Is there a way to reset nouveau drivers?

[PlatinumArts]

Is there a way to reset my nouveau drivers or at least the settings?

I was playing the game (Don't Starve Together) that had caused me problems with my nvidia drivers and it was working great with the nouveau drivers but while playing there was a power failure and ever since the monitor has been bothering my eyes, even on the desktop and on another user. They don't hurt nearly as much as before but definitely make it hard for me to look at the screen and it makes my head and eyes feel funky. Almost like there is some kind of distortion.

Before that I was using the desktop for hours on the nouveau drivers without any problems that I noticed. And when I use my laptop with Lubuntu I don't notice any problems - unless I just previously used my MX computer.

Here is a link to my previous post about the game causing a problem with my nvidia drivers:
viewtopic.php?t=80877

I do still need to test it again using the USB drive.

I also might just reinstall the nvidia drivers to see what happens.

I guess the main thing is just stop playing that game. But it had worked so well for a bit and I thought things were good!

Thank you so much for your time and help.
- Mike
PS is there any easy way to share files between users?

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-23-amd64 [6.1.99-1] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-23-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro quiet
  Desktop: Xfce v: 4.18.1 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.36 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm v: 4.18.0 vt: 7
    dm: LightDM v: 1.26.0 Distro: MX-23.3_x64 Libretto July 31  2023 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12
    (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Hewlett-Packard product: HP Z400 Workstation v: N/A
    serial: <superuser required> Chassis: type: 6 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Hewlett-Packard model: 0B4Ch v: D serial: <superuser required> BIOS: Hewlett-Packard
    v: 786G3 v03.61 date: 03/05/2018
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Xeon W3565 bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Nehalem level: v2 built: 2008-10
    process: Intel 45nm family: 6 model-id: 0x1A (26) stepping: 5 microcode: 0x1D
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 4 smt: disabled cache: L1: 256 KiB desc: d-4x32 KiB; i-4x32 KiB
    L2: 1024 KiB desc: 4x256 KiB L3: 8 MiB desc: 1x8 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1596 min/max: 1596/3193 boost: enabled scaling: driver: acpi-cpufreq
    governor: ondemand cores: 1: 1596 2: 1596 3: 1596 4: 1596 bogomips: 25600
  Flags: ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: VMX disabled
  Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion; VMX: conditional cache flushes, SMT disabled
  Type: mds status: Vulnerable: Clear CPU buffers attempted, no microcode; SMT disabled
  Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Unknown: No mitigations
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed status: Not affected
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Retpolines; IBPB: conditional; IBRS_FW; RSB filling; PBRSB-eIBRS:
    Not affected; BHI: Not affected
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GF106GL [Quadro 2000] vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: nouveau v: kernel
    non-free: series: 390.xx+ status: legacy-active (EOL~late 2022) arch: Fermi code: GF1xx
    process: 40/28nm built: 2010-16 pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: DVI-I-1
    empty: DP-1,DP-2 bus-ID: 0f:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0dd8 class-ID: 0300 temp: 64.0 C
  Device-2: EMEET HD Webcam C950 type: USB driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo bus-ID: 8-2:3
    chip-ID: 328f:0073 class-ID: 0102 serial: <filter>
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 with: Xwayland v: 22.1.9 compositor: xfwm v: 4.18.0
    driver: X: loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: nouveau gpu: nouveau display-ID: :0.0
    screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 508x285mm (20.00x11.22") s-diag: 582mm (22.93")
  Monitor-1: DVI-I-1 model: Asus VW246 serial: <filter> built: 2011 res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 92
    gamma: 1.2 size: 531x299mm (20.91x11.77") diag: 609mm (24") ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 1920x1080
    min: 720x400
  API: OpenGL v: 4.3 Mesa 22.3.6 renderer: NVC3 direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 82801JI HD Audio vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 8-2:3
    v: kernel chip-ID: 328f:0073 bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:3a3e class-ID: 0102 class-ID: 0403
    serial: <filter>
  Device-2: NVIDIA GF106 High Definition Audio vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 0f:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:0be9
    class-ID: 0403
  Device-3: EMEET HD Webcam C950 type: USB driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo
  Device-4: Realtek Audio USB type: USB driver: snd-usb-audio bus-ID: 8-4:4 chip-ID: 0bda:4938
    class-ID: 0102 serial: <filter>
  API: ALSA v: k6.1.0-23-amd64 status: kernel-api tools: alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.0 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Broadcom NetXtreme BCM5764M Gigabit Ethernet PCIe vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: tg3
    v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: N/A bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 14e4:1684
    class-ID: 0200
  IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
  Device-2: TP-Link Archer T2U PLUS [RTL8821AU] type: USB driver: rtl8821au bus-ID: 1-5:2
    chip-ID: 2357:0120 class-ID: 0000 serial: <filter>
  IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
RAID:
  Hardware-1: Intel SATA Controller [RAID mode] driver: ahci v: 3.0 port: d0c0 bus-ID: 00:1f.2
    chip-ID: 8086:2822 rev: class-ID: 0104
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 931.51 GiB used: 109.05 GiB (11.7%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 870 EVO 1TB size: 931.51 GiB block-size:
    physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 3.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 3B6Q scheme: MBR
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 931.51 GiB size: 915.81 GiB (98.31%) used: 109.05 GiB (11.9%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/sda1 maj-min: 8:1
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 15 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 3 GiB used: 22.5 MiB (0.7%) priority: -2 file: /swap/swap
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 47.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: nouveau temp: 64.0 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A gpu: nouveau fan: 3780
Repos:
  Packages: pm: dpkg pkgs: 2878 libs: 1630 tools: apt,apt-get,aptitude,nala,synaptic pm: rpm
    pkgs: 0 pm: flatpak pkgs: 0
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list
    1: deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg] https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    2: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security/ bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/librewolf.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64] http://deb.librewolf.net/ bookworm main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/megasync.list
    1: deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/meganz-archive-keyring.gpg] https://mega.nz/linux/repo/Debian_12/ ./
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
    1: deb http://mirrors.rit.edu/mxlinux/mx-packages/mx/repo/ bookworm main non-free
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/onlyoffice.list
    1: deb https://download.onlyoffice.com/repo/debian/ squeeze main
Info:
  Processes: 210 Uptime: 1d 18h 0m wakeups: 1 Memory: 7.74 GiB used: 1.67 GiB (21.5%)
  Init: SysVinit v: 3.06 runlevel: 5 default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0
  alt: 12 Client: shell wrapper v: 5.2.15-release inxi: 3.3.26
Boot Mode: BIOS (legacy, CSM, MBR)

