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[SOLVED] Scrambled early boot messages (gremlins)

This is a kind of video pastebin type link, it auto deletes after 2 days, it's a strange effect:
https://streamable.com/364prd
It started after updating this lot, I downgraded them in 3 batches, rebooting each time, the final one fixed it, the first two didn't:
Code: [Select]
[2023-06-17T12:08:39+0100] [ALPM] upgraded artools-base (0.30.6-1 -> 0.30.7-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:40+0100] [ALPM] upgraded util-linux-libs (2.39-4 -> 2.39-9)
[2023-06-17T12:08:40+0100] [ALPM] upgraded libxcrypt (4.4.34-1 -> 4.4.35-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:40+0100] [ALPM] upgraded btrfs-progs (6.3.1-1 -> 6.3.2-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:40+0100] [ALPM] upgraded libx11 (1.8.5-2 -> 1.8.6-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:40+0100] [ALPM] upgraded dbus (1.14.6-2 -> 1.14.8-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:40+0100] [ALPM] upgraded libcups (1:2.4.4-1 -> 1:2.4.5-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:40+0100] [ALPM] upgraded libssh2 (1.10.0-3 -> 1.11.0-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:40+0100] [ALPM] upgraded libnghttp2 (1.53.0-1 -> 1.54.0-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:40+0100] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-libxcrypt (4.4.34-1.3 -> 4.4.35-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:40+0100] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-openssl (1:3.0.8-1 -> 1:3.1.1-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:40+0100] [ALPM] installed libutempter (1.2.1-3)
[2023-06-17T12:08:41+0100] [ALPM] upgraded util-linux (2.39-4 -> 2.39-9)
[2023-06-17T12:08:41+0100] [ALPM] upgraded kbd (2.5.1-2 -> 2.6.0-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:41+0100] [ALPM] upgraded vulkan-icd-loader (1.3.245-1 -> 1.3.251-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:41+0100] [ALPM] upgraded gperftools (2.10-1 -> 2.10-3)
[2023-06-17T12:08:41+0100] [ALPM] upgraded libjxl (0.8.1-2 -> 0.8.2-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:41+0100] [ALPM] upgraded ocl-icd (2.3.1-1 -> 2.3.2-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:41+0100] [ALPM] upgraded mesa (23.1.1-1 -> 23.1.2-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:42+0100] [ALPM] upgraded libtiff (4.5.0-4 -> 4.5.1-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:44+0100] [ALPM] upgraded chromium (114.0.5735.106-1 -> 114.0.5735.133-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:44+0100] [ALPM] upgraded dbus-glib (0.112-2 -> 0.112-3)
[2023-06-17T12:08:44+0100] [ALPM] upgraded duktape (2.7.0-5 -> 2.7.0-6)
[2023-06-17T12:08:44+0100] [ALPM] upgraded enca (1.19-4.1 -> 1.19-5)
[2023-06-17T12:08:44+0100] [ALPM] upgraded exempi (2.6.3-1 -> 2.6.3-2)
[2023-06-17T12:08:44+0100] [ALPM] upgraded ffmpeg4.4 (4.4.3-2 -> 4.4.4-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:48+0100] [ALPM] upgraded firefox (114.0-1 -> 114.0.1-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:48+0100] [ALPM] upgraded libproxy (0.4.18-3 -> 0.5.1-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:48+0100] [ALPM] upgraded glib-networking (1:2.76.0-1 -> 1:2.76.0-2)
[2023-06-17T12:08:48+0100] [ALPM] upgraded glslang (12.1.0-2 -> 12.2.0-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:48+0100] [ALPM] upgraded gstreamer (1.22.3-4 -> 1.22.3-6)
[2023-06-17T12:08:48+0100] [ALPM] upgraded orc (0.4.33-1 -> 0.4.34-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:51+0100] [ALPM] upgraded gst-plugins-base-libs (1.22.3-4 -> 1.22.3-6)
[2023-06-17T12:08:51+0100] [ALPM] upgraded gst-libav (1.22.3-4 -> 1.22.3-6)
[2023-06-17T12:08:51+0100] [ALPM] upgraded gst-plugins-bad-libs (1.22.3-4 -> 1.22.3-6)
[2023-06-17T12:08:51+0100] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-dbus (1.14.6-2 -> 1.14.8-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:51+0100] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-libx11 (1.8.4-1 -> 1.8.6-1.1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:51+0100] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-vulkan-icd-loader (1.3.245-1 -> 1.3.251-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:52+0100] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-libssh2 (1.10.0-2 -> 1.11.0-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:52+0100] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-mesa (23.1.1-1 -> 23.1.2-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:52+0100] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-faudio (23.05-1 -> 23.06-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:52+0100] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-libtiff (4.5.0-3 -> 4.5.1-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:52+0100] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-util-linux (2.39-1.1 -> 2.39-2)
