lenovo t400 does not start 7.1

[Harald Servat]

On Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 3:18 AM, Ganbold <ganbold at micom.mng.net> wrote:

> Ganbold wrote:
>
>> Harald Servat wrote:
>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>>  I downloaded FreeBSD 7.1 (DVD iso image) for amd64 architecture (with
>>> correct SHA256 checksum), but I'm unable to start the system (Lenovo
>>> T400).
>>>
>>>  The boot process starts fine, the BTX messages appear, the 7-option menu
>>> also appears, but when I hit enter (or when I choose start without ACPI
>>> or
>>> start in safe mode) the \ symbols starts spinning for a while and then
>>> freezes.
>>>
>>>  I also tried with the 7.1-amd64-CD1, 7.1-i386-CD1 and a snapshot of
>>> 8.0-CURRENT dated from December. And the result is the same for all of
>>> them.
>>>
>>>  Does anyone have any idea on what can be happening? Or at least, how can
>>> I
>>> gather more information about this issue?
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Please try setting "Integrated Graphics" or "Switchable Graphics" mode on
>> Display setting in
>> BIOS. AFAICT it is known issue and FreeBSD doesn't boot when set to
>> Discrete Graphics in BIOS.
>>
>
> Or maybe it boots but nothing shows on screen.
>
> Ganbold
>
>

Ganbold,

  you were right. I've switched the BIOS>Display into Switchable graphics
and now the system does not freeze while the backslash symbol is spinning.
It occurs the same as you described in the -current list (see
http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-current/2009-January/001941.html)

  However, let me tell you what I've found now (I tried these options in the
following order).

**
  a) I've started with option 2 (ACPI disabled) because I read somewhere
that FreeBSD did not support Lenovo T400's ACPI.

  The system boots and freezes after showing
  (something related with Timecounters)
  md0: Preloaded image </boot/mfsroot> 4194304 bytes at <some address>
  Trying to mount root from ufs:/dev/md0

  b) When I chose option Safe mode (3, IIRC)

  Happens the same as a)

  c) I've tried with verbose logging (option 5, I think)

  The initialization dumps a lot of debugging information and after some
time, it brings me the "Choosing region" screen. I didn't get further
because I will not install the system right now (I have to prepare the
backups first ;) )

  I tried to use ScrollLock + RePag to look for the conflicting line found
in a) or any suspicious message but it didn't work. I also tried with an
holographic shell and the livefs without luck.

  d) I also tried option 1 (default boot) -- just in order to check.

  It also worked. Like c) but without debugging information.

**

  So, right now, it seems that the system allows me to begin the
installation of FreeBSD 7.1 amd64 on the T400 but I'm scared due to the lack
of functionality of options 2 and 3. This behavior is not normal, is it? Any
thoughts about this?

Thank you very much!