Trouble with Dell Inspiron 1501

[Bruce Cran]

Pattern® wrote:
> Notebook Model: Dell Inspiron 1501
> BIOS version: 2.6.2 (A15)
> Try installing FreeBSD 6.2 and 6.3. Hard drive detected, slice and
> labels created, but installer cannot write any files on it. FreeBSD
> 7.0 halted on load from CD.
> PCBSD 1.4.1 installed successful.
> Not detected:
> - modem
> - cardreader
> - WiFi (loaded from ndis-driver)
> Not worked:
> - ACPI
> - with ACPI disabled notebook rebooting
> - shutdown/reboot work only if disabled legacy USB and Wireless hotkey in BIOS.
> In attachment (text/plain):
> pattern_DellInspiron1501.asl - ACPI Source Language
> pattern_DellInspiron1501.dmesg - log "dmesg"
> pattern_DellInspiron1501.hw_acpi - log "sysctl hw.acpi"
> PANTERA.i386 - kernel config
> PS: Sorry for my English.
>   

I have the same laptop and recently upgraded to the 2.6.2 BIOS.  I have 
no problems loading 7.0-BETA4 i386 from the CD.  The only possible 
configuration changes I've made are to upgrade the RAM to 2GB and enable 
the High Precision Event Timer.   I also have the wireless control and 
hotkey enabled.

It appears the hang when shutting down or rebooting is due to an SMI 
(System Management Interrupt) being generated when we disable the USB 
controller: there was a detailed discussion of the problem in August, 
see 
http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-current/2007-August/076058.html 
.   My laptop now shuts down and reboots since disabling legacy USB 
support; since I can use the built-in keyboard during the early boot 
stages it's not a problem.

When you say that 7.0-BETA4 halts as it's loading from the CD, do any 
error messages get printed?  How far through the boot process does it get?

--
Bruce