Mint HDMI Issue

[Cloudy]

I am new to Linux but just installed Linux Mint 19.1 Cinnamon onto my laptop, and made to sure check on the option to also install 3rd party drivers when I was doing so. I tried to update it and now seem to be running version 4.0.10 of Cinnamon and Linux Kernel 4.15.0-55-generic.
I am using a HP Pavilion dv7 notebook that has an AMD Radeon HD 5650/5750 / 6530M/6550M GPU.

My problem is that when I plug a HDMI cable into my TV it only works for about 30 seconds before loses signal. Then after another short amount of time it pops back up again. I have tried going to Driver Manager but the only option is allows me to apply is "bcmwl-kernel-source version 6.30.223.271+bdcom-0ubuntu4". (I also restarted the PC after applying, but still having the same problem.)

[Danrobi]

Hi, you should have more help for this kind of issue at Mint forum or Reddit.
gl

[[GNU] Debian ☭]

PS: before everything aways test the cable (does it work on windows?)

[Marlock]

First a stupid question: are the hdmi cables good and well plugged? Don't hate me for this, had to ask! ;)

I looked up "hdmi blink hp pavilion dv7 linux" and nothing significant came up, so lets just go through some generic actions that may help...

Originally posted by Toast:

Originally posted by Cloudy Canadian:

I am new to Linux but just installed Linux Mint 19.1 Cinnamon onto my laptop

FYI, 19.2 was just released. You should upgrade. There should be an option to go from 19.1 to 19.2 in the update manager.

Ideed you should!

A load of small changes came in that version that might not fix your issue but are welcome anyway, and with some luck a couple of the updated packages might contain a bugfix or two that may help.


Also on the Update Manager there is an entry for linux kernel upgrades... you can try the 5.0 kernel branch from there as it might also help improve hardware support for your gpu (that is mostly done by the kernel and a lot has changed from 4.15 up to 4.20 and then 5.0).


After that one thing you may want to do if you are going to use Linux Mint for games and have an AMD Radeon GPU is adding the Padoka Stable PPA to get newer versions of Mesa (a package containing many GPU drivers including ones for AMD).

(PPA = 3rd party repository for Ubuntu and derivate distros like Linux Mint, containing software that isn't available in the default repos, or in newer versions than the officially supported ones, like in the case of padoka)

This is actually recommended by Valve if you want to play windows-exclusive games via Steamplay (aka Proton):
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton/wiki/Requirements#amdintel

(do note that your GPU is an old series not supported by the new "amdgpu" driver, only by the legacy "radeon" driver, so no vulkan support at all for it, which means games needing directX 10, 11 and 12 won't work)


About the Driver Manager, that extra driver that you installed was probably just for a broadcom wifi chip.

Opensource drivers are built-in on linux and distributed as normal packages and updated with the rest of the system via the Updates Manager. This Driver Manager is only there for hardware that may need a closed source driver instead, and those aren't installed by default, only by user choice.

Fortunately AMD now provides official opensource drivers for their GPUs on linux and they are already better than the old closed source ones, so that is why no driver for the GPU was listed there, there is just no need.


PS: if you decide to reinstall from scratch, get the Linux Mint 19.2 ISO and use that directly.


edit: how could I forget this!?! Welcome to Linux

[Cloudy]

Originally posted by DebianLinux:

PS: before everything aways test the cable (does it work on windows?)

Yes, I never had any issues with it back when Windows 7 was on the laptop. But still a good suggestion, I did think of that.

[Danrobi]

Originally posted by Marlock:

edit: how could I forget this!?! Welcome to Linux

Yep, Welcome to Linux @Cloudy Canadian

[Cloudy]

Originally posted by Toast:

Originally posted by Cloudy Canadian:

I am new to Linux but just installed Linux Mint 19.1 Cinnamon onto my laptop

FYI, 19.2 was just released. You should upgrade. There should be an option to go from 19.1 to 19.2 in the update manager.

Thank you for the suggestion, I did end up doing that update. Although the issue is still happening... It works for a short bit, but then signal goes away, then randomly comes back after a bit. This is making me so upset, I swear I installed everything carefully and properly...

[Cloudy]

Every moment or so it switches on its own from "laptop screen only", to "both", to "TV only", then to "extended", over and over...

