168c:001c Wireless get stuck in Hard Blocked

[Chris Bly]

I think I have a bug with rfkill getting stuck in Hard Blocked mode.

Wireless is working and Connected

student@student-EDUbook-Slim ~ $ rfkill list all
0: phy0: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: no

First press of wireless function key F4

student@student-EDUbook-Slim ~ $ rfkill list all
0: phy0: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: yes
 Hard blocked: no

Second press of wireless function key F4

student@student-EDUbook-Slim ~ $ rfkill list all
0: phy0: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: yes

Third press of wireless function key F4

student@student-EDUbook-Slim ~ $ rfkill list all
0: phy0: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: yes
 Hard blocked: yes

Fourth press of wireless function key F4

student@student-EDUbook-Slim ~ $ rfkill list all
0: phy0: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: yes

Wireless not working and 'disabled' throughout and will not re-enable

student@student-EDUbook-Slim ~ $ sudo rmmod -f ath5k
[sudo] password for student:
student@student-EDUbook-Slim ~ $ rfkill list all
student@student-EDUbook-Slim ~ $ rfkill unblock all
student@student-EDUbook-Slim ~ $ rfkill list all
student@student-EDUbook-Slim ~ $ sudo modprobe ath5k
student@student-EDUbook-Slim ~ $ rfkill list all
1: phy1: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: no
student@student-EDUbook-Slim ~ $

Wireless is back to working and connected until I use the wireless funtion key again and I start the cycle again resulting in Hard Block

I tried testing the Quantal live environment but I got a quick flash of a page of commands, then a blank screen with blinking cursor top left.

I tried testing the mainline kernel v3.7-rc6 but ended at a screen warning me I am in low graphics mode, your screen, graphics card, input device settings could not be detected. I tried continuing to low res mode and ended with a blinking cursor top left.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: linux-image-3.2.0-33-generic 3.2.0-33.52
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-33.52-generic 3.2.31
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-33-generic i686
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu13
Architecture: i386
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC269VB Analog [ALC269VB Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: student 4596 F.... pulseaudio
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0x84200000 irq 45'
   Mixer name : 'Realtek ALC269VB'
   Components : 'HDA:80862880,80860101,00100000 HDA:10ec0269,10ec0269,00100100'
   Controls : 22
   Simple ctrls : 10
Date: Sun Nov 18 01:03:09 2012
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=1742bf9f-d41e-4ed8-b025-207f9c526700
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release i386 (20111012)
MachineType: Intel Corporation CedarTrail Platform
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_NZ:en
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_NZ.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 VESA VGA
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-33-generic root=UUID=9650a974-c324-471d-8d09-cc6f8158420f ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.2.0-33-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.2.0-33-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.79.1
RfKill:
 4: phy4: Wireless LAN
  Soft blocked: no
  Hard blocked: no
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-11-17 (0 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 20120629
dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
dmi.bios.version: 13G
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: Cedar Rock
dmi.board.vendor: Intel Corporation
dmi.board.version: FAB1
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 9
dmi.chassis.vendor: Intel Corporation
dmi.chassis.version: 0.1
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologiesLtd.:bvr13G:bd20120629:svnIntelCorporation:pnCedarTrailPlatform:pvr0.1:rvnIntelCorporation:rnCedarRock:rvrFAB1:cvnIntelCorporation:ct9:cvr0.1:
dmi.product.name: CedarTrail Platform
dmi.product.version: 0.1
dmi.sys.vendor: Intel Corporation

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Chris Bly, could you please test the latest upstream kernel available following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds ? It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Please do not test the kernel in the mainline kernels archive directory daily folder, but the one all the way at the bottom. Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please comment on which kernel version specifically you tested. If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tags:
kernel-fixed-upstream
kernel-fixed-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

where VERSION-NUMBER is the version number of the kernel you tested. For example:
kernel-fixed-upstream-v3.7-rc6

This can be done by clicking on the yellow circle with a black pencil icon next to the word Tags located at the bottom of the bug description. As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the following tags:
kernel-bug-exists-upstream
kernel-bug-exists-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, please comment as to why specifically you were unable to test it and add the following tags:
kernel-unable-to-test-upstream
kernel-unable-to-test-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug's Status as Confirmed. Please let us know your results. Thank you for your understanding.

Helpful bug reporting tips:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs

[Chris Bly (chrisblycsg)]

I tried v3.7-rc6 but the computer would not boot.

