[Klug-general] Hardware problem with Toshiba laptop

[George Prowse]

Mike Evans wrote:
> I've had my Toshiba A30 for some years now.  I keep it partitioned with 
> two root partitions and a /home.  This allows me to run my current 
> working Linux installation, plus have somewhere to install another one 
> either for play or as part of my upgrade process.
> 
> I successfully ran Fedora Core 2, 4 and 6 on it, and have had Ubuntu 
> 7.10 (Gutsy) on it since about the time that was released.
> 
> When I came to install Fedora 8 I ran into trouble as it just seemed to 
> stop randomly and I gave up.  I tried again with F10 and it had the same 
> problem.  By chance I discovered that if I press keys on the keyboard it 
> kicks it off again.  I concluded that it is something to do with it 
> being stuck waiting on an interrupt of some sort.  If I keep pressing 
> the Alt key I could get through the boot and installation process. 
> However the resulting installed system has the same problem.  I 
> concluded that the issue is therefore in the kernel.  Fedora has been 
> known to have other kernel patches with odd effects so I just stuck with 
> Ubuntu 7.10.  It might be out of date but it works.
> 
> So I've had Ubuntu 9.04 cut to a CD since it was released and I thought 
> I would try that today - and maybe get with the modern world.  Guess 
> what?  Ubuntu now has the same problem Fedora has.  The boot from the CD 
> 'sticks' waiting on something, and if I press the Alt key (and probably 
> any other key) it continues.
> 
> I wonder if there is a BIOS setting that could be affecting this?  Does 
> it ring any bells with anyone?  I'll probably have it with me at the 
> meeting on the 25th if anyone has suggestions.
> 
> All I know for sure is that I have a not-so-old machine, which used to 
> work with older versions of Linux, but doesn't work with newer ones. 
> That's a pattern that used to be familiar with another popular operating 
> system.  Ahem.
> 
> Mike
Download and ompile your own vanilla kernel from kernel.org. You'll 
narrow the problem down to eith the kernel itself or the patchset the 
distros are using