Dapper corrupts Dell laptop BIOS!

[Tod Merley]

On 8/22/06, Francisco Borges <f.borges at rug.nl> 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,
> --
> Francisco
>
>
> --
> ubuntu-users mailing list
> ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users
>

Hi again Francisco Borges!

Just on of those late night thoughts as I reread some of this.  What
if the problem is that Linux somehow uses access to the CMOS in a way
that tends to draw down the battery?  That would make having a new,
fresh battery (well connected) a critical item, and would explain why
some posters (your name) have problems that come back "after a few
days" (battery more used or in a colder enviornment??) and why there
are so many 6400s out there with no such problem and why those with
the problem seem to be unable to predict when it will happen or not.

Might be good to find a fresh battery!

Good Hunting!

Tod