I ended at a screen warning me I am in low graphics mode, Your screen, graphics card, input device settings could not be detected.

I tried continuing to low res mode and ended with a blinking cursor top left.
I tried using backup and other option either to end up in a loop or at console to login.
startx would not work.

I am running on a CedarView N2800 with GMA3650, does this compund issues?
I managed to boot back into 3.2-33.

student@student-EDUbook-Slim:~$ lsmod | grep gfx
cedarview_gfx 381339 4
ttm 64734 1 cedarview_gfx
drm_kms_helper 32561 1 cedarview_gfx
drm 196349 6 cedarview_gfx,ttm,drm_kms_helper
i2c_algo_bit 13199 1 cedarview_gfx
video 19068 1 cedarview_gfx

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Chris Bly, thank you for trying to test the newest mainline kernel. Could you please test for this in a Quantal live environment via http://releases.ubuntu.com/quantal/ ? If the issue remains, could you please run the following command in the development release from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal), as it will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report:

apport-collect -p linux 1080045

Thank you for your understanding.

[Chris Bly (chrisblycsg)]

Thank you for your help so far.
If this is the same release as on the main ubuntu website I suspect I have already tried to boot it from DVD without success.

Just in case, I will download the ISO from the link you provided and try again anyway.

[Chris Bly (chrisblycsg)]

OK ,I burned the ISO and boted.
I then selected 'Try Ubuntu' then ended back at console, A quick flash of a page of commands then a blank screen with blinking cursor top left, no command line.

I will try the install option ;-(

[Chris Bly (chrisblycsg)]

No success with install option.
First I tried install upgrade and ended up with 3.7 RC6 and no mouse or touchpad an a display that appeared to extend off the screen.

Then I tried a clean install deleting the partition first and ended up back at blinking cursor.

Not looking hopeful so far.
My best result has been install 11.10 and upgrade it to 12.04 through update-manager (very slowly)
This left me with touchpad, keyboard and wireless working.
Until I hit the soft function key F4 that is.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Chris Bly, thank you for attempting to test Quantal. Did this problem not occur in a release prior to Precise?

[Chris Bly (chrisblycsg)]

I have only tested (or attempted to test) versions 11.10 onward in Ubuntu and Linux Mint 11-14.
Of the versions that I can get to a desktop environment they all have this bug.

And the workaround of rmmod ath5k, rfkill unblock, modprobe ath5k works consitently with all. Until I hit the function key again.

Can I help in any way, some more? captures, debug? something?

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Chris Bly, for regression testing purposes, could you please test for this in Lucid via http://releases.ubuntu.com/lucid/ ?

[Chris Bly (chrisblycsg)]

Hi again

Bug present in Lucid also.

I have tested Live, Installed and am now performing an update-manager upgrade to Lucid with all patches.
Symptoms so far are the same.

[Chris Bly (chrisblycsg)]

Lucid is worse after update

rmmod, unblock, modprobe, no longer give consistent restoration.

[Chris Bly (chrisblycsg)]

Could it be linked to the fact that I purchased my laptop without the bluetooth option.
I think if it comes with bluetooth the function key cycles through 4 options.
OFF>>>WiFi>>>WiFi+BT>>>BT>>>OFF

[Chris Bly (chrisblycsg)]

This bug appears to be linked to combination of ATH5K driver and Atheros AR5007EG wifi card.

I swapped the wifi card from another netbook, An Atheros AR9285 model.
After power up it has ATH9K loaded instead of ATH5K.

The RFKILL LIST displays both soft and hard blocked as NO
Press the FN-F2 and Soft Blocked changes to YES a couple of seconds later Hard Blocked changes to YES also
Wireless is now disabled
press again and Soft Blocked returns to NO a couple of seconds later Hard Blocked changes to NO also
wireless connection is restored.

This is the expected operation

Putting the AR5007EG card back in returns laptop to faulty state of operation....

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Chris Bly, thank you for your comments. In order for me to be able to mark this Triaged, a successful test of the mainline kernel would be best to occur. Hence, could you please test http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.4-rc7-precise/ ?

While this is not the newest mainline kernel available, it's the latest mainline version designated as Precise, and hopefully will avoid you any boot problems.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Narcis Garcia (narcisgarcia)]

This also affects me. Tested with Ubuntu 10.10 and now Ubuntu 12.10 in a HP Compaq Presario CQ60.
Wireless device detected 168c:001c

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Narcis Garcia, 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.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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