“Your System running in low graphics mode.” Yeah, you have been served son! Today was one of those dark days for me. I was feeling tired after a few hours on the computer configuring some stuff – particularly LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL and Perl) tools. I did this because I am planning to create some APIs for a project! So, I just let my laptop go to sleep and when I came back it was OFF. What the heck? I asked myself and tried turning it ON to the shock of my eyes. This is what surprised me;
Whenever I clicked the OK button to see what was next, the mouse disappeared and even using the tab key didn’t help because the choices given didn’t work at all. You can imagine how many unspeakable words I said here.
Instead of hitting my head on the wall 12 times, I fired up my other laptop and searched on Google for similar instances. I knew I was not alone here – Google the hell out of it. By the way, I needed another computer to do that because I couldn’t get anything done with this one. If you run into this issue, do not panic. Follow these steps:
Before you even do this, you should know that you have a Graphics problem and these guidelines will help you fix that. You can find more information by doing a simple search. That is, if this post does not help you solve your problem. Sometimes, you might have to do a fresh install of your Ubuntu!
In order to arrive at the Terminal from the above screen, Start your computer while pressing these buttons: CTRL + ALT + F1 and then enter your username and password before moving on.
The System Running In Low Graphics Mode – Solution
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sudo apt-get update |
Then run this on your terminal when that is done:
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sudo apt-get -d install --reinstall gdm |
Follow that with the following line on your terminal:
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sudo apt-get remove --purge gdm |
Before you restart the machine, run this next line:
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sudo apt-get install gdm |
When prompted here, select GDM (This by the way is a Graphics Manager)
Finally, reboot this bad boy and you will be on your way to happy dancing;
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sudo reboot |
You can find more information by visiting the Ubuntu forums.
That should do it for you. If you found this post helpful, do not hesitate to share it with others online.
You know, if life gives you a bug, you can either eat it for lunch or let it bite you in the face. I would rather you ate it.
Good luck and have a great week!
See you soon because that is a wrap!
John Njagarah
After struggling to fix the graphics problem for nearly 12 hours, at the time I nearly decided to take a rest from it i decided to carefully implement the above steps and the problem was solved straight away.
ClearlyAWindowsGuy
This did not work for me. I still receive the same message ‘The System Is Running In Low Graphics Mode’. I have no experience with Ubuntu. This OS is running our Fog imaging software and has now given us zero production with imaging PCs with Windows 7.
I have been Googling for the answer for a few days with no real clear solution. It was working fine until the unit had to be rebooted. No we receive this error even after following the instructions from this posting.
tony kwok
I was so frustrated for this problem after installing apache, mysql and php on my Dell Optiplex 9020. Tried instructions on other blogs but none of them worked. This one worked like a charm!
Elisha Chirchir
I am glad it helped you!
emma
Hi
I have a problem with this but when I come to login my details it continues tosay incorrect, I’m sure they are correct, do you know how I can get passed this stage?
Thank you
Emm
Bijaya Maharjan
which username and password does it mean?
Elisha Chirchir
Your computer username and password; if you have used the terminal before, your name is always there and looks something like this :username@computerName – so you want the first part and the password that you set when you first set up your computer or the password you use when you use sudo to install stuff. Let me know how it goes.
Bijaya Maharjan
i completed every single step stated above and it went pretty well but screen remained black after all this process.
yinan
The screen is black, and I cannot access to the terminate after I do the steps above, how to fix it? thank you vey much!
Sam
Gracias! tenia rato buscando y no encontre nada, pero con esto se soluciono, tranks
Koushik
I have a HP laptop with AMD RADEON graphics card. I’m trying to install ubuntu 13.10 x64 on it. But when I choose ‘try ubuntu’ option at beginning of installation, it says ‘your system is running in low graphics mode’.
So, I don’t have any option of installation at al. Please suggest what can I do?
Elisha Chirchir
Have you followed the instructions on this tutorial and it did not work still? If not, I would suggest you do that first and then let me know how it goes.
