[Sony VAIO SVT13136CXS] usb2 port does not work.

[jorge]

My laptop has two usb ports, one 2.0 and the other 3.0. The usb 2.0 port does nothing. It seems to have power (a mp3 player took charge, but a cellphone did not) but shows no activity otherwise. Whatever I plug in it nothing happens. Nothing in dmesg, nor anything changes in lsusb. I've tried wireless mouse, pendrive, hdd, couple cellphones.

WORKAROUND: Use USB 3.0 port.

Upstream post: http://article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.usb.general/108173

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: linux-image-3.13.0-24-generic 3.13.0-24.47
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-24.46-generic 3.13.9
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-24-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: xopxe 1503 F.... pulseaudio
                      xopxe 25455 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Wed May 7 00:45:14 2014
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=f93318de-f146-4e7e-bfc0-a4c0d3d727dd
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-06-16 (324 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.04 "Raring Ringtail" - Release amd64 (20130424)
MachineType: Sony Corporation SVT13136CXS
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-24-generic root=UUID=ec2a5915-f3a3-4255-ae05-b0f50f2116d4 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.127
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to trusty on 2014-04-19 (17 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 11/14/2012
dmi.bios.vendor: Insyde Corp.
dmi.bios.version: R1100D4
dmi.board.asset.tag: N/A
dmi.board.name: VAIO
dmi.board.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.board.version: N/A
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: N/A
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnInsydeCorp.:bvrR1100D4:bd11/14/2012:svnSonyCorporation:pnSVT13136CXS:pvrC904Z780:rvnSonyCorporation:rnVAIO:rvrN/A:cvnSonyCorporation:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: SVT13136CXS
dmi.product.version: C904Z780
dmi.sys.vendor: Sony Corporation

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v3.15 kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, for example it will not boot, please add the tag: 'kernel-unable-to-test-upstream'.
Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.15-rc4-utopic/

[jorge (xxopxe)]

Just tested with the upstream kernel, got exactly the same behavior.

Just in case got it wrong:

$ uname -a
Linux alisa 3.15.0-031500rc4-generic #201405042135 SMP Mon May 5 01:36:35 UTC 2014 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[penalvch (penalvch)]

jorge, did this problem not occur in a release prior to Trusty?

Could you please test the latest mainline kernel via http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.15-rc5-utopic/ and advise to the results?

[jorge (xxopxe)]

Checked rc5, behave the same.

This bug was present under 13.04 and 13.10. Don't know before. See https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1172908

[jorge (xxopxe)]

Yes, this same machine. When bought it I installed 13.04 and since then it has shown this behavior. I commented on that bug report, but since it was marked Invalid, I understand the correct path forward is to open a new bug report.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

jorge, for regression testing purposes, could you please test 12.04.0 via http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/12.04.0/ and advise to the results?

[jorge (xxopxe)]

Short answer: it doesn't work under 12.04 either.

More deails:

Tested 12.04.0 from a thumbdrive. When the drive is in the usb3 port Ubuntu boots, but the other port doesn't work just like under 14.04.

When I attempt to boot from the usb2 port it starts and displays the "run without installing / install / check disk" menu (don't remember the wording). Then when I select "run" it hangs for a while with the "Ubuntu and the dots" screen with the laptop's HDD led lighting up periodically (not the thumb's led, which at this point goes off for good). After a wile, if fails with a "(initramfs) Unable to find a medium containing a live file system".

By chance had a thumbdrive with 12.04.3 (i386), got the same results.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

jorge, the issue you are reporting is an upstream one. Could you please report this problem through the appropriate channel by following the instructions _verbatim_ at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/kernel ?

Please provide a direct URL to your e-mail to the mailing list once you have made it so that it may be tracked.

Thank you for your understanding.

[jorge (xxopxe)]

I am a bit lost at what list I am supposed to send the report. Is it <email address hidden> ?

[penalvch (penalvch)]

jorge, yes.

[jorge (xxopxe)]

Ok, posted and it seems to be under way:

http://article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.usb.general/108173

[ATIpro (somebody2112)]

This problem is caused by port switching. In last discussion of this bug https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1210858 there was a patch to fix this issue. In new kernel it looks like this

--- drivers/usb/host/pci-quirks.c 2013-12-29 01:18:08.156795361 +0400
+++ drivers/usb/host/pci-quirks.c 2013-12-30 00:24:45.778376887 +0400
@@ -909,8 +909,8 @@
  writel(val, base + ext_cap_offset + XHCI_LEGACY_CONTROL_OFFSET);

 hc_init:
- if (pdev->vendor == PCI_VENDOR_ID_INTEL)
- usb_enable_intel_xhci_ports(pdev);
+ /*if (pdev->vendor == PCI_VENDOR_ID_INTEL)
+ usb_enable_intel_xhci_ports(pdev);*/

  op_reg_base = base + XHCI_HC_LENGTH(readl(base));

[jorge (xxopxe)]

Yes, and there is a more specific patch proposed and already tested by kernel devs:

http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.usb.general/108173/focus=108461

It's running ok on my machine right now, don't know how will it take to land on a Ubuntu kernel.

[Kacey Roberts (kaceyr)]

Jorge, I sent you a message on launchpad with some questions on this fix, if could be so kind as rely.

[jorge (xxopxe)]

Christopher, what's launchpad policy on posting links to self-built kernels? I could post the kernel with the patch applied, is that ok?

[ATIpro (somebody2112)]

Excellent, this patch works fine on my SVT1112S1RS, so it should fix usb2 issue on all Sony Vaio SVT ultrabooks without breaking anything else. I hope that it will be added to the main Trusty kernel soon.

[ATIpro (somebody2112)]

https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/drivers/usb/host/pci-quirks.c?id=b38f09ccc3fd453180e96273bf3f34083c30809a

[ATIpro (somebody2112)]

Recent kernel 3.15 is working out of the box. You can take it here http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/

[ATIpro (somebody2112)]

Patch for resolving this bug was successfully backported to lts kernels 3.12 and 3.14. And only version 3.13, which is maintained by Ubuntu does not have it. Is it so hard to apply it?