustom) and they said it's because the laptop requires linux kernel 6.8 and because of this q4os and debian is currently incompatible.

Is there a way to get q4os/debian working with my novacustom v54 laptop anyway or am i stuck with ubuntu based distros at the moment?

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 4,545

Website

Re: Unable to Install Q4OS (Most likely Nvidia GPU Issue)

We would recommend you to install Quarkos Noble https://quark-os.sourceforge.io/

Michael_

Member

Registered: 2023-01-29

Posts: 43

Re: Unable to Install Q4OS (Most likely Nvidia GPU Issue)

We would recommend you to install Quarkos Noble https://quark-os.sourceforge.io/

Which is Ubuntu based. So i am stuck with Ubuntu based Distros at the moment?
But at least it has KDE Plasma. What is the Livespan of QuarkOS / How long is it supported?

Last edited by Michael_ (2024-12-03 18:53)

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 4,545

Website

Re: Unable to Install Q4OS (Most likely Nvidia GPU Issue)

Quarkos editions are supported along with Ubuntu base. Quarkos Noble release follows Ubuntu 24.04 Noble 5 years standard support cycle, so until April 2029 at least. https://sourceforge.net/p/quark-os/blog … e-release/

Which is Ubuntu based. So i am stuck with Ubuntu based Distros at the moment?

Yes, however you may also try Debian Trixie / Q4OS 6 as soon as it's released the next year.

Michael_

Member

Registered: 2023-01-29

Posts: 43

Re: Unable to Install Q4OS (Most likely Nvidia GPU Issue)

That's decent news. I will definitely try Quarkos since this is probably my best option currently.

As far as Debian + KDE Plasma goes MX Linux might be an option offering Kernel 6.8 so i will try that too.

Michael_

Member

Registered: 2023-01-29

Posts: 43

Re: Unable to Install Q4OS (Most likely Nvidia GPU Issue)

So i tried out a bunch of stuff.

1.
QuarkOS (Ubuntu Based with KDE) works out of the Box incl. Nvidia Driver.
(Just like Linux Mint which is also Ubuntu based)

2.
MX Linux KDE (Debian Based with KDE) does hang at boot so you have to use the Ctrl + Alt + F3 and "startx" Trick.
But after the Installation you can upgrade to Kernel Version 6.9 using the MX Tools Package Manager and MX Linux Repo.
After you install that it works like a charm with no more boot hangs. You can also install Nvidia Drivers using MX Linux "Nvidia Driver Installer" which works aswell.

3.
For Q4OS Plasma & Stock Debian KDE you can do the following to get rid of the system hang at boot

1. Boot from LiveCD and wait until it halts at "[OK] Finished systemd-update-utmp-runlevel.service - Record Runlevel Change in UTMP."
2. Now press Ctrl + Alt + F3 and wait for the terminal (tty3) to show up https://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?t=155493
3. Type "startx" and press Enter, now the desktop should show up
4. Use the Graphical installer to install Q4OS
5. After installation boot and wait until it halts at "[OK] Finished systemd-update-utmp-runlevel.service - Record Runlevel Change in UTMP."
6. Now press Ctrl + Alt + F3 and wait for the terminal (tty3) to show up
7. Login with your username (NOT root) + password
8. Type "startx" and press Enter, now the desktop should show up
9. "sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list" add line "deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm-backports main contrib non-free" and save
10. sudo apt update
11. "sudo apt -t bookworm-backports install linux-image-amd64" (Installs the Latest Kernel Version available, to check which one that is pre install: apt-cache show linux-image-amd64)
12. systemctl reboot
13. "inxi -Fz" should now show Kernel Version 6.8 or newer
14. "sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list" then comment out (add # in front of) line "deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm-backports main contrib non-free" and save
15. "sudo apt update" (to remove/make unavailable packages from backports repository from cache)
16. Done!

But no matter if i install the nvidia driver using Q4OS Graphic Installer Tool or using "sudo apt install nvidia-driver firmware-misc-nonfree" inxi -Fz will show "n/a" as driver instead of nvidia after installing it.

Questions

1.Can i get the Nvidia Driver working on Q4OS / Stock Debian KDE somehow? (After installing the new Kernel)

2.
Is this a good way to install the new kernel? Are there any dangers in doing this like ending up with a broken system? (Especially somewhat down the line after installing some software and updates...)
Is there a better way?

-----

So at this point i know i can run QuarkOS or MX Linux KDE without problems.
But still wondering if it's not also possible to get Q4OS + nvidia to work aswell. At this point i seem to be very close...

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 4,545

Website

Re: Unable to Install Q4OS (Most likely Nvidia GPU Issue)

You could try to "Install NVIDIA Drivers Via Official nvidia.com Package", see the second option https://phoenixnap.com/kb/nvidia-drivers-debian

Michael_

Member

Registered: 2023-01-29

Posts: 43

Re: Unable to Install Q4OS (Most likely Nvidia GPU Issue)

You could try to "Install NVIDIA Drivers Via Official nvidia.com Package", see the second option https://phoenixnap.com/kb/nvidia-drivers-debian

I tried that (after upgrading kernel) but again i ended up with a corrupted system not able to boot anymore at all.

I'm sure its possible to get it working but unless someone tells me exactly what i have to do i think i just wait until Debian/Q4OS becomes officially compatible and meanwhile use MX Linux KDE which works and is still Debian (not Ubuntu).

Also even if i got this working. It would be all custom butchery and i need a stable system that just works and does not give me trouble.
That's why i want Debian (based distros) in the first place.