Philips Freevents X52 Hardware Dection Hang

el_tomasin · 06-03-2007, 03:47 PM

Seems that someone found a solution for a GNU/linux installation...

http://www.fitzenreiter.de/averatec/index-e.htm

Gotta go, have to try this!

Arne.F · 06-03-2007, 04:02 PM

Hi,

i have an Averatec 2460. This is also a Twinhead H12Y OEM System that have the same issues.

There you can download Ubuntu and Kubuntu 7.04 Images with the 8139too module in pio mode and removed SDHCI module because this also crash the ubuntu kernel.

See previous post ...

Arne

simosx · 06-04-2007, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arne.F

Hi,

i have an Averatec 2460. This is also a Twinhead H12Y OEM System that have the same issues.

There you can download Ubuntu and Kubuntu 7.04 Images with the 8139too module in pio mode and removed SDHCI module because this also crash the ubuntu kernel.

See previous post ...

Arne

Could you please contact the kernel module maintainers for these two modules describing the issue, and ask them to fix it?
If this is done now, then new versions of Ubuntu, Fedora, etc by fall will work out of the box with the laptop.

el_tomasin · 06-05-2007, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simosx

Could you please contact the kernel module maintainers for these two modules describing the issue, and ask them to fix it?
If this is done now, then new versions of Ubuntu, Fedora, etc by fall will work out of the box with the laptop.

The ethernet problem is not a kernel issue.
Actually all the distros you mention include pre-compiled kernels, and those kernels are not configured to have the H12Y's RTL8139 Ethernet Adapter working smoothly.
Arne built a pre-compiled kernel with the proper option - "Use PIO instead of MMIO (8139TOO_PIO)" - allowing the H12Y ethernet card to work as nicely as possible and added it to Ubuntu distros. Nice job.

About the SD card, well... Look at the option's name:
"Secure Digital Host Controller Interface support (EXPERIMENTAL) (MMC_SDHCI)"
"Experimental", not exactly a full support for the moment... I thought the only thing to do was to be patient but I guess you're right, maybe we can do a little something to improve this feature of the kernel.
Do you know what kind of information might be of interest for this module's maintainer(s) and where it should be sent?

P.S.: Arne's work was very inspiring, I found a way to install Mandriva 2007.1 on a Philips Freevents X53FR without having to build a custom distro, I should be able to give you the full procedure in a few hours...

el_tomasin · 06-05-2007, 06:57 AM

Okay, after 6 months of great despair I finally found a way to install my favorite GNU/Linux distro on my precious Philips X53 laptop. I would like to thank Arne and Stéphane, their linux on Averatec 2460 pages were a great inspiration.

So, here is my 10 steps procedure for a sucessful install of a Mandriva ditribution on a Philips X53 (probably works on any Twinhead H12Y clone):

1. Get yourself a nice Mandriva 2007.1 (Spring release) installation DVD (or CD set)

2. Launch the installation program, no need to pass any specific option.

3. Follow installation steps (language, security settings, partitioning) until you reach the package selection. You can choose all the programs you need and let them be copied to your hard drive (it's Mandriva's "Install System" step).

4. Now is the time where after choosing root's password you should add regular users. Don't do it. A least not for the moment. Because if you do, after creating your users your computer will completely freeze and you will have no choice other than rebooting it.
Adding new users is not the cause of the problem.
Actually once it is done the installation program is supposed to help you choose a few basic (yet important) configuration settings like graphics, networking, sound, services, etc., etc. ... Some of these settings need loaded kernel modules, and that, my friend is the reason why the computer will freeze to death if we don't do anything: the 8139too module (which handles the ethernet adapter) is not configured the way it should be. Computer don't like it so computer be angry.
If only we could get rid of the little bastard...
So...
Let's kick his ass!

5. If you look at the Mandriva installation program it doesn't seem that there is much we can do at this point. I mean it looks like there's nothing at all we can do except following those damn installation steps...
Wrong my friend!
Just press Alt+Crtl+F2 and behold the mighty power of... the command line!
Sweeeeeeet...
So, we said we wanted to get rid of the 8139too module, isnt'it? Well, let's find him and also that mean SD Card Reader module that is also a great troublemaker.
We've installed all our packages before, so the pre-compiled kernel provided by Mandriva and its modules are already on our hard drive. Let's find them.

Code:

# cd /mnt/lib/modules/2.6.17-13mdv/kernel/drivers/net/

# ls 8139*
8139too.ko.gz
8139cp.ko.gz

Two of them and none of them is the right one, can you believe this? Why bother?

Code:

http://www.mandriva.com/en/download/free

And they're gone for ever.
Of course we could have done something that would have seemed more elegant like this:

Code:

# mv 8139too.ko.gz 8139too.ko.gz.save

But we won't. It would be useless. Truly.
So, now let's go for the other troublemaker.

Code:

# cd /mnt/lib/modules/2.6.17-13mdv/kernel/drivers/mmc/

And erase it.

Code:

# rm -f sdhci.ko.gz

Yeah that's this one.
I mean was.
So, now that the evil modules are not on our hard drive anymore our system will not freeze because of them.
Shall we continue the installation and go back to the usual steps, then?
Hehe...
No!
Too hasty are you, young padawan...
Actually if you go back to the installation program GUI now and try to continue, the computer will freeze just the same. So why did we do what we just did? Well, to prevent any problems once the installation is done. But we still have some work to do before we're there.

6. As I said, after adding the regular users, the Mandriva installation program needs to load a few modules for the basic configuration settings. But it will not load them from the the hard drive, no sir. They hide somewhere else...

Code:

# cd /lib/modules/2.6.17-13mdv/kernel/drivers/net/

# ls 8139*
8139too.ko.gz
8139cp.ko.gz

Hey, look who's there! So that's where they were hiding! You know what to do...

Code:

# rm -f 8139*

And don't forget:

Code:

# cd /lib/modules/2.6.17-13mdv/kernel/drivers/mmc/

# rm -f sdhci.ko.gz

Now, we may continue fellows.

7. Press Alt+Ctrl+F7 to go back to the installation program GUI.
Finish your installation.
(I would suggest not trying to configure networking during install)
(Also don't try to obtain the 1280x800 screen resolution, we'll come to that later)

8. Start you computer (yeepee it works!).
Install the 915resolution package to enable the 1280x800 resolution. You don't need to configure anything, just restart your X server and you're done (log out and Alt+Ctrl+Backspace).
Npw the wireless.
When I started my computer for the first time the Intel 3945ABG wireless module was not loaded. I just did a

Code:

# modprobe ipw3945

and it worked like a charm (I was not even sure that the module was named that way but the first attempt was the right one, I'm so proud, you have no idea).
I did it once and since then did not need to do it again, now it loads every time without having to ask for it.

Now that we are done, we could consider that victory is ours.
But...
Honestly...
If we leave our system like that, with kind of err... "holes" in /lib/modules/, doesn't it feel a little dirty to you?
Don't you think we should do just a little better to be considered as real ones?
I mean, yes, we have a GNU/Linux system running on our computer and that was quite a challenge, but look at that kernel, those modules...
Not to mention the fact that we can not even use the Ethernet Adapter. We now that it's possible, Arne showed us the way.
Come on, people, let's build us a nice and clean kernel!

9. If it's not already there, install the kernel-source package on your computer. Then it's just configuring, compiling and installing a custom kernel.
Dont' be scared, it's not that difficult.

As root:

Code:

# /usr/src/linux-2.6.17-13mdv

# make xconfig

Ethernet Adapter support:
Go to Devices Drivers > Network device support > Ethernet (10 or 100Mbit)
Find RealTek RTL-8129/8130/8139 PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter support (8139TOO)
Check Use PIO instead of MMIO (8139TOO_PIO)

SD Card reader disabling:
Go to Device Drivers > MMC/SD Card support
Uncheck Secure Digital Host Controller Interface support (EXPERIMENTAL) (MMC_SDHCI)

That's it, now you can save and exit.
(Was it that hard?)

Still as root:

Code:

# make

Have a break, have a... hum sorry....

Code:

# make modules

# make modules_install

# make install

And voilà!
You have a new custom kernel and its beautiful and clean /lib/modules/2.6.17-13mdvcustom/ directory.
Mandriva even adds a 2.6.17-13mdvcustom entry to GRUB, ain't that great?

You can now reboot using you custom kernel and (sing alleluya) the Ethernet Adapter now works like a charm. And if it doesn't, just reboot using the "dirty kernel" and try again 'til it works (did you save before exiting xconfig?).

10. Can I upgrade my kernel when Mandriva issues a new one?
Yes, you may.
But if you boot using a pre-compiled one it will probably not work (unless new or improved modules are added).
I would suggest installing only the updated kernel-source package and building a custom kernel as previously described.
You could also install the pre-compiled kernel, see if the computer boots correctly with it and if not build a custom kernel from source.
You could even do it the dirty way using the pre-complied updated kernel and just deleting the evil modules in /lib/modules/your new kernel version/ (just after installing the package and before you reboot of course!).
In fact, just have it your way, I can not decide everything for you, can I?
I installed the kernel-source-2.6.17-14 package on my computer and built a custom kernel as described above. Works great. I'll try the kernel-linus-2.6.21-0.rc3.4mdv one of these days and see if the pre-compiled kernel boots nicely or not.

I hope my explanations are clear enough, if you try this at home please let me know if you were successful.

And again, thanks a lot to Arne and Stéphane.

Arne.F · 06-05-2007, 09:45 AM

I think, there is a kernel issue, but it's not really found yet. The Pio fallback work around the problem. I think it is an problem with mmio or interupt handling. A misconfigured ethernet modul should not crash the kernel.

Also if you try to use the Windows XP driver with ndiswrapper you get the same crash. On my other PC this method work but here also the 8139too in mmio mode has no problems.

el_tomasin · 06-06-2007, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arne.F

A misconfigured ethernet module should not crash the kernel.

I guess you're right.
I tried booting with the original 2.6.17-14 pre-compiled kernel (first Mandriva kernel update) and... It worked!
So then I tried to load the evil 8139too & sdhci modules.

Code:

# modprobe 8139too

=> immediate and total freeze
I had to reboot the dirty way (pressing the power button a few seconds).

Code:

# modprobe sdhci

=> same thing...

I looked inside /var/log/syslog and all /var/log/kernel/ logs but found no trace of those two crashes.
Does anyone know where I might found any useful information that could help solving the problem?

simosx · 06-06-2007, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el_tomasin

I guess you're right.
I tried booting with the original 2.6.17-14 pre-compiled kernel (first Mandriva kernel update) and... It worked!
So then I tried to load the evil 8139too & sdhci modules.

Code:

# modprobe 8139too

=> immediate and total freeze
I had to reboot the dirty way (pressing the power button a few seconds).

Code:

# modprobe sdhci

=> same thing...

I looked inside /var/log/syslog and all /var/log/kernel/ logs but found no trace of those two crashes.
Does anyone know where I might found any useful information that could help solving the problem?

Thanks. That's an excellent move forward.
These reproducible crashing cases are what kernel developers love to identify.

Before you load a module, you can try

Code:

# modinfo 8139too
filename:       /lib/modules/2.6.17-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/8139too.ko
author:         Jeff Garzik <jgarzik@pobox.com>
description:    RealTek RTL-8139 Fast Ethernet driver
license:        GPL
...
parm:           debug:8139too bitmapped message enable number (int)
parm:           full_duplex:8139too: Force full duplex for board(s) (1) (array of int)
parm:           media:8139too: Bits 4+9: force full duplex, bit 5: 100Mbps (array of int)
parm:           multicast_filter_limit:8139too maximum number of filtered multicast addresses (int)
#

which means there is a "debug" parameter to show more info while loading. You can also disable some specific functionality (whether full duplex or not, and so on).

