Cubieboard 1 - No display output when booting Debian 12 image

[Shakai2]

I downloaded and wrote the image to the SD card. I can see the U-Boot messages at the very beginning, but after a few moments, nothing is displayed anymore.
I believe the OS is still booting because the activity LED on the board keeps blinking.
Any idea what might be happening ?

Thanks in advance for any help !

[Werner]

https://debug.armbian.de

[Igor]

A10 / A20 hdmi support was reported as broken and bug was recorded https://armbian.atlassian.net/browse/AR-2674 some time ago.

[Shakai2]

Thank you for the reply !
I see — is there any version of Armbian or another distro that has working HDMI output and graphics drivers ?

[Nasko]

Same Here. 
 

I am using Armbian on top of cubietruk as cups print server for years without issue.

Now I have decided to see if I can use scanning function of my Samsung SCX-4600 3 in 1 machine. 

 

So, I logged in via ssh to my cubietruk running Armbian 23.02.0-trunk Lunar and I just did sudo apt-get update

(And got some errors of missing repos), Despite that I have decided to give a try with sudo apt-get install sane

Result was 5-6 missing packages 

 

Next obvious step was to start armbian-config and I went directly with "Update firmware and packages"

Update was success and armbian-config asked for a reboot, which I did. Unfortunately the system was not able to boot. 

 

Luckily I have 23" HP Z-series monitor next to my trusty SBC and saw that on the console was lots of errors related to ETHERNET. 

Second and third reboot was pointles, so I have decided that It is time for fresh install for my cusps print- server.

 

I have downloaded "Debian 12 (Bookworm)Minimal / IOT" from https://www.armbian.com/cubietruck/  and I have flashed it using dd. 

 

Next obvious step was to start the system. I saw U-Boot Logo and "Starting Kernel" 

Then the screen went BLACK. NOTHING. 

 

Now there is no way to configure this fresh install. 

Is there any workarounds? 

[Shakai2]

While searching the forum and the documentation, I found the list of mirrors. On some of them, it's possible to find an older version of Armbian (23.11.1).

 

I installed that version and it seems the drivers are working — I was able to use HDMI.

 

This is the mirror I used: https://armbian.atomonetworks.com/archive/cubieboard/archive/

[laibsch]

17 hours ago, Shakai2 said:

I found the list of mirrors. On some of them, it's possible to find an older version of Armbian (23.11.1).

 

I installed that version and it seems the drivers are working — I was able to use HDMI.

 

Thank you for letting us know as it allows an interested party to more easily bisect the regression.

[Anb_o7]

Hello,

 

Using Armbian 23.11.1, I managed to upgrade to 25.5.2 with the hdmi output still working by pinning the version of linux-image-current-sunxi. So right now I have armbian 25.5.2 running with the kernel from 23.11.1 (6.1.63) and everything seems fine so far.

I'll see if I can bisect the linux-image versions to find which one introduced the bug.

 

Also note that apart from the hdmi output not working everything seems ok as I can ssh the cubieboard and use it as a headless machine without any issue.

Edited June 29 by Anb_o7

[Igor]

10 hours ago, Anb_o7 said:

I'll see if I can bisect the linux-image versions to find which one introduced the bug.

Check this thread 

 

[Alex83]

Hey, I have a Banana PI M1

 

root@192.168.178.193's password: 
    _             _    _           
   /_\  _ _ _ __ | |__(_)__ _ _ _  
  / _ \| '_| '  \| '_ \ / _` | ' \ 
 /_/ \_\_| |_|_|_|_.__/_\__,_|_||_|
                                   
 v25.5.1 for Banana Pi running Armbian Linux 6.12.30-current-sunxi

 Packages:     Ubuntu stable (noble)
 IPv4:         (LAN) 192.168.178.193 (WAN) 87.160.68.42 

 Performance:  

 Load:         20%           	Up time:       26 min	
 Memory usage: 11% of 959M   	
 CPU temp:     47°C           	 Usage of /:   5% of 29G    	

 Commands: 

 Configuration : armbian-config
 Monitoring    : htop

 

I installed the latest image, since I had trouble to boot my old configuration. After I installed it at my TV for debuging I just saw the first boot-sequence until usually the ubuntu-boot starts in a new screen. There came no screen an the device was not available via ssh or ping. - So I decided to check the SD-Card in my ubuntu laptop. There were errrors which have been fixed. Afterwards I had still the same black screen after boot-prompt.

