[Dell XPS 15z] Need kernel parameter acpi=noirq or acpi=off to boot

[Kyrylo Bohdanenko]

With Quantal amd64, the machine fails to boot without additional kernel parameters. This is reproducible in 3.5.0-18-generic 3.5.0-18.29 and 3.6.3 mainline. This is not reproducible with Quantal i386.

A Ubuntu release bisect revealed the regression is going from Lucid amd64 to Maverick amd64.

Here's more detailed description of dependency between used kernel flags and boot process:
1. acpi=off - every boot succeeds, but laptop heats very fast (CPU fan also is very loud)
2. acpi=noirq - not every boot succeeds (approximately 2 from 8 are successful. starting from 3.5.0-10~ubuntu kernel and 3.6.0 mainline, on earlier kernels - every boot succeeds)

WORKAROUND: Boot with kernel parameters:
acpi_backlight=vendor dell_laptop.backlight=0

There's an article on Ubuntu Wiki saying that linux on Dell XPS 15z should be booted with acpi=noirq parameter:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupport/Machines/Laptops/Dell/XPS/15z

Please see attached photos of screen with boot log when failed to boot.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
Package: linux-image-3.5.0-18-generic 3.5.0-18.29
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-18.29-generic 3.5.7
Uname: Linux 3.5.0-18-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.6.1-0ubuntu6
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: elvenfighter 1955 F.... pulseaudio
CRDA:
 country TW:
  (2402 - 2472 @ 40), (3, 27)
  (5270 - 5330 @ 40), (3, 17), DFS
  (5735 - 5815 @ 40), (3, 30)
Date: Mon Oct 29 23:20:18 2012
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=8fccd069-699f-41c0-9f34-7d61aa3a4530
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-09-07 (52 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Kubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Alpha amd64 (20120905)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Dell System XPS 15Z
MarkForUpload: True
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=ru_UA:ru
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=ru_UA.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-18-generic root=UUID=d6a2cdd3-8fd8-46c4-a9b3-209f751a68f5 ro crashkernel=384M-2G:64M,2G-:128M acpi=noirq quiet splash vt.handoff=7
PulseList: Error: command ['pacmd', 'list'] failed with exit code 1: No PulseAudio daemon running, or not running as session daemon.
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.5.0-18-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.5.0-18-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.95
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 09/07/2012
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A12
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: 0.1
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA12:bd09/07/2012:svnDellInc.:pnDellSystemXPS15Z:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn:rvr:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvr0.1:
dmi.product.name: Dell System XPS 15Z
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Kyrylo Bohdanenko (kyrboh)]

Photo of screen when failed to boot with no acpi kernel parameters in attachment

[Kyrylo Bohdanenko (kyrboh)]

This bug may be related:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1048141

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Kirill Bogdanenko, thank you for reporting this and helping make Ubuntu better. As per Ubuntu Kernel team discussion, bug 1048141 is not related to this one https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/kernel-team/2012-October/022463.html .

Despite this, were you able to boot without the parameters in a release prior to Quantal?

[Kyrylo Bohdanenko (kyrboh)]

> Despite this, were you able to boot without the parameters in a release prior to Quantal?

No, I was not able to boot without acpi parameters on any amd64 release of Ubuntu (starting from Natty).

But I would like to admit, that i386 kernels are booting without any acpi parameters on my machine (At least this was true for Natty). I can re-check with current i386 Live-CD if needed.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Kirill Bogdanenko, thank you for your comments. Regarding them https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1072891/comments/5 :
?"> Despite this, were you able to boot without the parameters in a release prior to Quantal? No, I was not able to boot without acpi parameters on any amd64 release of Ubuntu (starting from Natty)."

Could you please test for this in a amd64 Lucid live environment via http://releases.ubuntu.com/lucid/ ?

>"But I would like to admit, that i386 kernels are booting without any acpi parameters on my machine (At least this was true for Natty). I can re-check with current i386 Live-CD if needed."

It would be helpful to know if Quantal i386 does not exhibit the same behavior. Could you please check this via http://releases.ubuntu.com/quantal/ ?

Thank you for your understanding.

[Kyrylo Bohdanenko (kyrboh)]

Quantal i386 Live image boots successfully without any acpi kernel parameters.

Sorry, but I am not able to try Lucid amd64 at the moment, will try a few days later.

[Kyrylo Bohdanenko (kyrboh)]

Can confirm that amd64 Lucid boots without additional kernel acpi parameters.

[Kyrylo Bohdanenko (kyrboh)]

The latest amd64 buntu release that boots without any acpi flags is 10.04.4 Lucid.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Kirill Bogdanenko, could you please test http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.7-rc4-raring/ ?

[Kyrylo Bohdanenko (kyrboh)]

Issue is relevant to kernel 3.7-rc4

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Kirill Bogdanenko, thank you for testing the newest mainline kernel. In order to further narrow down this regression, could you please test Maverick AMD64 via http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/maverick/ubuntu-10.10-desktop-amd64.iso ?

[Kyrylo Bohdanenko (kyrboh)]

I've already tested amd64 10.10 it does boot. I can say that:
* Ubuntu 10.04.4 amd64 boots without any kernel acpi parameters
* 10.10+ amd64 requires acpi=noirq or acpi=off to boot

I've tested all (amd64) of: 10.04.4, 10.10, 11.04, 11.10, 12.04.1, 12.10 using live images. Should I install 10.10 ?

P.S. See attachment for boot log of Maverick when failed to boot without any acpi parameters

[Kyrylo Bohdanenko (kyrboh)]

> I've already tested amd64 10.10 it does boot.

it does NOT boot.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Kirill Bogdanenko, thank you for testing the Maverick live environment. The next step is to perform a Ubuntu kernel version bisect going from 2.6.32-21.32 (Lucid release version) and linux 2.6.35-22.33 (Maverick release version). However, we want to know first which sub version of 2.6.x the regression occurred in. Consulting https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/maverick/+source/linux could you please test 2.6.34-2.9 via https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/2.6.34-2.9/+build/1738701 ?

Thank you for your understanding.

[Adam Bruce (brucey-99-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi Kirill Bogdanenko,

I have the same system/problems as you. However, I don't have the technical skills to do the tests Christopher is asking for. If you get a spare moment and can do those tests to help track this regression down, that would be greatly appriciated :)

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Adam Bruce, if you have a bug in Ubuntu, could you please file a new report by executing the following in a terminal:
ubuntu-bug linux

For more on this, please see the Ubuntu Kernel team article:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeam/KernelTeamBugPolicies#Filing_Kernel_Bug_reports

the Ubuntu Bug Control team and Ubuntu Bug Squad team article:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue

and Ubuntu Community article:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

When opening up the new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

Please note, not filing a new report may delay your problem being addressed as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Adam Bruce (brucey-99-deactivatedaccount)]

Christopher, I have exctly the same issue/system as the bug reporter. I was simply asking him to continue tracking down the regression as it will resolve my problem too.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Adam Bruce, thank you for your comments. Regarding them :
>"Christopher, I have exctly the same issue/system as the bug reporter. I was simply asking him to continue tracking down the regression as it will resolve my problem too."

This is not terribly helpful. If you want to help, please perform the actions requested of you in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1072891/comments/18 .

Thank you for your understanding.

[Kyrylo Bohdanenko (kyrboh)]

Adding 'acpi_backlight=vendor dell_laptop.backlight=0' to kernel command line (no 'acpi=noirq' or 'acpi=off') results in succesfull boot.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for linux (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[Fabio Marconi (fabiomarconi)]

acpi_backlight=dell_laptop.backlight=0 seems working too
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