Kubuntu very slow boot

[Snowhog]

Do you have the same slowness in booting with the mouse plugged in?

[thetox]

No.
With or without the mouse te boot process is slow.

[millusions]

cd/dvd drive?

take the disk out if it is.

you're not running kubuntu, are you?

have a sony and dell laptop here, both have brightollness running from install, kubuntu 14.4 32bit.
no grub options for this.

# ls /sys/class/backlight/ intel_backlight (might be different name)

[Snowhog]

Your Acer Aspire S3-951 specifications say it has two drives:

Key Features

13.3" HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-backlit Display: (1366 x 768) resolution; 16:9 aspect ratio
2nd generation Intel® Core™ i5-2467M Processor 1.6GHz
Intel® HD Graphics 3000 with 128MB of dedicated system memory
320GB SATA Hard Drive
20GB SSD Drive
2-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™
Bluetooth® 4.0+HS
1.3MP HD Webcam(1280 x 1024)
Dolby® Home Theater® v4 audio enhancement
Two Built-in Acer 3DSonic stereo speakers
2- USB 2.0 Ports
1- HDMI™ Portwith HDCP Support
3-cell Lithium polymer Battery
Up to 6-hours battery life
2.98 lbs. system unit only

Let's confirm this. Open a console and type:

sudo fdisk -l

Post the output in your reply.

[thetox]

millusions[/COLOR];358764]cd/dvd drive?

take the disk out if it is.

you're not running kubuntu, are you?

have a sony and dell laptop here, both have brightollness running from install, kubuntu 14.4 32bit.
no grub options for this.

# ls /sys/class/backlight/ intel_backlight (might be different name)

Thank you for you suggestions.
But my computer is an 13 inch ultrabook. It is an Acer aspire S3-951.
It does not have a CD/DVD-ROM.
Brightness is working again (thanks to user named Snowhog), but Acer Aspire S3 models have brightness issue in general (not just my model). Google it.
I have Kubuntu 14.04 64bit version.

Anyways... the problem isn't the brightness. Booting time is the problem.
It is still slow...

Whan else can I do to make it faster? What about that hanging while booting...?

[thetox]

Your Acer Aspire S3-951 specifications say it has two drives:

Key Features

13.3" HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-backlit Display: (1366 x 768) resolution; 16:9 aspect ratio
2nd generation Intel® Core™ i5-2467M Processor 1.6GHz
Intel® HD Graphics 3000 with 128MB of dedicated system memory
320GB SATA Hard Drive
20GB SSD Drive
2-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™
Bluetooth® 4.0+HS
1.3MP HD Webcam(1280 x 1024)
Dolby® Home Theater® v4 audio enhancement
Two Built-in Acer 3DSonic stereo speakers
2- USB 2.0 Ports
1- HDMI™ Portwith HDCP Support
3-cell Lithium polymer Battery
Up to 6-hours battery life
2.98 lbs. system unit only

Let's confirm this. Open a console and type:

sudo fdisk -l

Post the output in your reply.

Here is the fdisk output:
matej@aspire-S3:~$ sudo fdisk -l
[sudo] password for matej:

Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0009e68a

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 2048 2000895 999424 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 2000896 12001279 5000192 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3 12003326 625141759 306569217 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 12003328 625141759 306569216 83 Linux
matej@aspire-S3:~$

There are many models of S3 ultrabook... Mine seems to be the one without SSD hybrid disk.
I wanted to install the /boot partition on the SSD partition, but it never appeared on the disk partitioning menu while installing Kubuntu,
I was following these instrucitons:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/AspireS3
(The "Installing Ubuntu on the SD card on the SSD+Hard disk variant" section)

[Snowhog]

There are many models of S3 ultrabook... Mine seems to be the one without SSD hybrid disk.

Do you have the exact model number? Should be on the label on the underside of the unit.

[GreyGeek]

According to the bug #595448 Launch pad: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/595448

The problem appears to be a kernel regression. See msgs #9 through 15, at a minimum. The heart of the cure is in msg #11.

A similar bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...ux/+bug/220706
was solved by several individuals by

snoble (steven-noble) wrote on 2008-04-28:

#2

I fixed the problem by turning my drives to cable select and re-plugging my ide cables in the proper direction.

One person fixed it by merely changing the cables.

[Snowhog]

I would also boot and enter the BIOS and check, just to be sure, that there isn't a second HDD listed and marked/set as active/enabled. Given that some of the Acer Aspire S3's have the SSD and others don't, it's worth checking. IF a second HDD (SSD) is listed, disable it.

[thetox]

Do you have the exact model number? Should be on the label on the underside of the unit.

