I think it is unlikely that updating the BIOS from Dell 1.0.5 to 1.0.16 will
solve the problem. However, I figure I can't go blaming Ubuntu until I have
ruled out a BIOS upgrade.
The system actually gets up and running but crashes somewhere in the start up
sequence. It would be handy to have some sort of init log.
It did this with a lot of 8.04 kernels but adding all_generic_ide to a line in
grub's menu.lst would cure the problem. That doesn't solve the problem in
8.10. The printer also abruptly quit working. I checked the IP address in
cups and on the printer. That's not it. Native Nvidia support also doesn't
work and won't until (unless) Nvidia writes support for the old graphics card
in my computer.
I was really annoyed with the 7.x to 8.04 upgrade. A lot of stuff broke.
Nvidia broke, but eventually got fixed. Also, the computer won't go to sleep.
The screen saver NEVER comes on (except in test mode). It worked fine with
Dell's 7.x system.
I use Linux as my desktop because I want a hobby. It's like driving a classic
car.
On Thursday 2009-02-26, koder wrote:
> Are you absolutely certain that you need to flash your BIOS to get your
> system to run?
>
> I am running a Dell 530 with Ubuntu 8.04.
> I can't believe that all of us are going to have to flash a BIOS update
> to upgrade to 8.10.
>
> What so you know that I don't?
> What problems did you encounter that have brought you to this point?
>
> HM
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stephen <cryptworks@gmail.com>
> Reply-To: Main PLUG discussion list
> <plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
> To: tshipley@deru.com, Main PLUG discussion list
> <plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
> Subject: Re: flash bios dos usb stick
> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:58:37 -0700
>
> His issue is the bios update util is a dos based application so it
> needs to run in dos/windows/freedos.
>
> i know there are some tools that will take floppy boot images and
> reproduce them to usb devices turning it into a usb disk.. then you
> cna get a freedos boot image from bootdisk.com and move from there.
>
> On Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 4:51 PM, Trent Shipley <tshipley@deru.com> wrote:
> > I am running Ubuntu 8.10 on a Dell Inspiron 530.
> >
> > Something in the last kernel upgrade really hosed the boot sequence. I
> > figure I can't start complaining until I have an up-to-date BIOS.
> >
> > On Wednesday 2009-02-25, Lisa Kachold wrote:
> >> Are you set on Gentoo? [Other's are a bit more powerful?]
> >> (Don't flame me, I have hand scripted gentoo builds [For AZWSX.COM] but
> >> it's not the most secure distro or best for a pendrive)!
> >>
> >> Here's a fast Ubuntu (I have used):
> >> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LiveUsbPendrivePersistent
> >>
> >> Here's a nice Knoppix USB:
> >> http://www.pendrivelinux.com/usb-knoppix-510/
> >>
> >>
> >> obnosis.com | wiki.obnosis.com| (503)754-4452
> >> PLUG HACKFESTS 2nd Saturday Each Month@Noon - 3PM
> >> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:41:35 -0800
> >> From: trent_shipley@yahoo.com
> >> Subject: Re: flash bios dos usb stick
> >> To: plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> I haven't even gotten to the moment of truth where I try to boot from
> >> the usb stick. I still need to get MBR, vfat-16, Grub, and FreeDOS all
> >> loaded correctly.
> >>
> >> I actually did burn a CD, boot successfully into FreeDOS, and launch the
> >> Dell BIOS flash package. Then the BIOS flasher crapped out complaining
> >> that it couldn't write back to a drive. So I need to flash from a
> >> read-write medium.
> >>
> >> From: Stephen <cryptworks@gmail.com>
> >> To: tshipley@deru.com; Main PLUG
> >> discussion list <plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
> >> Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 3:32:07 PM
> >> Subject: Re: flash bios dos usb stick
> >>
> >> I know this will depend on the bios i think and what order it places
> >> yoru USB devices compared to your Hard disk device.
> >>
> >> On Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 9:56 PM, Trent Shipley <tshipley@deru.com> wrote:
> >> > I am trying to build a bootable DOS memory stick so that I can flash
> >> > my BIOS.
> >> >
> >> > The instructions (http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/FreeDOS_Flash_Drive)
> >> > say:
> >> >
> >> > And finally, you can install GRUB :
> >> > grub
> >> > grub> device (hd5) /dev/sdb
> >> > grub> root (hd5,0)
> >> > grub> setup
> >>
> >> (hd5)
> >>
> >> > grub> quit
> >> > --------------------------
> >> > The line: grub> device (hd5) /dev/sdb
> >> > is giving me trouble.
> >> >
> >> > I know that the stick is mounted at /dev/sdd but I don't know how to
> >> > find the value that goes in the (hd5) part of the command.
> >> >
> >> > http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/grub_intro/
> >> > suggests
> >> >
> >> > # grub
> >> > grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
> >> > (hd0,1)
> >> > (hd2,0)
> >> >
> >> > followed by
> >> >
> >> > grub> find (hd2,0)/boot/im<TAB>
> >> > grub> find (hd2,0)/boot/images/
> >> >
> >> > but this has been decidedly unsuccessful.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > ---------------------------------------------------
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> >
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