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9jager45 Tutor
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9jager45
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BIOS broken on HP Envy 15 and DV6T Quad

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โ€Ž10-31-2009 05:57 PM - edited โ€Ž10-31-2009 09:42 PM

Hi, Does HP have any plans on fixing the faulty BIOS that comes with these machines? Currently, due to the BIOS not being 100% ACPI compliant, I can't run any variant of Linux without reducing these machines to a molten pool of aluminum and silicon (the fans and thermal zone don't work). Creating an ACPI compliant BIOS really isn't rocket science!

 

My business is 100% dependent on Linux (Ubuntu) and I cannot help but feeling frustrated with spending premium money on a premium machine (Envy 15) that's currently sitting in a corner unused.

 

I switched from Dell to HP due to build quality, but it seems this relationship is off to a rocky start...

 

 

Message Edited by 9jager45 on 10-31-2009 08:42 PM
Message Edited by 9jager45 on 10-31-2009 08:42 PM
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mjbommar
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Re: Linux on HP Envy 15 and DV6T Quad
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โ€Ž10-31-2009 08:42 PM

I was hoping to move from Dell to HP to upgrade a University lab of Precision M4400's.  I purchased a new DV6t quad to test our build and help make the decision, but the faulty BIOS is certainly going to put a wrench in this plan.  Neither RHEL5.3 nor Ubuntu 9.1 can deal with this BIOS.  The DSD tables in the Insyde BIOS can be manually altered, but this is not an ideal solution and modifying the BIOS is not encouraged in the warranty...

 

Unless HP can at least offer a timeline to a compliant BIOS, I think we'll have to stick with Dell.

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Re: Linux on HP Envy 15 and DV6T Quad
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โ€Ž10-31-2009 10:57 PM

hi,

 

no its not HP guys..

 

its Intel chipset & AMD chipset

 

for Intel ICH9 & new, drivers are not available with Linux

& also not for AMD chipset.

 

in short, its not a BIOS problem (Linux is not always perfect)

its Sata drivers missing...

 

Linux kernel always shows same message on every new Model..

 

buy any brand Dell, Acer, Sony any model

 

Every Model comes with Intel ICH9, so only new Linux version will get installed

 

for example..

every new version starting from Fedora 9 will get installed...

new version is Fedora 11

http://fedoraproject.org/

 

also you can try

VMware Workstation 6.5 to install linux virtually...

 

Regards,

EverWin

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mjbommar
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Re: Linux on HP Envy 15 and DV6T Quad
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โ€Ž10-31-2009 11:21 PM

Do you have any source for this claim?  

 

My DV6t is built on the PM55 with an i7 820QM, so I have no idea what ICH9 has to do with this...

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Re: Linux on HP Envy 15 and DV6T Quad
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โ€Ž10-31-2009 11:30 PM

Thanks for your reply EverWin. Do correct me if I'm wrong, but

 

1. This has nothing to do with missing drivers (SATA or otherwise), but with a badly implemented BIOS. The Kernel can't even figure out which pins the hardware resides on (because the BIOS is talking gibberish), let alone getting to the stage to actualy load drivers for that hardware.

2. The problem has nothing to do with Serial ATA but with the CPU fans and thermal sensors. Because of the buggy BIOS the kernel can not find the fans, nor the thermal sensor used to regulate the fans. This is causing severe overheating.

3. For what it's worth, preliminary work on supporting SATA on ICH9 in the Linux kernel commenced as early as 2006.

4. This problem concerns all the latest Linux distributions (e.g. Ubuntu 9.10 released only 2 days ago).

 

 

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EverWin
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Re: Linux on HP Envy 15 and DV6T Quad

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โ€Ž11-01-2009 12:16 AM - edited โ€Ž11-01-2009 12:40 AM

hi guys

 

you are actually right abt this ACPI problem... (but its not a BIOS problem, b'cuz windows Vista & Windows 7.. run well, without any problem)

 

one thing comon is, if you can install XP in PC without using any third party patch (or patched BIOS)

Linux will be installed correctly...

 

This PC is new & still not supported by new Kernel version...

 

@9jager45 , thrs nothing to correct you.. you are right...

 

i prefer to install virtual Linux...

 

in few new model of HP/Compaq... this problem has been solved...

 

like compaq cq40-601TU BIOS version F.51 (directly from F.30) whr are the rest of the versions?

 

anyways good luck

Message Edited by EverWin on 10-31-2009 11:40 PM
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โ€Ž11-01-2009 06:29 AM

EverWin, please do not spread misinformation without citing any alternative source of information.  Both 9jager45 and I own these machines and can confirm that this is an issue with the BIOS. 

 

This has nothing to do with Windows 7 or Vista either, as the BIOS can talk selectively to one operating system over another.  Furthermore, a clean install of Windows 7 DOES have other ACPI issues.  For instance, the battery does not report expected lifetime.

 

Furthermore, VirtualBox and VMWare are not acceptable.  There is no way I will purchase another one of these machines if that is the only option for Linux.

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โ€Ž11-01-2009 08:45 AM

I filed a ticket with HP support.  Here's the message I got back:

 Hello Michael,

Thank you for contacting HP Total Care.

I understand your concern regarding BIOS version available on your HP Pavilion dv6t-2000 CTO Entertainment Notebook PC.

 

Michael, I have gone through the specification of your notebook and found that unfortunately there is no updated BIOS available for your notebook model.

 

Further, I would like Insyde do have BIOS version ACPI compliant, however they are not compatible with your notebook model.

 

HP might release ACPI compliant BIOS in future, if HP releases updated BIOS you would be informed about the same.

 

I asked if they could ask anyone for more info about a timeline or likelihood of replacement, so we'll see what they say.

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Re: Linux on HP Envy 15 and DV6T Quad
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โ€Ž11-01-2009 09:35 AM

Another update from the HP staff.  I think language issues are getting in the way...they don't really seem to understand.

 

 Michael, HP Pavilion notebooks are shipped with the OEM version of the BIOS; which support ACPI compliance. But this will not be visible on HP Notebooks in BIOS utility. The reason for this; the notebooks are designed to work with Windows version of Operating Systems. The updates which will be available in HP website will be for the HP consumer based notebook models will be executable file / format. These BIOS updates  does not support Linux version OS.

 

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Re: Linux on HP Envy 15 and DV6T Quad
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โ€Ž11-01-2009 12:35 PM

This message was much better, but still no help on the hardware...

Hello Michael,

Thank you for contacting HP Total Care.

Michael I do understand your concern and on your word we would forward your concern to feedback department for consideration.

 

If you want to give any feedback about HP product, you can send a email on 18.hpfeedback@hp.com or you can email to HP CEO from the link given below.

 

http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/execteam/email/hurd/index.html?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN


Make sure to call or email tech support if you're affected...if they think this only affects 1 person, they'll never release a fix.

 

 

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