Black Screen After Changing Resolution in CentOS 9? We’ve Got the Fix!

If you’ve recently upgraded to CentOS 9 and encountered a pesky black screen after changing the resolution, you’re not alone! This frustrating issue has been plaguing many users, but fear not, dear reader, for we have the solutions you’ve been searching for. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into the possible causes and provide step-by-step instructions to get your display up and running in no time.

What Causes the Black Screen After Changing Resolution?

Before we dive into the fixes, it’s essential to understand the possible causes of this issue. Here are a few potential culprits:

• Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers: CentOS 9’s new kernel might be incompatible with older graphics drivers, leading to display issues.

• Resolution settings: Changing the resolution can sometimes cause the graphics system to malfunction, resulting in a black screen.

• Display settings: Incorrect display settings, such as the wrong monitor or refresh rate, can also cause a black screen.

• Xorg configuration: Misconfigured Xorg settings can prevent the display from working correctly.

Fix 1: Update Graphics Drivers

Let’s start with the most common culprit: outdated graphics drivers. To update your graphics drivers, follow these steps:

1. Open a terminal as the root user:

   sudo su

2. Install the necessary repositories:

   yum install epel-release

3. Update the graphics drivers:

   yum update xorg-x11-drv-nouveau xorg-x11-drv- Intel xorg-x11-drv-ati

4. Reboot your system:

   reboot

Fix 2: Change Resolution Settings

If updating the graphics drivers didn’t work, let’s try adjusting the resolution settings:

1. Open a terminal as the root user:

   sudo su

2. Run the following command to change the resolution:

   xrandr --output DP-1 --mode 1920x1080

   (Replace DP-1 with your display device and 1920×1080 with your desired resolution)

3. Press Enter to apply the changes.

4. Reboot your system:

   reboot

Fix 3: Adjust Display Settings

Incorrect display settings might be the cause of the black screen. Let’s try adjusting them:

1. Open a terminal as the root user:

   sudo su

2. Run the following command to change the display settings:

   xrandr --output DP-1 --mode 1920x1080 --rate 60

   (Replace DP-1 with your display device, 1920×1080 with your desired resolution, and 60 with your desired refresh rate)

3. Press Enter to apply the changes.

4. Reboot your system:

   reboot

Fix 4: Configure Xorg

If the above fixes didn’t work, let’s try configuring Xorg:

1. Open a terminal as the root user:

   sudo su

2. Backup the Xorg configuration file:

   cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bak

3. Edit the Xorg configuration file:

   vim /etc/X11/xorg.conf

4. Add the following lines to the end of the file:

   Section "Screen"
       Identifier "Screen0"
       Device "Card0"
       Monitor "Monitor0"
       SubSection "Display"
           Viewport   0 0
           Depth     24
           Modes "1920x1080" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x1024" "1024x768"
       EndSubSection
   EndSection
       

5. Save and exit the file.

6. Reboot your system:

   reboot

Troubleshooting Tips

If none of the above fixes worked, try the following troubleshooting tips:

• Check the Xorg log files for errors:

  cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log

• Disable Wayland and switch to Xorg:

  sudo systemctl disable wayland
sudo systemctl enable xorg

• Reinstall the graphics drivers:

  yum reinstall xorg-x11-drv-nouveau xorg-x11-drv-Intel xorg-x11-drv-ati

• Try booting in recovery mode:

  sudo systemctl rescue

Conclusion

And there you have it, folks! With these fixes and troubleshooting tips, you should be able to resolve the black screen issue after changing the resolution in CentOS 9. Remember to update your graphics drivers, adjust resolution and display settings, and configure Xorg if necessary. If you’re still stuck, try the troubleshooting tips or seek further assistance from the CentOS community. Happy Linux-ing!

Fix	Description
Update Graphics Drivers	Install the latest graphics drivers to ensure compatibility with CentOS 9.
Change Resolution Settings	Adjust the resolution settings to a compatible mode using the xrandr command.
Adjust Display Settings	Change the display settings, such as the refresh rate, to resolve display issues.
Configure Xorg	Edit the Xorg configuration file to adjust display settings and resolve display issues.

Frequently Asked Question

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