[SOLUTION][TEMPFIX] Problems with booting Remix OS on a dual graphics card devices

[Vioner]

MOST RECENT REMIX VERSION TESTED WITH THE GUIDE: 3.0.206
If you have a PC (laptop, desktop, tablet, hybrid) with a dual graphics card combo (like Intel + NVIDIA, Intel + AMD, AMD + AMD) and experience problems booting Remix OS then this is a potential solution/workaround for you (until it's officially fixed):
IF YOU USED UNOFFICIAL METHODS FOR REMIX INSTALLATION, THESE SHOULD, BUT MIGHT NOT WORK FOR YOU

Try the methods available in the next section if your PC hangs on one of these during the boot sequence:​

• ANDROID [email protected]_x86_64:/ # (if you have an external display plugged in, disconnect it and try again, if persists, read on)
• Remix OS logo (is your hdd / USB stick fast enough?)
• “_” in the top left corner (above may also apply, other possibilities are badblocks or badsectors apparent on the hard drive, so check for those if the below guide doesn't help)

Before we begin, you need to know how to edit grub menuentries (NON PERSISTENT - ONE BOOT ONLY):​

LEGACY boot - don't apply the exact solutions provided there, just follow the scheme.
UEFI boot - don't apply the exact solutions provided there, just follow the scheme.​

​

Find your scenario and add given parameters to the GRUB menuentry kernel line:​

​

1. One of your graphics cards is Intel
   This applies only to Remix versions 3.0.205 and older.
   

   EXTMOD=i915

   This parameter enforces initiating Intel driver module first - sets Intel card as primary.
2. NONE of your grapics cards is Intel:
   

   nomodeset androidboot.swrast=1

   "nomodeset" disables "the kernel mode setting" (tells
   the kernel to not set the graphic resolution, let X do that instead).
   androidboot.swrast=1 enforces software graphics rendering.
   All graphics will be handled by the CPU - has drawbacks; lower stability and performance, but will work 99% times - 1% is when your CPU is not supported

If the above allowed you to successfully boot:​

1. Report your problem and solution in the official feedback form here:
   Remix OS for PC User Feedback
2. Now you need to make the change persistent:
   • For Remix OS installed on hard drive:
     • LEGACY BOOT:Apply adequate changes to grub.cfg or menu.lst file in your Remix OS installation folder. Editing both files won't hurt
     • UEFI BOOT: Apply adequate changes to EFI:/boot/grub/grub.cfg file in your ESP (EFI System Partition) - example path Z:/boot/grub/grub.cfg
       Instruction on how to access grub.cfg file on Windows
       BEWARE, ACCIDENTALLY REMOVING OR MODIFYING SOME FILES FROM ESP PARTITION WILL RENDER SYSTEMS NOT BOOTABLE - WILL REQUIRE RECOVERY TOOLS.
       To access ESP, you need to:
       • start cmd.exe as administrator
       • Kill Explorer -> Mount the ESP -> Start the Explorer as admin using below commands:

       • taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
         mountvol Z: /s
         explorer.exe

       • If you fail to mount the system partition then it's probably already mounted. Start notepad as administrator then browse My computer and you should find a SYSTEM drive - that's ESP.
       • Edit & save the EFI:/boot/grub/grub.cfg file
       • Reboot and test if the changes worked(if you reboot into Windows, the ESP should be inaccessible again - it automatically unmounts upon restart)
   • For Remix OS installed on a USB stick:
     You will need to access USB partition labeled REMIXOSSYS.
     Filesystem of this partition is not supported by Windows, so without any 3rd party apps you won't be able to modify the needed files.
     You will need to either use a Linux distribution or edit from Remix OS on other device. Be dexterous
     • LEGACY BOOT:Apply adequate changes to REMIXOSSYS:/SYSLINUX.CFG
     • UEFI BOOT: Apply adequate changes to REMIXOSSYS:/boot/grub/grub.cfg
3. Add a post with your results after using the guide and hit Thanks it it worked for you List your device brand and model & GPUs models + Remix OS version

Special thanks and credits go to @masaykh for helping me make this guide and pointing out some mistakes.​

Disclaimer:
Currently parameter X.modeset=0/1 does NOT work, because of recent changes made to driver modules handling.
This thread and discussed problem is known to Remix OS dev team and they are working on it. Let's hope that one of the future updates fixes it.


Less relevant info:
Guide was written in desktop mode, if it looks bad in Tapatalk then blame the app

 

[ethansky]

Does this apply to laptops as well? I don't have an option to disable the dGPU on my Asus ROG laptop. The nouveau and nomodeset commands and it still hangs on the Android root part after it loads the kernel. Help!

 

[Vioner]

Have you tried with step 4. (androidboot.swrast=1) ?

Laptops are PCs too I'll edit OP to prevent confusion.

Also please don't quote the OP (opening post). Use "@"username instead - lots of space saves for better reading and scrolling experience.

