HM80 HDMI no output for Windows 11

[waqar rashid]

Hello,
After I got my HM80, I started using it with USB-C hub. Then I upgraded to Windows 11 and kept using it for a day. Later I wanted to install Ubuntu on it but the live cd would not show anything on the screen. It seems like the monitor just kept getting on and off in a loop. Later I noticed the same behavior on the built-in HDMI with windows 11. The computer does not seem to boot and the monitor keeps getting on and of in a loop. I don't see anything on the screen.

Does anyone know about this problem and have a way to resolve this?
Thanks.
Waqar

 

[Carbon fib'er]

They usually tell people to disconnect the power, and hold the pinhole reset button down for 30 seconds. You might try it so you can say you did. I would try a different monitor and HDMI cable (borrow a friend's). Sometimes a cable isn't good enough quality for the resolution & refresh rate. (I don't know why it worked for awhile, but now doesn't).

Later I wanted to install Ubuntu on it but the live cd would not show anything on the screen.

Typically you'd have to go into the bios and change the boot order, or press f7 for the boot menu. You did that and were able to see that? Next there's usually a linux GRUB screen. Each distro's grub screen is a little different in the choices. Did you see that?

You might try a different Linux distro. Sparky Linux's rolling distro has the latest drivers and hardware support (compared to their "stable" edition). That might be worth trying (if you can see your bios, otherwise your problem is more fundamental). MX Linux's AHS edition contains newer things too. Ubuntu tends to be on the more stable side, not as new stuff. But, 22.04 should be new enough for the HM80.

 

[waqar rashid]

I will try another monitor as I think the problem is my 4k monitor. It only works with the usb-c hub that I am been using it with. The built-in hdmi never worked for me.
For linux, I see the grub menu and select the live boot option. I do this to make sure that all the drivers are working fine and don't get surprise after the installation.

 

[waqar rashid]

I have a 4k monitor samsung u28e590d and I see the display/monitor problems in two configurations:
1. Using usb-c hub's hdmi with ubuntu live CD, I see grub menus etc but when I select the live boot option, it just goes into the monitor on/off loop. Windows works fine in this setup.
2. With build-in HDMI, it just goes into the on/off loop right at the start. I don't see anything on the screen.

 

[Carbon fib'er]

I'm thinking it's the cable. How rapid is this on/off loop? It sounds like it's syncs, then loses the signal, then syncs. I don't think that would be the monitor. It sounds like the cable isn't good enough for the resolution/refresh rate. Or, it's a hardware problem in the HM80.

Was there a grub menu for "safe mode?" Some distros have that (I forget if Sparky or MX do. I'm sure one does.). You can also edit any grub menu line by pressing "e". You can add "nomodeset" to the parameters (you can google that grub parm to see examples. That delays some resolution change until later in the boot process. You might see more. (I think safe mode uses it.).

There's also a way to tell grub to use a specific resolution. You could tell it to boot something like 1920x1080 (or lower). If the cable wasn't high enough quality for 4k, it might work at a lower resolution. You'd have to google "set display resolution from grub." I've never done it. I just googled about it and it seemed more confusing than I wanted to delve into. Many examples are setting it in the grub config file. But, there are some showing how to do it at the "e" edit menu line. You'd have to navigate those examples and figure it out.

 

[joey]

Please let me know which version of Ubuntu system you have installed.

 

[waqar rashid]

Please let me know which version of Ubuntu system you have installed.

Its 22.04.

I ordered some new hardware so that I switch between the mini and my laptop quickly because I need a working Linux machine for work. I will try some stuff and update here.

 

[waqar rashid]

I'm thinking it's the cable. How rapid is this on/off loop? It sounds like it's syncs, then loses the signal, then syncs. I don't think that would be the monitor. It sounds like the cable isn't good enough for the resolution/refresh rate. Or, it's a hardware problem in the HM80.

Was there a grub menu for "safe mode?" Some distros have that (I forget if Sparky or MX do. I'm sure one does.). You can also edit any grub menu line by pressing "e". You can add "nomodeset" to the parameters (you can google that grub parm to see examples. That delays some resolution change until later in the boot process. You might see more. (I think safe mode uses it.).

There's also a way to tell grub to use a specific resolution. You could tell it to boot something like 1920x1080 (or lower). If the cable wasn't high enough quality for 4k, it might work at a lower resolution. You'd have to google "set display resolution from grub." I've never done it. I just googled about it and it seemed more confusing than I wanted to delve into. Many examples are setting it in the grub config file. But, there are some showing how to do it at the "e" edit menu line. You'd have to navigate those examples and figure it out.

I have a new cable. Will try it and update here.

If still not working then I can go into the grub realm and try to figure it out.


Thanks.

 

[waqar rashid]

The windows 11 problem seem like an HDMI cable problem. It works with a new HDMI cable.
Lets see how long can I bear windows before I make the switch to Linux and update here if I face more problems with it.

 

[Carbon fib'er]

Lets see how long can I bear windows before I make the switch to Linux and update here if I face more problems with it.

If you try that, I would Zorin OS. They always seemed like the most Windows-oriented distro. They used to allow you to choose between desktops themed to look/function like Win98, XP, 7, etc. (They may still have that. I haven't looked at it in a long time.). In some ways that may sound superficial. It's not going to make Windows programs run on Linux. But, in my own experience when I switched (and tried 2-3 times prior), just having things where you expect them to be, a familiar look/feel can take a large amount of frustration out. It can make a difference. My perception also was that since Zorin was more focused on Windows users, there was more help there for finding replacement programs, or getting something to work in the WINE emulator.

There's so many distros out there. Just choosing one can be stressful. Choose wrong and you can make it a harder venture. (Bodhi or Antix are lightweight, but very different desktops and would add immensely to the stress of changing. Some others like Sparky have more familiar desktops, but small user communities. You could wait a month for a reply. Ubuntu probably has the largest/smartest community, but not too focused on user-friendly (very political when you get behind the community support). MX Linux has a very large/smart one too, and is more into user-friendly, responsive to newbies.). I'd be looking at Zorin or MX.