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Old 12-18-2010, 06:24 PM   #1
fbsduser
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Weird laptop crashes/freezes that only happen on non-SUSE distros and *BSD


I just got a Toshiba Satellite A205-S5804 laptop given to me to "Fix (reinstall) the ubuntu" and I can't get the thing to remain stable. So far I noticed that *SUSE and windoze run perfectly on it (no crashes), but any other linux OS or *BSD crashes very frequently and randomly during boot, login and when you're using it).
The specs of the laptop are:
Code:
Processor and Chipset
• Intel Pentium Dual-Core processor T2330 1.60GHz, 1 MB L2, 533MHz FSB 
• Mobile Intel GL960 Express Chipset 
Memory
• Configured with 1024MB PC5300 DDR2 SDRAM (both memory slots may be occupied). Maximum capacity 2048MB.
Hard Disk Drive   
• 120GB (5400 RPM); Serial ATA hard disk drive 
Fixed Optical Disk Drive     
• Generic TSSTcorp DVD SuperMulti (+/-R double layer) drive supporting 11 formats Maximum speed and compatibility: CD-ROM (24x), CD-R (24x), 
CD-RW (16x), DVD-ROM (8x), DVD-R (Single Layer, (8x)), 
DVD-R (Double Layer, (4x)), DVD-RW (6x), DVD+R (Single 
Layer, (8x)), DVD+R (Double Layer, (4x)), DVD+RW (8x), DVDRAM (5x) 
Display  
• 15.4” diagonal widescreen TruBrite®TFT LCD display at 1280x800 
native resolution (WXGA) Native support for 720p content 
Graphics  
• Mobile Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 with 128MB-251MB 
dynamically allocated shared graphics memory 
Sound 
• Built-in stereo speakers  
• Sound Volume Control Dial 
Input Devices 
• 86 key US keyboard 
• TouchPad™ pointing device 
• TouchPad™ Enable/Disable ) 
Communications 
• Modem
• 10/100 Base-TX Ethernet 
• Integrated Wi-Fi
 compliant wireless: Realtek 802.11b/g wireless-LAN 
Expandability 
• 2 main memory slots.  Both slots may be occupied. 
• ExpressCard™ slot (ExpressCard/34 and ExpressCard/54) 
Ports 
• RGB (monitor) output 
• Headphone output 
• USB v2.0 – 2 ports 
• RJ-45 LAN 
• RJ-11 modem 
Physical Description 
• Dimensions (WxDxH Front/H Rear): 14.3” x 10.5” x 1.32” /1.55” without 
feet Weight: Starting at 6.0 lbs   depending upon configuration
LCD Cover Color: Black
Power 
• 75W (19V 3.95A) 100-240V/50-60Hz AC Adapter. Dimensions (WxDxH): 4.25” x 1.34” x 1.85”  Weight: starting at 0.67 lbs  
Battery  
• 6-cell 4000mAh Lithium Ion battery pack.
Ran memtest86+ and found no errors, ran the S.M.A.R.T tests, both short and extended and found no errors, the laptop doesn't run hot and both thermal zones have 49°C at heavy load, so no RAM,HDD or temp issues, cleaned vents with compressed air and added thermal paste to the processor to ensure that there are no heat-related issues. Only thing that changed is that the client upgraded the BIOS around 2 or 3 months ago.
My question is. Is there any kind of hardware DRM in this PC that might be programmed to crash the PC if you boot into an OS which is not approved by M$?
 
Old 12-27-2010, 06:53 PM   #2
mdlinuxwolf
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I'm not sure.

While SuSE does have an agreement with M$, I don't think that hardware can be set up to crash that way for an unapproved operating system.

Do these crashes happen after installs or with live CDs?

I'm curious, have you tried any of the Solaris family of operating systems? (Sun UNIX) They are very robust under most conditions. The ZFS encryption option is something you should consider using, at least with your /home directory even if it is annoying to set up.

Besides, nothing whatsoever is wrong with SuSE. Be careful with YaST. It is a little brittle if you mess with it to frequently. Multimedia hacks are available with SuSE. There is also an option to purchase a for profit version of the O/S, not just the open source version.
 
Old 01-05-2011, 11:10 PM   #3
fbsduser
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mdlinuxwolf View Post
While SuSE does have an agreement with M$, I don't think that hardware can be set up to crash that way for an unapproved operating system.

Do these crashes happen after installs or with live CDs?

I'm curious, have you tried any of the Solaris family of operating systems? (Sun UNIX) They are very robust under most conditions. The ZFS encryption option is something you should consider using, at least with your /home directory even if it is annoying to set up.

