Fix Ubuntu 24.04 Resolution Stuck At 640x480 After Kernel Update

Hey guys!

Having issues with your display resolution after a kernel update on Ubuntu? You're not alone! This article addresses a common problem encountered by Ubuntu users, particularly those with Nvidia graphics cards, after updating their kernel. Specifically, we'll dive into the dreaded situation where your screen resolution gets stuck at a low 640x480 after a kernel update on Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS, especially after the update on August 1, 2025. We'll explore the potential causes and, more importantly, provide you with step-by-step solutions to get your display back to its optimal settings. So, if you're running an Nvidia Quadro k5200 or a similar card and are pulling your hair out over this, keep reading – we've got you covered!

Understanding the Issue: Resolution Stuck After Kernel Update

Let's break down what's happening and why your screen resolution might be stubbornly stuck at 640x480. When you update your kernel in Ubuntu, you're essentially updating the core of your operating system. This includes drivers that allow your hardware, like your Nvidia Quadro k5200 graphics card, to communicate with the system. Sometimes, a new kernel doesn't play nicely with existing drivers, or the update process might not properly install the necessary modules for your specific hardware. This is especially true for proprietary drivers, like those from Nvidia, which often require manual intervention after a kernel update.

One of the main reasons you might encounter this issue is due to driver incompatibility. The updated kernel may not include the correct drivers for your Nvidia Quadro k5200, or the existing drivers may not be fully compatible with the new kernel version. This can lead to the system defaulting to a very basic resolution, like 640x480, as it fails to properly initialize your graphics card. Another potential cause is a failed driver installation or configuration. During the update process, there might have been an error that prevented the Nvidia drivers from being installed or configured correctly. This can leave your system without the necessary instructions to properly utilize your graphics card's capabilities.

Furthermore, the X server configuration could be the culprit. The X server is the display server responsible for managing the graphical output in Linux systems. If the X server configuration file (typically xorg.conf) is not set up correctly, or if it's missing, the system might not be able to detect and configure your monitor and graphics card properly. This can result in the resolution being stuck at a low setting. Finally, secure boot can sometimes interfere with the installation of third-party drivers, such as Nvidia's. If secure boot is enabled in your BIOS/UEFI settings, it might prevent the Nvidia drivers from loading correctly, leading to the resolution issue. So, before we dive into the fixes, it's crucial to understand that this problem often stems from driver-related hiccups, X server configuration woes, or secure boot interference.

Troubleshooting Steps: Getting Your Resolution Back

Okay, let's get down to business and fix this resolution issue! Here’s a breakdown of the steps you can take to troubleshoot and restore your display to its glorious, high-resolution self. We'll start with the most common solutions and move towards more advanced fixes, so follow along, and let's get this sorted out.

1. Reinstalling Nvidia Drivers

The first and often most effective step is to reinstall your Nvidia drivers. This ensures you have the correct drivers for your graphics card and the current kernel. Think of it as giving your system a fresh start with the necessary tools to talk to your Nvidia Quadro k5200. To do this, you'll first need to remove the existing drivers. Open your terminal – your trusty command-line interface – and type the following command:

sudo apt purge nvidia*

This command tells Ubuntu to remove all packages that start with “nvidia,” effectively uninstalling your current Nvidia drivers. You'll be prompted for your password, so go ahead and enter it. After the uninstallation is complete, it’s time to reinstall the drivers. The recommended way is to use Ubuntu’s Software & Updates tool. Search for it in your applications, open it, and navigate to the “Additional Drivers” tab. Here, you should see a list of available drivers for your Nvidia card. Select the recommended, or the latest proprietary driver, and click “Apply Changes.” This will download and install the drivers. Alternatively, you can use the command line to install the drivers. First, identify the recommended driver version by running:

ubuntu-drivers devices

This command will list the recommended drivers for your system. Once you have the version number, you can install it using:

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-<version>

Replace <version> with the actual version number. For example:

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-535

After the installation is complete, reboot your system. This is crucial because the new drivers need to be loaded into the kernel. Once your system restarts, check if your resolution is back to normal. If not, let's move on to the next step.

