Pi-Zero W no longer outputting over HDMI->VGA adapter after dist-upgrade

[bomblord]

Was wanting to do a full upgrade to hopefully fix an issue with VLC and Wi-fi but after doing this the device no longer is outputting over an HDMI->VGA adapter that was previously working. The only thing that changed after the reboot that seemingly killed it was that update. I've re-seated the HDMI adapter multiple times and also tried a different Pi-zero with the same micro-SD card so I can rule out hardware issues. I can VNC into it and get the full desktop so I know it's not a boot failure either.

[FTrevorGowen]

Was wanting to do a full upgrade to hopefully fix an issue with VLC and Wi-fi but after doing this the device no longer is outputting over an HDMI->VGA adapter that was previously working. The only thing that changed after the reboot that seemingly killed it was that update. I've re-seated the HDMI adapter multiple times and also tried a different Pi-zero with the same micro-SD card so I can rule out hardware issues. I can VNC into it and get the full desktop so I know it's not a boot failure either.

Did you also try the HDMI->VGA adapter with the "different Pi-zero"? What model of HDMI->VGA adapter? (Some, older devices, needed to be externally powered).
In the "non-working setup" what was/is the output of these commands:

Code: Select all

tvservice -n
tvservice -m DMT
tvservice -m CEA
tvservice -s

Trev.

[bomblord]

Was wanting to do a full upgrade to hopefully fix an issue with VLC and Wi-fi but after doing this the device no longer is outputting over an HDMI->VGA adapter that was previously working. The only thing that changed after the reboot that seemingly killed it was that update. I've re-seated the HDMI adapter multiple times and also tried a different Pi-zero with the same micro-SD card so I can rule out hardware issues. I can VNC into it and get the full desktop so I know it's not a boot failure either.

Did you also try the HDMI->VGA adapter with the "different Pi-zero"? What model of HDMI->VGA adapter? (Some, older devices, needed to be externally powered).
In the "non-working setup" what was/is the output of these commands:

Code: Select all

tvservice -n
tvservice -m DMT
tvservice -m CEA
tvservice -s

Trev.

I've tried 2 separate pi-zero's with the same micro-sd card neither are outputting over it. I've had the adapter running for multiple days outputting to the same monitor but now it doesn't see a signal after doing an update/reboot. There's also no way to externally power the adapter. The model is Honshen there's no further information printed on it outside of that.

Output of commands taken over VNC
z

Edit: After swapping the adapters out and then swapping back it began to work. The pi zero also powered itself off when I put a spare adapter in and rebooted with video which was odd.

[FTrevorGowen]

...
've tried 2 separate pi-zero's with the same micro-sd card neither are outputting over it. I've had the adapter running for multiple days outputting to the same monitor but now it doesn't see a signal after doing an update/reboot. There's also no way to externally power the adapter. The model is Honshen there's no further information printed on it outside of that.

Output of commands taken over VNC
z

Edit: After swapping the adapters out and then swapping back it began to work. The pi zero also powered itself off when I put the old adapter in.

From the tvservice outputs it looks as if the "preferred" mode is being detected and used, but is that what you required?
The tvservice -n output is somewhat odd - I would expect it to be either the adapter's "name" or, better, that of the connected display (assuming it's a monitor or T.V. - the presence of similar numbers of CEA and DMT modes suggests it's something else**)
Trev.
** TV's usually have more CEA modes than DMT, monitors vice-versa see my notes/examples linked to below:
http://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_pi ... tings.html
http://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_pi ... uster.html
http://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_pi ... uster.html
http://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_pi ... erP4B.html
NB:Some of the above are still WIP.

[andrum99]

I had a similar problem with my HDMI to VGA adaptor. I basically just gave up and bought a new one. With mine I got no output on the HDMI port when the Pi was cold booted - rebooting gets the picture back. I tested it with an old version of Raspbian and it works correctly with that.

It seems a few months ago something changed in the firmware, and the Pi now doesn't recognise that there is a screen connected when using my old HDMI to VGA adaptor.

The new HDMI to VGA adaptor I bought that does work is the one sold by Pimoroni, if that helps. (https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/rasp ... -converter)

[trejan]

The HDMI to VGA adapters I used had issues if you booted with the monitor attached. Starting up the Pi with the HDMI to VGA adapter attached but no monitor and only plugging in the monitor later worked fine. I might have had to force the HDMI resolution as well to account for the hot plugging. Its been a while since I used those adapters.

[davidcoton]

What method did you use to update/upgrade? If you used apt-get, you may have discovered another dependency problem (see here for a known example).
Try:

Code: Select all

sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade

[bomblord]

What method did you use to update/upgrade? If you used apt-get, you may have discovered another dependency problem (see here for a known example).
Try:

Code: Select all

sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

It suddenly started working again after rebooting itself outside of my command or control so I guess yay? Although I have noticed it flickering.... very frequently.