Common graphics problems
You may see:
- black screen after boot
- flickering display
- very low resolution (e.g. 1024×768)
- laggy or slow performance
- screen tearing
- external monitor not detected
Help
Graphics Driver Troubleshooting
If your screen is not working properly, this page helps you understand why and what to do next.
What causes this
Linux is running, but:
-> the correct graphics driver is NOT active
This is very common, especially with:
- NVIDIA GPUs
- newer hardware
- hybrid graphics (Intel + NVIDIA)
First rule
Do NOT try random fixes.
Graphics drivers must match your exact hardware.
Identify your situation
Case 1 - You can see the desktop
This is the most common case.
-> Continue normally
Go to:
Case 2 - Black screen after boot
You see:
- nothing after selecting Linux
- or screen goes black
What to do
- Restart the computer
- Boot from USB again
- Look for boot options (Advanced / Safe / Compatibility mode)
If available, try:
- "Safe Graphics"
- "Nomodeset"
Case 3 - System boots but unusable
You see:
- extreme lag
- broken display
- unusable interface
-> This is still fixable
Proceed to:
NVIDIA-specific issues
Very common symptoms:
- black screen
- login loop
- poor performance
Why this happens
NVIDIA drivers are not included by default in many Linux distributions.
They must be installed manually.
AMD and Intel
Usually:
- work out of the box
- may still need updates
If issues appear:
-> follow Step 11
Important: Live USB limitations
When running from USB:
- performance is reduced
- drivers may not be fully loaded
Do NOT judge final performance yet.
What NOT to do
Do NOT:
- copy commands from random websites
- install drivers blindly
- mix driver versions
- use outdated tutorials
When to continue
If you can reach the desktop (even with issues):
-> continue to Step 9 - Install Linux
Then fix drivers properly in: