Linux does not boot on Latitude 5591 when on battery

Question

Hey everyone, I just wanted to make a recent issue known here.

After the latest BIOS update (I got it 3 days ago, version 1.11.1) my laptop does not boot anymore or is able to wake from suspend - when the laptop is on battery. When it is on a charger everything works.

My investigation lead to the conclusion that it is somehow related to the Intel Microcode that was installed on Dec. 04 (package version is 3.20191115.1ubuntu0.19.10.2). So this microcode worked until I upgraded the BIOS. A workaround is to add the dis_ucode_ldr option to kernel parameter list, which disables the microcode loader.

It is curious that this microcode version worked for two months until the BIOS update so it is definitely something with the BIOS/linux/microcode combination. Windows 10 boot and resume from suspend without issue (as far as I tested).

I will try to downgraed the BIOS to previous version and see where that gets me.

AndrasL · Answer

Same issue here, I just applied the dis_ucode_ldr workaround to have it fixed.

I am not sure about the side-effects unfortunately, so would also appreciate some explanation / hints / guidance. Thanks in advance.

Andras

ahmad.elkomey · Answer

I had the same issue. I worked with one of the support team and I ended up downgrading the BIOS version. See my post here.

Kyle Chine · Answer

@igorrumiha Thanks for your solution. You are my saver!

I have the same issue with Ubuntu 19.04. I just want to know if upgrading to 19.10 could solve this problem? Or we have to wait for another BIOS upgrade for a perfect solution.

Thank you again for now. I can work with a power cable...

igorrumiha · Answer

I'm using Pop!_OS which is based on Ubuntu 19.10 so I would say that upgrading will not solve the problem. I resolved this by reverting the BIOS version to the previous one. Now every day I get the notification that there are firmware updates which I promptly dismiss

Kyle Chine · Answer

@igorrumihaThanks you for saving me from trying to upgrade my Ubuntu.

Kyle Chine · Answer

Has anyone tried with non-Debian systems, etc RedHat... I do hope this issue could be fixed with Ubuntu 20.

Flaming Flamingo · Answer

Dell recently released a new UEFI firmware version 1.12.0.

Once it appeared in fwupd I installed it and can confirm that my Latitude 5491 (the same UEFI with 5591, and the same boot issue) now successfully boots when on battery without "dis_ucode_ldr" workaround.

Update in fwupd service: https://fwupd.org/lvfs/devices/com.dell.uefi479d7d09.firmware

Latitude

Linux does not boot on Latitude 5591 when on battery

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