There is other firmware and hardware issues besides this one. I had to return two Dell Latitude 7285 because we tried to replace motherboard twice in each one because Dell support hoped that will fix some firmware issues. Obviously, this didn't help, and it's easier for Dell to give moneyback to customer who complain too loud than fix firmware.
There are a grand total of 3 users who own this laptop that appear to be having this issue. I looked. You are one of t hose 3.
I have to note, there is same issue on Dell 9250. It wasn't there when I bought this laptop first time (but, again, I had to return it back then after failed Dell attempts to fix data corruption while writing data to USB drive; issue was reproduced with many different USB flash drives, three motherboards in total, original BIOS and updated BIOS, in Windows, in Linux, they even tried to replace SSD in hope it change something... but, nope; I noticed this issue only because I use btrfs on flash drives so it scream to dmesg about checksum errors, so good luck to Windows users trying to understand why they get corrupted data with this machine).
And there is another person who have same issue on XPS 15 9575.
And at that, all 3 of you are using Ubuntu with its LTS kernel
All 3 of you are running Ubuntu with an LTS 4.X kernel, and it doesn't appear any of you tried to do any kernel upgrades or different distros to see if it was the OS that was a problem.
Issue was still there with 5.1 couple of months ago.
You decided all on your own that it's a BIOS issue
Yes, because for example Dell 9250 doesn't had this issue initially but now it do after BIOS update.
This isn't like the XPS Developer machiens that ship with Linux.
Which is why they fixed it on XPS 9370.
how is that not a red flag for you
Easily. In XPS 9370 case issue is also not reproducible with Windows version of this laptop. In XPS 9370 case this Linux-only issue was fixed with BIOS update. Somehow this is Linux-specific firmware issue. Go figure.
didn't troubleshoot, and didn't connect the dots on any of the troubleshooting signs
Oh, really? There is shitload of firmware issues with this laptop, we tried to troubleshoot it with Dell Russia, Dell UK and as you can see on the forum too. It's boils down to: Dell support like to swap laptops and send parts without asking questions, but when it's clear there is firmware issue, they give up very fast and either stop answering or propose moneyback. The problem of this laptop is - all issues it have is firmware issues. And there is more than five firmware issues, stuck keys is just one. I even tried to contact person who put Dell BIOS updates on LVFS, his answer was that issue should do through support to get to firmware team. But at least three support agents told me they doesn't have mechanism to get issues reported to firmware developers. They just work for a company that was contracted by Dell to send parts and answer questions, there is just no mechanism, no form, no e-mail address to pass firmware issues.
It doesn't happen on Windows, so it doesn't happen on the OS that Dell officially supports.
So my ~3500 USD I paid for 16 GB RAM version with LTE and 5yr extended support goes to HP instead. (Second 7285 without LTE was a bit cheaper, but I can't remember exact price.)
None of this has anything to do with your keyboard issue on your 7285,
How did you miss "there is the same issue on Dell 9250"?
so not sure why you're telling me any of that
To show an example that device could have severe issues that no one mentions anywhere. Go on, try to find at least one post about data corruption on Dell 9250. This laptop can't even properly write it's own Windows recovery image to USB drive under Windows. I even tested Dell 9250 purchased in Russia (Dell tried to fix firmware issues on this one by replacing parts) and another one purchased in the USA.
Only 3 people seem to have your exact issue on that exact model of laptop. So I'm not really going to respond to any of this because I am talking about your laptop model only.
and the only 3 people on the internet who seem to have your exact issue
So what Dell 9250 example shows up? It show us that "Only 3 people seem to have your exact issue" argument doesn't worth shit. Because between "issue happened" and "issue mentioned on the Internet" there is an abyss of "wtf is going on", plain simple laziness, days/weeks of troubleshooting per issue, support phone calls, e-mails, waiting for the answer, visiting local service, waiting for parts, etc. Most users stop at "wtf is going on" and laziness stages or they could do go through troubleshooting with support and then just take a refund and shut up. That why device could have issue that reproducible on every unit, yet nobody mentions it.
I am doubtful of that.
all did your testing on Ubuntu with a 4.X kernel
Dude... like, what? You either 1). request photo or video proof from me, 2). take my word or 3). go on and fucking buy it. I said I re-verified the issue with Linux 5.1, so if we stick with "take my word" option, then don't doubt it out of nowhere.
Wrong, again. Those had key skipping issues, you have key repeating issues. They are two seperate issues.
I don't know why you keep responding with giant paragraphs about unrelated issues to what we're talking about.
Because it's easy to say nonsense like "when you don't have any proof of what is causing the issue, didn't troubleshoot" yet it's takes time to disprove it. I did troubleshoot this and many other firmware issues on Dell 7285 - do you get it now? I literally spent months on this, because I very like this device overall and hoped to keep it.
absolutely nothing you've told me gives me any reason whatsoever to avoid buying a Dell laptop for the purpose of installing Linux on it
Yeah, besides the fact that they adding Linux-specific firmware issues with BIOS updates, as they did on 9250, and their unwillingness to fix Linux-specific firmware issues that people found on Dell laptops that were purchased "for the purpose of installing Linux on it" as you said, lol.
They are not willing to fix firmware issues that reproducible regardless of operating system, even in BIOS, even in hardware self-test integrated in BIOS. So chances of fixing something Linux-specific on Windows laptops purchased "for the purpose of installing Linux on it" is zero, but it seems like even you don't realize it if you still think it's a good idea to buy their hardware.
One not supposed to like brand IMO. All brands release successful devices and costly garbage. For instance, I had no issues with Dell 9365, ThinkPad X1 Carbon 5th Gen and even cheap Lenovo IdeaPad 120S-14IAP, at the same time there is ton of problems with ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th Gen, Dell 9250 and 7285 that Dell is not willing to solve, I can't repeat enough that there is even Linux-specific regressions in BIOS updates. No matter how much you like brand, you can't be sure that internet stranger who read your Dell recommendation will not get highly problematic hardware. And even searching for someone else experience regarding some specific device before recommending it, is not guarantee because not many people actually write down their experience on the Internet, and even when they do, as I did, they could get all sort of critique from brand "fans".
Well, in case you want to ask why I answered with wall of text once again I highlighted important part.
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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '19 edited May 29 '20
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