You are Here:
Linux Lite 6.6 FINAL Released - Support for 22 Languages Added - See Release Announcement Section



BIOS problem

Author (Read 10608 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Re: BIOS problem
« Reply #20 on: June 04, 2019, 12:10:39 PM »
 

DeepThought

  • Forum Regular
  • ***
  • 237
    Posts
  • Reputation: 40
  • Linux Lite Member
    • View Profile
    • WKDfm Radio | WKDfm Chat

  • CPU: AMD Turion(tm) 64 x 2 Mobile Technology TL-60

  • MEMORY: 4Gb

  • VIDEO CARD: ATI RS480

  • Kernel: 5.x
@pelouk

Code: [Select]
inux@linux:~$ sudo blkid
/dev/sda1: LABEL="LINUX LITE" UUID="E613-A103" TYPE="vfat" PARTUUID="006d6afc-01"
/dev/loop0: TYPE="squashfs"
linux@linux:~$

That shows your usb drive with Linux Lite.
Your internal hdd is not showing so I would say it has failed.

The sudo fdisk -l command is actually a small L not 1, but using the command will probably give you the same result and not show your internal hdd.
Owner and DJ at WKDfm Radio ( www.wkdfm.co.uk )
 

Re: BIOS problem
« Reply #19 on: June 04, 2019, 11:31:55 AM »
 

pelouk

  • Occasional Poster
  • **
  • 80
    Posts
  • Reputation: 2
  • Linux Lite Member
    • View Profile
Hi DeepThought and minesweep.  I managed to release the Num lock and got the keyboard going - I'm actually sending this using Firefox on the laptop. Re-trying the terminal instructions produces the following:-

inux@linux:~$ sudo blkid
/dev/sda1: LABEL="LINUX LITE" UUID="E613-A103" TYPE="vfat" PARTUUID="006d6afc-01"
/dev/loop0: TYPE="squashfs"
linux@linux:~$


linux@linux:~$ sudo fdisk -1
fdisk: invalid option -- '1'

Usage:
 fdisk [options] <disk>      change partition table
 fdisk [options] -l [<disk>] list partition table(s)

Display or manipulate a disk partition table.

Options:
 -b, --sector-size <size>      physical and logical sector size
 -B, --protect-boot            don't erase bootbits when create a new label
 -c, --compatibility[=<mode>]  mode is 'dos' or 'nondos' (default)
 -L, --color[=<when>]          colorize output (auto, always or never)
                                 colors are enabled by default
 -l, --list                    display partitions end exit
 -o, --output <list>           output columns
 -t, --type <type>             recognize specified partition table type only
 -u, --units[=<unit>]          display units: 'cylinders' or 'sectors' (default)
 -s, --getsz                   display device size in 512-byte sectors [DEPRECATED]
     --bytes                   print SIZE in bytes rather than in human readable format

 -C, --cylinders <number>      specify the number of cylinders
 -H, --heads <number>          specify the number of heads
 -S, --sectors <number>        specify the number of sectors per track

I can't, of course decipher that and still suspect the hard disk is knackered. What do you reckon?
 

Re: BIOS problem
« Reply #18 on: June 04, 2019, 07:09:48 AM »
 

minesheep

  • Forum Regular
  • ***
  • 140
    Posts
  • Reputation: 11
  • Linux Lite Member
    • View Profile

  • MEMORY: 4Gb

  • Kernel: 5.x
@pelouk  @minesheep   The garbled message is probably because Linux Lite has Numlock enabled as default in a live session.
You can disable Numlock using one of your keyboards Fn keys.
No numlock won't turn letters into numbers

d in binary         01100100
2 in binary         00110010

All bits have moved to right it is (clear) contact issue.
 

Re: BIOS problem
« Reply #17 on: June 04, 2019, 06:25:38 AM »
 

DeepThought

  • Forum Regular
  • ***
  • 237
    Posts
  • Reputation: 40
  • Linux Lite Member
    • View Profile
    • WKDfm Radio | WKDfm Chat

  • CPU: AMD Turion(tm) 64 x 2 Mobile Technology TL-60

  • MEMORY: 4Gb

  • VIDEO CARD: ATI RS480

  • Kernel: 5.x
@pelouk  @minesheep   The garbled message is probably because Linux Lite has Numlock enabled as default in a live session.
You can disable Numlock using one of your keyboards Fn keys.

