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IDProjectCategoryView StatusDate SubmittedLast Update
0009123Kali LinuxKali Package Bugpublic2025-04-05 13:032025-04-23 12:43
Reporterdbc1971 Assigned Todaniruiz  
PrioritynormalSeverityminorReproducibilityhave not tried
Status closedResolutionno change required 
Summary0009123: Kali Linux fails to boot on Alienware system following an automatic BIOS update.
Description

Hardware Information:

  • System: Alienware (Dell) Laptop
  • CPU: Intel Core ultra 9 185H
  • Clock Speed: 2.3 Ghz
  • RAM: 64 GB
  • GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4070
  • SSD: 2TB Micron CT2000X655D9 (Kali install target)

BIOS / Firmware:

  • BIOS Vendor: Dell (Alienware)
  • BIOS Version: 1.10.0
  • BIOS Updated From: unknown (updated automatically by SupportAssist after Windows shutdown)
  • Secure Boot: Disabled
  • Boot Mode: UEFI
  • SATA Mode: RAID (required for dual boot with Windows)

Problem:
After BIOS update:

  • Kali no longer boots (freezes at or after Finished Load Kernel Modules)
  • GRUB loads, but freezes
    • Live (amd64) freezes
    • Rescue mode freezes
    • Installer freezes before partitioning
  • Kernel flags tried:
    • nomodeset
    • acpi=off
    • noapic
    • Combined: nomodeset acpi=off
  • Issue occurs on:
    • Live ISO: kali-linux-2025.1a-live-amd64.iso
    • Weekly ISO: kali-linux-2025-W14-live-amd64.iso
  • Previously, Kali worked before BIOS update
  • Windows 11 continues to boot normally
  • Kali Live USB was tested with Etcher
  • Booted from multiple USBs and external SSDs
  • Problem persists across all attempts

Conclusion:
This appears to be a Linux kernel compatibility issue with Alienware BIOS released recently. Kernel modules or initramfs fail after hardware re-initialization caused by updated firmware. This issue prevents even Live mode use of Kali, making recovery and installation impossible.

Activities

daniruiz

daniruiz

2025-04-23 12:43

manager   ~0020512

We're sorry but we don't have the manpower to deal with hardware support problems.
Those problems need to be fixed in the upstream Linux kernel. We regularly import new kernel releases.
Some hardware suppliers don't care about their Linux support, and there's nothing we can do about that. Avoid buying hardware from those suppliers if you're going to run Linux with it.

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
2025-04-05 13:03 dbc1971 New Issue
2025-04-23 12:43 daniruiz Note Added: 0020512
2025-04-23 12:43 daniruiz Assigned To => daniruiz
2025-04-23 12:43 daniruiz Status new => closed
2025-04-23 12:43 daniruiz Resolution open => no change required