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[Jean-Pierre van Riel <1273060@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

@Chistopher, thanks, the problem is now that my A15 bios can't even
enter setup mode or boot anything, so I'm not sure how to try flash the
most recent A16 version from (released just a month ago)? Searched the
laptop's manual, and no indication of any jumpers to clear/reset NVRAM
:-(

I agree and understand that firmware should be written in a way that
doesn't allow the nvram boot option changes to cause it to lock up.
Still, this kind of bug (even if attributed to firmware and not Linux)
is occurring across at least two manufactures (Fujitsu and now Dell)
whereby their 'buggy' firmware sees whatever changes ubuntu/Linux made
to the NVRAM as NVRAM corruption and fail to even allow entering setup.

Given changing NVRAM bios settings during an install or update (as was
my case) is high risk, perhaps the install process should at least issue
a warning and allow the user to opt out of of clearing and changing
NVRAM settings (and potentially trigger a nasty firmware bug). I think
it would in some cases be safer for a user to manually go into the BIOS
setup and manage the boot options from within the BIOS.

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1273060

Title:
  [Fujitsu LIFEBOOK LH532 (UMA)] Ubuntu EFI install locks out firmware
  access

Status in linux package in Ubuntu:
  Incomplete

Bug description:
  :~$ apt-cache policy grub-efi-amd64
  grub-efi-amd64:
    Installed: 2.00-22
    Candidate: 2.00-22

  EFI installation of Ubuntu clears out the boot entries in firmware leaving user with no option but boot Ubuntu. Pressing (F2) to enter BIOS Setup has no effect as does pressing (F12) for Boot Order.
  The only way to get back firmware access is to flash the bios using manufacturer provided utilities. Unfortunately Fujitsu doesn't provide a BIOS flash utility for Linux/Ubuntu. It is to be noted that installed Windows in EFI mode on the same system does not clear out firmware access but just adds the 'Windows Boot Loader' entry at the top of the boot sequence.

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
  Package: linux-image-3.13.0-5-generic 3.13.0-5.20 [modified: boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-5-generic]
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-5.20-generic 3.13.0
  Uname: Linux 3.13.0-5-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.13.1-0ubuntu1
  Architecture: amd64
  AudioDevicesInUse:
   USER        PID ACCESS COMMAND
   /dev/snd/controlC0:  satish     1852 F.... pulseaudio
  CurrentDesktop: Unity
  Date: Mon Jan 27 11:06:37 2014
  HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=c73dc7d0-4253-44fa-9589-d8c91c9cac13
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-01-26 (0 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Alpha amd64 (20140124)
  MachineType: FUJITSU LIFEBOOK LH532
  ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
  ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-5-generic.efi.signed root=UUID=efd53305-1eac-42ba-b3f9-828b72cb5560 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
  RelatedPackageVersions:
   linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-5-generic N/A
   linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-5-generic  N/A
   linux-firmware                            1.122
  SourcePackage: linux
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
  dmi.bios.date: 05/24/2012
  dmi.bios.vendor: FUJITSU // Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
  dmi.bios.version: Version 1.10
  dmi.board.name: FJNBB1E
  dmi.board.vendor: FUJITSU
  dmi.chassis.type: 10
  dmi.chassis.vendor: FUJITSU
  dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnFUJITSU//PhoenixTechnologiesLtd.:bvrVersion1.10:bd05/24/2012:svnFUJITSU:pnLIFEBOOKLH532:pvr:rvnFUJITSU:rnFJNBB1E:rvr:cvnFUJITSU:ct10:cvr:
  dmi.product.name: LIFEBOOK LH532
  dmi.sys.vendor: FUJITSU

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