You would run the command as

Code:

# modprobe -v 8139too debug=1

The same goes with the sdhci module. You can try with

Code:

# modprobe -v sdhci debug_quirks=1 debug_nodma=1

With the results of the above commands, and the output of the "lspci -v" command, we can easily send an e-mail to the Linux Kernel Mailing list for some help. If you want, I can write/send the mail on your behalf. Because both drivers are open-source, we have good chances to get the issue resolved as soon as possible.

el_tomasin · 06-07-2007, 06:34 AM

Well, this is getting a little frustrating.

I tried both modprobe suggestions with debug options and got the same total freeze... and no log at all of what happened.
I tried again adding -s option which, according to modprobe manpage, "causes any error messages to go through the syslog mechanism rather than to standard error" but still not any log information about this very annoying bug.
Then I tried adding -n (dry run) option for each module and here is what I got:

Code:

# modprobe -snv 8139too
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.17-14mdv/kernel/drivers/net/mii.ko.gz 
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.17-14mdv/kernel/drivers/net/8139too.ko.gz

and

Code:

# modprobe -snv sdhci
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.17-14mdv/kernel/drivers/mmc/mmc_core.ko.gz 
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.17-14mdv/kernel/drivers/mmc/sdhci.ko.gz

Don't ask me why, all of a sudden I felt like trying to load modules separately, just to see if it would make any difference.
So first:

Code:

# modprobe -sv mii
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.17-14mdv/kernel/drivers/net/mii.ko.gz

And then:

Code:

# modprobe -sv 8139too

And guess what...
Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze!!!

Same thing, after doing a

Code:

# modprobe -sv mmc_core
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.17-14mdv/kernel/drivers/mmc/mmc_core.ko.gz

followed by a

Code:

# modprobe -sv sdhci

All I could obtain was another freeze.

Sadly I was not able to obtain any log information.
Again.
Despite the -s option...

As you told be it might be of some interest, here is my lspci -v output:

Code:

# lspci -v
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
        Memory at ffe80000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
        I/O ports at ec00 [size=8]
        Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
        Memory at ffe40000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
        Capabilities: [90] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 2

00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Memory at ffd80000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
        Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 2

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
        Memory at ffe34000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
        Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
        Capabilities: [60] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit+ Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [70] Express Unknown type IRQ 0

00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=0
        Memory behind bridge: ff200000-ff2fffff
        Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+) IRQ 0
        Capabilities: [80] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2

00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=02, sec-latency=0
        I/O behind bridge: 0000a000-0000afff
        Memory behind bridge: fef00000-ff1fffff
        Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+) IRQ 0
        Capabilities: [80] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2

00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 21
        I/O ports at e000 [size=32]

00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19
        I/O ports at dc00 [size=32]

00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
        I/O ports at d880 [size=32]

00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
        I/O ports at d800 [size=32]

00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 21
        Memory at ffe3b800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
        Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
        Capabilities: [58] Debug port

00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2) (prog-if 01 [Subtractive decode])
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Bus: primary=00, secondary=03, subordinate=04, sec-latency=32
        I/O behind bridge: 0000b000-0000cfff
        Memory behind bridge: ff300000-ffbfffff
        Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000bdf00000-00000000bfefffff
        Capabilities: [50] Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003

00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0
        Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information

00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) IDE Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
        I/O ports at <unassigned>
        I/O ports at <unassigned>
        I/O ports at <ignored>
        I/O ports at <ignored>
        I/O ports at ffa0 [size=16]

00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA AHCI Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 01 [AHCI 1.0])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19
        I/O ports at e880 [size=8]
        I/O ports at e800 [size=4]
        I/O ports at e480 [size=8]
        I/O ports at e400 [size=4]
        I/O ports at e080 [size=16]
        Memory at ffe3bc00 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
        Capabilities: [80] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [70] Power Management version 2

00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 5
        I/O ports at 0400 [size=32]

01:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection (rev 02)
        Subsystem: Intel Corporation Unknown device 1001
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
        Memory at ff2ff000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
        Capabilities: [c8] Power Management version 2
        Capabilities: [d0] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit+ Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [e0] Express Legacy Endpoint IRQ 0

03:04.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 10
        I/O ports at c800 [size=256]
        Memory at ffbffc00 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
        Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2

03:06.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): O2 Micro, Inc. Firewire (IEEE 1394) (rev 02) (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 19
        Memory at ff300000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
        Memory at ffbff000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=2K]
        Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 2

03:06.2 Generic system peripheral [0805]: O2 Micro, Inc. Integrated MMC/SD Controller (rev 01)
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: slow devsel, IRQ 5
        Memory at ffbff800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
        Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2

03:06.3 Mass storage controller: O2 Micro, Inc. Integrated MS/xD Controller (rev 01)
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: slow devsel, IRQ 5
        Memory at ffbfd000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
        Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2

Now I really don't know what else I could do to gather more information for a bug report.

Any suggestions?

If none, well, dear simosx, yes I'd rather let you write the email to the kernel mailing list on behalf of every Twinhead H12Y based laptop owner. Not that I feel lazy but I'm not very confident about my ability to make an understandable description of this bug in English. Actually I'm not sure I'd be able to make one in french, so... I gladly accept your offer

simosx · 06-07-2007, 07:25 AM

Hi,
Well, I think you did a great job with this post; simply sending the information you gathered here suffices. I suppose there will be some replies for more information from the Linux kernel mailing list, so it's better to send the e-mail yourself.

The part where you insmod the modules separately is really smart. It helps a lot to pinpoint the exact module.

To subscribe to the Linux Kernel Mailing list (LKML), see
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/docs/lkml/#s3-1
The LKML mailing list is a high-volume mailing list, so you can subscribe for the duration of this issue, or simply put a filter to accept only the relevant e-mails. If someone wants to follow the discussion, they can read from http://lkml.org/

When you send the e-mail to LKML, please CC: the authors of the two modules. You get their e-mail address through the "modinfo" command. For example, "modinfo 8139too".

Thus, your e-mail can look like:

======================
Subject: Kernel freeze with modules 8139too and sdhci (Twinhead H12Y laptop)

Dear All,
I am experiencing kernel freezes with my new laptop which is produced by Twinhead. The model of the laptop is H12Y, and there is a big group of users with that laptop who are unable to install any distribution of Linux due to the problem. (I installed by erasing the offending kernel modules from the ISO image). Our discussion thread is at
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...15#post2778515

The following commands have been tried with Linux kernel:
----- el_tomasin, here you put the output of the command "cat /proc/version" -----

The module 8139too depends on the module "mii". When insmod-ing the two modules separately, the freeze happens on the second insmod (for "8139too").

I have tried different flags that the two modules support (enable debug, disable dma) or send any information to syslog. In all cases no information was collected and there is no output whatsoever.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Here is the output of
# lspci -v
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
Memory at ffe80000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
I/O ports at ec00 [size=8]
Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
Memory at ffe40000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
Capabilities: [90] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 2

00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Memory at ffd80000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 2

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
Memory at ffe34000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [60] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit+ Queue=0/0 Enable-
Capabilities: [70] Express Unknown type IRQ 0

00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=0
Memory behind bridge: ff200000-ff2fffff
Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+) IRQ 0
Capabilities: [80] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2

00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=02, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: 0000a000-0000afff
Memory behind bridge: fef00000-ff1fffff
Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+) IRQ 0
Capabilities: [80] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2

00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 21
I/O ports at e000 [size=32]

00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19
I/O ports at dc00 [size=32]

00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
I/O ports at d880 [size=32]

00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
I/O ports at d800 [size=32]

00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 21
Memory at ffe3b800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [58] Debug port

00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2) (prog-if 01 [Subtractive decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=03, subordinate=04, sec-latency=32
I/O behind bridge: 0000b000-0000cfff
Memory behind bridge: ff300000-ffbfffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000bdf00000-00000000bfefffff
Capabilities: [50] Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003