[2023-06-17T12:08:52+0100] [ALPM] upgraded libdbusmenu-glib (16.04.0-5 -> 16.04.0.r498-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:52+0100] [ALPM] upgraded libdbusmenu-gtk3 (16.04.0-5 -> 16.04.0.r498-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:52+0100] [ALPM] upgraded libde265 (1.0.11-2 -> 1.0.12-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:52+0100] [ALPM] upgraded libgusb (0.4.5-1 -> 0.4.6-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:52+0100] [ALPM] upgraded libmd (1.0.4-1 -> 1.1.0-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:52+0100] [ALPM] upgraded libmilter (8.17.1-2 -> 8.17.2-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:53+0100] [ALPM] upgraded libsynctex (2023.66984-5 -> 2023.66984-6)
[2023-06-17T12:08:53+0100] [ALPM] upgraded liburing (2.3-1 -> 2.4-1)
[2023-06-17T12:08:56+0100] [ALPM] upgraded linux-zen (6.3.6.zen1-1 -> 6.3.8.zen1-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:01+0100] [ALPM] upgraded linux-zen-headers (6.3.6.zen1-1 -> 6.3.8.zen1-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:04+0100] [ALPM] upgraded perl (5.36.1-1 -> 5.36.1-2)
[2023-06-17T12:09:04+0100] [ALPM] upgraded ntp (4.2.8.p16-1 -> 4.2.8.p17-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:04+0100] [ALPM] upgraded pcsclite (1.9.9-3 -> 2.0.0-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:04+0100] [ALPM] upgraded poppler (23.05.0-1 -> 23.06.0-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:04+0100] [ALPM] upgraded poppler-glib (23.05.0-1 -> 23.06.0-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:04+0100] [ALPM] upgraded python-cachecontrol (1:0.13.0-1 -> 1:0.13.1-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:04+0100] [ALPM] upgraded python-contourpy (1.0.7-3 -> 1.1.0-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:04+0100] [ALPM] upgraded python-cryptography (40.0.2-1 -> 41.0.1-2)
[2023-06-17T12:09:05+0100] [ALPM] upgraded python-fonttools (4.39.4-1 -> 4.40.0-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:05+0100] [ALPM] upgraded python-typing_extensions (4.6.2-1 -> 4.6.3-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:05+0100] [ALPM] upgraded python-pydantic (1.10.8-1 -> 1.10.9-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:05+0100] [ALPM] upgraded python-pytest (7.3.1-4 -> 7.3.2-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:05+0100] [ALPM] upgraded python-rich (13.3.5-1 -> 13.4.2-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:05+0100] [ALPM] upgraded python-sphinx (7.0.1-1 -> 7.0.1-2)
[2023-06-17T12:09:05+0100] [ALPM] upgraded python-sphinx_rtd_theme (1.2.0-4 -> 1.2.2-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:05+0100] [ALPM] upgraded qt5-translations (5.15.9-1 -> 5.15.10-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:07+0100] [ALPM] upgraded qt5-base (5.15.9+kde+r155-1 -> 5.15.10+kde+r129-1.2)
[2023-06-17T12:09:07+0100] [ALPM] upgraded qt5-declarative (5.15.9+kde+r26-1 -> 5.15.10+kde+r26-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:07+0100] [ALPM] upgraded qt5-graphicaleffects (5.15.9-1 -> 5.15.10-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:07+0100] [ALPM] upgraded qt5-quickcontrols2 (5.15.9+kde+r6-1 -> 5.15.10+kde+r6-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:07+0100] [ALPM] upgraded qt5-svg (5.15.9+kde+r8-1 -> 5.15.10+kde+r8-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:07+0100] [ALPM] upgraded qt5-x11extras (5.15.9-1 -> 5.15.10-1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:09+0100] [ALPM] upgraded rust (1:1.70.0-1 -> 1:1.70.0-1.1)
[2023-06-17T12:09:09+0100] [ALPM] upgraded startup-notification (0.12-7.1 -> 0.12-8)
[2023-06-17T12:09:10+0100] [ALPM] upgraded subversion (1.14.2-7 -> 1.14.2-8)
[2023-06-17T12:09:10+0100] [ALPM] warning: directory permissions differ on /etc/udisks2/
filesystem: 700  package: 755
[2023-06-17T12:09:12+0100] [ALPM] upgraded udisks2 (2.9.4-3 -> 2.9.4-4)
[2023-06-17T12:09:13+0100] [ALPM] upgraded vlc (3.0.18-10 -> 3.0.18-11)
[2023-06-17T12:09:19+0100] [ALPM] upgraded wine (8.9-1 -> 8.10-1)