 

So I was sure copied all of my files via nautilus and thought, why not starting from beginning. So I installed the latest image. - This image bootet perfect. There were a screen and I installed the user and admin credentials. - After a system update unfortunately I have the same black-screen after boot-prompt. The device is avaliable via ssh.

 

So if we have to do debuging there is no chance without HDMI... So I think it is essential to solve this issue...

 

@Igor Unfortunately the problem has to get solved, even when just one person is doing the HDMI-stuff. But if we don't get it resloved I see no debug-possiblities anymore if there is no ssh! - So w

Edited July 11 by Alex83

[SteeMan]

1 hour ago, Alex83 said:

f we don't get it resloved I see no debug-possiblities anymore if there is no ssh!

Generally debugging is done through the UART connector: https://debug.armbian.de/

[Ryzer]

Hi @Alex83, There was a kernel bump prior to submission so HDMI fixes only apply to 6.12.35.

 

If you device is indeed the Banana Pi M3 then that is A83T SOC and not the A10 or A20 for which these patches apply.

 

[Alex83]

Hi. Sorry for my wrong information. It is a banana pi m1. - Is there also a solution? I think it has an A10 processor.

[Alex83]

@SteeMan It is not easy to take an UART-Cable every time when I wanna check what's wrong with the device... - So am I the only unhappy person with the HDMI-bug?

[eselarm]

1 hour ago, Alex83 said:

It is not easy to take an UART-Cable every time when I wanna check what's wrong with the device... - So am I the only unhappy person with the HDMI-bug?

BananaPi M1 is A20 SoC. I have 1 but not using HDMI. I just have a permanent USB serial console cable connected to it, much easier than HDMI+keyboard.

[Ryzer]

Hi @Alex83,

 

Ok that aligns more with prior welcome screen in your prior post and the Banana Pi M1 is an A20. I dont know how long it takes for changes to flow through to automated builds after submitting a PR but I should hope they would now be present in the latest release kernel 6.12.35. Out of interest where did you source the image from as armbian pages only list images with 6.6 kernel unless you are using the image from the Banana Pi pro?

 

While HDMI output can be convient it is not always ideal for debug purposes. For instance it is not possible to scroll back through logs using just hdmi alone.

[Ryzer]

@eselarm what kernel version are you currently using? As a quick check could you please provide the output of sudo dmesg | grep drm, on the off chance I may have missed something or broke again during kernel bump?

[eselarm]

@Ryzer just started it, was updated a week ago or so:

root@banlipi:~# uname -a
Linux banlipi 6.12.30-current-sunxi #1 SMP Thu May 22 12:29:54 UTC 2025 armv7l GNU/Linux
root@banlipi:~# dmesg | grep drm
[    0.996620] sun4i-drm display-engine: bound 1e00000.display-frontend (ops 0xc0bb0c8c)
[    0.996924] sun4i-drm display-engine: bound 1e20000.display-frontend (ops 0xc0bb0c8c)
[    0.997494] sun4i-drm display-engine: bound 1e60000.display-backend (ops 0xc0bb03f8)
[    0.997999] sun4i-drm display-engine: bound 1e40000.display-backend (ops 0xc0bb03f8)
[    0.998903] sun4i-drm display-engine: No panel or bridge found... RGB output disabled
[    0.998973] sun4i-drm display-engine: bound 1c0c000.lcd-controller (ops 0xc0bae8e8)
[    0.999936] sun4i-drm display-engine: No panel or bridge found... RGB output disabled
[    1.000015] sun4i-drm display-engine: bound 1c0d000.lcd-controller (ops 0xc0bae8e8)
[    1.002143] sun4i-drm display-engine: bound 1c16000.hdmi (ops 0xc0bb1688)
[    1.004289] [drm] Initialized sun4i-drm 1.0.0 for display-engine on minor 0
[    1.004495] sun4i-drm display-engine: [drm] Cannot find any crtc or sizes
[    1.032416] sun4i-drm display-engine: [drm] Cannot find any crtc or sizes
[    6.475086] [drm] Initialized lima 1.1.0 for 1c40000.gpu on minor 1
[   11.323101] systemd[1]: Starting modprobe@drm.service - Load Kernel Module drm...
[   12.107664] systemd[1]: modprobe@drm.service: Deactivated successfully.
[   12.124764] systemd[1]: Finished modprobe@drm.service - Load Kernel Module drm.