00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0
Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information

00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) IDE Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
I/O ports at <unassigned>
I/O ports at <unassigned>
I/O ports at <ignored>
I/O ports at <ignored>
I/O ports at ffa0 [size=16]

00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA AHCI Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 01 [AHCI 1.0])
Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19
I/O ports at e880 [size=8]
I/O ports at e800 [size=4]
I/O ports at e480 [size=8]
I/O ports at e400 [size=4]
I/O ports at e080 [size=16]
Memory at ffe3bc00 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
Capabilities: [80] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
Capabilities: [70] Power Management version 2

00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 5
I/O ports at 0400 [size=32]

01:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection (rev 02)
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Unknown device 1001
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
Memory at ff2ff000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Capabilities: [c8] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [d0] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit+ Queue=0/0 Enable-
Capabilities: [e0] Express Legacy Endpoint IRQ 0

03:04.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 10
I/O ports at c800 [size=256]
Memory at ffbffc00 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2

03:06.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): O2 Micro, Inc. Firewire (IEEE 1394) (rev 02) (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 19
Memory at ff300000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Memory at ffbff000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=2K]
Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 2

03:06.2 Generic system peripheral [0805]: O2 Micro, Inc. Integrated MMC/SD Controller (rev 01)
Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Flags: slow devsel, IRQ 5
Memory at ffbff800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2

03:06.3 Mass storage controller: O2 Micro, Inc. Integrated MS/xD Controller (rev 01)
Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
Flags: slow devsel, IRQ 5
Memory at ffbfd000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2[/CODE]

======= End of output of lspci -v ========

Quote:

Originally Posted by el_tomasin

Well, this is getting a little frustrating.

I tried both modprobe suggestions with debug options and got the same total freeze... and no log at all of what happened.
I tried again adding -s option which, according to modprobe manpage, "causes any error messages to go through the syslog mechanism rather than to standard error" but still not any log information about this very annoying bug.
Then I tried adding -n (dry run) option for each module and here is what I got:

Code:

# modprobe -snv 8139too
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.17-14mdv/kernel/drivers/net/mii.ko.gz 
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.17-14mdv/kernel/drivers/net/8139too.ko.gz

and

Code:

# modprobe -snv sdhci
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.17-14mdv/kernel/drivers/mmc/mmc_core.ko.gz 
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.17-14mdv/kernel/drivers/mmc/sdhci.ko.gz

Don't ask me why, all of a sudden I felt like trying to load modules separately, just to see if it would make any difference.
So first:

Code:

# modprobe -sv mii
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.17-14mdv/kernel/drivers/net/mii.ko.gz

And then:

Code:

# modprobe -sv 8139too

And guess what...
Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze!!!

Same thing, after doing a

Code:

# modprobe -sv mmc_core
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.17-14mdv/kernel/drivers/mmc/mmc_core.ko.gz

followed by a

Code:

# modprobe -sv sdhci

All I could obtain was another freeze.

Sadly I was not able to obtain any log information.
Again.
Despite the -s option...

As you told be it might be of some interest, here is my lspci -v output:

Code:

# lspci -v
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
        Memory at ffe80000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
        I/O ports at ec00 [size=8]
        Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
        Memory at ffe40000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
        Capabilities: [90] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 2

00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Memory at ffd80000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
        Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 2

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
        Memory at ffe34000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
        Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
        Capabilities: [60] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit+ Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [70] Express Unknown type IRQ 0

00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=0
        Memory behind bridge: ff200000-ff2fffff
        Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+) IRQ 0
        Capabilities: [80] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2

00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=02, sec-latency=0
        I/O behind bridge: 0000a000-0000afff
        Memory behind bridge: fef00000-ff1fffff
        Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+) IRQ 0
        Capabilities: [80] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2

00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 21
        I/O ports at e000 [size=32]

00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19
        I/O ports at dc00 [size=32]

00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
        I/O ports at d880 [size=32]

00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
        I/O ports at d800 [size=32]

00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 21
        Memory at ffe3b800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
        Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
        Capabilities: [58] Debug port