Koushik
Hello…I can’t even try ubuntu in my laptop. After pressing try ubuntu button, it shows that message. I think your steps are only applicable when it is installed in hard drive, not from live cd. Please say something for the case of live cd
Elisha Chirchir
You should be able to boot your Ubuntu from your cd then go to the terminal; this is however contingent on whether the OS is installed or not – regardless of where. Beyond that, I have not tried that scenario myself so I am not familiar with it.
Bryan Lee
Thanks, you rock! I started trying the various solutions in an askubuntu thread (try recovery mode, too many files on the computer, etc.) and finally tried these steps and it worked like a charm.
I’m on an HP Pavilion laptop dv6000 series, Ubuntu 12.04.
Elisha Chirchir
I am glad it worked for you!
Shridhar
Thanx , It works…!!!!!
Elisha Chirchir
You are welcome!
Brando
I thought it’d done it, but after reboot, and putting in user name and password, it comes up with a *username*system product name: $
prompt.
so not sure what to do now!
Sorry, total noob with Ubuntu, I’m trying to fix my husbands puter after it had this graphics issue.
Elisha Chirchir
I am not sure what happened there. What happens when you enter your username and password again? Any errors?
Brando
hi Elisha
It just keeps going back to the system product name prompt.
Elisha Chirchir
I really wish I could figure it out for you. If all else fails, I would re-install Ubuntu since it is free of charge.
William
The command didn’t work in my desktop. Does the computer need to be connected to the Internet during the process?
Elisha Chirchir
I believe you need an internet connection so that you can install some packages through the terminal. Try that.
satish
after completing the steps. my system standing at “UBUNTU” logo not going forward plz help me……
gagan
yes bro same happened to me
gagan
hello bro after completing these steps it ia now standing at ubuntu logo what to do now….
kamal
not working for me. sudo apt-get update does something and then tries to download archives from internet. Since try ubuntu option goes to “low graphics error mode”, cant connect to internet.
Also for other commands, it says “package gdm is not available, but is referred to by another package. However the following packages replace it: gnome-control-center-data”.
Please suggest.
Elisha Chirchir
You cannot update without an internet connection. So, I would check that to make sure you are connected.
Marc
Thanks for your help.
I followed all of your instructions, but now when I start the machine it doesn’t go to the desktop it just goes to that screen where you type everything in.
How do I get it to go to the desktop?
Elisha Chirchir
Which screen is it? The terminal?
Mike
Yes, the terminal. It seems to be working OK, except that it goes straight into the terminal and not to the screen
Elisha Chirchir
I have no idea what could be causing that. I would trying looking around the web to see if anyone has encountered a similar issue.
Mike
I have tried a few things, for example on running startx I get this
modprobe: ERROR: could not insert nvidia_173 : Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
Fatal server error:
If I find a solution I will let you know.
Thanks,
Mike
nkcoder
Hi, Elisha, I have the same problem(ubuntu 14.04), but when I press Ctrl+Alt+F1 and login, the terminal cannot connect to the network, so I cannot update or install using apt-get.
Do you have any idea? Thanks.
Elisha Chirchir
You might have to use a wired connection if you have no other way to connect to a wireless connection. I have no other ideas that could be of help. If you get to fix it, please let me know how you did it.
Mike
I am back up. I downloaded Ubuntu again, but this time I ran it on the memory stick first and not on the PC and the screen worked OK. Then I installed from the system running on the memory stick and had no problems. Previously I had tried to install it directly onto the PC from the stick.
Might work for someone else.
mallikarjun
In mycase ubuntu 12lts i replaced gdb in command s with gnome-control-center
Elisha Chirchir
Thanks for stopping by. So you got yours to work?
nishant
i am using proxy network then how to set the settings of ethernet to download the update
Faye
I tried ctrl+alt+F1, but my terminal is not showing properly, I cannot read the letters on screen. What should I do? Thanks. BTW I am using Ubuntu 14.
Reddish
Tanks!!! It worked for me (ASUS Zenbook UX32VD)
Caroline
A huge “Merci” for your help !
It works like a charm for me… 😉
nguyen kien
Thank you so much, it worked for me
android
Thank you. it’s working.