An ssd would be a good option.
Owner and DJ at WKDfm Radio ( www.wkdfm.co.uk )
 

Re: BIOS problem
« Reply #16 on: June 04, 2019, 05:26:18 AM »
 

minesheep

  • Forum Regular
  • ***
  • 140
    Posts
  • Reputation: 11
  • Linux Lite Member
    • View Profile

  • MEMORY: 4Gb

  • Kernel: 5.x
I was unable to use terminal effectively because the keyboard was garbled (e.g sudo blkid was showing as s4d6 fd5s2).
sudo's ascii is 115, 117, 100, 111 and in binary it is 01110011, 01110101, 01100100, 01101111
s4d6's ascii is 115, 52, 100, 54     and in binary it is 01110011, 00110100, 01100100, 00110110

Also pretty weird to note that "d" in sudo was registered as d but in blkid it was reqistered as "2"

d have ascii (in lower case) 100 and 2 have ascii 50
so d in binary         01100100
     2 in binary         00110010

looks like your keyboard cable is moving to wrong location inside your laptop. It probably have like 8 or 10 thin cables to move key presses to computer from keyboard and these cables may be shifting.
 

Re: BIOS problem
« Reply #15 on: June 04, 2019, 04:58:42 AM »
 

pelouk

  • Occasional Poster
  • **
  • 80
    Posts
  • Reputation: 2
  • Linux Lite Member
    • View Profile
Here's the latest.
I tried running the usb drive with LL 3.8. Could not get it to re-install, just got the splash screen with the big feather and it wouldn't go beyond that.
I did manage to start in safe mode and could see from system/partition drives that the only drive appeared to be the usb already in use. I was unable to use terminal effectively because the keyboard was garbled (e.g sudo blkid was showing as s4d6 fd5s2).   I did, lastly, try the tip with removing the battery, etc and the date & time remained ok.

One final question because you guys have been very patient with my lack of knowledge. It does seem that the suspicion that the HD is shot appears to be correct.  I had anyway been thinking of replacing it with a SSD which I could get locally quite cheaply. Do you think that's worth a shot?
 

Re: BIOS problem
« Reply #14 on: June 03, 2019, 05:19:38 PM »
 

minesheep

  • Forum Regular
  • ***
  • 140
    Posts
  • Reputation: 11
  • Linux Lite Member
    • View Profile

  • MEMORY: 4Gb

  • Kernel: 5.x
Open program called disks on live session and check HDD SMART data if it is OK or bad.
 

Re: BIOS problem
« Reply #13 on: June 03, 2019, 04:30:09 PM »
 

DeepThought

  • Forum Regular
  • ***
  • 237
    Posts
  • Reputation: 40
  • Linux Lite Member
    • View Profile
    • WKDfm Radio | WKDfm Chat

  • CPU: AMD Turion(tm) 64 x 2 Mobile Technology TL-60

  • MEMORY: 4Gb

  • VIDEO CARD: ATI RS480

  • Kernel: 5.x
@pelouk  If you have nothing important on the hdd you could try and reinstall, all depends if the 250Gb is still usable. The idea of using the live usb was to get to the desktop and see if the hdd would show as a removable drive. The commands I mentioned could be done from the terminal in a live session.

When the partition drive comes up during the reinstall check which drive shows, you might find it tries to reinstall to your usb drive rather than the 250Gb drive if as I suspect the hdd has failed.

Either way you will know for certain if the hdd is usable
Owner and DJ at WKDfm Radio ( www.wkdfm.co.uk )
 

Re: BIOS problem
« Reply #12 on: June 03, 2019, 04:19:25 PM »
 

pelouk

  • Occasional Poster
  • **
  • 80
    Posts
  • Reputation: 2
  • Linux Lite Member
    • View Profile
Hi  TheDead,  I'll try that trick of removing the main battery etc.  I did follow your advice DeepThought and tried the live usb with which I installed LL 3.8. Got through to the LL start screen but didn't know how to proceed from there. Should I go ahead and try to re-install 3.8?
 

