Dell Inspiron-3268 - Teething Problems with Ubuntu 18.04

Jim43

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Probably 'just another noob' question or problem, but I am at a point where I almost desperately need some guidance and assistance.

My main computer (the one I am writing this on) is a Dell Inspiron-3268 that until about 18 months ago had Windows 10 as the operating system. One of Microsoft's "updates/upgrades" started running then rebooted, perhaps normal, then the "update" wanted a log-in password. I entered the password that I would use to get into my regular email account. That password failed. It seems that Microsoft wants, without fully explaining, the password for a specific Microsoft email account (that I had never used).

At that point, I loaded a DVD that I earlier had made with an ISO of a Debian distribution of Linux. After trying Linux for a few days, I did a full install and used the entire hard disk as the target, that hard drive is 1T capacity. The current version is Ubuntu 18.04.4 LTS.

There were few problems connecting to the home Wi-Fi network. This computer has several USB ports on the front and back of the case. It also has a USB card reader on the front. In some light, quick testing if the USB card already has some data stored on it, the card becomes readable. If the USB card is new, I am not able to even find it on the computer.

MODERATOR'S NOTE:

We can deal with Jim's 2nd computer below in a new Thread to follow. For the moment, if Helpers can focus on the main rig, the Dell, above, that will be less confusing. Thanks, Wizard.

That is directly related to another problem: My second computer is a Pine Book Pro, that I am trying to learn. The PBP arrived with Manjaro loaded. On first boot of the laptop, the passwords needed (and supplied) were entered at the correct times and the laptop started working good. However, after a few days, this computer is also on the home Wi-Fi network and had connected without problem. In the past week, when I turn on the Dell computer (the main computer) and try to do anything that requires a sudo authorization, whatever password I enter fails and I am not able to find any quick way to change or reset my password on the Dell or to add the ability to write (or store) files to any USB connected device. On the PBP, (and this problem has been addressed in their forum) the laptop will boot to a screen where it asks for a password. On the PBP no matter what is entered, the password fails. The only way to correct that problem is to reinstall Manjaro. I have downloaded and saved an ISO and want to burn it to a micro USB card for use with the PBP. I need to learn how to gain access to the USB ports and to reset my user password.

Thank you for the help.

Jim43
 
Last edited by a moderator:


I'm going to assume that you no longer have any wifi issues, and that your only issue with the Dell 3268 is the USB issue with the USB reader.
"... if the USB card already has some data stored on it, the card becomes readable. If the USB card is new, I am not able to even find it on the computer."

My question#1 - Have you tried a new, empty USB drive on one of your other USB ports. If so, does the computer acknowledge it?

My question#2 - If you plug a new USB device into the reader, and then in a konsole enter
Code:
dmesg
what appears in the last 15 - 20 lines?

You can copy and paste the results here.
 
It may look something like this:
Code:
[12320.307563] usb 1-5.4.3: new high-speed USB device number 12 using xhci_hcd
[12320.414573] usb 1-5.4.3: New USB device found, idVendor=058f, idProduct=6387, bcdDevice= 1.00
[12320.414579] usb 1-5.4.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[12320.414582] usb 1-5.4.3: Product: Mass Storage
[12320.414585] usb 1-5.4.3: Manufacturer: Generic
[12320.414587] usb 1-5.4.3: SerialNumber: 38A4230A
[12320.426803] usb-storage 1-5.4.3:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[12320.427197] scsi host6: usb-storage 1-5.4.3:1.0
[12320.427251] usbcore: registered new interface driver usb-storage
[12320.428543] usbcore: registered new interface driver uas
[12321.441584] scsi 6:0:0:0: Direct-Access     Generic  Flash Disk       8.07 PQ: 0 ANSI: 4
[12321.442202] sd 6:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg3 type 0
[12321.443101] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdc] 15728640 512-byte logical blocks: (8.05 GB/7.50 GiB)
[12321.443856] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdc] Write Protect is off
[12321.443861] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdc] Mode Sense: 23 00 00 00
[12321.444645] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdc] Write cache: disabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
[12321.448888]  sdc: sdc1
[12321.451970] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdc] Attached SCSI removable disk
 
I'm going to assume that you no longer have any wifi issues, and that your only issue with the Dell 3268 is the USB issue with the USB reader.
"... if the USB card already has some data stored on it, the card becomes readable. If the USB card is new, I am not able to even find it on the computer."