[2023-06-19T02:15:16+0100] [PACMAN] Running '/usr/bin/pacman --color always -U artools-base-0.30.6-1-any.pkg.tar.zst util-linux-libs-2.39-4-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst
 libxcrypt-4.4.34-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst btrfs-progs-6.3.1-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst libx11-1.8.5-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst dbus-1.14.6-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst libcups-1:2.4
.4-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst libssh2-1.10.0-3-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst libnghttp2-1.53.0-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst lib32-libxcrypt-4.4.34-1.3-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst lib32-openssl
-1:3.0.8-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst util-linux-2.39-4-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst'

[2023-06-19T02:32:58+0100] [PACMAN] Running '/usr/bin/pacman --color always -U kbd-2.5.1-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst vulkan-icd-loader-1.3.245-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst g
perftools-2.10-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst libjxl-0.8.1-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst ocl-icd-2.3.1-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst mesa-23.1.1-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst libtiff-4.5.0-4-x86_
64.pkg.tar.zst chromium-114.0.5735.106-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst dbus-glib-0.112-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst duktape-2.7.0-5-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst enca-1.19-4.1-x86_64.pkg.t
ar.zst exempi-2.6.3-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst ffmpeg4.4-4.4.3-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst firefox-114.0-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst libproxy-0.4.18-3-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst glib-net
working-1:2.76.0-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst glslang-12.1.0-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst gstreamer-1.22.3-4-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst orc-0.4.33-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst gst-plugins-ba
se-libs-1.22.3-4-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst gst-libav-1.22.3-4-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst gst-plugins-bad-libs-1.22.3-4-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst lib32-dbus-1.14.6-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.
zst lib32-libx11-1.8.4-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst lib32-vulkan-icd-loader-1.3.245-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst lib32-libssh2-1.10.0-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst lib32-mesa-23.1.1-1
-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst lib32-faudio-23.05-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst lib32-libtiff-4.5.0-3-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst lib32-util-linux-2.39-1.1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst'

[2023-06-19T02:54:20+0100] [PACMAN] Running '/usr/bin/pacman --color always -U libdbusmenu-glib-16.04.0-5-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst libdbusmenu-gtk3-16.04.0-5-x86_64
.pkg.tar.zst libde265-1.0.11-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst libgusb-0.4.5-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst libmd-1.0.4-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst libmilter-8.17.1-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst li
bsynctex-2023.66984-5-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst liburing-2.3-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst linux-zen-6.3.6.zen1-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst linux-zen-headers-6.3.6.zen1-1-x86_64.pkg
.tar.zst perl-5.36.1-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst ntp-4.2.8.p16-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst pcsclite-1.9.9-3-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst poppler-23.05.0-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst poppler-
glib-23.05.0-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst python-cachecontrol-1:0.13.0-1-any.pkg.tar.zst python-contourpy-1.0.7-3-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst python-cryptography-40.0.2-1-x86_
64.pkg.tar.zst python-fonttools-4.39.4-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst python-typing_extensions-4.6.2-1-any.pkg.tar.zst python-pydantic-1.10.8-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst pytho
n-pytest-7.3.1-4-any.pkg.tar.zst python-rich-13.3.5-1-any.pkg.tar.zst python-sphinx-7.0.1-1-any.pkg.tar.zst python-sphinx_rtd_theme-1.2.0-4-any.pkg.tar.zst qt
5-translations-5.15.9-1-any.pkg.tar.zst qt5-base-5.15.9+kde+r155-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst qt5-declarative-5.15.9+kde+r26-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst qt5-graphicaleffects
-5.15.9-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst qt5-svg-5.15.9+kde+r8-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst qt5-quickcontrols2-5.15.9+kde+r6-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst qt5-x11extras-5.15.9-1-x86_64.pk
g.tar.zst rust-1:1.70.0-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst startup-notification-0.12-7.1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst subversion-1.14.2-7-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst udisks2-2.9.4-3-x86_64.pk
g.tar.zst vlc-3.0.18-10-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst wine-8.9-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst'

This was on a Dell M4400 with OpenRC and gremlins repos, I haven't isolated the exact package yet but thought I would point this out with the progress so far.
Edit: And before I downgraded everything I tried downgrading the kernel and installing linux rather than linux-zen and also linux-lts, they didn't help but on rare occasions it would randomly not do this so badly, so I don't think it's a kernel issue.

Re: Scrambled early boot messages (gremlins)

Reply #1 –
That's pretty wacky. I'm pretty sure openrc itself handles all the boot messages and all that so possibly a bug there? Or well maybe some dependency changed that caused that; dunno.