Steve
I tried the above steps and now upon reboot all I get is blank screen with small blinking curser on top left screen
arun
The same issue for me too.
gbenga
Thank u very much…. It work
Nidhal
Hello,
I have followed these steps but after rebooting the screen remained black for over 30 minutes.
Does anyone have a solution?
mica
Thank you. it’s working. 🙂
troy
Hey Elisha, I followed all the steps and after I entered my password, it says
“The disk drive for /dev/mapper/ubuntu-swap_1 is not ready yet or not present.
Continue to wait, or Press S to skip mounting or M for manual recovery”
My cursor is an X and if I press s or m, nothing happens.
Thanks for your help.
Nitiflor
Thank you a lot. Worked perfectly.
Martin
Dude! You just saved my bottom! I was about to pack and ship Ubuntu box to a client when after last checkup and reboot … BOOM ERROR. I have 30 min to figure out what the hell and fix it.
Muchos kudos 4 U!
Thanks!!!
Elisha Chirchir
I am glad I could help you Martin. It is always a great feeling to hear back from great people like you. Now, let us keep this going.
Saurav
Sir what to do if i am encountering this problem when I can’t access internet. I mean my internet requires to login from portal which i cant do without running browser. Please help if there is any way possible without internet
KNotes Ingat Aku Per 17 Maret 2015 | RESTAVA
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deanj
Thank you soo much, chrome stopped working and i rebooted and got this poxy error message.
i followed everystep as i could but after completing each step i had to type clear, so i was able to see what was going on, it seems 3/4 down the screen it all gets squashed. IM not 100% sure, what i selected on the pop up dialog as i couldnt see haha..
But anyways it is working, although my login page has changed but i can live with that..
Would you happen to have a link where i can find: changing the resoultion ayfor the login page and the tty Shell ?
Elisha Chirchir
I would probably Google around for that; I have no clear solution to that.
David
Wonderful, it worked. Surprisingly, this showed up after messing with MySQL too.
Brendan
Great working again. had to do the instructions 2 times, 2nd time it worked.
thanks for the help
Adam
Worked like a charm. Thanks !
Joseph Myalla
My laptop ran into Lower graphics mode just after installing team viewer 10 in ubuntu 12.04, I followed these instructions my graphics is back, i can login but the computer seems busy, no icons are shown, can not start a program
Dilakson Siva
Thanks guys…..
It’s working fine…
prafull rawal
thanks its working !!!!
Elisha Chirchir
Glad it worked for you!
dominik
Wow dude you really helped me THX 😀
Elisha Chirchir
I am glad it helped!
Sam
Thanks a lot…!!!
SkyDiver
Bumped into this problem after upgrading from Ubuntu Desktop to GNOME Desktop on 14.04 as described in this LAS cast: http://www.jupiterbroadcasting.com/66657/switching-ubuntu-to-gnome-las-330/ (instructions from this PDF file on the same LAS page: http://jupiter.ninja/owncloud/public.php?service=files&t=a782d24212751716f75f7cf43f60ca1c).
Your tip was the missing link to enjoying the GNOME Desktop.
Thank buddy!
Vinay
Thanks | its working
Elisha Chirchir
I am glad it worked for you Vinay!
Khoa
Worked for the. Thanks a lot
Ubuntu 14.04
Elisha Chirchir
I am glad it worked for you!
tt3
after completing the steps. my system standing at “UBUNTU” logo not going forward plz help me……
Elisha Chirchir
So after you reboot it is still there?
TT3
yes it was still there. But I tried it many time. the problem is solve now by using the same command
I first go to recovery mode enable connexion and I repair broken packages then
I substituted gdm by lightdm
Many thank CHIRCHIR for this kind reaction.
Elisha Chirchir
I am so glad you fixed it! Have a great day/night!
TT3
Thanks ..you too
Felipe
Hello!
I can’t even login.
When I type my username and password, it says it is incorrect, but it is not.
I just started using Ubuntu and was really enjoying it 🙁
I really appreciate any help 🙂
Elisha Chirchir
Are you still struggling with this? Just make sure the credentials are correct and try again; reboot the machine and try again.