It is a used laptop (bought it from a friend), so the sticker below is wiped out...
But I have a serial number: LXRSF020261400E4AB2000
Model number is: MS 2346
When I enter my serial number on this website - http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/support - it shows me that he model is Aspire S3-951.
And here is the back of my laptop:
http://i.imgur.com/HzNpyeU.jpg

Here is my lspci output:
matej@aspire-S3:~$ lspci00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family DRAM Controller (rev 09)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09)
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller #1 (rev 04)
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #2 (rev 04)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 04)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev b4)
00:1c.5 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 6 (rev b4)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #1 (rev 04)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation UM67 Express Chipset Family LPC Controller (rev 04)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family 4 port SATA IDE Controller (rev 04)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller (rev 04)
00:1f.5 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family 2 port SATA IDE Controller (rev 04)
02:00.0 Network controller: Qualcomm Atheros AR9485 Wireless Network Adapter (rev 01)

Also, here is my hardware info output:
matej@aspire-S3:~$ sudo lshw aspire-s3
description: Notebook
product: Aspire S3 (HuronRiver_CRB)
vendor: Acer
version: 1.18
serial: LXRSF020261400E4AB2000
width: 64 bits
capabilities: smbios-2.7 dmi-2.7 ldt16 vsyscall32
configuration: chassis=notebook family=Intel_Mobile sku=HuronRiver_CRB uuid=FE1E1100-F2FC-11E0-8966-ACAA61F28948
*-core
description: Motherboard
product: Aspire S3
vendor: Acer
physical id: 0
version: 1.18
serial: LXRSF020261400E4AB2000
slot: Base Board Chassis Location
*-firmware
description: BIOS
vendor: INSYDE
physical id: 0
version: 1.18
date: 02/20/2012
size: 512KiB
capacity: 2496KiB
capabilities: pci upgrade shadowing cdboot bootselect edd int13floppynec int13floppytoshiba int13floppy360 int13floppy1200 int13floppy720 int13floppy2880 int5printscreen int9keyboard int17printer int10video acpi usb biosbootspecification uefi
*-memory
description: System Memory
physical id: 13
slot: System board or motherboard
size: 4GiB
*-bank:0
description: DIMM DDR3 Synchronous 1333 MHz (0,8 ns)
physical id: 0
serial: 00000000
slot: ChannelA-DIMM0
size: 4GiB
width: 64 bits
clock: 1333MHz (0.8ns)
*-bank:1
description: DIMM [empty]
physical id: 1
slot: ChannelA-DIMM1
*-bank:2
description: DIMM [empty]
physical id: 2
slot: ChannelB-DIMM0
*-bank:3
description: DIMM [empty]
physical id: 3
slot: ChannelB-DIMM1
*-cpu
description: CPU
product: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2467M CPU @ 1.60GHz
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 22
bus info: cpu@0
version: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2467M CPU @ 1.60GHz
slot: U3E1
size: 800MHz
capacity: 4GHz
width: 64 bits
clock: 1333MHz
capabilities: x86-64 fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe syscall nx rdtscp constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts rep_good nopl xtopology nonstop_tsc aperfmperf eagerfpu pni pclmulqdq dtes64 monitor ds_cpl vmx est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm pcid sse4_1 sse4_2 x2apic popcnt tsc_deadline_timer aes xsave avx lahf_lm ida arat epb xsaveopt pln pts dtherm tpr_shadow vnmi flexpriority ept vpid cpufreq
configuration: cores=2 enabledcores=2 threads=4
*-cache
description: L3 cache
physical id: 26
slot: L3 Cache
size: 3MiB
capacity: 3MiB
capabilities: synchronous internal write-through unified
*-cache:0
description: L1 cache
physical id: 23
slot: L1 Cache
size: 32KiB
capacity: 32KiB
capabilities: synchronous internal write-through data
*-cache:1
description: L1 cache
physical id: 24
slot: L1 Cache
size: 32KiB
capacity: 32KiB
capabilities: synchronous internal write-through instruction
*-cache:2
description: L2 cache
physical id: 25
slot: L2 Cache
size: 256KiB
capacity: 256KiB
capabilities: synchronous internal write-through unified
*-pci
description: Host bridge
product: 2nd Generation Core Processor Family DRAM Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 100
bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0
version: 09
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
*-display
description: VGA compatible controller
product: 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 2
bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
version: 09
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
resources: irq:40 memory:c0000000-c03fffff memory:b0000000-bfffffff ioport:2000(size=64)
*-communication
description: Communication controller
product: 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller #1
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 16
bus info: pci@0000:00:16.0
version: 04
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=mei_me latency=0
resources: irq:41 memory:c0504000-c050400f
*-usb:0
description: USB controller
product: 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #2
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1a
bus info: pci@0000:00:1a.0
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm debug ehci bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=ehci-pci latency=0
resources: irq:11 memory:c0508000-c05083ff
*-multimedia
description: Audio device
product: 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1b
bus info: pci@0000:00:1b.0
version: 04
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=snd_hda_intel latency=0
resources: irq:42 memory:c0500000-c0503fff
*-pci:0
description: PCI bridge
product: 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 1
