The A10 BIOS update for the E6540, released on the 4th of July, causes severe keyboard issues on Linux. During routine typing, keys will 'stick' until any other key is pressed. The keys that stick vary and seem random: sometimes it's the space bar, sometimes alphanumerics and sometimes, worst of all, the backspace key.
This went on for a couple of weeks, I then noted that the BIOS update changelog included "Keyboard input improvement." and so rebooted back in to Windows 7 and downgraded to A08. I have had no problems since.
OS: Arch Linux, kernel 3.15.x, KDE 4.13.x
I've also had problems with the backlight coming on on its own, after the lid has been shut, but I have not been able to determine if this is a firmware issue. I do note however, that LCD backlight issues have been addressed in this BIOS update as well. My current workaround is to use the possum mode thingy (Fn + B), which turns off all sound and vision.
Bump
So no response from Dell on this then? Anyone I can contact more directly?
nlyan So no response from Dell on this then?
So no response from Dell on this then?
Hi. Did you get this problem fixed in the end? I have an E6540 (A08) and noticed A10 was available, but luckily found this before I tried.
stevenhoneymanHi. Did you get this problem fixed in the end? I have an E6540 (A08) and noticed A10 was available, but luckily found this before I tried.
Nope. Completely ignored and I have no idea where to escalate this issue to. You can downgrade to A8 effortlessly if you have issues though (I did).
FWIW, I've experienced the same key repeating issue on my Latitude E6540 too, running Debian Jessie, and the bios downgrade seems to have solved it. FWIW, I had no problem on windows for bios A10.
It would be great if Dell could fix that, indeed.
bump.
A response from Dell would be nice...
Good day everyone,
Thank you all for bringing your feedback here. Please keep in mind that the Dell Community Forum is mainly a user-to-user platform. Dell engagement on any one post is not guaranteed. I will most definitely assist with this concern however.
As a result of your feedback here, I'm now escalating this concern within Dell. I'll post back as soon as I have new information for you all. I do know so far that A10 came out with some 'keyboard improvements'. However, these improvements were likely implemented with only Windows in mind.
I welcome any further discussion or feedback on this topic.
Justin C
Dell Technical Support L3 | Project Sputnik
Dell Support is also on Twitter! https://twitter.com/DellCaresPRO
Thanks - look forward to a fixed version! Is there a preferred method for reporting BIOS/firmware bugs? I have 2 more in A08...
1. 20 second delay at POST (idle at DELL logo) with an mSATA drive in, but empty modular bay
2. My battery is at 98% health (BIOS), but "current charge" is reported to the OS as the same as "full charge", so it apparently has a capacity of 101%
Hi,
i can confirm this bug on other dell systems running with linux too.
I have a Precision M6800 and everything worked well until BIOS version A09. The A09 changelogs contain the "keyboard improvements" too.
The problem is exactly the same, suddenly hanging keys which repeat the input until you press them again.
A downgrade to A08 helped, problem disappeared.
it would be nice if dell could fix this bug or provide the necessary information to the kernel developers so that they can fix this issue in the kernel.
Thanks!
edit: system used is gentoo linux, kde 4, kernel >= 3.10
Felix
Yes - that would be nice to get fixed. Unfortunately, there are even bigger problems with their latest efforts: (link)
Hi, I have the same problem on Latitude E7440 after A10 or A11 upgrade.
The keyboard repeattttttttt.
With A08 I have double key problems.. (key, keey, keeyy)
Fedora 20, Kernel 3.6.16, Kde 4.14.
I cannot use A08 older BIOS because other problems..
The 'bad' workaround is disable keyboard repeat in KDE, or x
xset -r