linux-kernel - Re: 2.6.38.3 and 2.6.39-rc4 hangs after "Booting the kernel" on quad Pentium Pro system

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Message-Id: <201104232132.13849.chris@csamuel.org>
Date:	Sat, 23 Apr 2011 21:32:10 +1000
From:	Chris Samuel <chris@...muel.org>
To:	Alan Cox <alan@...rguk.ukuu.org.uk>
Cc:	"H. Peter Anvin" <hpa@...or.com>,
	Thomas Gleixner <tglx@...utronix.de>,
	Ingo Molnar <mingo@...hat.com>, x86@...nel.org,
	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: 2.6.38.3 and 2.6.39-rc4 hangs after "Booting the kernel" on quad Pentium Pro system

Hi Alan,

On Sat, 23 Apr 2011 08:35:59 PM Chris Samuel wrote:

>   On Sat, 23 Apr 2011 07:35:36 PM Alan Cox wrote:
>
> > Ah.. do you have a BIOS setting called something like OS/2
> > compatibility ?
> 
> That's the really odd thing, I am yet to find a way to access
> the BIOS settings on this beast. I've tried the usual DEL, F2
> and F1 with no success and there is no prompt I've ever seen
> to offer access to one.  I do have a ZIP file that contains
> the last BIOS upgrade for it that was released so I'll see if
> I can make that bootable and see if that reveals any options.

OK, that ZIP file doesn't have a BIOS but it did have a BIOS
configuration program. I have a "Primary Operating System"
option which is currently:

 UNIX, Novell, Windows NT, OS/2, Other (Multi-Processor)

The alternatives for that option are:

 UNIX, Novell, Windows NT, Others (Single-Processor)
 DOS, OS/2

The README accompanying the ZIP says:

# Due to a PentiumPro bug the BIOS need to know if a Multi-Processor
# or Single Processor Operating System is installed to correctly
# set-up the local APIC and MP table.

The only other options that seem like they might be relevant are:

 Extended Memory Above 64MB Support - Enabled
 Video Shadowing - Shadowed at C000: and C400:

As regards memory it reports:

Base Memory: 640KB
Extended Memory (Contiguous): 255MB
Extended Memory (Non-contiguous): 0KB

Anything ring any bells there ?

cheers,
Chris
-- 
 Chris Samuel  :  http://www.csamuel.org/  :  Melbourne, VIC

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