Arch Linux

Does disabling framebuffer help? (append vga=normal to kernel command line)

No, it doesn't help.

Yes, this a known issue. I made an upstream report in freedekstop.org a few months ago but no one has even taken a look at it yet.
I seems something changed between xserver 1.2 and 1.3 ( still broken in 1.4) that the nvidia driver can't restore video modes or something like that.

An easier way to reproduce this.
1. Do a fresh boot.
2. Log into your xsession ( gnome, kde,etc..).
3. Suspend your computer (hibernate).
4. Resume your computer. At this point, changing console is still working with NO blank screens.
5. Quit X. Start X again. (or simply Ctrl+Alt+Backspace)
6. Starting X again causes blank screens in console windows (i.e., when doing Ctrl+Alt+F1).

I have been struggling with this for at least the last 4 months. I've asked all over the place but no one could help.
This is a major issue so it anyone can find a fix or a way to debug this, this would be great.

It was even broken here in previous nvidia drivers under xserver 1.3 and still in 1.4 with the current nvidia drivers.
It worked in xserver 1.2

This the upstream bug I reported https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=11427

Maybe this should be reported to nVidia too.

Manuel C., yes. I can do that. Do they have a bug tracker or something?

I sent a very detailed report to linux-bugs@nvidia.com
But since this worked in xserver 1.2, then xserver 1.3.0 and 1.4 are also to blame.

Somebody reported to have "workarounded" this issue installing "svgatextmode" (there's no "svgatextmode" package for Arch).

Download site: http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/utils/console/
Debian package: http://packages.debian.org/svgatextmode

This is probably fixed in 100.0.23: http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display_ia32_100.14.23.html

I've updated to 100.14.23 and shutdown and rebooted several times since then. It is still broken in the new driver.

changing console when X is running works fine for me with nvidia-100.14.19-2 :-/
didn't try exiting from X to plain console yet

yes, it only breaks after restarting X server.

I've disabled the [testing] repository and downgraded to xserver 1.2 and I still have this problem (everything worked fine before installing xserver 1.3 and 1.4). On a fresh installed Arch Linux system, same nVidia driver and xserver 1.2 (I never enabled [testing] there), I don't have this issue.

So I haven't xserver 1.4 anymore but I still have its bug: funny......

Manuel C., you said someone worked around this by installing svgatextmode. Do you have a link or more information from that source?
Do I just install svgatextmode and reboot or do I need further configuration?

This is my situation now... quitting X/changing console:

WORKING = OK
*NOT* WORKING = Black screen

PC1 (nvidia):
xorg-server 1.2 WORKING -> xorg-server 1.3 [testing] *NOT* WORKING-> xorg-server 1.4 [testing] *NOT* WORKING -> xorg-server 1.2 *NOT* WORKING -> xorg-server 1.4 *NOT* WORKING

PC2 (nvidia), [testing] never used:
xorg-server 1.2 WORKING -> xorg-server 1.4 WORKING

Well... about svgatextmode, I read this on the nvnews.net forum, but I can't find that post anymore.

I also have this problem.

However, I noted something funny : I have a notebook and the problem doesn't occur with CRT monitors connected to the second port (VGA). When working in TwinView and going back to console, flat panel stays black but the CRT monitor shows the cloned console as normal (useful to debug a xorg.conf!). I didn't try yet with TV-output (S-Video). I use nvidia 100.14.19 drivers.

Cilyan

Please everyone test this with nvidia-169.07 drivers

The problem is the same with nvidia 169.09-1. I didn't test with TwinView yet.

I have the same problem on my laptop with geforcer go 6100. After install the Nvidia Driver, I can't see the console after start X, but if I put a crt monitor in the out vga, it shows me the login. So, only in the laptop's flat panel that black screen appears.
I have no idea whats happend, cause with the xorg's driver works fine. I contacted the nvidia's support and I'm watting for response.

I've had a weird history with this issue. I was experiencing it when I first installed Archlinux on my laptop about a year ago (I recall my screen going black when I switched consoles and shutdown, though I don't recall the hibernate issue). Somehow, I fixed it, and I couldn't for the life of me tell you how; however, without changing my xorg.conf file at all, I've found myself having the same problem as of the last nvidia upgrade (169.07). I am also anxious to get this fixed, as I am using Nv in the meantime, which is not ideal for me.

It seems nvidia is ignoring this problem. I know a few people who are suffering from this problem one of which is a contributor to the Linux kernel who emailed nvidia but got no reply from them.

I just want to confirm that I have this problem, but not when changing from X to console, only when closing X.

Seems to be fixed here in xorg-server-1.4.0.90-8
It's the first build where this bug doesn't appear since xorg-server-1.2.0

This issue is not fixed for me, please re-open !

$ pacman -Q nvidia nvidia-utils xorg-server
nvidia 169.12-2
nvidia-utils 169.12-1
xorg-server 1.4.0.90-9

I experience this problem from the moment that X starts. During the boot process, my virtual terminals output fine, but once X starts I immediately get a black screen when changing VTs. I don't have to wait a few hours, or stop and restart X or do anything weird to produce the issue, it happens right off the bat.

The most annoying part of this bug is that when I idle and my screen goes black, it gets stuck that way after I return unless I restart X with a Ctrl+Alt+Backspace.

Am I experiencing the same bug here, or is this likely something else entirely? Please advise as to whether I should pursue my issues separately.

It seems to me that you are experiencing two separate problems. The first you described is the one we are discussing in this thread.
But, the other seems different, even if it is maybe also caused by a problem in the nvidia driver.
Browse on bugs and forum, I remember I saw a post on that issue.
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I also did some test last day, because I remember that when I reinstalled ArchLinux, the problem wasn't there first, when I first switched from vga to nvidia, but appeared right after I pasted my saved xorg.conf
So I tried with a minimal xorg without success. I'll post you the xorg.conf when I'm back on linux.

We cannot fix issues in binary blobs,
though it seems it's not only nvidia's issue from one comment here: https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=11427
But I don't see non-nvidia reports in our bugtracker, so I'm for closing this as "Won't fix".