[partially solved] Errors and failure to start desktop environment after upgrade

Update: apparently reform-desktop-full wasn’t installed? Now this is left:

I: Contents of /proc/device-tree/model: MNT Pocket Reform with i.MX8MP Module
I: `uname -a` output: Linux mntreform 6.16.3-mnt-reform-arm64 #1 SMP PREEMPT Debian 6.16.3-1+reform20250830T222127Z (2025-08-3 aarch64 GNU/Linux
I: Version of linux-image-mnt-reform-arm64: 6.16.3-1+reform20250830T222127Z
I: Version of reform-tools: 1.78-1+reform20250901T183925Z+1
I: Version of system image: System Image v4: 2024-05-03
W: unable to obtain version of system controller firmware -- firmware too old?
W: unable to obtain version of keyboard firmware -- firmware too old?
I: probably booting via /boot/boot.scr (/boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf does not exist)
I: Mount source of /: /dev/nvme0n1p2 (SSD)
I: Mount source of /boot: /dev/mmcblk2p1 (eMMC)
I: Suggests of reform-desktop-minimal is not installed: firmware-atheros
I: Suggests of reform-desktop-minimal is not installed: firmware-iwlwifi
I: Suggests of reform-desktop-minimal is not installed: firmware-mediatek
I: Suggests of reform-desktop-minimal is not installed: firmware-misc-nonfree
I: Suggests of reform-desktop-minimal is not installed: reform-branding
E: unexpected last line in /etc/skel/.profile, should be:
if [ "$(whoami)" = "root" ]; then reform-help --root; elif [ -z "$WAYLAND_DISPLAY" ]; then reform-help; fi
I: the following files differ from how they are shipped by reform-tools (ignore /var/lib/alsa/asound.state):
??5??????   /var/lib/alsa/asound.state
??5?????? c /etc/profile.d/reform.sh
??5?????? c /etc/skel/.config/sway/config.d/input
??5?????? c /etc/skel/.config/wayfire.ini
W: The deprecated meta-package linux-image-arm64 is installed.
W: Since the new meta-package linux-image-mnt-reform-arm64 is installed,
W: the old meta-package linux-image-arm64 should be removed.
I: file from deprecated kernel flavour found: /boot/initrd.img-6.7.12-reform2-arm64
I: file from deprecated kernel flavour found: /boot/vmlinuz-6.7.12-reform2-arm64
I: kernel boot parameters which are the default but your system doesn't use them:
 - fbcon=font:TER16x32
 sudo reform-flash-uboot emmc
/boot/flash.bin is up-to-date -- not downloading it again
W: Flashing u-boot to eMMC on MNT Pocket Reform with i.MX8MP Module is not without risk.
W: If you flash the wrong u-boot or if the flashing process goes wrong, it is
W: possible to soft-brick your board. Restoring it might need some extra hardware.
W: Please only proceed if you are sure that the benefits outweigh the risks for you.
Are you sure you want to proceed? [y/N]

When you say “extra hardware” are we talking JTAG or UART here?

Can I fix this to boot from NVMe? I notice reform-flash-uboot only offers emmc or sd - I’m running the OS from NVMe but the bootloader is elsewhere?


Apparently I can’t attach a text file here, but there’s a number of crashes similar to Pocket Reform trace error - #19 by josch

Linux mntreform 6.16.3-mnt-reform-arm64 #1 SMP PREEMPT Debian 6.16.3-1+reform20250830T222127Z (2025-08-3 aarch64 GNU/Linux

I apt-upgraded after months of this thing being in a drawer and now I have regrets!

Wifi is up and ssh is working so I can do any diagnosis but I have lost the desktop environment after this upgrade.

Times have changed since I used to troubleshoot X11 - what’s the equivalent log for wayland?

Yes, u-boot is on eMMC. Your /boot can be either on sd-card or emmc (in your case it’s on eMMC) and your rootfs is on your SSD (not encrypted).

You edited your original post. What practical issues are left for you?

From the reform-check output, the most important thing left i’d say is the firmware of your sysctl and keyboard. We found issues with old versions so i’d recommend you upgrade to the most recent ones. Instructions here: Releases · Reform / MNT Pocket Reform · GitLab

Also, installing reform-desktop-full is not “required”. It’s a meta package which will install the things that MNT deemed to be a good default for a reform installation but you can safely remove it and select packages yourself manually.