My question#1 - Have you tried a new, empty USB drive on one of your other USB ports. If so, does the computer acknowledge it?

My question#2 - If you plug a new USB device into the reader, and then in a konsole enter
Code:
dmesg
what appears in the last 15 - 20 lines?

You can copy and paste the results here.
You asked for 15-20 lines from the end of the dmesg report. Here are the last 25 lines of that report:
[ 56.175148] audit: type=1400 audit(1593355529.130:83): apparmor="DENIED" operation="open" profile="system_tor" name="/etc/ssl/openssl.cnf" pid=1220 comm="tor" requested_mask="r" denied_mask="r" fsuid=125 ouid=0
[ 56.183028] Netfilter messages via NETLINK v0.30.
[ 56.195251] ip_set: protocol 6
[ 60.079973] audit: type=1400 audit(1593355533.034:84): apparmor="DENIED" operation="open" profile="snap.routr-server.routr-server" name="/proc/1313/mountinfo" pid=1313 comm="java" requested_mask="r" denied_mask="r" fsuid=0 ouid=0
[ 68.330726] audit: type=1400 audit(1593355541.282:85): apparmor="DENIED" operation="open" profile="/usr/bin/freshclam" name="/etc/ssl/openssl.cnf" pid=1573 comm="freshclam" requested_mask="r" denied_mask="r" fsuid=124 ouid=0
[ 71.176267] Bluetooth: RFCOMM TTY layer initialized
[ 71.176283] Bluetooth: RFCOMM socket layer initialized
[ 71.176295] Bluetooth: RFCOMM ver 1.11
[ 85.508812] audit: type=1400 audit(1593355558.894:86): apparmor="DENIED" operation="open" profile="/usr/bin/freshclam" name="/etc/ssl/openssl.cnf" pid=1573 comm="freshclam" requested_mask="r" denied_mask="r" fsuid=124 ouid=0
[ 92.346117] audit: type=1400 audit(1593355565.730:87): apparmor="DENIED" operation="file_lock" profile="/usr/share/hplip/systray.py" name="/etc/xdg/Trolltech.conf" pid=2224 comm="python" requested_mask="k" denied_mask="k" fsuid=1000 ouid=0
[ 104.367484] rfkill: input handler disabled
[ 3273.050578] wlp3s0: AP 78:d2:94:6f:d8:5c changed bandwidth, new config is 2427 MHz, width 2 (2437/0 MHz)
[11361.448302] wlp3s0: AP 78:d2:94:6f:d8:5c changed bandwidth, new config is 2427 MHz, width 1 (2427/0 MHz)
[11536.114967] usb 1-4: new high-speed USB device number 7 using xhci_hcd
[11536.263597] usb 1-4: New USB device found, idVendor=03f0, idProduct=c211
[11536.263603] usb 1-4: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[11536.263606] usb 1-4: Product: Deskjet 2540 series
[11536.263609] usb 1-4: Manufacturer: HP
[11536.263611] usb 1-4: SerialNumber: CN38B2DGMZ0604
[11539.222255] usblp 1-4:1.1: usblp1: USB Bidirectional printer dev 7 if 1 alt 0 proto 2 vid 0x03F0 pid 0xC211
[11539.222363] usbcore: registered new interface driver usblp
[11545.538275] usblp1: removed
[11545.540338] usblp 1-4:1.1: usblp1: USB Bidirectional printer dev 7 if 1 alt 0 proto 2 vid 0x03F0 pid 0xC211
[11566.959867] usblp1: removed
[11943.525666] perf: interrupt took too long (2513 > 2500), lowering kernel.perf_event_max_sample_rate to 79500
Hope this helps some. Thenk you. Jim43
 
