[Bug 1759920] Re: intel-microcode 3.20180312.0 causes lockup at login screen(w/ linux-image-4.13.0-37-generic)

[Jan Claeys]

I had this same problem on a system with an "ASUS H170M-PLUS"
motherboard, a Core i5-6600 CPU, internal graphics and up-to-date Ubuntu
17.10.

Booting into the recovery console worked, but when trying to boot into
the desktop it would always hang somewhere before GDM becomes visible.

After installing a recent UEFI firmware upgrade (to version 3606) the
system booted normally again, and the kernel didn't try to load any
microcode after that; based on the revision number, it seems like it
contained the same microcode fix as the 'intel-microcode' (but also a ME
firmware upgrade, and likely also some other necessary fixes).


I wonder if the microcode fix also requires changes to the ME and/or to some UEFI functions in order to work properly?

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1759920

Title:
  intel-microcode 3.20180312.0 causes lockup at login screen(w/ linux-
  image-4.13.0-37-generic)

Status in intel-microcode package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed
Status in linux package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed
Status in intel-microcode source package in Xenial:
  Confirmed
Status in linux source package in Xenial:
  Confirmed
Status in intel-microcode source package in Artful:
  Confirmed
Status in linux source package in Artful:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  I don't know if this is a problem with the kernel or the microcode,
  but we have a significant number of computers in our organization (on
  both 16.04 and 17.10) that fail if they have both updated.  Booting
  with either linux-image-4.13.0-36-generic or intel-microcode
  3.20180108.0+really20170707ubuntu17.10.1 allows all these computers to
  boot.

  ## Workaround ##
  1. Boot the system with the dis_ucode_ldr kernel boot parameter to temporary avoid the problem:
     https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/KernelBootParameters
  2. Install the previous version of package from
     https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-security-proposed/+archive/ubuntu/ppa/+build/14261530/+files/intel-microcode_3.20180108.0+really20170707ubuntu16.04.1_amd64.deb
  3. (Optional) Hold the package so that it won't be upgraded accidentally
     sudo apt-mark hold intel-microcode

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