Comments on: HOWTO: failed to set xfermode [SOLVED] http://www.fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode-solved/ dim high beams for oncoming traffic Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:32:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: fak3r http://www.fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode-solved/#comment-27766 fak3r Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:59:25 +0000 http://fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode/#comment-27766 Note, I haven't seen this issue on any other distros, including Ubuntu 8.04 or Debian Etch or Lenny. I assume it was a one time kernel issue, and once they moved past that revision it disappeared. Oh well, the discovery and fun of learning to fix things is what Open Source is all about! Note, I haven’t seen this issue on any other distros, including Ubuntu 8.04 or Debian Etch or Lenny. I assume it was a one time kernel issue, and once they moved past that revision it disappeared. Oh well, the discovery and fun of learning to fix things is what Open Source is all about!

]]> By: fak3r http://www.fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode-solved/#comment-27632 fak3r Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:11:27 +0000 http://fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode/#comment-27632 @Kiv "what is the consequence of adding “irqpoll” to the line ? Won’t it create any problem, or ignore some mistake ?" AFAIK, no - and I haven't heard differently. Still, what are you running? I did not have this issue with the latest (7.10) Ubuntu (fully up to date), or on Debian 4.0 (Etch) on systems at home. Are you still seeing this? I've been meaning to update my Ubuntu to the 8.40 - but haven't yet. I want to do clean install on my laptop (this one: http://www.fak3r.com/2007/10/10/buying-a-linux-laptop-in-2007/) and see if I get the dreaded 'xfermode' issue, I hope (suspect?) it's fixed by now. We'll see. @Kiv
“what is the consequence of adding “irqpoll” to the line ? Won’t it create any problem, or ignore some mistake ?”

AFAIK, no - and I haven’t heard differently. Still, what are you running? I did not have this issue with the latest (7.10) Ubuntu (fully up to date), or on Debian 4.0 (Etch) on systems at home. Are you still seeing this? I’ve been meaning to update my Ubuntu to the 8.40 - but haven’t yet. I want to do clean install on my laptop (this one: http://www.fak3r.com/2007/10/10/buying-a-linux-laptop-in-2007/) and see if I get the dreaded ‘xfermode’ issue, I hope (suspect?) it’s fixed by now. We’ll see.

]]> By: Kiv http://www.fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode-solved/#comment-27610 Kiv Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:35:05 +0000 http://fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode/#comment-27610 Thanks for that solution, works fine on my Dell Vostro 200ST. I think my problem came from the DVD player... But I have a question : what is the consequence of adding "irqpoll" to the line ? Won't it create any problem, or ignore some mistake ? I'm not an expert in Linux (and english), but just try to understand... thank you Thanks for that solution, works fine on my Dell Vostro 200ST.
I think my problem came from the DVD player…

But I have a question : what is the consequence of adding “irqpoll” to the line ? Won’t it create any problem, or ignore some mistake ?

I’m not an expert in Linux (and english), but just try to understand… thank you

]]> By: Beyboo http://www.fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode-solved/#comment-27607 Beyboo Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:43:31 +0000 http://fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode/#comment-27607 Does anyone know if a kernel patch or the latest kernel resolves this problem ? Does anyone know if a kernel patch or the latest kernel resolves this problem ?

]]> By: fak3r http://www.fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode-solved/#comment-26965 fak3r Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:37:47 +0000 http://fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode/#comment-26965 @norman It really had me banging my head against the wall, so when I solved it I knew there were/would be others out there that would come across it, so I'm happy to hear that it helped you too. I would like a more centralized place where you could search for Linux/Tech errors and their solutions, I keep waiting for Splunk to be that, but until then, I'm glad Google indexes things so well. Incidentally, I'm impressed with the whole Vostro line from Dell, it strips away much of the 'bling' that most systems have, and trades it for usable/basic systems (not to mention looses the bloat of all the crippling 'trialware' that Dell usually distributes). I have the Vostro 1500 as my main system running Ubuntu currently, and am very happy with it: http://www.fak3r.com/2007/10/10/buying-a-linux-laptop-in-2007/ - it never had the 'failed to set xfer mode' issue, so I suspect you're correct, it's some kernel/hardware incompatibility; luck of the draw as it were. @norman
It really had me banging my head against the wall, so when I solved it I knew there were/would be others out there that would come across it, so I’m happy to hear that it helped you too. I would like a more centralized place where you could search for Linux/Tech errors and their solutions, I keep waiting for Splunk to be that, but until then, I’m glad Google indexes things so well.

