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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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How to fool a laptop into thinking a monitor is connected? (lemmy.kde.social)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

30 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Hello! I converted an old laptop with a broken screen into a home server, and it all works well except for one thing: when I reboot it (via ssh), if no screen is connected, it will get stuck and refuse to boot. as soon as I connect an HDMI monitor, the fans will start spinning and it will start booting as usual. Then I can remove the HDMI and it will work flawlessly. I don't know if this is a linux problem, a GRUB problem, or a firmware problem.
Any idea on how to solve this, or on how to fool it into thinking a screen is connected? The problem is not the lid switch as I removed the magnet from the screen, so it thinks the lid is always open

Thanks in advance!

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Is it getting stuck in the BIOS? If you can't ssh in, can you even ping it? Network should come up before graphics.

Have you disabled the display manager?

As someone eles mentioned, boot it with a screen and check the BIOS. Since this was a laptop, the BIOS is certainly expecting a display, so you might have to adjust something there.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Yes I can ping it!

Have you disabled the display manager?

yep, I did `systemctl set-default multi-user.target'

As someone eles mentioned, boot it with a screen and check the BIOS. Since this was a laptop, the BIOS is certainly expecting a display, so you might have to adjust something there.

I already looked into the bios but it was pretty empty, just a few options, nothing about displays or graphics card

but now I have a doubts, perhaps there is a "show advanced settings" button somewhere that I didn't see? I have to look for it

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Most likely it's hard coded in the firmware and not exposed as a BIOS option because the OEM didn't ever think anyone would run into this. The dummy plug is your lowest effort workaround. Hope that works, good luck!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Thanks!!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

It could be Linux, too. Some distros have fancy boot graphics - look for something called "plasma" - not the KDE one, but a different one - and uninstall or disable that. It's a common thing that hides the boot log behind a logo-and-progress bar. Arch doesn't use it, so I haven't seen it in years, but IIRC it can cause problems on headless systems.