Solved MATE desktop won't load, stalls, no menu bars, etc.

D

Dave-D

Just did a fresh install of FreeBSD v.13.1 RELEASE amd64.
Went through my normal routine (known to work from recent loads),
installed MATE desktop. Reboot, loads lightdm, log in,
attempts to load MATE for first time, but shows only the MATE
desktop background and seems to stall. No menu bars, nothing else loads.
I am able to R-click on MATE desktop to pull up menu, that works, but nothing else.

Not sure why, but seems I ran into this problem or one closely related before,
and had something to do with frame buffers and/or SATA/Boot related BIOS settings.

In case it matters, BIOS was set prior to install as follows:
Chipset SATA = Enable
Chipset SATA Mode = AHCI
UEFI Boot = Enable

Hardware:
Video card: AMD ATI HD 4670
Motherboard: Intel DH67BL

Thanks for any and all help!
Dave
 
With FreeBSD's Mate ports I've noticed that sometimes I've had to reboot a few times, presumably giving the Mate desktop manager a chance to sort things out.
 
The more I examine and delve into this question, the more I realize that DE (Gnome, Mate, Xfce etc.) does not provide convenience, but only problems. That's why I use a simple window manager.
 
Ogis said:
The more I examine and delve into this question, the more I realize that DE (Gnome, Mate, Xfce etc.) does not provide convenience, but only problems. That's why I use a simple window manager.
Click to expand...

You signature says different ;·) JK
XFCE runs nicely on my T430, KDE it is a no go. I don't like mate and Gnome, never tried on FBSD.
 
Not sure whats going on but this is driving me crazy.

Apparently the problem is not the MATE desktop.
Seems to have something to do with a frame or window display issue.
I've been working on this for hours today...

TEST 1:
Changed SATA boot emulation (in BIOS) from AHCI to IDE, left Boot mode = UEFI.
Did a fresh install of FreeBSD v.13.1 RELEASE amd64,
using previously proven-to-work install routine,
installed LXQT desktop.

RESULT 1:
LXQT loads with same (prior) result as MATE,
screen background only, no menu bars,
only now won't even run anything when R-click to pull up menu,
now nothing works.

I'm not sure whats going on here, but this is nuts.

Ideas or suggestions anyone?

Thanks!
 
I think this is a AMD video card / UEFI / framebuffer problem.

I was right, I had this same problem a while back, see this post (although I "got lucky" and still to this day, now that its happened again,
still stand in need of a solution.

Apparently this is an ongoing problem. Not sure if it's ever been solved. See these posts:

My prior issue:
forums.freebsd.org

Solved - Framebuffer Problems - No Working Desktop Possible

Been trying for days to get FreeBSD running as a desktop. Running into constant framebuffer problems. BIOS UEFI = Disable --- (radeon doesn't like UEFI). FreeBSD installed with "GPT + Active (BIOS) --- Only one that will boot. /boot/loader.conf: inserted as line 1 of file =>...
forums.freebsd.org forums.freebsd.org

Other related posts:

FreeBSD and UEFI​


Console Hangs with AMD Vega Graphics​

forums.freebsd.org

Solved - Console Hangs with AMD Vega Graphics

I've been reading up a number of posts on getting amdgpu graphics working. I'm running 12.0. I've got amdgpu.ko and drm.ko loaded. When I boot with hw.syscons.disable=1 the console output stops. Not sure if the system is still running with its head cut off though. The keyboard still responds...
forums.freebsd.org forums.freebsd.org

FreeBSD can't boot on UEFI with AMD hardware

202811 – FreeBSD can't boot on UEFI with AMD hardware

bugs.freebsd.org bugs.freebsd.org
 
Figured out the problem...
moved further comments to my old (more appropriate) thread.
Still looking for the solution...

forums.freebsd.org

Solved - Framebuffer Problems - No Working Desktop Possible

Been trying for days to get FreeBSD running as a desktop. Running into constant framebuffer problems. BIOS UEFI = Disable --- (radeon doesn't like UEFI). FreeBSD installed with "GPT + Active (BIOS) --- Only one that will boot. /boot/loader.conf: inserted as line 1 of file =>...
forums.freebsd.org forums.freebsd.org
 
BobSlacker said:
You signature says different ;·) JK
XFCE runs nicely on my T430, KDE it is a no go. I don't like mate and Gnome, never tried on FBSD.
Click to expand...
I can’t config x t430 xrandr can’t opendisplay how can i do ?
 

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What a mess... to begin with, read these files again and think a bit about it, you'll probably notice that a lot of things don't make any sense.
 
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