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1c
bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.0
version: b4
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm normal_decode bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pcieport
resources: irq:11
*-pci:1
description: PCI bridge
product: 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 6
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1c.5
bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.5
version: b4
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm normal_decode bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pcieport
resources: irq:11 memory:c0400000-c04fffff ioport:afb00000(size=1048576)
*-network
description: Wireless interface
product: AR9485 Wireless Network Adapter
vendor: Qualcomm Atheros
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
logical name: wlan0
version: 01
serial: 74:de:2b:5a:0c:36
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list rom ethernet physical wireless
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=ath9k driverversion=3.13.0-35-generic firmware=N/A latency=0 link=no multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11bgn
resources: irq:11 memory:c0400000-c047ffff memory:afb00000-afb0ffff
*-usb:1
description: USB controller
product: 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #1
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.0
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm debug ehci bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=ehci-pci latency=0
resources: irq:11 memory:c0507000-c05073ff
*-isa
description: ISA bridge
product: UM67 Express Chipset Family LPC Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.0
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: isa bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=lpc_ich latency=0
resources: irq:0
*-ide:0
description: IDE interface
product: 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family 4 port SATA IDE Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f.2
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.2
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 66MHz
capabilities: ide pm bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=ata_piix latency=0
resources: irq:10 ioport:20b8(size=8) ioport:20cc(size=4) ioport:20b0(size=8) ioport:20c8(size=4) ioport:2090(size=16) ioport:2080(size=16)
*-serial UNCLAIMED
description: SMBus
product: 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f.3
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.3
version: 04
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
configuration: latency=0
resources: memory:c0505000-c05050ff ioport:2040(size=32)
*-ide:1
description: IDE interface
product: 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family 2 port SATA IDE Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f.5
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.5
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 66MHz
capabilities: ide pm bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=ata_piix latency=0
resources: irq:10 ioport:20a8(size=8) ioport:20c4(size=4) ioport:20a0(size=8) ioport:20c0(size=4) ioport:2070(size=16) ioport:2060(size=16)
*-scsi:0
physical id: 1
logical name: scsi0
capabilities: emulated
*-disk
description: ATA Disk
product: Hitachi HTS54323
vendor: Hitachi
physical id: 0.0.0
bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0
logical name: /dev/sda
version: ES2O
serial: E203424330AL4J
size: 298GiB (320GB)
capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
configuration: ansiversion=5 sectorsize=512 signature=0009e68a
*-volume:0
description: EXT4 volume
vendor: Linux
physical id: 1
bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,1
logical name: /dev/sda1
logical name: /boot
version: 1.0
serial: e25fcaa4-df34-4d10-8837-4bc691879e99
size: 976MiB
capacity: 976MiB
capabilities: primary bootable journaled extended_attributes large_files huge_files dir_nlink recover extents ext4 ext2 initialized
configuration: created=2014-09-09 21:24:13 filesystem=ext4 lastmountpoint=/boot modified=2014-09-15 21:26:50 mount.fstype=ext4 mount.options=rw,relatime,data=ordered mounted=2014-09-15 21:26:50 state=mounted
*-volume:1
description: Linux swap volume
physical id: 2
bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,2
logical name: /dev/sda2
version: 1
serial: f6d8e24d-9613-4a62-9e01-786b49a8e70b
size: 4883MiB
capacity: 4883MiB
capabilities: primary nofs swap initialized
configuration: filesystem=swap pagesize=4096
*-volume:2
description: Extended partition
physical id: 3
bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,3
logical name: /dev/sda3
size: 292GiB
capacity: 292GiB
capabilities: primary extended partitioned partitioned:extended
*-logicalvolume
description: Linux filesystem partition
physical id: 5
logical name: /dev/sda5
logical name: /
capacity: 292GiB
configuration: mount.fstype=ext4 mount.options=rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro,data=ordered state=mounted
*-scsi:1
physical id: 2
bus info: usb@2:1.6
logical name: scsi4
capabilities: emulated scsi-host
configuration: driver=rts5139
*-disk
description: SCSI Disk
product: xD/SD/M.S.
vendor: Generic-
physical id: 0.0.0
bus info: scsi@4:0.0.0
logical name: /dev/sdb
version: 1.00
serial: 3
capabilities: removable
configuration: sectorsize=512
*-medium
physical id: 0
logical name: /dev/sdb
*-battery
description: Lithium Ion Battery
product: CRB Battery 0
vendor: -Virtual Battery 0-
physical id: 1
version: 10/12/2007
serial: Battery 0
slot: Fake

According to the bug #595448 Launch pad: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/595448

The problem appears to be a kernel regression. See msgs #9 through 15, at a minimum. The heart of the cure is in msg #11.