That was the answer to your second question. To answer the first question, the Dell computer has USB ports on both the front and back of the case (or cabinet) and all of those ports do work. There is one SD card reader on the front of the case and that is what I am not able to find. If that reader could be found and activated, I could burn the ISO file to a new, unformatted 32GB micro SD card to use on the other computer. Jim43
 
The reader itself will show up as a USB hub. If you plug some device into the reader, that's when there should be a reaction from the system. If plugging in a device does not show, in dmesg, then it's time to start troubleshooting. Typical troubleshooting would involve systematically plugging the reader into another, known working USB port and then plugging in a known working device into the reader. If there is no reaction at all, anywhere and you know the final plugged in device (SD card, Thumb drive, etc based on the reader type) is good, then the device, or it's cable is likely bad.

Your dmesg output only shows your printer as the last USB device connected. Go through a detailed troubleshooting exercise to see if the reader and a known good plugged in device works on any port.

I've never found a generic reader (SD, thumb drive, etc.) that does not work in Linux. It just shows up as a USB hub something like this:
Code:
john@john-desktop:/etc/netplan$ lsusb -t
/:  Bus 02.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/8p, 5000M
    |__ Port 7: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/4p, 5000M
        |__ Port 4: Dev 3, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/4p, 5000M
/:  Bus 01.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/16p, 480M
    |__ Port 3: Dev 2, If 2, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 480M
    |__ Port 3: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Video, Driver=uvcvideo, 480M
    |__ Port 3: Dev 2, If 3, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 480M
    |__ Port 3: Dev 2, If 1, Class=Video, Driver=uvcvideo, 480M
    |__ Port 4: Dev 3, If 1, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 1.5M
    |__ Port 4: Dev 3, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 1.5M
    |__ Port 5: Dev 4, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/4p, 480M
        |__ Port 4: Dev 6, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/4p, 480M
            |__ Port 1: Dev 8, If 0, Class=Chip/SmartCard, Driver=usbfs, 12M
    |__ Port 7: Dev 5, If 0, Class=Vendor Specific Class, Driver=rtl88x2bu, 480M
    |__ Port 8: Dev 7, If 1, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
    |__ Port 8: Dev 7, If 2, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
    |__ Port 8: Dev 7, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
Note the entry for the Smart Card reader. The Smart Card reader is a USB device which is plugged into an external, multiport USB reader, which is in turn plugged into a USB port on the front of the case. It shows up as a chain of hubs in the lsusb -t "tree" view.
 
Just a thought, here is the final few lines of the same dmesg but WITH the micro USB card in the reader. I have save two full copies of the command, one with the micro USB card and the other without, in the reader. I could forward them to you for evaluation if you want. They are somewhat large files at about 20+ pages each. Here is the report:
[10514.090779] audit: type=1400 audit(1593458584.891:92): apparmor="ALLOWED" operation="open" profile="libreoffice-soffice" name="/home/jim/.cache/mesa_shader_cache/index" pid=5526 comm="soffice.bin" requested_mask="wrc" denied_mask="wrc" fsuid=1000 ouid=1000
[10514.092046] audit: type=1400 audit(1593458584.891:93): apparmor="ALLOWED" operation="open" profile="libreoffice-soffice" name="/usr/share/drirc.d/00-mesa-defaults.conf" pid=5526 comm="soffice.bin" requested_mask="r" denied_mask="r" fsuid=1000 ouid=0
[11703.141531] mmc0: new ultra high speed SDR50 SDHC card at address aaaa
[11703.492122] mmcblk0: mmc0:aaaa SC32G 29.7 GiB
[11703.496036] mmcblk0: p1

Hope this helps.
 
