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Weird bios issue with HP Z640 Workstation

By Roberto Hradec @rhradec
    2022-08-05 18:46:52.140Z2022-08-05 18:58:58.038Z

    I'm having a weird issue with the BIOS on an HP Z640 Workstation. Everytime I try to change a setting on the bios, the tinypilot screen freezes and/or the keyboard stop working. I can't even issue a crtl+alt+del to reboot, I have to power the PC off and on again (using a wifi smartplug).

    This HP Bios only allows change by pressing enter... I guess it opens up a popup menu and one selects the option, but I'm not sure since the image freezes.
    There's no other way to change a value, like +/-, pgup/pgdow, etc; like in a "normal" bios.
    I've checked on the tinypilot and ustreamer is running as it should when that happens... I even tried to restart ustreamer and it does restart, but keeps sending the same frozen image.

    I do get an errors on tinypilot dmesg though:

    [374328.530887] configfs-gadget gadget: End Point Request ERROR: -108
[374328.541866] dwc2 fe980000.usb: new device is high-speed
[374328.561253] dwc2 fe980000.usb: new address 3
[374360.679356] configfs-gadget gadget: End Point Request ERROR: -108
[374360.690341] dwc2 fe980000.usb: new device is high-speed
[374360.709671] dwc2 fe980000.usb: new address 3
[374597.920724] configfs-gadget gadget: End Point Request ERROR: -108
[374597.920753] configfs-gadget gadget: End Point Request ERROR: -108
[374624.934568] dwc2 fe980000.usb: new device is full-speed
[374644.042845] dwc2 fe980000.usb: new device is high-speed
[374644.062221] dwc2 fe980000.usb: new address 4
[374668.078491] configfs-gadget gadget: End Point Request ERROR: -108
[374668.089567] dwc2 fe980000.usb: new device is high-speed
[374668.108850] dwc2 fe980000.usb: new address 4

    These errors happen a little after I press enter to change a bios value and the image freezes. Not sure if it's related, but maybe it's actually the virtual keyboard device on the tinypilot that is breaking for some reason?

    Are you guys aware of this problem by any chance? Is there a fix?

    Reply
    • 5 replies
    1. Diego @diego
        2022-08-05 20:50:24.337Z

        Hello @rhradec - Thank you for posting your question in our Forum.

        I'm sorry you are having this issue. I have never seen something like this before. From the messages in dmesg, it does look like the keyboard is getting disconnected.

        • Does the virtual on-screen keyboard in the TinyPilot web interface work, when the physical keyboard stops working?

        • Would it be possible for you to upload logs for me to review? This is how you would upload them: TinyPilot web interface > System > Logs > Get Shareable URL (copy the URL it will give you and paste it in your response).

        • Is there a chance you could connect a physical keyboard into the target machine, and attempt to type when this issue occurs? So that we can find out if video is indeed frozen, or if it is only the keyboard that stops working. If video is not affected, you should be able to see the screen updating in the TinyPilot web interface.

        Reply
        1. RRoberto Hradec @rhradec
            2022-10-26 19:19:58.800Z

            Unfortunately the machine was a rental and it has been returned already.
            If we get it in the future again, I'll make sure to reply here with what you requested!

            Thanks for the reply!

            Reply
            1. David @david2022-10-27 12:05:42.314Z

              Thanks for the update @rhradec!

              Feel free to reach out in the future if you have any other issues or questions too!

              Reply
          • P
            In reply torhradec⬆:
            snowballeffect @Penetr8tor
              2023-02-11 11:27:07.411Z

              So i have this exact issue with my HP Z640 - freezes when you try to change anything in the BIOS - Otherwise the machine works perfectly! Not A tinypilot issue but thought i'd mention it here incase anyone has any ideas

              Reply
              1. David @david2023-02-13 19:50:48.906Z

                Thanks for the report @penetr8or! Sorry that you're running into this weird behavior.

                It definitely seems as though this is a problem with how the Z640 is handling things. I'd be happy to help dig down to see if there's something we can do here.

                I'm guessing that the Z640 doesn't have this issue when using a regular keyboard / mouse / display setup? I noticed that it has PS/2 ports for a keyboard & mouse - so my initial theory is that it might not like USB hubs (like TinyPilot).

                Reply
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