Besides, nothing whatsoever is wrong with SuSE. Be careful with YaST. It is a little brittle if you mess with it to frequently. Multimedia hacks are available with SuSE. There is also an option to purchase a for profit version of the O/S, not just the open source version.
The crashes happen with LiveUSB's (CD drive stopped working as soon as he tried to install a non-M$ OS (more specifically Ubuntu). and with the installed OS's. With Solaris (and opensolaris and openindiana too, both live and installed).

Last edited by fbsduser; 01-05-2011 at 11:12 PM.
 
Old 01-06-2011, 03:17 AM   #4
TobiSGD
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I just had a look at the manual for this machine. In no way have I found an information that it may crash the machine if you use any other operating systems than Windows. If this is really a fact, and I remember that you also have talked from fried Toshibas at another thread, I would sue Toshiba. If I buy a laptop than it is my machine. If it is built to crash or fry because I use an other operating system, without a mentioning in the manual or on the machine itself, I would consider that malicious mischief.
I think that not one manufacturer can afford that damage to its reputation.
 
Old 01-06-2011, 08:00 PM   #5
fbsduser
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TobiSGD View Post
I just had a look at the manual for this machine. In no way have I found an information that it may crash the machine if you use any other operating systems than Windows. If this is really a fact, and I remember that you also have talked from fried Toshibas at another thread, I would sue Toshiba. If I buy a laptop than it is my machine. If it is built to crash or fry because I use an other operating system, without a mentioning in the manual or on the machine itself, I would consider that malicious mischief.
I think that not one manufacturer can afford that damage to its reputation.
Well, for one, it's not mine (it's from a friend). And second. The tech guy did tell me that, indeed those boxes are designed to "give the user trouble" if he/she ever decide to use "unauthorized software". He also told me that what he told me is a Toshiba "trade-secret" (hence why it doesn't appear in the manual. As for me. I'm never gonna buy from them anymore (I now only buy from Linux OEM's if it's a laptop and build my desktops myself).
Also in the other thread I was talking about twoToshibas I had, and my friend's one. My comment in that thread was more "word-of-warning" to a LQ user who was seeking advice about purchasing a Toshiba laptop.

Last edited by fbsduser; 01-06-2011 at 08:02 PM.
 
Old 01-07-2011, 04:37 AM   #6
TobiSGD
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Even if they consider that as trade-secret, I would sue the heck out of them. If it is not mentioned anywhere, what "authorized software" is, than I can do that. I mean, in the USA there has even to be printed that the coffee can be hot on a mug you buy with coffee, or you can sue them for burning yourself.
 
Old 01-08-2011, 12:22 PM   #7
fbsduser
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TobiSGD View Post
Even if they consider that as trade-secret, I would sue the heck out of them. If it is not mentioned anywhere, what "authorized software" is, than I can do that. I mean, in the USA there has even to be printed that the coffee can be hot on a mug you buy with coffee, or you can sue them for burning yourself.
And what for. To be taken in the litigations (which M$ masters as a way to ruin anyone who sues them or anyone who is inthe bed with them).
 
Old 01-09-2011, 02:49 PM   #8
mdlinuxwolf
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Try updating the bios, another words re-flashing it. I would also consider the hard drive to be a suspect or maybe RAM. It could be that you are just plain lucky that neither M$ or SuSE crashed on it yet.

If there is something or other in the BIOS of the Toshiba that recognizes other operating systems, changing around the hardware will confuse it. Reflashing it will wipe out any sort of setting or "trip wire" that would indicate that the user has tried to use "unauthorized software" in the past.

Also, go online to this site and maybe some of the UNIX forums to see if they have had any problems with this Toshiba. If they haven't, maybe there is something wrong with your machine. I struggled with a crappy hard drive for months and its amazing how different operating systems can cope with it.

Most likely, its due to bad equipment.
 
Old 01-12-2011, 11:56 AM   #9
fbsduser
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mdlinuxwolf View Post
Try updating the bios, another words re-flashing it. I would also consider the hard drive to be a suspect or maybe RAM. It could be that you are just plain lucky that neither M$ or SuSE crashed on it yet.

If there is something or other in the BIOS of the Toshiba that recognizes other operating systems, changing around the hardware will confuse it. Reflashing it will wipe out any sort of setting or "trip wire" that would indicate that the user has tried to use "unauthorized software" in the past.

Also, go online to this site and maybe some of the UNIX forums to see if they have had any problems with this Toshiba. If they haven't, maybe there is something wrong with your machine. I struggled with a crappy hard drive for months and its amazing how different operating systems can cope with it.

Most likely, its due to bad equipment.
I had already tested the HD in my current laptop and desktop systems by using it's internal S.M.A.R.T diagnostic suite (Connected to the internal SATA connector (and SATA2IDE in the desktop) and via an external USB enclosure). As for the RAM I placed it in my current laptop as the only module (removed all the RAM my laptop have to do the test) and ran memtest86+. Both HD and RAM passed their respective tests.
 
  


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