MATLAB hangs on startup at splash screen, possible Java runtime issue (Ubuntu 19.04)

I am having a similar problem to the question posted here with a few differences that I can't resolve.

When starting, my whole computer freezes when reaching the splash screen, and CPU usage maxes out. This is persistent if I use the -nodesktop, -nosplash, and -nodisplay options.

MATLAB runs and functions from my terminal when the -nojvm option is used, but this severely limits plotting capabilitiies, and I'd like to use MATLAB without the -nojvm option.

I've tried the solutions here with no success since the test.log created is blank. The accepted answer at this post is not ideal for me, since I need the grub option "nomodeset" to be unused when booting.

My specs are as follows:

OS: Ubuntu 19.04

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2500u with radeon vega mobile gfx × 8

Graphics: AMD Raven

I suspect that the combination of the AMD CPU and graphics is forcing the machine to use certain drivers that are incompatible with starting MATLAB, but am entirely unsure.

[R.G.]

Hello! Check java environment and i think you can try different JRE version. For example if you use distribution from openJDK, you can try to install Oracle's JRE (recommended).

[Huy Pham]

Thanks for replying. I've switched over to Oracle's JRE 1.2.0_221 (it was previously openJDK). MATLAB startup now still freezes the computer, but this time I can still control mouse movement for some reason.

Running htop at the same time shows that a CPU core is hitting 100% usage.

I've run this with no options, and then with the -nodisplay -nodesktop -nosplash options (still without -nojvm). The issue is persisting with the logfile being blank.

[R.G.]

Ok. Let's assume that the problem is related to grphics (in fact, we do not know anything), so you can try run it with the -softwareopengl argument.

[Huy Pham]

Okay. Startup is similar to my most recent attempt. Freezes the computer after a few flashes of responsiveness.

htop shows two cores hitting 100% usage (before it freezes).

[R.G.]

Just another idea. Maybe you have encrypted swap partition?

I refer to https://nl.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/374364-matlab-2017b-freezes-on-ubuntu-17-10-memory-issue

[FERNANDO Angeles medina]

I found that BIOS of the motherboard which supports RYZEN processor must be updated to avoid matlab 2019b hangs on startup at splash screen when is running on linux. I did that and the problem was solved. I have a customized machine contening motherboard ASUS-A320M-K, processor AMD® Ryzen 3 2200g with radeon vega graphics × 4, 8GBi RAM, BIOS's version lower than Octuber 2018(which was updated to a more recent 2019/10/30). I had been using Ubuntu 18.04.3 64 bits but after I installed Debian 10 Buster 64 bits without any problem.

Answer 1

[Huy Pham]

@Fernando Angeles Medina THANK YOU my MAN. This solution worked for me.

I am using Ubuntu 19.10 and I updated/flashed my BIOS to Lenovo's latest release for my Laptop (November 2019). I am then able to boot MATLAB normally.

Thanks everyone!

Referenced post:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/478391-matlab-hangs-on-startup-at-splash-screen-possible-java-runtime-issue-ubuntu-19-04#comment_781272

Answer 2

[JOHAN AUGUSTO BOCANEGRA CIFUENTES]

Hi, I have a similar problem with UBUNTU 19.10, I can only see the startup logo and then chrash.

I solve the problem running all updates related with JAVA from synaptic.

Hope works for someone else.