[PLUG] Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe mb BIOS setup problem

[Aaron Burt]

On Wed, Oct 18, 2006 at 01:46:24PM -0700, Jack Hoke wrote:
> ...when I try to run Ubuntu 
> live/install 6.06.1 LTS the first error message I get is
>       "Detect drives done: not any drive found".
> Then the "Start or Install Ubuntu" screen comes up and when I click this 
> I get the following BIOS error message:
>    MP-BIOS bug: 8254 timer not connected to IO_APIC
>    Kernal Panic - not syncing: IO-APIC + timer doesn't work!
>    Boot with apic=debug and send a report. Then try booting with the 
> "noapic" option.

Did you try booting with the "noapic" option?

> When I called Cool Tech about the problem they suggested that I Google

Did you try Googling?

You'd be surprised, but other people tried running Linux on that board:
http://www.mail-archive.com/ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com/msg67698.html
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=85295
http://scottstuff.net/blog/articles/2005/03/17/msi-rs480m2-il-athlon-64-motherboard-mini-review

In sum: It's a sucky board, possibly under recall, but there's a kernel
patch that may help.  Booting with noapic helps, as does enabling the
IDE compatibility mode on the SATA controller.  

Linux Clinic November 19,
  Aaron