Hello! I converted an old laptop with a broken screen into a home server, and it all works well except for one thing: when I reboot it (via ssh), if no screen is connected, it will get stuck and refuse to boot. as soon as I connect an HDMI monitor, the fans will start spinning and it will start booting as usual. Then I can remove the HDMI and it will work flawlessly. I don’t know if this is a linux problem, a GRUB problem, or a firmware problem.
Any idea on how to solve this, or on how to fool it into thinking a screen is connected? The problem is not the lid switch as I removed the magnet from the screen, so it thinks the lid is always open
Thanks in advance!
A HDMI Dummy Plug?
I didn’t think this could actually exist, just ordered one! thanks!
It works great! I use one for a headless server for steam remote play.
There’s an evangelion joke here that i’m not clever enough to make
Get in the Laptop Shinji.
These are also good for headless servers. GPUs tend to not “kick-in” if they don’t think a monitor is connected.
Did you take a little journey into the BIOS yet? Is definitely firmware, the question is if you can just change a setting there. Otherwise, somebody already mentioned dummy HDMI plugs.
Is it getting stuck in the BIOS? If you can’t ssh in, can you even ping it? Network should come up before graphics.
Have you disabled the display manager?
As someone eles mentioned, boot it with a screen and check the BIOS. Since this was a laptop, the BIOS is certainly expecting a display, so you might have to adjust something there.
Yes I can ping it!
Have you disabled the display manager?
yep, I did `systemctl set-default multi-user.target’
As someone eles mentioned, boot it with a screen and check the BIOS. Since this was a laptop, the BIOS is certainly expecting a display, so you might have to adjust something there.
I already looked into the bios but it was pretty empty, just a few options, nothing about displays or graphics card
but now I have a doubts, perhaps there is a “show advanced settings” button somewhere that I didn’t see? I have to look for it
Most likely it’s hard coded in the firmware and not exposed as a BIOS option because the OEM didn’t ever think anyone would run into this. The dummy plug is your lowest effort workaround. Hope that works, good luck!
It sounds like the issue is with the lid latch/sensor, not with the graphics. Some laptops may not boot if the lid is closed, and some have options on the firmware to enable to boot when the lid is closed / on a docking station.
I don’t think this is the problem, as it refuses to boot even when the lid is open
That is why I also mentioned the latch/sensor, it may got stuck.
What do you mean? Like if the lid is open, but it thinks it’s closed?
