Bug#282830: Kernel won't work with ACPI on on Dell Precision 370 (pb for Sarge install)

[Jérôme Bertorelle <jerome@sequans.com>]

Package: kernel-image-2.6.8-1-386
Version: 2.6.8-5

This kernel freezes a Dell Precision 3700 during the kernel boot unless 
the "acpi=off" option is passed to the kernel. Unfortunately, this cause 
a problem for a Sarge fresh install.

When doing a fresh install of Sarge on a Precision 370 with a SATA 
driver, one must use the 2.6 kernel
for the hard disk to be recognized. With a regular 2.6 installation 
(instal DVD boot param: linux26), the first stage installation works 
fine but on reboot the installed kernel 2.6.8-1-386 freezes.

And when disabling ACPI from the start (install DVD boot param: linux26 
acpi=off) the keyboard is not recognized, so the installation cannot be 
performed.

As a workaround, one can:
   1) install with ACPI on
   2) before the second stage reboot, open a shell
   3) add the "acpi=off" in the generated grub menu.lst file (if using 
grub) under /target/boot/grub
   4) add the required modules in /etc/modules for the keyboard to be 
recognized
   5) exit the shell, return to the installer and reboot. The new 
second stage kernel will work with ACPI off.

I've filled this as a kernel bug, as I assume ACPI should work here and 
this is the root problem. But this could be seen as a Debian installer 
issue too. Please redirect the bug if you think it's an installer issue.

Thanks

Jérôme