Fix Second Monitor Black Screen After Ubuntu 22.04 Installation NVIDIA 3080 Ti

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Encountering a black screen on a second monitor after a fresh installation of Ubuntu 22.04, particularly when using an NVIDIA 3080 Ti graphics card, is a frustrating issue. This problem often stems from driver incompatibilities, configuration glitches, or display manager conflicts. This comprehensive guide aims to provide a structured approach to diagnose and resolve this issue, ensuring your multi-monitor setup functions flawlessly. We will delve into various troubleshooting steps, covering driver management, Xorg configuration, display manager adjustments, and potential hardware considerations. By methodically working through these solutions, you can identify the root cause and restore your second monitor's functionality.

Before diving into specific solutions, it's crucial to understand the common factors contributing to this issue. The NVIDIA 3080 Ti is a high-performance graphics card that requires specific drivers to operate correctly, especially under Linux-based operating systems like Ubuntu. After a fresh installation, the default drivers may not be optimized for your hardware, leading to display problems. Furthermore, the interplay between the graphics drivers (NVIDIA or Xorg), the X server (responsible for graphical display), and the display manager (which handles login and session management) can introduce complexities. Misconfigurations in any of these components can result in a black screen on the secondary monitor.

  1. Verify Hardware Connections: Begin by ensuring that both monitors are securely connected to your NVIDIA 3080 Ti. Check the cables (HDMI, DisplayPort) for any damage and ensure they are firmly plugged into the correct ports on both the graphics card and the monitors. Sometimes, a loose connection can be the culprit behind a black screen.
  2. Basic Monitor Functionality: Confirm that both monitors are powered on and functioning independently. You can test this by connecting each monitor individually to your primary display output to rule out any hardware issues with the monitors themselves.
  3. System Updates: After a fresh Ubuntu installation, it's essential to update the system to the latest packages. Open a terminal and run the following commands:
    sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
    These commands ensure that your system has the latest software and security patches, which can resolve compatibility issues.
  4. Reboot the System: After updating, reboot your computer to apply the changes. A simple reboot can often resolve temporary glitches and ensure that the updated packages are properly loaded.

The most common cause of a black screen on a second monitor is driver-related issues. Ubuntu provides several ways to manage graphics drivers, including NVIDIA's proprietary drivers and the open-source Xorg drivers. Let's explore how to manage these drivers effectively.

1. Identifying the Current Driver

First, determine which driver is currently in use. Open a terminal and run:

lspci -k | grep -EA3 'VGA|3D|Display'

This command lists the PCI devices and their associated drivers. Look for the section related to your NVIDIA graphics card. The output will indicate whether you are using the NVIDIA driver or the Nouveau (Xorg) driver. If you see kernel driver in use: nouveau, you are using the open-source driver.

2. Installing NVIDIA Drivers

If you are using the Nouveau driver or if you haven't installed any NVIDIA drivers yet, follow these steps:

  1. Using the "Additional Drivers" Tool:

    • Open the "Software & Updates" application. You can find this by searching in the application menu.
    • Go to the "Additional Drivers" tab.
    • Ubuntu will scan for available drivers. You should see a list of NVIDIA drivers, including recommended versions. Select the recommended proprietary driver and click "Apply Changes".
    • Wait for the driver to install and then reboot your system.

  2. Using the Command Line:

    • Open a terminal and run:
    sudo ubuntu-drivers devices

    This command lists the recommended drivers for your hardware. Note the recommended driver version.

    • Install the recommended driver using:
    sudo apt install nvidia-driver-<version>

    Replace <version> with the recommended driver version (e.g., nvidia-driver-535).

    • After installation, reboot your system.

3. Switching Between NVIDIA and Xorg Drivers

Sometimes, the NVIDIA driver might not work optimally with your setup, and switching to the Xorg driver can resolve the black screen issue. Conversely, if you're using the Xorg driver, switching to the NVIDIA driver might be the solution.

  1. Switching to NVIDIA Driver:
    • If you are using the Xorg driver, follow the steps in the previous section to install the NVIDIA driver.
    • After installation, reboot your system.
  2. Switching to Xorg (Nouveau) Driver:
    • To switch back to the Xorg driver, you need to remove the NVIDIA driver. Open a terminal and run:
    sudo apt purge nvidia-driver-<version>
    Replace <version> with the version of the NVIDIA driver you have installed.
    • Alternatively, you can use:
    sudo apt purge nvidia-*
    This command removes all NVIDIA-related packages.
    • After removing the NVIDIA driver, update the system:
    sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
    • Reboot your system. The Nouveau driver should be automatically loaded.

