Ubuntu
grub2 package

grub2 takes return key press from BIOS password window

Bug #437306 reported by Mark Jonas on 2009-09-26

This bug affects 6 people

Affects		Status	Importance	Assigned to	Milestone
	grub2 (Ubuntu)	Invalid	Undecided	Unassigned

Bug Description

Binary package hint: grub2

On my MSI Wind U100 netbook the BIOS can be configured such that a password has to be entered before it boots. After entering the password the Return key has to be pressed so the password is checked and accepted. Then the grub menu appears but the first entry is selected immediately and Ubuntu boots. But this prevents the user from selecting anything else from the menu.

All this does not happen if the BIOS password is not enabled. In that case the menu can be operated normally.

The old grub in Ubuntu 9.04 did not show this bad behavior.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Sat Sep 26 19:58:24 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
Package: grub-pc 1.97~beta3-1ubuntu5
ProcEnviron:
LANG=en_US.UTF-8
SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-11.36-generic
SourcePackage: grub2
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-11-generic i686

Tags:

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Mark Jonas (mark-jonas) wrote on 2009-09-26:

Dependencies.txt Edit (770 bytes, text/plain; charset="utf-8")

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pmb (preben-chin) wrote on 2009-10-25:

I have the same problem; running Kubuntu 9.10 (RC) on an LG X110 with bios password set.

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Mark Jonas (mark-jonas) wrote on 2010-01-14:

I just updated the BIOS of my MSI Wind U100 to version 1.0G and the problem persists.

Side note: At least the BIOS update seems to fix Bug #415023 if done right.

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Damen (damen69) wrote on 2010-03-31:

Same problem here
Ubuntu 9.10
Grub 2
MSI Netbook U120

works fine without BIOS password set

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Damen (damen69) wrote on 2010-03-31:

Ok so I came up with a work around:

I used this guide http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1369019
to setup password on the default Grub 2 menu item. This way when the menu item is chosen by entering the BIOS password it will prompt you for a username and password. if you just hit enter twice not typing anything the Grub menu will appear. This way you can choose the item you want. If you choose the default menu item you will be prompted for the username and password again this time type them in and it will boot that choice.

ONE IMPORTANT THING.
Read the guide for password carefully make sure you have the proper Grub 2 ver.

and i learned the hard way that when they show --user it is actually 2 dashes not one! if you use only one your system will not boot and you will need to use live cd to edit out your changes in order to boot.

Hope this helps.

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Karol Piczak (karol-piczak) wrote on 2010-07-22:

Unfortunately, I can confirm this kind of behaviour on Ubuntu Netbook Edition 10.04 LTS and MSI Wind U100.

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Launchpad Janitor (janitor) wrote on 2012-02-24:

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

Changed in grub2 (Ubuntu):
status:	New → Confirmed

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Phillip Susi (psusi) wrote on 2012-02-24:

This is a bug in the bios, not grub.

Changed in grub2 (Ubuntu):
status:	Confirmed → Invalid

Revision history for this message

Mark Jonas (mark-jonas) wrote on 2012-02-25:

If this is a BIOS bug, wouldn't it possible for grub to work around it by emptying the key queue when it starts? For most Ubuntu users it is much more easier to receive an updated grub than updating their BIOS - if there is an update.

For the sake of bug #1 please consider fixing this.