Re: BIOS problem
« Reply #11 on: June 03, 2019, 03:48:21 PM »
 

minesheep

  • Forum Regular
  • ***
  • 140
    Posts
  • Reputation: 11
  • Linux Lite Member
    • View Profile

  • MEMORY: 4Gb

  • Kernel: 5.x
Try to remove the main battery and power cord for few minutes and then check the time and date on the BIOS

You can also try to remove the main battery, the charger, and the bios time battery at the same time and then put them back and re-set BIOS settings.
« Last Edit: June 03, 2019, 03:52:46 PM by minesheep »
 

Re: BIOS problem
« Reply #10 on: June 03, 2019, 12:00:56 PM »
 

DeepThought

  • Forum Regular
  • ***
  • 237
    Posts
  • Reputation: 40
  • Linux Lite Member
    • View Profile
    • WKDfm Radio | WKDfm Chat

  • CPU: AMD Turion(tm) 64 x 2 Mobile Technology TL-60

  • MEMORY: 4Gb

  • VIDEO CARD: ATI RS480

  • Kernel: 5.x
Boot with a live usb. If you manage to get to the live desktop your laptop drive should appear as a removal drive and you should be able to mount it. If you get to this point I would immediately transfer any files/docs etc which are important to you to another external usb drive.

If the laptop drive does not appear try:

Code: [Select]
sudo blkid
or

Code: [Select]
sudo fdisk -l
either command should list all the drives on the system, check the size to see if your 250Gb drive is there. If not i think it will definitely be a hdd fault.
Owner and DJ at WKDfm Radio ( www.wkdfm.co.uk )
 

Re: BIOS problem
« Reply #9 on: June 03, 2019, 08:44:21 AM »
 

TheDead

  • Gold Level Poster
  • *******
  • 936
    Posts
  • Reputation: 92
  • Linux Lite Worshipper
    • View Profile
    • My OpenDesktop Projects

  • CPU: HAL9000

  • MEMORY: 2Gb

  • VIDEO CARD: Quantum State VR v.3

  • Kernel: 4.x
Seems like a hardware failure indeed.
Just to be sure on the "time" battery, you could try and remove the main battery while power is unplugged and wait an hour.
If the clock is still on time the time battery should be OK.

Anywhoo, did you try Deepthought's idea to boot from a USB key with a live Linux Lite? Maybe there's a little life left in the patient ;)
Edit: Typos
« Last Edit: June 03, 2019, 01:19:58 PM by TheDead »
- TheDead (TheUxNo0b)

If my blabbering was helpful, please click my [Thank] link.
 

Re: BIOS problem
« Reply #8 on: June 02, 2019, 11:19:53 AM »
 

Jerry

  • Linux Lite Creator
  • Administrator
  • Platinum Level Poster
  • *****
  • 8775
    Posts
  • Reputation: 801
  • Linux Lite Member
    • View Profile
    • Linux Lite OS

  • CPU: Intel Core i9-10850K CPU @ 3.60GHz

  • MEMORY: 32Gb

  • VIDEO CARD: nVidia GeForce GTX 1650

  • Kernel: 5.x
Sounds like hardware failure to me.

Sent from my Mobile phone using Tapatalk

 

Re: BIOS problem
« Reply #7 on: June 02, 2019, 11:10:36 AM »
 

pelouk

  • Occasional Poster
  • **
  • 80
    Posts
  • Reputation: 2
  • Linux Lite Member
    • View Profile
OK, here's what I've determined so far:-

Stuck Key

I've remove and cleaned the f2 key and the problem remains.

Hard Drive

The drive is a 250GB spinner and is not even half full. I don't otherwise know how to determine whether or not it is failing. In any event, the laptop model is the 1225B - a pretty old machine - and the rigmarole to get to the drive involves virtually dismantling the whole machine - which is beyond me. Took it to the local repair shop and they want £50 just to check it out. Since that's more than the thing is worth, it looks like going in the garbage.

CMOS battery

Going by some online diagrams, it does have such a battery but again, that can only be accessed by a complete strip-down. If it means anything, the laptop is retaining correct date and time within the BIOS, so I'm not sure if that tells me anything.

?????????
 

Re: BIOS problem
« Reply #6 on: June 02, 2019, 10:22:39 AM »
 

TheDead

  • Gold Level Poster
  • *******
  • 936
    Posts
  • Reputation: 92
  • Linux Lite Worshipper
    • View Profile
    • My OpenDesktop Projects

  • CPU: HAL9000

  • MEMORY: 2Gb

  • VIDEO CARD: Quantum State VR v.3

  • Kernel: 4.x
LOL...

Lets see if we have a winner! All bets are off.
- TheDead (TheUxNo0b)

If my blabbering was helpful, please click my [Thank] link.
 

 

-->
X Close Ad

Linux Lite 6.6 FINAL Released - Support for 22 Languages Added - See Release Announcement Section