Abok Isaac
Thanks for the fix. It hit me the same way as described in your post!
Just in case someone cannot access Internet, can connect to any WiFi hot spot using the folksinging command.
nmcli d wifi connect SSID password PASSWORD iface wlan0 (replace capitalized words with actual SSID and password).
Elisha Chirchir
Thanks for the tip to connect to the wifi through commandline
mamarezax
person X= “Elisha Chirchir”;
you made my day X;
return (thanx);
Michal
Cool! Wokred for me. Tx!
Waqas ur Rahman
Thanks a lot man it helped !!! God bless you
Elisha Chirchir
You are welcome!! Have fun!
aldy
Terimakasih ,, ini sangat membantu
Nathan Ho
Hey I am trying to download Ubuntu 14.04 on Virtualbox, and I am installing it right now. After the installation completed and I restarted the Virtualbox the “The system is running in low graphics mode” came up and I did the command, but it said i had no disk space left, and i have tried everything from
sudo apt-get autoclean
and
sudo apt-get clean
but nothing is working!!!!
Elisha Chirchir
It means you have no disk space left. You should free up some space in your machine then allocate more space for your Ubuntu installation then reinstall it!
Sean
awesome and clear post!
J Hector Garcia
ayuda tengo el siguiente problema
w: Not using locking for read only lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock
E: Unable to write to /var/cache/apt/
E The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened
Elizabeth 66
Hey thank you I tried to install some nvidia GeForce GTX graphics but got theverything low graphics screen…. tried different solutions but this one worked for me 😉 thanKS!!!
Amp
It didn’t work. Error shows 4m 1St cmd itself. Just lyk no access ND are u root. Even stil I’m in root oly
Dhiraj
After running the commands and rebooting my laptop. It just stays black and never starts up. How should I tackle it
Elisha Chirchir
Are you connected to the net?
Dhiraj
I did everything you told and reboot the computer. Now the screen is just black on start up and no access is allowed. please help
Vincent
It didnt worked for me. Second time I will have to reinstall all my server. I think Team Viewer kill my system and I think this is because i connect to my server with team viewer before ubuntu terminate 100% his startup.
joshua
My screen is also black after these steps on Ubuntu 14.04 and nothing can do.Guys please be carefully! Now I’ve more headache then before …
Jagan
Fixed on my dell xps, thanks 🙂
kishan
tqsm!!! #admin life saver……….
Prateek Goyal
Voila, it worked for me. Thanks for the post.
eko
thanks you…..it worked for me,,,thanks for the post
Simone Riccardi
cannot believe you are a fucking rock star 😀
thanks! it worked for me after 4 hours struggling with fu**in useless manual lines of code…
Naturelover
Will this method work on an Ubuntu 14.04 system with Intel graphics, which is currently running
lightdm? In my case, a software update was what caused the above problem. I reinstalled lightdm,
and that worked initially, but then reverted back to the initial problem.
Thanks.
Elisha Chirchir
Have you tried any of the steps outlined?
Naturelover
I followed the steps outlined, but with “lightdm” instead of “gdm”. After the
reboot, the display appeared normal, but I could not log in to the system.
So I opened a console, and rebooted again.This time the display was again
in the low graphics mode as before.
Naturelover
Hi Elisha, Not sure if you are available to reply to comments.
I was wondering, if a system is running lightdm already, and a software update causes
the above problem, will going through your steps with gdm, and selecting gdm in the
end, will work without any problems. I’m a bit nervous about possibly losing all my work
that’s on this system, and having to re-install from scratch because of this problem.
Harsh vishnoi
Hey …I’m in the worst situation ..please.
Help me ..
This tutorial is not working with me..
There is nothing happening and I did all the same steps mentioned above..please it’s a request be fast..urgent
shekar
u r really brilliant brooo
thanks
Myra
Hi. I am not able to return to login when i press ctrl+alt+f1. Is there any other ways to do so? I really appeociate if u can help
Dominic M
♥️ my hero
geethu
Will I lost all my data with this? PLease help me
Ray
This did not work it only caused more grief.
sudo apt-get install gdm froze-up terminal???