[CharlesV]

Rename your displays.xml file in

~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/

and then logout and back in and run displays. That should recreate a default displays settings.

Also, you can check with a new user profile and see how that works.

And - you should mark your linked topic as solved on the post that resolved it :-)

[CharlesV]

Sharing files between users ? on the same machine - just save files to a common area (ie one that has 'everyone' rights'. (Or put the users into the same group and then assign group rights to the folder.

[dolphin_oracle]

are you sure its the PC and maybe not the monitor settings that got hosed up? as in onboard the external monitor.

[txm0523]

I tried to get driver installed for nvidia GeForce GT 710 from the MX Tools Nvidia Driver Installer. It wouldn't work properly so I had go back to nouveau graphics driver.

CharlieBrown gave a tip on how to do it:

This is after you have the nvidia driver installed and want to go back to the nouveau driver.


On the CLI type in sudo ddm-mx -p nvidia


In case you face a black screen on 1st reboot:

Ctrl+Alt+F1 and login manually, then the above command, then sudo reboot .

[PlatinumArts]

@CharlesV Thank you for all that info!! I did the display bit and it still seems about the same. At least though with the nouveau drivers it doesn't actually hurt my eyes like crazy which was the problem I had before with the nvidia drivers. I wish I could explain it but for whatever reason it is hard to focus on the screen and makes my eyes and head feel funky and maybe blurry is a way to put it. I was seriously considering getting my eyes checked until I started using my ancient laptop that has Lubuntu and I don't have any problem being on it for long periods of time - unless I've been on my main computer first. But even that fades in not that long.

@dolphin_oracle I wonder if it could be the monitor failing in general. It is kind of old. I did also clean the screen just in case that was it. I also did reset each of the preset settings. If there is anything else I can do I welcome suggestions.

I did try testing it on the USB drive and it seemed to bother my eyes a bit there too. Though I think I should do more testing because if I've been on my main OS for a bit then it bothers my eyes a bit to use any other screen / screen setting.

Thank you @txm0523 !! I don't think I should have trouble reinstalling the nvidia driver. That's something to test again too.

Also I never had any problems with any of this until I started playing that game, with the exception of Stardew Valley, which really hurt my eyes. But with Stardew I installed an "earthy" texture pack and didn't have any more problems. And it didn't affect my desktop, only in game.

So I guess next steps are to test on the USB stick more, test on windows again, and reinstall the nvidia drivers to see if that changes anything.

Is there a way to reinstall the nouveau drivers?

Has anyone else experienced an issue with their monitor like this? I wish I had an extra monitor to test with. I do have some ancient monitors but they don't have a DVI connector.

Any suggestions are super welcome!! Thank you so much for your time and help!!
- Mike

[dolphin_oracle]

LCD monitors have a presentation mode to be used be used under the bright lights of the store on the shelf. I don’t know what’s hurting your eyes, but hi backlight level would do it. So if your monitor has a backlight control, you could try to adjust it down.

[CharlesV]

@PlatinumArts and dont discount the refresh rate... I have had all kinds of complaints, including very close to yours, and a different refresh could possibly help.

[txm0523]

@PlatinumArts When I switched back from the nvidia driver to the nouveau driver, it did it automatically. I didn't have to do anything else. Hope this helps.

[PlatinumArts]

Thank you so much for all of this great advice. I'm testing as many things as I can, including resolutions and refresh rates, thank you @CharlesV for that. I was hoping to test the monitor with this laptop using HDMI but sadly I couldn't figure out how to get it to pick up the display on Lubuntu.

@dolphin_oracle Is there a way to adjust the backlight on MX? I found out how to do it on Lubuntu and I can see the difference it makes.

I am also trying to take into account that my eyes are a bit more sensitive lately because of how bad the pollen has been. The pollen does affect my eyes and so that's why I think it is valuable to test with my laptop vs my main PC.

Some excellent news is as I've mentioned at least since I uninstalled my Nvidia driver, it is no longer is burning my eyes. There is a spot I go to pretty much daily where there are signs in the distance and small lettering that I couldn't read when the monitor was hurting my eyes I can now read. I couldn't even read the big lettering when the monitor was hurting my eyes. Maybe it helps that I haven't really been using that computer much either since it has been bothering my eyes in general.

I did reinstall my nvidia drivers and the effect is the same as with the nouveau but again, at least it isn't burning my eyes like before! I'm wondering if maybe I'm even just picking up too much glare or something small that I'm missing.

The big thing I want to figure out is if it is something with the monitor or an OS setting. Right now I have it booted up on my USB stick and I'm going to wait a bit to test so that my eyes will have had a break. And I should test with the Windows HD too probably. As a note I was able to get that game to screw up the drivers on Windows too with the display setting change.

Thank you again everyone!!!
- Mike