The USB card reader is needed to make a bootable version of the Manjaro ISO that would be used to regain use of the Pinebook Pro laptop. I was able to use 'copy and paste' to move that file to the micro USB card that would be used to boot the laptop. Without being able to burn the ISO to the micro USB, the laptop does not even try to boot from it. I still need to find a utility to burn the ISO to the USB card before I would be able to use that card to boot the laptop. And I need to reset the passwords of the Dell before I would be able to install anything. Jim43
 
Ubuntu has a ISO burner as a normal part of the install "Startup Disk Creator". You can also download Etcher, or use the dd command line utility. Startup Disk Creator is good, I use it quite often on my Kubuntu box, if I don't feel like using dd ;)
 
Thank you. I will try the Startup Disk Creator. It is already installed on the Dell.
 
I do have the Startup Disk Creator installed on the Dell. However, if I want to burn an ISO to the micro USB (which was recognized as available) a user password is still required. This takes me back to the mail problem with the Dell; resetting the passwords and regaining ownership of the hard drive. Jim43
 
Try a third party (non official) app to burn the iso to the micro usb

eg ....unetbootin ....it is free and does not require password input......
 
Try a third party (non official) app to burn the iso to the micro usb

eg ....unetbootin ....it is free and does not require password input......
The Dell still wants a password for almost everything I try to do, so that alone is reason enough to consider reinstalling the OS on the Dell.
 
Then do so....
 
Update on all of the tips and suggestions offered above: First, a very big THANK YOU to all that have offered suggestions and tips to help solve my problems. And I am working (or attempting to work) on the problems with the Dell first. That is the problem of the 'lost or forgotten password.' When I press CTRL + ALT + F1, I can get to a page where the computer BIOS password can be set or reset as needed. That is at the BIOS level and before any software is loaded. When I press CTRL + ALT + F2, the page that opens does offer the opportunity to change a forgotten password. But that page also wants the earlier (now lost) password. I also read tips suggesting that I try a different distribution of Linux. The computer right now has Ubuntu 18.04.4 LTS as the operating system. I have managed to download Debian Linux 10.4.0 and Linux mint 20.0 but when I try to make a DVD, I am asked for a password to start the burn operation. All of the tips and suggestions will be remembered and worked on as much as possible. The only other computer working at this time is the PineBook Pro which is a different problem and will be resolved soon. Neither of these computers have WiFi problems or issues, only the password problem. Again, thanks to all that have made suggestions.
Jim43
 
Additional update: This afternoon while checking on another item, not a problem or issue, I noticed there are TWO users shown on the Dell computer; myself and somebody called 'Libvirt Qemu' with 'account disabled' shown in the password area. I have an external CD/DVD drive that will connect to the PBP laptop. Once I get that computer (the PBP) restarted, I will connect the external DVD drive to it and download an ISO for a new installation on the Dell.
Jim43
 
A slight bit of disappointment, today I attempted to burn an ISO to a USB stick only to learn that on the Dell in the present condition it is in, I need a password to start the burn process. I will explore more options later.
Jim43
 
Additional update: ... I have an external CD/DVD drive that will connect to the PBP laptop. Once I get that computer (the PBP) restarted, I will connect the external DVD drive to it and download an ISO for a new installation on the Dell.
Jim43
Were you able to download an ISO to the PBP and then with the DVD drive connected to the PBP burn the ISO image to a DVD?
 
jglen490,
I have the ISO for the PBP but have not been able to burn it to a microUSB card. Also, when I tried to burn an ISO for another distro of Linux to a USB stick today that app also wanted a password before I could burn it. A little more work and study. Thanks.
Jim43
 
Just for the record (and to save me re reading this topic again)...

If I select unetbootin from the menu on my pc (linux mint 18.3) it will immediately ask for my password "to perform administrative tasks"
 

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