Lowlatency kernel hangs at boot, even before any text output

[Johan Svensson]

Using linux-generic is no problem, but when using linux-lowlatency it hangs instantly at boot. Starting without quiet and splash kernel parameters donesn't show any interesting output. Only the purple screen with the grub echo text, "Loading Linux 3.8.0-31-lowlatency..." and on the next line a cursor which is totally irresponsive to key pressing.

The computer is a ThinkPad X1 Carbon with Intel i7. I have two other ThinkPads with Intel i7 where this problem is nonexisting. Maybe there is some X1 Carbon specific bug/feature that is triggered by the lowlatency patchset?

lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 13.04
Release: 13.04

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
Package: linux-lowlatency 3.8.0.31.19
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-31.46-generic 3.8.13.8
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-31-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu8.3
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Sep 28 11:54:31 2013
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-09-12 (15 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.04 "Raring Ringtail" - Release amd64 (20130424)
MarkForUpload: True
SourcePackage: linux-meta-lowlatency
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Johan Svensson (ubuntu-js)]

I've just tried with 3.2.0-54-lowlatency with the same result.

[Johan Svensson (ubuntu-js)]

And now I've even built a custom kernel 3.10.10 with realtime patch from kernel.org, resulting in the exact same symptom.

[Johan Svensson (ubuntu-js)]

Ok, this is funny, isn't it... It took me a day of sadness, but just disabling every option on the Security page in the BIOS settings did the trick. Now my computer is at high risk of being abused by evil free software.

Problem solved.