Re: Scrambled early boot messages (gremlins)

Reply #2 –
There is something broken in kbd package. If you stay with the previous version you will have the readable output when booting.

Re: Scrambled early boot messages (gremlins)

Reply #3 –
That's sadly a bug with the new ncurses on  openrc's end.
https://github.com/OpenRC/openrc/issues/619

I lack atm time to look into this and probably do a patch, but if anyone does, would be great.

Re: Scrambled early boot messages (gremlins)

Reply #4 –

I am not able to reproduce the error.
"Wer alles kann, macht nichts richtig"

Artix USE="runit openrc slim openbox lxde gtk2 qt4 qt5 qt6 conky
-gtk3 -gtk4 -adwaita{cursors,themes,icons} -gnome3 -kde -plasma -wayland "

Re: Scrambled early boot messages (gremlins)

Reply #5 –
Quote from: lq – on

I am not able to reproduce the error.


Your gremlins repos should be above the stable repos respectively.
The way you have it is wrong.

Re: Scrambled early boot messages (gremlins)

Reply #6 –
Downgrading kbd fixes it on my M4400, and it occasionally doesn't do it on some boots, like there might be some timing / race element. It also gives a very brief flicker of distorted images just before the switch to the main graphics driver even when it doesn't do it, I can't remember if that is normal or not but it doesn't happen on my M4500, which is fairly similar in terms of software, and also uses OpenRC, it hasn't done any of this. That's on the stable repos but the kbd version is the same 2.6.0-1 as in gremlins. It also has 8 CPU threads vs 2 for the M4400 which probably alters relative boot timings. I had a non-standard console font set in /etc/conf.d/consolefont but swapping this situation over so the M4400 was standard and the M4500 wasn't made no difference.

Edit - further investigation shows this seems to be the commit that introduces the problem:
https://github.com/legionus/kbd/commit/179c45f191b2d1db934ff7f9ea0df202411a78c1

And this other recent issue talks about garbage output from saving a font - when I go from a bad version to a good version, it often isn't until the second boot when it works properly, so that could be related possibly:
https://github.com/legionus/kbd/issues/94

Re: Scrambled early boot messages (gremlins)

Reply #7 –
I'll contribute with unfathomable wisdom to this thread by saying that the Precision M series is the best laptop line ever produced.

Re: Scrambled early boot messages (gremlins)

Reply #8 –
It does seem to be the same issue as the github issue. When I try the suggested demo in a tty (ctrl alt fn) it creates the same effect. The last two commands below must be typed without being able to see them if the effect happens to get the return value and then reset the font so the tty display works again:
Code: [Select]
# setfont default8x16
# echo $?
# setfont -O /tmp/myfont
# setfont /tmp/myfont
# echo $?
# setfont default8x16
The  "good" commit in my last post was only good because it gave the wrong rval of 71 for setfont so presumably the boot process saw that and coincidentally fixed things, it was the previous commit that introduced the real problem revealed by the tty test:
https://github.com/legionus/kbd/commit/287a3baeb8fc2fc6fd68b3accff8f9651d725d16

The other interesting thing I found is the tty test can be reproduced on my M4500 even though the boot messages are not affected. Anyway it seems this bug has already been noticed and work is underway to remedy it as the discussion on the github issue shows.

Re: Scrambled early boot messages (gremlins)

Reply #9 –
Quote from: artoo – on
Your gremlins repos should be above the stable repos respectively.
The way you have it is wrong.

I know, thank you.  ;)

Solution for the strange screen output:

Code: [Select]
rc-update del consolefont boot
"Wer alles kann, macht nichts richtig"

Artix USE="runit openrc slim openbox lxde gtk2 qt4 qt5 qt6 conky
-gtk3 -gtk4 -adwaita{cursors,themes,icons} -gnome3 -kde -plasma -wayland "

Re: Scrambled early boot messages (gremlins)

Reply #10 –
If remove the consolefont service who will set font for the console then? Sorry for the potentially dumb question.

Re: Scrambled early boot messages (gremlins)

Reply #11 –
Quote from: melleus – on
If remove the consolefont service who will set font for the console then?

The kernel does this itself.  :)
"Wer alles kann, macht nichts richtig"

Artix USE="runit openrc slim openbox lxde gtk2 qt4 qt5 qt6 conky
-gtk3 -gtk4 -adwaita{cursors,themes,icons} -gnome3 -kde -plasma -wayland "
 

Re: Scrambled early boot messages (gremlins)

Reply #13 –
If I remove the consolefont service completely I don't get the font in console, If I put the consolefont service at the default runlevel I get the scrambled screen anyway. The only way for me to get the readable boot screen is to downgrade the broken kbd package to the last working version, 2.5.1-2 in my case.