this post was submitted on 13 Nov 2024
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Unbearable Linux issues on work laptop (slrpnk.net)
submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by Sunny@slrpnk.net to c/linux@lemmy.ml
16 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Hi there folks!

I've used Linux for a good while now, but have no idea how to troubleshoot the current issues I'm having with my laptop at work. Let's begin.

The laptop at hand is a HP EliteBook 845 14inch Notebook G10. A standard work laptop, with Windows pre-installed from It. This PC is "new" in the sens that I just got it from IT.

Laptop specs:

  • CPU: AMD ryzen 5 7540U
  • GPU: Radeon 740M Graphics
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Kernel: 6.11.6-2-default

Other notable settings:

  • fast boot off
  • secure boot off
  • have encrypted the drive

FYI: These issues have been the same across multiple distros and DEs. I've tried, Bluefin, Aurora, Red Hat Workstation and now running OpenSuse Tumbleweed (KDE+Wayland).

The issues:

  1. The first noticeable issues were that the laptop fans are considerable louder when running Linux. I assume there is some preinstalled HP software to control this on windows, as they are completely silent on windows, but constantly noticeable on Linux.

  2. The second issue at hand is that the USB-C port doesn't seem to charge the laptop properly. The laptop randomly dies after being on for a while WITH THE CHARGER PLUGGED IN. Very odd. This happens with both normal charger and the office charger (which is also the connection to external screen).

  3. Waking up from sleep is a terrible experience. The pc makes everything super slow and laggy. Opening a single application can take up to multiple minutes. The PC has to be restarted for this to be fixed. This happens on both X11 and Wayland.

  4. Connection to external monitor also seems to be causing issues and slowing the system down. Especially after pc has been in sleep mode.

These are the main issues I've ran into in only a couple of days trying Linux on this laptop and I don't know what the causing issue is, or if the laptop simple isn't 'made' to run Linux(?).

Would highly appreciate any tips or troubleshooting tips for this. Would love to be able to run Linux on the work laptop!

Edit 1: Now trying Ubuntu, so far so good! Will keep post updated.

Edit 2: Ubuntu seems to do well with this hardware/laptop.

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[–] dingdongitsabear@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

the distros you tried were... adventurous, to say the least, none of those would even occur to me. ~~the~~ my rule of thumb is:

  1. fedora - for the newest hardware, you qualify big time, especially if RH was an initial choice for you
  2. ubuntu - middle of the road, best for the majority of users, excluding newest or really old hardware
  3. mint/debian - for older hardware

everything else is for hobbyists and/or special use cases, not for people expecting to do actual work.

[–] isVeryLoud@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 days ago

Debian testing is ok for newer hardware, if you're more technically inclined.

[–] MyNameIsRichard@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 days ago

I did actual work on openSUSE Tumbleweed for nearly eight years. It was completely reliable. Now I do actual work on Endeavour OS and so far it has been completely reliable. It has far exceeded my expectations.

[–] Strit@lemmy.linuxuserspace.show 18 points 3 days ago (2 children)

The laptop is certified to run Ubuntu 22.04, so try that out.

Although they do mention:

Standard images of Ubuntu may not work well, or at all.

[–] Sunny@slrpnk.net 14 points 3 days ago (1 children)

So far so good! Have tested the system for a little while now, and have not been able to run into the same issues as before - so this might have solved the issues I've been having. While Ubuntu is not my first choice of distro, I will choose it any time of the day over Windows!

[–] Fisch@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 3 days ago

You could also wait a few weeks or months and then put the latest version of the distro you'd prefer on your USB stick and just boot from it to see if your issues have been fixed

[–] Sunny@slrpnk.net 6 points 3 days ago

Thanks, trying it now!

[–] Goingdown@sopuli.xyz 10 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Also check your bios version. I had similar problems with usb-c and fans on HP Elitebook, they were fixed with bios upgrade.

Edit: I also had troubles waking from sleep. They were caused by wwan/lte modem, I disabled it on bios and now sleep works flawlessly.

[–] Frederic 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

I'd try MX 23 AHS version too. And use kernel 6.10 as 6.11 has suspend/resume problem, especially with mediatek wifi card.

I have a mediatek wifi card and need to unload it when suspend.

What wifi card do you have?

[–] Shareni@programming.dev 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The xfce in the current MX has issues with waking up as well. When power manager suspends it, it would often wake up to a black screen and requires either a logout or to apply a xrandr config. Same issue doesn't happen when suspending through systemctl

[–] Frederic 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Using it for months/years and never had a problem with it, AMD/Radeon here

[–] Shareni@programming.dev 1 points 3 days ago

MX, ThinkPad t480, intel+Nvidia (no matter which drivers): close screen to suspend causes it, and it's not happening in other DE's. Can't be bothered to try out xfce on another distro just to confirm. I made a post when I was trying to fix it for myself.

The final straw were the Bluetooth headphones though. Most of the time I'd have to manually select them 20 times as the output device so it sticks, and then it'd switch back to the speakers as soon as the call starts. Or I'd hear the other person through the correct device, but the they couldn't hear me on Skype, but could on Google meet.

MX was pretty reliable otherwise.

[–] Sunny@slrpnk.net 1 points 3 days ago

I'll check this, but this does happen also when not on wifi. I can only use my hotspot for wifi - as my company doesnt allow "uncertified" laptops to access their wifi.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I have an HP zbook. Fan did that a few times, almost like it didn't recognize power control and defaulted to a higher fan speed. Booting to windows and then back to Linux fixed it. Not sure why.

Is the office and thee charge rated at enough wattage, and is the USB cable a heavy duty power cable intended for the machine or some cheap cable?

[–] Sunny@slrpnk.net 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Interesting, i could try installing windows again to see if that should do anything; but so far so good on Ubuntu 24.04.

Not quite sure about the cable, but I would assume it's a good one(default with the screens) as we have hundreds upon hundreds of these screens.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 days ago

I meant the USB power coming from dock to charge port on laptop. If you mean USB (thunderbolt) out for display then it migtht not be bidirectional for power. My HP has a USB-C thunderbolt but the power cord has the USBC and barrel power in one plug since the USBC can't charge the laptop.