Booting to IFL Results in a Black Screen

Problem:

Booting Image for Linux (either the CUI or GUI version) results in a black screen instead of the IFL menu or desktop. This issue affects some newer laptops (e.g. Dell Latitude 5289, Lenovo e-560), but may also affect other systems.

Solution:

To avoid this issue you will need to add the acpi=off Linux kernel boot parameter before booting. The method for doing this depends on whether you're booting the IFL media in Legacy or UEFI mode.

Booting Legacy Mode IFL Boot Media

When booting to IFL the initial screen operates with a five second timeout and has selections for various graphics options. A "boot:" prompt is displayed where you can enter your selection.

Instructions:

1. Once at the "boot:" prompt, within five seconds, enter the number of the graphics selection of your choice. This will abort the countdown and allow you to enter the kernel boot parameter.
   
   
2. Type a space.
   
   
3. Type the kernel boot parameter: acpi=off
   
   
4. Press ENTER to boot IFL.

For example, to boot the default graphics option, you would type: 1 acpi=off

Booting UEFI Mode IFL Boot Media

When booting to IFL the GRUB menu is displayed. The initial screen operates with a five second timeout and has selections for various graphics options.

Instructions:

1. Once the GRUB menu is displayed, within five seconds, select (highlight) the graphics option of your choice and press e to edit the menu item.
   
   
2. The GRUB commands for the menu item will be displayed in a simple editor. An example entry is shown below (spacing will likely be different):
   
   setparams 'IFL (GUI) Network Boot Disk - best available graphics mode'
   
       set background_color=black
       gfxpayload='1024x768,800x600,640x480'
       echo     'Loading vmlinuz...'
       linux   /vmlinuz uefimode=yes iflkmap=us ktl=qwerty iflbflag=2
       echo     'Loading initrmfs.gz...'
       initrd  /initrmfs.gz
   
   
3. Use the arrow keys, END key, etc. to move to the end of the linux line of text.
   
   
4. At the end of the line, make sure there is a space and then type: acpi=off
   For example:
   linux   /vmlinuz uefimode=yes iflkmap=us ktl=qwerty iflbflag=2 acpi=off
   
   
5. Press F10 (or Ctrl-x) to boot the modified menu item.