[Lenovo G510 Notebook] EHCI: BIOS handoff failed (BIOS bug?) 01010001

[Thanasis Naskos]

I'm getting this error message in the dmesg file on Ubuntu boot. I was expecting a clean boot without this issue but instead I got this issue. As per dmesg, this would be causing a boot delay of about 3 secs.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: linux-image-3.13.0-19-generic 3.13.0-19.40
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-19.40-generic 3.13.6
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-19-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.13.3-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: thanasis 1520 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: thanasis 1520 F.... pulseaudio
Date: Fri Mar 28 18:41:24 2014
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=18e9615a-78c7-4ff4-bd4d-d637eb3dcaec
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-03-16 (11 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Alpha amd64 (20140313)
MachineType: LENOVO 20238
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-3.13.0-19-generic.efi.signed root=UUID=1fff532e-1f5c-440a-b22a-7e61a06a246d ro rootflags=subvol=@ quiet splash vt.handoff=7
PulseList:
 Error: command ['pacmd', 'list'] failed with exit code 1: Home directory not accessible: Permission denied
 No PulseAudio daemon running, or not running as session daemon.
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-19-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-19-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.126
SourcePackage: linux
StagingDrivers: rts5139
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 12/23/2013
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: 79CN46WW(V3.05)
dmi.board.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: INVALID
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: 31900058Std
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Lenovo G510
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr79CN46WW(V3.05):bd12/23/2013:svnLENOVO:pn20238:pvrLenovoG510:rvnLENOVO:rnINVALID:rvr31900058Std:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrLenovoG510:
dmi.product.name: 20238
dmi.product.version: Lenovo G510
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO

[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 v3.14 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/v3.14-trusty/

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Thanasis Naskos, could you please advise on what noticeable performance impact this has on your system, if any?

As well, could you please test the latest mainline kernel via http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.15-rc2-trusty/ and advise to the results?

[Thanasis Naskos (naskoos)]

Christopher M. Penalver the only noticeable impact is a delay in the boot process. As you can see in the dmesg file there is a delay of about 3 secs. It's not a great delay, but if you consider that I have an ssd it is noticeable.

[ 0.553488] pci 0000:00:02.0: Boot video device
[ 2.155741] pci 0000:00:1a.0: EHCI: BIOS handoff failed (BIOS bug?) 01010001
[ 3.757032] pci 0000:00:1d.0: EHCI: BIOS handoff failed (BIOS bug?) 01010001

I also thought that it was affecting my USB devices (wireless mouse) as you can see in this bug report https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1299400

However, when I have updated to the 3.14 kernel, despite the fact that the "bios handoff failed" error continued to appear in dmesg, my USB devices were working properly.

I will try the latest rc kernel and report back to you asap!
Thank you for your interest!

[Thanasis Naskos (naskoos)]

I have tested v3.15-rc3-utopic kernel the "handoff" message still exists.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Thanasis Naskos, have you had a chance to contact Lenovo to see if they would be working on a BIOS upgrade for this laptop?

[Thanasis Naskos (naskoos)]

I haven't contact them. But as my laptop is a new model I expect an update sooner or later...
Do you believe that it is my laptops bios issue rather a linux kernel issue?

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Thanasis Naskos, if dmesg advises explicitly it's a BIOS issue, it should be treated as a BIOS issue. This is also viewed the same from review of upstream. However, being heavy handed towards this from a linux kernel perspective is not preferred. For example, if a non-invasive, and easy WORKAROUND to this could be implemented while Lenovo works on providing a BIOS update, that may be a possibility (not commenting to how likely though). However, this would be a very last resort to Lenovo providing a BIOS update.

As well, unless you contact them, expecting them to provide an update that addresses this issue specifically would not maximize the chances of your problem being addressed as soon as possible.

[Thanasis Naskos (naskoos)]

You are right Christopher, I'll contact them ASAP!

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Thanasis Naskos, could you please advise to what happened when you called Lenovo and asked them to escalate this to their Engineering department?

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Kamal Pandey (justdogit)]

did anyone find anything about the issue? to upgrade BIOS if Lenovo community is only providing the .exe file which could be booted only via windows.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Kamal Pandey, one may update the BIOS using Windows temporarily following https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BIOSUpdate .