As the prices for replacement motherboards are becoming accessible to me, I would like to know how I should test my laptop's motherboard for possible faults.

At the moment, modesetting in kernels >= 2.6.37 is failing and I have to use the setpci -s command to turn the display on again. Moreover, the sleep function is also failing both in Linux and Windows.

The motherboard was tested by the local acer agent, and the conclusion was that there is a BIOS bug. However, searching for this bug I didn't find any complaints on the internet and this is making me suspect that the problem lies with the motherboard.

The laptop is Acer Aspire 7715z

Acer is not going to test in any linux version. All line tests are windows based. Windows is not Linux and the two can't be used to tell a working board from the other. Unless you bought a system that was certified by the OEM to perform on a specific linux then you have no guarantee of working. Even windows users get lemons by the case.

Laptops are also very odd devices. The system designers have reasons other than logical interconnection of parts.

To prevent from going crazy, just make an alias to a script to run the fix or type in the fix each time or get a new laptop and try it. Generally you can return a system for any reason in a few weeks or so.

You could try LFS and see if you can build in some stability or try Gentoo.

I don't know, but the problem is one related with the BIOS or there is a fault with power management. Apart from the Sleep function failing, Debian Wheezy works and is useable.

Although, the user manual states that the BIOS screen should have a "power" and "advanced" menus, I cannot find these menus. Probably, there is an incorrect setting that I cannot change.

If it's a "BIOS bug", did your local agent check to see what BIOS revision the board had and update it (if needed)?

The installed BIOS version is already the latest and ACER seems unwilling to provide a fix.

You can try updating the BIOS, although I always regard that as 'kill or cure' and use it only as a last option. I bought some version of Acer with windows 3.11. It wouldn't install XP or win98 - the install failed. It had a hardware or bios fault. "Money back please."

If one takes the necessary precautions updating a BIOS is not that risky. I upgraded bioses more than once in my computer experience and never had problems.

The problem at hand can be resolved provided one knows the cause, but one has to modify the BIOS accordingly, and that is extremely risky.

I imagine chipsets are the backbone of motherboards. So, if I examine the bioses of motherboards which use the same chipset, I should be able to understand which data structure is incorrectly programmed into the BIOS. However, as I said, this is equivalent to playing with the fuse of a live bomb.

Added Later:
I viewed the BIOS' executable in hex editor which looks like being encrypted.

I find myself in a position of authority here because I have owned some of the crappiest boards in history :-/.

The bios is in assembler(Compiled C probably), which is in the form
command [operand[s]]. It holds a tiny set of I/O routines, POST, and configuration stuff.

The chipsets have a configuration layer usually kept out of sight to the user. In the case of the Via MPV3 'hardware error' it was actually misconfiguration by the board manufacturers because they wanted to be able to run a piece of absolute crap called the Creative Soundblaster. Via pointed to a utility someone had made for getting at that 'invisible' layer and offered setting instructions.

Acer seem to be raising a middle finger?

@OP: I would make sure to try whatever options are offered in pci access & interrupts to see if one combination works. You may be lucky.

That sounds like good news. Could you please explain what you mean.

Thanks.

ADDED LATER:
I tried to find the options mentioned regarding pci access and interrupts but there are none! I don't know, but this looks like the motherboard has some important circuit not functioning.

Acer is not going to fix a linux issue unless they sell this system to some company that bought thousands of them with linux installed.

If acer does offer a bios update that states exactly what your issue is then consider installing it.

If you want you could investigate if you could install one of the open bios's.

@jefro
Windows 7 is also failing to sleep, so the issue is not a linux issue.

This is the motherboard I am talking about. At this point I am exploring possible replacements. Is it possible to find a replacement from a different manufacturer? Or am I day-dreaming?

The OEM or an openbios is the normal choices.

Did it ever work correctly with the pre-installed OS?

Do you have any acpi or S settings in bios?

a) No. Sleep was always broken in both Windows 7 and Linux.
b) Bios setup utility does NOT offer such settings.

Regarding the open bios option could you give me some more information, please?

Just looking at that Motherboard spec:
I am no lover of Intel - I avoid them where possible (with reason), but I have to grudgingly admit that their chipsets are good.

If windows or linux can't hibernate on a laptop, it wouldn't make it out the door. Ergo, there must be some m/b fault.

Thanks for your help. So, it seems a motherboard replacement should cure the laptop's problems.


Regarding any possible replacements, do you think I can find a fitting replacement from another manufacturer?