Hardware Problems with Kernel 4.15.0-20 and -21

[mfreeman]

Is anyone else having problems with the latest 4.15 series kernels in the repos? I'm running 4.15.0-15 without any problems at all. However, if I try to run on 4.15.0-20 or 4.15.0-21, Cinnamon goes into software rendering mode (so there's some sort of problem with graphics drivers, at least on my AMD R6 with open source drivers). Also, my Logitech wireless mouse stops working (perhaps this is a general compatibility problem with xserver?). So, to do anything at all, I have to use the keyboard, which mostly means dropping into a terminal. I'm just curious about this, as I've never seen this kind of problem before. I generally run the latest kernel, so this is weird to me.

[MrEen]

Yes. I've read on this forum at least 6 people having issues with -20 and going back to -15. The issues seem to be rather varied, too.

[vuott]

Yes, me too !!!
So, I am forced to return 4.15.0-15 version !

[sciencepal]

Issue seems to be with Realtek drivers which has been changes as mentioned in the changelog. Does your PC too have Realtek drivers?

[mfreeman]

My PC does have Realtek Ethernet and Card Reader listed in lspci, but otherwise everything else is AMD. I wouldn't imagine the Realtek issue would cause my AMD graphics and Logitech mouse to not work (unless Realtek drivers somehow influence my USB ports and integrated graphics as well). I've also heard of others who have non-Realtek keyboards, wifi, and sound that don't work, so I'm not sure it's just Realtek that's having the issue. It seems too wide-spread over a variety of components.

I find it odd that all the people having this problem that I've found online are on Ubuntu-based distros (especially Mint), but not Ubuntu itself. I would imagine we should be hearing *something* from Ubuntu users on this issue as well.

[Joe2Shoe]

I had issues with 4.15.0-20 until I followed JeremyB's fix here, now all is good.

sudo apt-get install elfutils libelf-dev

sudo apt-get install linux-base linux-modules-extra-4.15.0-20-generic

Reboot.

[frankt]

I'm also having issues with -20, but I'm running on Intel graphics:

Code: Select all

Graphics:  Card: Intel Device 5912
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1600x900@60.00hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 630 (Kaby Lake GT2)
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 17.2.4

I reverted to 4.15.0-15 because I didn't know what else wasn't working.

[mfreeman]

Thank you, @Joe2Shoe! Installing those packages did indeed fix the problem. I've tested all of my hardware, including the Realtek components, and everything works perfectly on both 4.15.0-20 and -21.

[wujastyk]

I've had these same problems on Lenovo Thinkpads T560 and T500.

I tried the fix above and got this error message:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get  install linux-base linux-modules-extra-4.15.0-20-generic

...

Setting up linux-modules-extra-4.15.0-20-generic (4.15.0-20.21~16.04.1) ...
Processing triggers for linux-image-4.15.0-20-generic (4.15.0-20.21~16.04.1) ...
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms:
ERROR (dkms apport): kernel package linux-headers-4.15.0-20-generic is not supported
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 4.15.0-20-generic (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/tp-smapi/0.41/build/make.log for more information.
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools:
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-20-generic
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub:
Generating grub configuration file ...

...

[vuott]

I had issues with 4.15.0-20 until I followed JeremyB's fix here, now all is good.

sudo apt-get install elfutils libelf-dev

sudo apt-get install linux-base linux-modules-extra-4.15.0-20-generic

Reboot.

Very good: so I solved !

[bvhoesel]

Just as an inventory the next information.
On -20. No realtec hardware. Similar issue on wireless logotech usb mouse not working while wired logitech usb mouse does work.
Proposed fix to install elfutils libelf-dev did not solve the problem. Back to -15.

[mfreeman]

Just as an inventory the next information.
On -20. No realtec hardware. Similar issue on wireless logotech usb mouse not working while wired logitech usb mouse does work.
Proposed fix to install elfutils libelf-dev did not solve the problem. Back to -15.

Did you also install the linux-modules-extra-4.15.0-20-generic package? That apparently contains extra drivers not included in the main kernel package.

[mfreeman]

Also, try 4.15.0-21 instead of 4.15.0-20. That's what I'm currently running and have no Logitech wireless mouse issues after the extra packages were installed.

[karlchen]

Analysis and solution: Read Clem's posts starting here: Re: Trouble with 4.15.0-20 kernel

[bvhoesel]

Also, try 4.15.0-21 instead of 4.15.0-20. That's what I'm currently running and have no Logitech wireless mouse issues after the extra packages were installed.

I did not (and still not) have the option to install -21. I did reinstall -20 and saw the extra modules are also installed now. Not sure they were installed last time. But now wireless usb Logitch mouse is working on -20.

[Hoser Rob]

Those newer to Linux tend to be surprised and shocked if this happens. After a while it's not shocking anymore. In fact it's not unusual for a newer kernel to break something. This is due to a general lack of backwards compatibility in Linux.

Fortunately a kernel update is easy to revert to the previous working kernel. Just don;'t delete that before testing the new one. You can't roll back other high level updates so easily.

It's not serious unless you're in the situation where you update the kernel to fix one hardware support issue and break something else in the process.

Number one rule here is: don't do a kernel update unless you know out how to revert to the previous one. You may have to do this from CLI. Just search "ubuntu revert to older kernel".

[pcspecialistpdx]

If you think 4.15.0-20 is problematic, give 4.15.0-24 a try.

I have no graphics at all with 0-24 and discovered I couldn't get the grub menu to unhide with the shift key to add to my frustration.

Really beginning to hate the 4.15.x kernel, 4.4.x never gave me this many problems. I wish I could roll back to 4.4.x and have the Mint updater keep it up to date under Mint 19.

[kyphi]

I had problems with the 4.15.0-24 kernel in that switching my router on would also activate my computer which eventually required a reboot to activate the Network Manager.

To get the grub boot menu if "timeout" is set to "0", you have to edit grub and alter the timeout setting. Use a text editor such as nano:
sudo nano /etc/default/grub
and increase the value given in the line GRUB_TIMEOUT=0
Ctrl+x to exit nano, press y to accept changes, press Enter to write changes to grub.
Follow with sudo update-grub

Now reboot and the grub menu will be visible for the period you have stated. Use the Advanced boot entry and select another kernel to boot from.
After your system has booted and all is well you can remove the troublesome kernel via the Update Manager, View, Linux Kernels.

If your system is running well there is no good reason to upgrade to newer kernels unless there is a security patch.

[pdc_2]

no good reason to upgrade to newer kernels unless there is a security patch.

so do folks need to go away and check each time a new kernel is offered; if it has a security patch please? (there's lots of stuff I don't know)

[kyphi]

If something does not work then an upgrade might fix it. If everything works leave it alone.

Hover your mouse cursor over the offered kernel update and it will indicate if it is intended as a security update.

For me kernel 4.15.0-23 works fine.