Debian machine will not boot without discrete GPU
by Sudonix from LinuxQuestions.org on (#5T7B5)
I've recently changed distributions on my former desktop-now-turned-server from Bodhi (stripped-down Ubuntu) to Debian. The motherboard (AsRock Fatal1ty 990FX, AM3+ socket) lacks an on-board video output, so I've had to do my installation with my PCIe graphics card installed. Everything on the system works fine, DHCP, SSH server. When I shut down and remove my graphics card, the system powers on, but it does not seem to finish booting. I cannot ping the machine nor connect through SSH. When I had Bodhi installed previously, the system worked just fine headlessly.
I do not know if this is Grub-related or something else. With a keyboard attached, I have tried pressing Enter among other key combinations to see if the system is stuck on a prompt screen. Any ideas where the problem may lie?
EDIT: Others with similar problems seem to trace their problem to Grub. I've tried tweaking my /etc/default/grub configuration, enabling 'GRUB_TERMINAL_OUTPUT="console"' and setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to 0. (Regenerated grub.cfg, of course.) Neither of which have made a difference.
I do not know if this is Grub-related or something else. With a keyboard attached, I have tried pressing Enter among other key combinations to see if the system is stuck on a prompt screen. Any ideas where the problem may lie?
EDIT: Others with similar problems seem to trace their problem to Grub. I've tried tweaking my /etc/default/grub configuration, enabling 'GRUB_TERMINAL_OUTPUT="console"' and setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to 0. (Regenerated grub.cfg, of course.) Neither of which have made a difference.