[Bug 1829620] Re: intel-microcode on ASUS makes kernel stuck during loading initramfs on bionic-updates, bionic-security

[Steve Beattie]

Hi, sorry the intel-microcode update is causing problems. Could one of
you with the affected processors report the output of:

  iucode-tool -S

Mark, is it correct that you are *not* seeing this with 5.0 kernel from
the linux-hwe-edge kernel? Can you report the output of 'dmesg | grep
microcode' when bboted in this configuration to make sure that the
initramfs is loading the updated microcode in that case.

Thanks!

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Title:
  intel-microcode on ASUS makes kernel stuck during loading initramfs on
  bionic-updates, bionic-security

Status in intel-microcode package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed
Status in linux package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed
Status in linux-hwe package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed
Status in linux-hwe-edge package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  Description:
  - my system gets stuck at "Booting, Loading initramfs" (the first 2 lines of booting, after grub)
  - does not even show the enter cryptsetup passphrase
  - affected kernels:
  # apt list --installed |grep linux-signed
  WARNING: apt does not have a stable CLI interface. Use with caution in scripts.
  linux-signed-generic/bionic-security,bionic-updates,now 4.15.0.50.52 amd64 [installed]
  linux-signed-generic-hwe-18.04/bionic-security,bionic-updates,now 4.18.0.20.70 amd64 [installed]
  linux-signed-generic-hwe-18.04-edge/bionic-security,bionic-updates,now 5.0.0.15.71 amd64 [installed]

  - the setup is not new, has been working perfectly before (about 7
  days since my last restart?)

  System:
  - HW: ASUS Zenbook 14 UX433FN
  - Ubuntu 18.04, runing latest HWE, fully updated
  - grub(-pc), cryptsetup (crypttab entries for custom encrypted LUKS setup),

  Suspected/possible cause?:
  - recent intel-microcode package update
  - recent kernel package updates

  Steps taken:
  - tried to remove "splash quiet" from grub/kernel cmd line (also tried adding nosplash, noplymouth)
  - completely removed nvidia drivers (apt purge *nvidia*)
  - completely purged and reinstalled grub (grup-pc)
  - completely purged and reinstalled all kernels (headers, modules, image, ..)
  - toggle BIOS "fastboot" (now using OFF)
  - toggle UEFI SecureBoot (now using ON)
  - remove plymouth (apt remove *plymouth* , but the workaround is working with plymouth installed)

  Workaround:
  - so far, I'm only able to boot with non-Ubuntu kernel! (linux-image-liquorix-amd64)
  - which needs "splash" option ON
  - reinstall cryptsetup & update-grub (as suggested in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1829620/comments/10 )

  I am not sure how to get you more debug info, as this setup has been
  working before, and it's a very eary boot-process bug, so I can't even
  access dmesg etc.

  EDIT:

  Hypothesis:
  Only affects ASUS with newer (Kaby lake) Intel CPU, intel-microcode

  
  WORKAROUND 1: disable intel microcode updates during boot
  From this bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/intel-microcode/+bug/1759920
  1/ add the boot parameter: dis_ucode_ldr to /etc/default/grub
  2/ update-grub

  WORKAROUND 2: downgrade (and hold) intel-microcode to older version from bionic/main
  apt install --reinstall intel-microcode=3.20180312.0~ubuntu18.04.1

  
  ---
  ProblemType: Bug
  ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.6
  Architecture: amd64
  CurrentDesktop: KDE
  DistroRelease: KDE neon 18.04
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-12-23 (2337 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Kubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64 (20121017.1)
  Package: linux-hwe-edge (not installed)
  Tags:  bionic wayland-session
  Uname: Linux 5.0.0-17.1-liquorix-amd64 x86_64
  UnreportableReason: The running kernel is not an Ubuntu kernel
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
  UserGroups: adm libvirtd lpadmin netdev plugdev sudo vboxusers video
  _MarkForUpload: True
  ---
  ProblemType: Bug
  ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.6
  Architecture: amd64
  CurrentDesktop: KDE
  DistroRelease: KDE neon 18.04
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-12-23 (2339 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Kubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64 (20121017.1)
  Package: linux-hwe-edge
  PackageArchitecture: amd64
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.0.0-15.16~18.04.1-generic 5.0.6
  Tags: third-party-packages bionic wayland-session
  Uname: Linux 5.0.0-15-generic x86_64
  UnreportableReason: Toto není oficiální KDE balík. Prosíme odstraňte všechny balíky třetích stran a zkuste to znovu.
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
  UserGroups: adm libvirtd lpadmin netdev plugdev sudo video
  _MarkForUpload: True

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