4. Verifying Driver Installation

After installing or switching drivers, verify that the correct driver is in use by running:

lspci -k | grep -EA3 'VGA|3D|Display'

Check the output to ensure that the kernel driver in use line shows the driver you intended to use (NVIDIA or Nouveau).

Xorg is the display server responsible for managing the graphical output in Ubuntu. Sometimes, the default Xorg configuration may not correctly handle multiple monitors, leading to a black screen. Manually configuring Xorg can help resolve these issues.

1. Understanding Xorg Configuration Files

Xorg configuration files are located in the /etc/X11/ directory. The main configuration file is xorg.conf. However, it's generally recommended to create separate configuration files in the /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ directory for specific configurations. These files are loaded in alphabetical order, and any settings defined in these files override the default settings.

2. Creating a Custom Xorg Configuration

  1. Generate an Initial Configuration: You can generate a basic Xorg configuration file using the following command:
    sudo nvidia-settings --verbose --load-config-only
    This command attempts to load the NVIDIA settings and generate an Xorg configuration. However, it may not always produce a complete or correct configuration.
  2. Create a New Configuration File: It's often better to create a new configuration file manually. Open a terminal and create a new file, for example, 20-nvidia.conf, in the /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ directory:
    sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-nvidia.conf
  3. Add Configuration Sections: Add the necessary sections to the configuration file. A basic configuration for multiple monitors might look like this:
    Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier "layout"
    Screen 0 "nvidia"
    Inactive "intel"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier "nvidia"
    Driver "nvidia"
    BusID "PCI:1:0:0" # Replace with your actual BusID
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "nvidia"
    Device "nvidia"
    Monitor "monitor1"
    DefaultDepth 24
    Option         "metamodes" "DP-0: 1920x1080 +0+0, HDMI-0: 1920x1080 +1920+0"
    Option  "AllowNVIDIAGPUScreens"
    Option  "TripleBuffer" "1"
    Option "UseEvents" "1"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "monitor1"
    VendorName "Unknown"
    ModelName "Unknown"
EndSection
    • ServerLayout: Defines the overall layout of the server, including which screens are active.
    • Device: Specifies the graphics device and driver to use. The BusID should match your NVIDIA card's BusID. You can find this using lspci | grep VGA.
    • Screen: Configures the screen settings, including the monitor, resolution, and position. The metamodes option is crucial for multi-monitor setups. It defines the resolution and position of each monitor. Replace DP-0 and HDMI-0 with your actual output names, which you can find using xrandr.
    • Monitor: Defines the monitor characteristics. You can leave the VendorName and ModelName as "Unknown" for a basic configuration.
  4. Save and Reboot: Save the file and reboot your system to apply the changes.

3. Using xrandr to Configure Monitors

xrandr is a command-line tool for configuring monitors. It's useful for identifying monitor names and setting resolutions and positions.

  1. List Connected Monitors: Open a terminal and run:
    xrandr
    This command lists all connected monitors and their current settings. Note the names of your monitors (e.g., DP-0, HDMI-0).
  2. Set Monitor Resolution and Position: You can use xrandr to set the resolution and position of your monitors. For example:
    xrandr --output DP-0 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 0x0 --output HDMI-0 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 1920x0
    This command sets DP-0 to 1920x1080 resolution at position (0,0) and HDMI-0 to 1920x1080 resolution at position (1920,0). Adjust the resolutions and positions according to your setup.
  3. Make Changes Persistent: xrandr changes are not persistent across reboots. To make the changes permanent, you can add the xrandr commands to a script that runs on startup. Create a script file, for example, ~/.config/autostart/monitors.sh:
    mkdir -p ~/.config/autostart
nano ~/.config/autostart/monitors.sh
    Add the xrandr commands to the script:
    #!/bin/bash
xrandr --output DP-0 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 0x0 --output HDMI-0 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 1920x0
    Make the script executable:
    chmod +x ~/.config/autostart/monitors.sh
    Create a .desktop file to run the script on startup:
    nano ~/.config/autostart/monitors.desktop
    Add the following content:
    [Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Monitors
Exec=/home/<your_username>/.config/autostart/monitors.sh
    Replace <your_username> with your actual username. Save the file, and the xrandr commands will run on each startup.

