#143 Libreboot 20220710 on Thinkpad T400. Memtest86+ fails and Guix has difficulty to build packages

Hi!

I have Libreboot 20220710 on Thinkpad T400. Sometimes I have the problem of "Machine Error". Years ago I read this is why I installed Libreboot whitout microcode. But the problem is with Guix System. The system have often difficulties to build packages. Memtest86+ fails and the last second hex digit is wrong by 4: https://postimg.cc/gallery/RZ0j7KH

Memtest failures are usually caused by faulty RAM or other issues with the DIMMs. Specifically, on the T400, it happens that when the DIMMs overheat they "pop out" of their latches. The system will boot but experience occasional memory corruption. Take the DIMMs out, clean them and their slots with compressed air and re-insert them while making sure that the latches hold on tight. If that fails, then you might just have some faulty RAM.

Use the coreboot version of memtest86+, which is present in Libreboot ROM releases that have "txtmode" in the file name.

Upstream memtest86+ always gives inaccurate results in my experience. The coreboot-forked version of memtest86+ contains special patches.

As for guix:

I will repeat what I said on IRC, cringe as though it may be, but it will illustrate a point:

• vampires need blood
• zombies need brains
• and leah needs logs

How to get logs:

Use the "script" utility. Command:

script foo.txt

After you've done this, execute whichever command you were using in lbmk.

Then type:

exit

The file foo.txt will contain all output. Please attach the file in a follow-up reply here, so that I can review the log.

This will tell me what's going on with your distro. It's most likely just a missing dependency, but if it's something I need to patch, the log might tell me.

Your current report about Guix amounts to "it does not work", which is not a useful report.

Ok, I have used the normal memtest86+ from the live ISO, not the coreboot version. Thank you!

As for guix: I have GUIX System on my Thinkpad x220 and it works. I'll try again on my Thinkpad T400 and attach the logs, if I encounter again the problem.

Thank you and sorry for my english...

please do try to re-produce the issue

my guess is that your x220's guixsd installation happened to have other dependencies installed that were missing on your t400's guixsd installation

the upstream memtest86+ version reports wrong results on coreboot systems, whenever i've tried it

you should use the coreboot-patched version. libreboot provides this, in pre-compiled ROM images, if you use the ROM image with txtmode in the file name. from seabios, press esc and select memtest86+, or select it from the grub menu, on a txtmode ROM

just now realised this pertains to an old libreboot release that i no longer support (officially a stable release, but 20220710 is from the before times when Libreboot still clinged to the old policies - since the great purge in november 2022, i consider the old libreboot to be obsolete).

Yes, please re-test on newest libreboot from the git repository. Closing this issue report.