no newer kernel available via apt now I see when running update.

[Ryzer]

@eselarm ok thats interesting. Is it not even listed if looking for alternative kernels via armbian-config? Scrolling through the collection of community creation builds does not appear to list anything for the M1 only for the Pro Model.

[eselarm]

i do not use armbian-config normally, but there is a 6.12.35 here

http://beta.armbian.com/pool/main/l/linux-6.12.35/

(fix or edit or follow path/mirror youself)

Edited July 11 by eselarm

[destroyedlolo]

Hi,

I'm facing the same issue with my BananaPI-M1 running ARMbian and I have another one bPI-M1 running ArchARM which is suffering exactly for the same issue (bPI is not supposed to be supported but it working pretty well but this HDMI issue and the miss of AXP209 exposition).

 

I'm a bit lost about the current status : is the upstream 6.15 (or upcoming 6.16) already patched/corrected ?

 

Quote

but there is a 6.12.35 here

http://beta.armbian.com/pool/main/l/linux-6.12.35/

 

@eselarm  The link seems dead 🙂

[eselarm]

5 hours ago, destroyedlolo said:

The link seems dead

Yes it is dead, that is why my comments between brackets. Start with http://beta.armbian.com then click with your mouse per sub object. 

Or wait until it is out of beta phase or modify your sources.list.d

[destroyedlolo]

I juste installed it, and it's pretty working 🥰

 

# wget https://armbian.lv.auroradev.org/beta/pool/main/l/linux-6.12.35/linux-image-current-sunxi_25.8.0-trunk.346_armhf__6.12.35-S783c-Dbdda-Pf7b7-C34a1Hf8af-HK01ba-V014b-Ba566-R448a.deb

# apt install ./linux-image-current-sunxi_25.8.0-trunk.346_armhf__6.12.35-S783c-Dbdda-Pf7b7-C34a1Hf8af-HK01ba-V014b-Ba566-R448a.deb 

 

My dashboard is back !

Trying to update my arch with the latest kernel ...

 

ps: in addition, if someone knows how to disable cursor blinking on this HDMI, it would be fine (I already disabled getty on it, but the cursor remain).

Edited Saturday at 10:26 AM by destroyedlolo

[destroyedlolo]

Another good thing : previously, the A20 CPU load never goes below 1 due to something wrong in the kernel. It's now corrected.

 

14 hours ago, destroyedlolo said:

I'm a bit lost about the current status : is the upstream 6.15 (or upcoming 6.16) already patched/corrected ?

I can confirm also it is corrected : I upgraded my ArchARM BananaPI and the HDMI is back as well.

[Ryzer]

6 hours ago, destroyedlolo said:

ps: in addition, if someone knows how to disable cursor blinking on this HDMI, it would be fine (I already disabled getty on it, but the cursor remain).

Difficult to say how to fix without further logs. What I am looking into and what it could possibly be related to is the simpledrm module loading alongside sun4i-drm. I wonder if you remove simpledrm then does the cursor become less erratic? 

 

3 hours ago, destroyedlolo said:

Another good thing : previously, the A20 CPU load never goes below 1 due to something wrong in the kernel. It's now corrected.

Without diverging to far off topic, I suspect this related to sun4i-gpadc and how the temperature sensor is polled is carried out.

 

The 6.12 Hdmi patches are a backport of the changes found in 6.15.