Dapper corrupts Dell laptop BIOS!

[ac]

Francisco Borges wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I just discovered that [1] Dapper corrupts the BIOS of some Dell
> laptops.
> 
> [1]:
> https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+source/linux-source-2.6.15/+bug/43745
> 
> Honestly, I fell cheated.
> 
> My laptop is unuseable. It won't boot from a CD, or an external
> USB stick.
> 
> 
> My biggest trouble with this is:
> 
> 1. this bug is known for months;
> 2. it renders a laptop *completely*broken*;
> 3. there is no warning, or note about "serious risk of totally breaking
>    your Dell laptop" at the laptop support page or at the download site
>    for Ubuntu CDs.
> 4. the bug is CONFIRMED but (a) hasn't been assigned to anyone and (b)
>    is not CRITICAL!!!
> 
> The motherboard bios gets corrupted by Ubuntu and the bug is not
> critical?!?
> 
> I can deal with a broken upgrade, for as long as I still have the option
> to go back, I'll make no big deal of it. But this is another order of
> magnitute.
> 
> BTW this is only repport for Ubuntu Dapper, no other distro seems to
> have the problem.
> 
> [...]
> 
> Right now I still trying to find out where exactly is the coin cell
> battery, and what are the risks of removing it...
> 
> Any help or advice is heartily appreciated.
> 
> thanks,

the yahoo group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/linux-dell-laptops/
may be useful also
-- 
ac