Incidentally, I’m impressed with the whole Vostro line from Dell, it strips away much of the ‘bling’ that most systems have, and trades it for usable/basic systems (not to mention looses the bloat of all the crippling ‘trialware’ that Dell usually distributes). I have the Vostro 1500 as my main system running Ubuntu currently, and am very happy with it: http://www.fak3r.com/2007/10/10/buying-a-linux-laptop-in-2007/ - it never had the ‘failed to set xfer mode’ issue, so I suspect you’re correct, it’s some kernel/hardware incompatibility; luck of the draw as it were.

]]> By: norman http://www.fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode-solved/#comment-26960 norman Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:03:48 +0000 http://fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode/#comment-26960 Thanks! This had me defeated - was about to abandon Ubuntu! BTW the problem was with 7.10 on a Dell Vostro 200 with SATA drive. The problem is something drive related I suppose.. I can now dual boot with Vista and with XP (different machines). Thanks again!! Thanks! This had me defeated - was about to abandon Ubuntu! BTW the problem was with 7.10 on a Dell Vostro 200 with SATA drive. The problem is something drive related I suppose.. I can now dual boot with Vista and with XP (different machines). Thanks again!!

]]> By: fak3r http://www.fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode-solved/#comment-24770 fak3r Fri, 02 Nov 2007 23:20:05 +0000 http://fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode/#comment-24770 @Ando Did you add it to file: /boot/grub/menu.lst Put it in there at the end of the line of the kernel you're running; or put it in the default options section in the bottom. @Ando
Did you add it to file:
/boot/grub/menu.lst
Put it in there at the end of the line of the kernel you’re running; or put it in the default options section in the bottom.

]]> By: Ando http://www.fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode-solved/#comment-24415 Ando Sat, 20 Oct 2007 05:18:25 +0000 http://fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode/#comment-24415 So i added this to grub and it worked, for the initial boot! Subsequent boots still had the error....please help! So i added this to grub and it worked, for the initial boot! Subsequent boots still had the error….please help!

]]> By: Retrow http://www.fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode-solved/#comment-24371 Retrow Fri, 19 Oct 2007 02:39:06 +0000 http://fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode/#comment-24371 That was awesome. I had same problem today with the newly released Gutsy Gibbon (Ubuntu 7.10). I had almost given up on using it because I never reached till the login screen. Adding irqpoll in the grub menu was all that was needed. Thanks a lot. That was awesome. I had same problem today with the newly released Gutsy Gibbon (Ubuntu 7.10). I had almost given up on using it because I never reached till the login screen. Adding irqpoll in the grub menu was all that was needed. Thanks a lot.

]]> By: Adam Gibson http://www.fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode-solved/#comment-24017 Adam Gibson Mon, 08 Oct 2007 21:12:54 +0000 http://fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode/#comment-24017 Well... What is interesting is that with irqpoll you can do the FC7 install with xen. The xen kernel will then boot and work just fine without irqpoll and I had to compile the e1000 driver from sourceforge for the e1000 driver to detect the network card. The network card works just fine with the new driver and without irqpoll in the xen kernel. If you decide to go back to the regular kernel though you must use irqpoll again. The problem now is that irqpoll might be causing a problem with the network driver. The network card only works for a short period of time. The e1000 debug does not display anything either. I will probably just throw a different ethernet card in the system and be done with it. Well… What is interesting is that with irqpoll you can do the FC7 install with xen. The xen kernel will then boot and work just fine without irqpoll and I had to compile the e1000 driver from sourceforge for the e1000 driver to detect the network card. The network card works just fine with the new driver and without irqpoll in the xen kernel.

If you decide to go back to the regular kernel though you must use irqpoll again. The problem now is that irqpoll might be causing a problem with the network driver. The network card only works for a short period of time. The e1000 debug does not display anything either.

I will probably just throw a different ethernet card in the system and be done with it.

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