I was able to speak with folks at Intel about this and got some good info from them:
* To avoid confusion, we need to be clear that the i7-8565U is a Whiskey Lake processor (*not* a Kaby Lake) - https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/149091/intel-core-i7-8565u-processor-8m-cache-up-to-4-60-ghz.html * There is an upstream intel-microcode bug report that is already tracking this issue - https://github.com/intel/Intel-Linux-Processor-Microcode-Data-Files/issues/1 * The upstream bug report suggests that the problem is seen with both the 20190312 and 20190514 microcode releases * This may be a bug in how the kernel is loading the microcode ** Bug watch added: github.com/intel/Intel-Linux-Processor-Microcode-Data-Files/issues #1 https://github.com/intel/Intel-Linux-Processor-Microcode-Data-Files/issues/1 ** Description changed: Description: - my system gets stuck at "Booting, Loading initramfs" (the first 2 lines of booting, after grub) - does not even show the enter cryptsetup passphrase - affected kernels: # apt list --installed |grep linux-signed WARNING: apt does not have a stable CLI interface. Use with caution in scripts. linux-signed-generic/bionic-security,bionic-updates,now 4.15.0.50.52 amd64 [installed] linux-signed-generic-hwe-18.04/bionic-security,bionic-updates,now 4.18.0.20.70 amd64 [installed] linux-signed-generic-hwe-18.04-edge/bionic-security,bionic-updates,now 5.0.0.15.71 amd64 [installed] - the setup is not new, has been working perfectly before (about 7 days since my last restart?) System: - HW: ASUS Zenbook 14 UX433FN - Ubuntu 18.04, runing latest HWE, fully updated - grub(-pc), cryptsetup (crypttab entries for custom encrypted LUKS setup), Suspected/possible cause?: - recent intel-microcode package update - recent kernel package updates Steps taken: - tried to remove "splash quiet" from grub/kernel cmd line (also tried adding nosplash, noplymouth) - completely removed nvidia drivers (apt purge *nvidia*) - completely purged and reinstalled grub (grup-pc) - completely purged and reinstalled all kernels (headers, modules, image, ..) - toggle BIOS "fastboot" (now using OFF) - toggle UEFI SecureBoot (now using ON) - remove plymouth (apt remove *plymouth* , but the workaround is working with plymouth installed) Workaround: - so far, I'm only able to boot with non-Ubuntu kernel! (linux-image-liquorix-amd64) - which needs "splash" option ON - reinstall cryptsetup & update-grub (as suggested in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1829620/comments/10 ) I am not sure how to get you more debug info, as this setup has been working before, and it's a very eary boot-process bug, so I can't even access dmesg etc. EDIT: Hypothesis: - Only affects ASUS with newer (Kaby lake) Intel CPU, intel-microcode + Only affects ASUS with i7-8565U Whiskey Lake Intel CPU + Upstream Bug Report: + https://github.com/intel/Intel-Linux-Processor-Microcode-Data-Files/issues/1 WORKAROUND 1: disable intel microcode updates during boot From this bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/intel-microcode/+bug/1759920 1/ add the boot parameter: dis_ucode_ldr to /etc/default/grub 2/ update-grub WORKAROUND 2: downgrade (and hold) intel-microcode to older version from bionic/main apt install --reinstall intel-microcode=3.20180312.0~ubuntu18.04.1 - --- ProblemType: Bug ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.6 Architecture: amd64 CurrentDesktop: KDE DistroRelease: KDE neon 18.04 InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-12-23 (2337 days ago) InstallationMedia: Kubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64 (20121017.1) Package: linux-hwe-edge (not installed) Tags: bionic wayland-session Uname: Linux 5.0.0-17.1-liquorix-amd64 x86_64 UnreportableReason: The running kernel is not an Ubuntu kernel UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) UserGroups: adm libvirtd lpadmin netdev plugdev sudo vboxusers video _MarkForUpload: True --- ProblemType: Bug ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.6 Architecture: amd64 CurrentDesktop: KDE DistroRelease: KDE neon 18.04 InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-12-23 (2339 days ago) InstallationMedia: Kubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64 (20121017.1) Package: linux-hwe-edge PackageArchitecture: amd64 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.0.0-15.16~18.04.1-generic 5.0.6 Tags: third-party-packages bionic wayland-session Uname: Linux 5.0.0-15-generic x86_64 UnreportableReason: Toto není oficiální KDE balík. Prosíme odstraňte všechny balíky třetích stran a zkuste to znovu. UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) UserGroups: adm libvirtd lpadmin netdev plugdev sudo video _MarkForUpload: True -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1829620 Title: intel-microcode on ASUS makes kernel stuck during loading initramfs on bionic-updates, bionic-security To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/intel-microcode/+bug/1829620/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