4. Common Xorg Configuration Issues

  • Incorrect BusID: If the BusID in the Device section of the Xorg configuration file is incorrect, Xorg may not be able to identify your NVIDIA card. Double-check the BusID using lspci | grep VGA and update the configuration file accordingly.
  • Metamodes Syntax: The metamodes option in the Screen section is crucial for multi-monitor setups. Ensure that the syntax is correct and that the monitor names, resolutions, and positions are accurate. Incorrect syntax or values can lead to display issues.
  • Driver Compatibility: Ensure that the Driver specified in the Device section matches the driver you have installed (e.g., "nvidia" for the NVIDIA driver). Mismatched drivers can cause Xorg to fail to start or result in display problems.

The display manager is responsible for starting the X server and handling login sessions. Sometimes, issues with the display manager can cause a black screen on the second monitor. Ubuntu 22.04 uses GDM3 (GNOME Display Manager) by default, but other display managers like LightDM are also available.

1. Restarting the Display Manager

A simple way to troubleshoot display manager issues is to restart the display manager service. Open a terminal and run:

sudo systemctl restart gdm3

If you are using LightDM, replace gdm3 with lightdm.

This command restarts the display manager, which can sometimes resolve temporary glitches and configuration issues.

2. Switching Display Managers

If restarting the display manager doesn't resolve the issue, you can try switching to a different display manager. LightDM is a popular alternative to GDM3 and may work better with your hardware.

  1. Install LightDM:
    sudo apt install lightdm
    During the installation, you will be prompted to choose a default display manager. Select lightdm.
  2. Switch Back to GDM3 (if needed):
    sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm3
    This command allows you to switch back to GDM3 if LightDM doesn't resolve the issue.

3. Configuration Files

Display managers have configuration files that can affect how monitors are handled. For GDM3, the main configuration file is /etc/gdm3/custom.conf. For LightDM, the configuration files are in /etc/lightdm/. Modifying these files can sometimes resolve display issues, but it's generally recommended to proceed with caution and back up the original files before making changes.

The Linux kernel plays a crucial role in hardware support. Using an older kernel might lead to compatibility issues with newer hardware like the NVIDIA 3080 Ti. Updating to a newer kernel version can sometimes resolve display problems.

1. Checking the Current Kernel Version

Open a terminal and run:

uname -r

This command displays the current kernel version.

2. Updating the Kernel

Ubuntu provides tools to update the kernel. The easiest way is to use the Update Manager:

  1. Open the "Software & Updates" application.
  2. Go to the "Updates" tab.
  3. Ensure that "Pre-released updates" is set to "Never" unless you want to install development kernels.
  4. Run the Update Manager and install any available kernel updates.

Alternatively, you can use the command line:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

This command updates all packages, including the kernel, to the latest versions.

3. Potential Kernel Issues

Sometimes, a newer kernel might introduce new issues. If you encounter problems after a kernel update, you can revert to a previous kernel version by selecting it in the GRUB boot menu during startup. This allows you to test different kernels and identify the one that works best with your hardware.

While software configurations are often the primary cause of a black screen on a second monitor, hardware issues can also be a factor.

1. Cable and Port Testing

  • Test Different Cables: Try using different HDMI or DisplayPort cables to rule out any cable-related issues. Sometimes, a faulty cable can cause display problems.
  • Test Different Ports: Try connecting the monitors to different ports on your NVIDIA 3080 Ti. Some ports might have compatibility issues or be damaged.

2. Power Supply

The NVIDIA 3080 Ti is a power-hungry graphics card. Ensure that your power supply unit (PSU) has sufficient wattage to power the card and your other components. An underpowered PSU can lead to instability and display issues.

3. Monitor Compatibility

While less common, monitor compatibility issues can occur. Try connecting the second monitor to a different computer to see if it works correctly. If the monitor doesn't work on other systems, it might indicate a hardware problem with the monitor itself.

Resolving a black screen issue on a second monitor after installing Ubuntu 22.04 with an NVIDIA 3080 Ti requires a systematic approach. By methodically working through the troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide, you can identify the root cause and restore your multi-monitor setup to full functionality. Remember to verify hardware connections, manage drivers, configure Xorg, adjust display manager settings, consider kernel updates, and assess potential hardware issues. With patience and persistence, you can overcome this challenge and enjoy the benefits of a dual-monitor setup.