[Bug 1870614] Re: Unable to boot ubuntu 19.10 or newer on dell xps 9570

[Alistair Burrowes]

I ran boot repair info - https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/dS9XkCR9yF/
I tried boot repair with this output - https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/FtS7dyRsnK/

One thing I have determined is that disabling SGX in the bios will avoid
the second error of "cannot allocate kernel buffer", however it still
won't boot, just black screens forever. Not sure if this is a step
forward or backwards.

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1870614

Title:
  Unable to boot ubuntu 19.10 or newer on dell xps 9570

Status in ubuntu-release-upgrader package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  Hi,

  Since updating my dell xps 9570 (latest BIOS 1.15.0 and a few previous
  versions) from 19.04 to 19.10 I have been unable to boot ubuntu. It
  fails with the following error quickly flashing:

    error: file `/boot/` not found

  Then followed by:

    error: cannot allocate kernel buffer.
    error: you need to load the kernel first.

    press any key to continue...
   
  This occurs when doing an update from 19.04 to 19.10 and also when just booting off a usb drive with 19.10.

  When booting off the usb drive. The first error flashes quickly before
  displaying the usb installer options. Selecting any install / boot
  option results in the second error about kernel buffer.

  I have tried all combinations of bios settings I can think of, such as
  toggling secure boot and other options. The only thing that made a
  difference is booting via USB with LEGACY EXTERNAL DEVICE BOOT. This
  allows the installer to complete, but I cannot then boot off the hard
  drive.

  I have tried the same USB drive with 19.10 on a Dell XPS 7590 with
  BIOS 1.2.3 and the USB stick boots fine. I have also tried many
  different USB drives on my 9570.

  I have tried a few daily builds of 20.04 with the same result. I
  tested with 20.04 beta as well.

  Note: 19.04 and earlier continues to work no problem.

  I have asked for help previously:

  * https://askubuntu.com/questions/1183129/19-10-usb-installer-boot-fail
  * https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/689546/+index

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 19.04
  Package: ubuntu-release-upgrader-core 1:19.04.16.9
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.0.0-38.41-generic 5.0.21
  Uname: Linux 5.0.0-38-generic x86_64
  NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_modeset nvidia
  ApportVersion: 2.20.10-0ubuntu27.3
  Architecture: amd64
  CrashDB: ubuntu
  CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
  Date: Sat Apr  4 06:55:59 2020
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2019-10-24 (162 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 19.04 "Disco Dingo" - Release amd64 (20190416)
  PackageArchitecture: all
  SourcePackage: ubuntu-release-upgrader
  Symptom: dist-upgrade
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

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