2. Verifying and Updating the X Server Configuration

If reinstalling the drivers didn't do the trick, the next place to look is the X server configuration. As we discussed earlier, the X server is the heart of your graphical display. If its configuration is messed up, you'll face resolution issues. The primary configuration file is xorg.conf, but modern Ubuntu systems often use a dynamic configuration, meaning this file might not exist. Let's first check if it exists. Open your terminal and type:

ls /etc/X11/xorg.conf

If the file exists, you'll see its path printed. If not, don't worry; we'll handle it. If the file exists and you suspect it's causing the problem, you can try renaming it to disable it temporarily:

sudo mv /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup

This renames the file, effectively preventing the X server from using it. Now, reboot your system and see if the resolution issue is resolved. If you don't have an xorg.conf file, or if disabling it didn't help, you can try generating a new one using the Nvidia settings tool. First, ensure you have the nvidia-settings package installed:

sudo apt install nvidia-settings

Once installed, run the tool:

sudo nvidia-settings

This will open the Nvidia settings window. Navigate to “X Server Display Configuration,” configure your settings as desired, and then click “Save to X Configuration File.” This will generate a new xorg.conf file. Reboot your system after saving the configuration and check your resolution.

3. Dealing with Secure Boot

Secure Boot is a security feature in your computer's UEFI/BIOS that prevents unauthorized software from running during the boot process. While it's a great security measure, it can sometimes interfere with third-party drivers, like the ones from Nvidia. If you have secure boot enabled, it might be preventing your Nvidia drivers from loading correctly, resulting in the resolution problem. To check if secure boot is enabled, you can use the mokutil command:

mokutil --sb-state

If it says “SecureBoot enabled,” you might need to disable it temporarily to see if it's the cause of the issue. Disabling secure boot requires you to enter your BIOS/UEFI settings. The exact method varies depending on your motherboard manufacturer, but usually, you can access it by pressing a key like Delete, F2, F10, or F12 during startup. Once in the BIOS/UEFI settings, look for a section labeled “Boot,” “Security,” or something similar, and find the secure boot option. Disable it, save your changes, and exit. After disabling secure boot, reboot your system and check if the resolution issue is resolved. If it is, you have a couple of options: you can either keep secure boot disabled (though this is less secure), or you can try signing the Nvidia drivers so they can be loaded with secure boot enabled. Signing drivers is a more advanced topic, but there are guides available online if you choose to go this route.

4. Checking for Kernel Module Issues

Sometimes, the Nvidia kernel modules might not be loading correctly, even if the drivers are installed. Kernel modules are pieces of code that can be loaded and unloaded into the kernel, extending its functionality. The Nvidia drivers rely on specific kernel modules to function properly. To check if the Nvidia modules are loaded, use the lsmod command and grep for “nvidia”:

lsmod | grep nvidia

If you see output listing Nvidia modules, that’s a good sign. If you don't see any output, the modules might not be loaded. You can try loading them manually using the modprobe command:

sudo modprobe nvidia

If you encounter an error message, it might indicate a problem with the driver installation or compatibility. If the modules load successfully, try rebooting your system to see if the resolution issue is resolved. If the modules still don't load, you might need to reinstall the Nvidia drivers as described in the first step, ensuring that the modules are built and installed correctly for your current kernel.

5. Grub Configuration

The Grub bootloader configuration can also sometimes play a role in display issues. Grub is responsible for loading the operating system, and its configuration can affect how the kernel is initialized. One potential fix is to add a kernel parameter that forces the system to use the Nvidia graphics. To do this, you'll need to edit the Grub configuration file. Open a terminal and use your favorite text editor (like nano or vim) to edit /etc/default/grub:

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

Find the line that starts with GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT and add nvidia-drm.modeset=1 to the existing parameters. It might look something like this:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=