weird but real issue (linux on acer notebook)

P5music · 02-22-2011, 11:58 AM

Hi,
I installed various Linux distros on my Acer Aspire instead of Vista and got a very strange problem: when Linux (or Linux+Windows) is installed every some times the computer does not boot: it tries but it gives up before starting bios, producing a "click". (The computer is able to boot again if I detach battery and unplug dc supply cable and press the power button for 30 seconds according to official troubleshooting from Acer)
If I reinstall Vista the problem goes away and never comes back.
This is what happens, it is real. Maybe Vista set some ACPI registers while Linux does not, and this affects just my notebook or the whole series, I do not know.
What can I do so to have Linux on my notebook?
Thanks

rokytnji · 02-22-2011, 12:50 PM

try running Linux off of USB instead of Hardrive like I do. My Model may be different than yours though.

Code:

System:    Host puppypc Kernel 2.6.34.1 i686 (32 bit) Distro MyWolfe Linux
Linux 2.6.34.1 [i686 arch]
CPU:       Single core (Intel Atom N270,800.00,512 KB,fpu vme de tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts aperfmperf pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl est tm2 ssse3 xtpr pdcm movbe lahf_lm,3192.17,intel) (-HT-) cache unknown  flags (-) bmips Not Available 
           Clock Speeds: (1) 800.00 MHz (2) 800.00 MHz
Graphics:  Card Intel Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller X.org 1.7.5 Res: 80x24 Gfx Data: N/A for root out of X
Audio:     Card Intel 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller driver HDA Intel BusID: 00:1b.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Version 1.0.22.1
Network:   Card-1 Realtek RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller driver r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI at port 3000 BusID: 02:00.0
           Card-2 Atheros AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter driver ath5k v: 0.6.0 BusID: 03:00.0
Disks:     HDD Total Size: (162.1GB,0.5% used) () 1: /dev/sda WDC_WD1600BEVT 160.0GB 
           2: /dev/sdb U3_Cruzer_Micro 2.1GB 
Partition: ID:swap-1 size: 2.11GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap 
Info:      Processes 99 Uptime 37 min Memory 149.2/998.2MB Runlevel 5 Client Shell inxi 1.4.23 
# cat /etc/issue
MyWolfe Linux
Linux 2.6.34.1 [i686 arch]

Distro Specs:

Code:

#One or more words that identify this distribution:
DISTRO_NAME='MyWolfe'
#A three-digit numeric value, version number of this distribution:
DISTRO_VERSION=028
#A two-digit numeric value, minor-version number of this distribution:
DISTRO_MINOR_VERSION=00
#The distro whose binary packages were used to build this distribution:
DISTRO_BINARY_COMPAT='t2'
#Prefix for some filenames: exs: wolfesave.2fs, wolfe-028.sfs
DISTRO_FILE_PREFIX='wolfe'
#The version of the distro whose binary packages were used to build this distro:
DISTRO_COMPAT_VERSION='8.0rc'
#the kernel pet package used:
DISTRO_KERNEL_PET='linux_kernel-2.6.34.1-smp-1-s131.pet'
#16-byte alpha-numeric ID-string appended to vmlinuz, wolfe_028.sfs, zw028341.sfs and devx.sfs:
DISTRO_IDSTRING='w028110209124543'
#Puppy default filenames...
#Note, the 'SFS' files below are what the 'init' script in initrd.gz searches for,
#for the partition, path and actual files loaded, see PUPSFS and ZDRV in /etc/rc.d/PUPSTATE
DISTRO_PUPPYSFS='wolfe_028.sfs'
DISTRO_ZDRVSFS='zw028341.sfs'

Attachment 6227

harryhaller · 02-23-2011, 10:30 AM

It would be better to just install one distro and see if it happens and then report to the forum which distro it was.

There are differences between the distros since they have both different versions and configurations of the kernel and also use different methods of booting - though your problem seems to occur before even the bios has finished its work.

But more precise information will help the experts solve the problem than just saying "various linux distros".

Also a more exact description of your machine might help the hardware experts. The label on the bottom of my Acer Aspire gives a lot more info.