00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2) (prog-if 01 [Subtractive decode])
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Bus: primary=00, secondary=03, subordinate=04, sec-latency=32
        I/O behind bridge: 0000b000-0000cfff
        Memory behind bridge: ff300000-ffbfffff
        Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000bdf00000-00000000bfefffff
        Capabilities: [50] Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003

00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0
        Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information

00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) IDE Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
        I/O ports at <unassigned>
        I/O ports at <unassigned>
        I/O ports at <ignored>
        I/O ports at <ignored>
        I/O ports at ffa0 [size=16]

00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA AHCI Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 01 [AHCI 1.0])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19
        I/O ports at e880 [size=8]
        I/O ports at e800 [size=4]
        I/O ports at e480 [size=8]
        I/O ports at e400 [size=4]
        I/O ports at e080 [size=16]
        Memory at ffe3bc00 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
        Capabilities: [80] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [70] Power Management version 2

00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 5
        I/O ports at 0400 [size=32]

01:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection (rev 02)
        Subsystem: Intel Corporation Unknown device 1001
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
        Memory at ff2ff000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
        Capabilities: [c8] Power Management version 2
        Capabilities: [d0] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit+ Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [e0] Express Legacy Endpoint IRQ 0

03:04.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 10
        I/O ports at c800 [size=256]
        Memory at ffbffc00 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
        Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2

03:06.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): O2 Micro, Inc. Firewire (IEEE 1394) (rev 02) (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 19
        Memory at ff300000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
        Memory at ffbff000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=2K]
        Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 2

03:06.2 Generic system peripheral [0805]: O2 Micro, Inc. Integrated MMC/SD Controller (rev 01)
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: slow devsel, IRQ 5
        Memory at ffbff800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
        Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2

03:06.3 Mass storage controller: O2 Micro, Inc. Integrated MS/xD Controller (rev 01)
        Subsystem: TWINHEAD INTERNATIONAL Corp Unknown device a003
        Flags: slow devsel, IRQ 5
        Memory at ffbfd000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
        Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2

Now I really don't know what else I could do to gather more information for a bug report.

Any suggestions?

If none, well, dear simosx, yes I'd rather let you write the email to the kernel mailing list on behalf of every Twinhead H12Y based laptop owner. Not that I feel lazy but I'm not very confident about my ability to make an understandable description of this bug in English. Actually I'm not sure I'd be able to make one in french, so... I gladly accept your offer

Richey · 06-11-2007, 06:35 AM

Whoa!

Well I have got the custom CD of Unbuntu 7.04 to work on my Freevents x-52. As far as I can tell this is the same as the Averatec/Twinhead laptops with some Philips stickers on it

I got a bit panicky as the CD spun down and the HD stopped flashing when the dialog said "loading network modules", but it started up again. Time to backup and go for the HD install tonight then

With that done I can try to reproduce the crashes/freezes and see if I can get some useful information to send to the kernel mailing list.

Thanks for all the input and interest on this problem so far!

Richey · 06-16-2007, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el_tomasin

Seems that someone found a solution for a GNU/linux installation...

http://www.fitzenreiter.de/averatec/index-e.htm

Gotta go, have to try this!

I can confirm that this works with the Philips Freevents X52 - currently posting this in Ubuntu from my sofa!

simosx · 06-16-2007, 09:24 AM

Guys, when you mail the linux-kernel mailing list about the two bugs, please report here so that we can all follow the discussion.

el_tomasin · 05-28-2008, 06:22 AM

Problem not solved yet, but people are working on it: http://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=9905

P.S.: Could successfully install Mandriva 2008.0 and 2008.1 (using the command-line during install as described a few posts earlier)

SevenCents · 08-26-2008, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el_tomasin

Seems that someone found a solution for a GNU/linux installation...

http://www.fitzenreiter.de/averatec/index-e.htm

Gotta go, have to try this!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richey

I can confirm that this works with the Philips Freevents X52 - currently posting this in Ubuntu from my sofa!

ditto, cheers Arne for the good work.