[king of nothin]

How long is the HDMI cable and do you use any adapters on any side? does the cable have a sort of "box" somewhere in between or on the ends? sounds like your signal isnt strong enough or has hickups. and hdmi is pure ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ from jack to jack anyway btw it was designed to get your money and not for lasting.
i had the exact same issue with using HDMI/DVI and this applebullshit adapters on windows, linux and Mac and it weakens video signal (to a point where it breaks constantly, searches and reconnects until signal too weak again.) as well as cable length does an impact...but youre probably not on 50meter hdmi nor using apple i guess...those were my culprits. i changed to kat5 network cable and it was gone actually... hope it helps!

[Cloudy]

Originally posted by Linux Beef Supreme:

How long is the HDMI cable and do you use any adapters on any side? does the cable have a sort of "box" somewhere in between or on the ends? sounds like your signal isnt strong enough or has hickups. and hdmi is pure ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ from jack to jack anyway btw it was designed to get your money and not for lasting.

Not using any adapters, only 6ft long, had no issues before hand when the laptop was running on Windows 7. I know it has something to do with the OS because even when I unplug the HDMI my laptop screen after a little while flicks black for a moment once.

[Cloudy]

Originally posted by Toast:

Originally posted by Cloudy Canadian:

Not using any adapters, only only 6ft long, had no issues before hand when the laptop was running on Windows 7. I know it has something to do with the OS because even when I unplug the HDMI my laptop screen after a little while flicks black for a moment once.

You probably do need a shorter cable.

Tried shorter, didn't solve it.

[Cloudy]

Maybe I should try something other than Mint... Would require installing another OS from scratch but I really need this PC to work with my TV. Thank for all for the suggestions none the less, taking time out of your day to try and help means a lot to me.

[Cloudy]

I tried to use Ubuntu instead and the same thing is happening, it is automatically toggling to the other options... As if I am clicking Win+P but instead by itself... 

[Marlock]

You mentioned the laptop screen flickers a bit even without the hdmi screen plugged, and the screen modes that the computer is cycling over are all possible modes...

those two symptoms are telling me that your issue is not on the hdmi...


is there a chance that you have a stuck function key (the one some laptops have that works as a shortcut to choosing between displays)?

on the same hypothesys, can you look at keyboard hotkeys settings for the OS and find the hotkey for choosing display modes? i'm currently away from my computer so not sure how it is named, bit should be readonably easy to figure it out... if you find it, try clearing the hotkey


alternatively, did you try the kernel upgrade to 5.0 already and the padoka ppa? there is a bit more of a chance they'll help if the issue involves the gpu going a bit bonkers like may be the case...


other ideas derived from this thread (though most people posting were on nvidia)
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=283874

1- try connecting via some other conector instead of hdmi, if that is available, or via a hdmi>>vga adapter

2- turn off v-sync (settings > general settings > enable vblank) and screen-flipping in the driver (easier said than done, I've no idea if the option exist on amd gpus and how to toggle since it has no control panel) then restarting cinnamon (should do this even without the previous, just in case... Alt+F2 then R, or right-click the taskbar > Troubleshooting > Restart Cinnamon )

3- for diagnostics purpose only (kills performance badly): log out and select the desktop environment "cinnamon (software rendering)" (there is a small button where it can be chosen, a very discrete one at that)

4- also for diagnostics purpose: create another user and login to that... does the issue still happen (works to figure out if it's a bona fide system issue or some messed up user config (not meaning that it's you who manually messed it)

5- check the file /etc/environment for an entry like "CLUTTER_PAINT=disable-clipped-redraws:disable-culling" and if it is there remove it and reboot:

xed admin:///etc/environment

[Marlock]

Originally posted by Cloudy Canadian:

I tried to use Ubuntu instead and the same thing is happening, it is automatically toggling to the other options... As if I am clicking Win+P but instead by itself...

wrote my previous post while you posted that so dind't take it into account... trying the kernel and padoka stable ppa upgrades is still a valid attempt (for both LM and Ubuntu) as are 1 through 4 (4 on ubuntu should have a similar option and x-org and wayland)... 5 seems unlikely to help, but if you still have mint installed no harm trying

[Cloudy]

Originally posted by Marlock:

You mentioned the laptop screen flickers a bit even without the hdmi screen plugged, and the screen modes that the computer is cycling over are all possible modes...

those two symptoms are telling me that your issue is not on the hdmi...

It only will do that if I unplug the HDMI, if I start up the PC without the HDMI ever being plugged in it wont do it.