A similar bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...ux/+bug/220706
was solved by several individuals by


One person fixed it by merely changing the cables.

Well this is interesting... I've seen the second link (I Googled it before posting here), but I didn't see the first one.
I don't understand where can I find the kernel .config file on my laptop? Also, do I have to compile it from git repository? How to know which config is right for me...?
The problem was solved by changing the lines in kernel .config file.

I'm not sure how to change the cables on my laptop. It is an ultrabook... In the second link they solved the problem by changing the cable an placing it in "proper direction". What does that mean and how can I do it on laptop? Maybe he was referring to a desktop PC (and not laptop)...?

Also, both links refer to an older version of Ubuntu (not 14.04). So maybe the config files are located somewhere else (this also does not help: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2...el-config-file )

I would also boot and enter the BIOS and check, just to be sure, that there isn't a second HDD listed and marked/set as active/enabled. Given that some of the Acer Aspire S3's have the SSD and others don't, it's worth checking. IF a second HDD (SSD) is listed, disable it.

Here are my BIOS settings. I just don't see another disk on my laptop:
http://i.imgur.com/WNr7Eb2.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/SlSLKG9.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/OvpujVh.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Bbej69A.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Ah6vOCr.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/UOZBFDW.jpg

[thetox]

OK, I don't know what is this (in hardware info output):

physical id: 0
logical name: /dev/sdb


My harddisk is sda, not sdb.
I do not have any other USB/HardDisk drives connected to computer. It is only plugged in the power source.
Could the sdb be my SSD part of my Hybrid disk? Is it causing this problems?
Thanks in advance.

[GreyGeek]

"Changing cables" only works for desktops, not laptops. The assumption being that laptop mfg's know how properly to attach their HDs to their mobo, so changing cables probably won't work for you.

The process to compile the 14.04 kernel is given here.
The detail missing from that explanation is changing to the source directory and using sudo make menuconfig, if you want to use a console based configuration interface, or sudo make xconfig for a Qt4 based interface, where you can change the HD settings. This is explained in a slightly more detailed explanation given here.

Other references:
http://easytricksportal.blogspot.com...l#.VBi1cq1ef-c

A video which shows pretty much how I used to do it. The part about "sudo make menuconfig" is where you change or adjust drivers.

A more through example is given by this video, showing the Ubuntu/Debian "way".

You'll probably have to install "build-essential" and some other apps it may require or suggest.

[millusions]

hi,

sdb looks like a card reader, can you disable in BIOS?

i would try a different distro if it was me rather than compiling, maybe kubuntu 12?
in the end you'll get the same car with different paint and interior

[thetox]

Hey guys... Sorry for not replying for the past few days... I couldn't find enough spare time to check all these posts out.

"Changing cables" only works for desktops, not laptops. The assumption being that laptop mfg's know how properly to attach their HDs to their mobo, so changing cables probably won't work for you.

The process to compile the 14.04 kernel is given here.
The detail missing from that explanation is changing to the source directory and using sudo make menuconfig, if you want to use a console based configuration interface, or sudo make xconfig for a Qt4 based interface, where you can change the HD settings. This is explained in a slightly more detailed explanation given here.

Other references:
http://easytricksportal.blogspot.com...l#.VBi1cq1ef-c

A video which shows pretty much how I used to do it. The part about "sudo make menuconfig" is where you change or adjust drivers.

A more through example is given by this video, showing the Ubuntu/Debian "way".

You'll probably have to install "build-essential" and some other apps it may require or suggest.

Thank you so much for these links and videos.
I checked out first two links and first video.
I successfuly compiled my kernel (it took about 2 and a half hours), but I still have the same issue (errno -16 and 3 minutes boot time).
I changed my kernel configuration file just like the person here - https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...ux/+bug/595448 - at the post #11.
Guess that his problem was different than mine...

All in all, thank you very much!

hi,

sdb looks like a card reader, can you disable in BIOS?

i would try a different distro if it was me rather than compiling, maybe kubuntu 12?
in the end you'll get the same car with different paint and interior

You were right!
This is a memory card reader (I checked it by inserting a memory card and mounting it).
However, I cannot disable it in BIOS. I posted a pictures of my current BIOS settings.

And as for installing Kubuntu 12.04 ... Well, if everything else fails I'll give it a try.
Thanks for suggestions.


----------------
I just have to study the kernel compiling/building process a bit more, and learn how to properly configure it.
Due to my job obligation, I'll just have to put all this aside for a couple of days. Then I'll try to compile my kernel one more time with different settings.
Then I'll post the results.