17 R5, BIOS issues in Kernel Log, reposted

Question

17 R5  was never tested or supported by Dell with Linux. DELL-Admin> My kernel log is full of errors and warnings caused by bugs in the Alienware 17 R5's BIOS. Please fix these issues for the next release. (My distro is Arch Linux. I am running the latest publicly-available BIOS. The fact that these issues occur on Linux does not mean that Windows is safe -- it's likely being affected as well.) The Alienware 17 R5 BIOS is missing a hotfix that the Linux kernel is expecting it to have. (source) dell-smbios A80593CE-A997-11DA-B012-B622A1EF5492: WMI SMBIOS userspace interface not supported(0), try upgrading to a newer BIOS According to the Linux kernel, having WGDS without WRDS is nonsensical, because WGDS requires WRDS. (source) iwlwifi 0000:47:00.0: BIOS contains WGDS but no WRDS From what I read online, these need to be set in order for voltages to work properly. (source) i2c-DELL0877: supply vdd not found, using dummy regulatori2c-DELL0877: supply vddl not found, using dummy regulatorplatform regulatory.0: Direct firmware load for regulatory.db failed with error -2 I would think that this could lead to broken or duplicated buttons. acpi PNP0C14:04: duplicate WMI GUID 05901221-D566-11D1-B2F0-00A0C9062910 (first instance was on PNP0C14:03)acpi PNP0C14:05: duplicate WMI GUID 05901221-D566-11D1-B2F0-00A0C9062910 (first instance was on PNP0C14:03)acpi PNP0C14:06: duplicate WMI GUID 05901221-D566-11D1-B2F0-00A0C9062910 (first instance was on PNP0C14:03) ???? wmi_bus-PNP0C14:01: WQXM data block query control method not foundwmi_bus-PNP0C14:05: WQBC data block query control method not found ???? iTCO_wdt: can't request region for resource [mem 0x00c5fffc-0x00c5ffff]iTCO_wdt: probe of iTCO_wdt failed with error -16 Apparently means the touchpad firmware can't be updated? rmi4-00.fn34: rmi_f34v7_probe: Unrecognized bootloader versionrmi4_f34: probe of rmi4-00.fn34 failed with error -22 From what I read online, these are unimportant messages from the Linux kernel, and there is already a motion to remove them. As such, these may not be particularly relevant to DELL; but I'm mentioning them, anyway. (source) iwlwifi 0000:47:00.0: Unhandled alg: 0x707iwlwifi 0000:47:00.0: Unhandled alg: 0x71b

freefreeno · Answer

I have all the same errors and warnings that you do in the new Dell Precision 7540 that is a Ubuntu laptop. I have had the laptop a week and I regret buying it just because I thought hey if it comes with Linux on it then it should do pretty good. I have had nothing but errors and warning and even some lock ups. I have gotten two Bios updates in less than a week but they have not stopped any of my warnings and errors. 99% percent of this can be fixed with bios updates I believe but the dell bios have been spewing warnings for a long time and I really don't see any of it getting fixed. Same errors and warning that are in the XPS 15 also. I got my laptop with AMD graphics hoping to cut down on the hassle of nvidia in Linux but it is just as bad. I wanted to install a more up to date Ubuntu desktop and I can not because my wifi card does not work. It has just not been good for me. I wish Dell would just realize that people are gonna use Linux a lot more now and try to fix these bios and things.

MathiasB · Answer

The duplicate WMI GUID messages are also found on a Dell XPS15 7590:

acpi PNP0C14:04: duplicate WMI GUID 05901221-D566-11D1-B2F0-00A0C9062910 (first instance was on PNP0C14:03)
acpi PNP0C14:05: duplicate WMI GUID 05901221-D566-11D1-B2F0-00A0C9062910 (first instance was on PNP0C14:03)
acpi PNP0C14:06: duplicate WMI GUID 05901221-D566-11D1-B2F0-00A0C9062910 (first instance was on PNP0C14:03)

as well as

wmi_bus wmi_bus-PNP0C14:05: WQBC data block query control method not found

Unfortunately, although Dell makes regular updates to its BIOS (which is great), such things are not fixed...

crimsom · Answer

Hi @Miles B Huff welcome to this free user to user Alienware laptop discussion forum. This is not Dell Support.

Alienware 17 R5 Drivers says the only supported Operating System is Windows 10, 64-bit and clicking on ‘Don't see the one you need?’ also says only Windows 10, 64-bit. Supported Operating Systems | Dell US.

Alienware 15 R4 and Alienware 17 R5 System BIOS Version 1.18.0 View the list of Dell supported operating systems also says only Windows 10, 64-bit.

The Arch-Based Linux Distributions are usually run on Windows 10 within a virtual environment. Example: How to Install Arch Linux on Windows 10 using VirtualBox with the NEW OFFICIAL INSTALL Script!! - YouTube

[This user does not work for Dell and volunteers their free time. Please remember to say thank you by clicking on Kudos as this user's only reward.]

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