Sent from mobile

 

[mitchell4you]

Just wondering... can you use, both Gpu's?
Aka.. dualscreen or stretched desktop option

Cheers

 

[Vioner]

@mitchell4you
Currently Remix OS allows only mirrored external display. This kind of feature is handled by the single GPU only, but that's how it works for all devices.

Some devices with dual gpu can boot without changing anything like in this guide, but that applies only to Lollipop Remix.

Sent from mobile

 

[ilker4fun]

@Vioner Thank you for your awesome guide. I finally boot RemixOS on my laptop but I have a problem. I couldn't this method permanent. there is no file in the /boot/grub/grub.cfg in my RemixOS installation folder. Could you more specific about making this permanent. I have to do all this manually on bootmenu to boot RemixOS. BTW my Nvidia GPU is running on RemixOS not the integrated one and my laptop is hot more than it should . Is that Normal? Thanks in advance

 

[Vioner]

@alali44 which option worked for you? Are you sure it's the nvidia gpu that's working?

Which boot type do u have? Are you sure it's uefi? Path you referred to is for uefi only.

Also remember to hit thanks when it's the right thing to do

Sent from mobile

 

[ilker4fun]

@alali44 which option worked for you? Are you sure it's the nvidia gpu that's working?

Which boot type do u have? Are you sure it's uefi? Path you referred to is for uefi only.

Also remember to hit thanks when it's the right thing to do

Sent from mobile

I am pretty sure because nvidia cpu is running cause there is a color in my laptop power button that shows that. It is UEFI i am sure about that as well.

BTW what do you mean by saying that which option worked for you? I did all of your steps. To be more specific I add the kernel line of remix os in grub menu:
nouveau.modeset=0
nomodeset
androidboot.swrast=1(There is no option in my bios to disable nvidia cpu)

And after that RemixOS was opened but I can't this method permanent because of lack of file in boot folder.
Thanks in advance

 

[Vioner]

@alali44 thanks for reporting. I guess I wasn't clear enough in the guide - I meant to do steps one after another in order but independently from each other - do not combine them together - it's like 4 different methods. I'll reedit the post to make this clear. Please check again which point helped.

About persistent change - you have UEFI, so follow instructions how to access the EFI partition and the grub.cfg file - go back to the guide.

 

[ilker4fun]

@alali44 thanks for reporting. I guess I wasn't clear enough in the guide - I meant to do steps one after another in order but independently from each other - do not combine them together - it's like 4 different methods. I'll reedit the post to make this clear. Please check again which point helped.

About persistent change - you have UEFI, so follow instructions how to access the EFI partition and the grub.cfg file - go back to the guide.

I will try bro and report back to you Thanks again

 

[ruha3463]

my two pc will not open new versions my pc HP probook 4540s and DELL XPS l502

 

[masaykh]

@ruha3463 can you write more details?
maybe some errors or to what point it booted?

 

[Sands207]

I am having trouble loading Remix 64 using a nvidia GeForce 7900 GT, I've tried your suggestions but haven't gotten it working yet

Sent from my XT1526 using Tapatalk

 

[ruha3463]

3.0.201 later also does not work in any way

LG-D855 cihazımdan Tapatalk kullanılarak gönderildi

 

[Vioner]

@Sands207 but do you have 2 graphics cards? This guide is for dual GPU.
If you have only one graphics card then only scenarios 2. and 3. might help you. DO NOTE that I've recently made a major update to the OP - it's significantly changed.

 

[Sands207]

@Sands207 but do you have 2 graphics cards? This guide is for dual GPU.
If you have only one graphics card then only scenarios 2. and 3. might help you. DO NOTE that I've recently made a major update to the OP - it's significantly changed.

Thanks, I goofed and only have one. I'll keep looking into it

Sent from my XT1526 using Tapatalk

 

[ruha3463]

I am having trouble loading Remix 64 using a nvidia GeForce 7900 GT, I've tried your suggestions but haven't gotten it working yet

Sent from my XT1526 using Tapatalk

my same problem

LG-D855 cihazımdan Tapatalk kullanılarak gönderildi

 

[ruha3463]

Yuupy EXTMOD=i915 with worked ???

LG-D855 cihazımdan Tapatalk kullanılarak gönderildi

 

[zirrott]

Fan speed

I have a notebook with Intel i7 6700HQ and NVIDIA GTX 950m

with code EXTMOD=i915 it run in good resolution (1920x1080) but with fan and CPU at 100%

with code nomodeset it run low resolution (800x600) but CPU run better

Sorry for bad English

Thank you in advance

 

[Vioner]

@zirrott I have the exact same cpu and gpu, but I haven't noticed the fans going 100%. Need to test more to be sure.
With nomodeset you won't get any good performance in games or video.
It has 3D accelleration disabled and it's like I described in the OP - utilizes simple drivers that focus only on allowing you to boot and do basic stuff.