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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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Black screen blinking prompt during apt upgrade: what to do? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

8 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I just did an apt update followed by an apt upgrade, and during the latter the screen went all blank with a blinking prompt. Unresponsive to keyboard and touchpad. I also hear the fans. It's been like this for 10 min now. I think some Nvidia drivers were included in the upgrade. What to do? Is it safe to emergency reboot? I appreciate any suggestions also for post-checks. Cheers!

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[–] tarjeezy 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I ran into something similar on Linux Mint. Never seen my installation kill itself before until this. Ended up booting into Recovery mode from the grub menu, and rolled back using Timeshift restore.

For me, the culprit was the ubuntu-drivers-common update, because after I rolled back, I was able to install all the other updates without issue. I just blacklisted this one update to keep it from showing until the next version is released.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Thank you, I'll check the status of that in apt.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Try booting into console mode. Maybe there was a botched update that needs to be fixed. Below are some instructions on how to boot into tty.

https://www.linuxuprising.com/2020/01/how-to-boot-to-console-text-mode-in.html

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Cheers!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Try switching to virtual console (alt+ctrl+F<1-6>). If it does not work, reboot with alt+sysrq+REISUB (sysrq is the same key as prtsc, REISUB must be typed sequentially).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Cheers. Didn't know about the last keyseq!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

Something funky is probably going on in one of your updated packages. After reboot, are you able to get into the desktop?

Reminds me of that time Linus (of Linus Tech Tips) accidentally uninstalled his desktop when he's trying to install Steam on his Linux Mint desktop. Turns out it was due to botched dependency list in the community steam package, which cause apt to prompt to uninstall gnome when he tried to install Steam, and as usual he just proceed without a second thought lol.