HOW TO: Install Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn) on Inspiron 1420

Purchased Dell Inspiron 1420 about 2 months ago. It came with Vista Basic, wasn’t quite satisfied with it. Upgraded it with original Vista Business Edition. After about 1 month plus using it, it still failed me. I used Dell Recovery wizard to restore my laptop to the original factory stat. To my dismay, the backup I made with windows easy migration before the disaster, was not able to restore my backup. Thus, I booted from the Vista CD, shrinked by Windows partition by 10GB to fit my Ubuntu.

The whole rationale was, I might need Windows due to the nature of my university that most softwares used are either abandonware, trialware or freeware which only support windows. Most of them don’t even support 64-bit version of Windows. So having the NTFS partition left there will be used as a cross platform to share data between both OSes.

This actually my re-install. I am doing this again to make sure I get a consistent result.
My partition table will look like this:

1. Dell Utility – Fat16 (50MB)
2. Dell Recovery -NTFS (5.4GB)
3. Windows Vista – NTFS (99 GB)
4. Linux – Ext3 (10GB)
5. Linux – Swap (2GB)
6. Dell MediaDirect – fat32 (3.2GB)

Sidenote, strange enough, Utility and MediaDirect are Fat filesystem but Vista can’t access them.

Downloaded the following packages:

linux-image-2.6.20-16-generic_2.6.20-16.32_i386.deb
linux-image-generic_2.6.20.16.28.1_i386.deb
linux-headers-2.6.20-16_2.6.20-16.32_i386.deb
linux-headers-2.6.20-16-generic_2.6.20-16.32_i386.deb
linux-restricted-modules-2.6.20-16-generic_2.6.20.5-16.29_i386.deb
linux-restricted-modules-generic_2.6.20.16.28.1_i386.deb
tzdata_2007f-3ubuntu1_all.deb
libc6_2.6.1-1ubuntu9_i386.deb
gcc-4.2-base_4.2.1-5ubuntu4_i386.deb
libgcc1_4.2.1-5ubuntu4_i386.deb
xserver-xorg-core_1.3.0.0.dfsg-12ubuntu8_i386.deb
xserver-xorg-video-intel_2.1.1-0ubuntu5_i386.deb

Copied it into a thumb drive. Going to need it to fix the broken X.
At first, I tried to install using Ubuntu Desktop 7.04 install cd. However, it just failed to recognize my cd. A search in ubuntu forum revealed that it is required to use Ubuntu alternate install cd. Thus, this time, I will just pop the alternate install cd in.

Boot up the CD. Selected ‘Install in text mode’. I have previously tested the cd thus there was no need to check the cd for defects again. But If you just burned it, I highly recommend you to select ‘Check CD for defects’. You don’t want your installation to end prematurely somewhere in the middle of the process shall the cd has any problem.

Selected English as my language. Country: other. Next menu choosed Malaysia. Detect keyboard layout… On configure network dialog, i choosed Do not configure the network at this time. I will use nm-map available on gnome later. Enter hostname, Z-lectron. Since my desktop I named it Z-Core, my laptop will be Z-lectron. Ok, setting up my partition manually. I will just configure it like what I have listed on top. Enter user info. Here we go. Installing… Http proxy set to none. Continue installing… Selected 1280×800 as my video mode in addition to the dected 1024×768, 800×600 and 640×480 in the Configure xserver-xorg dialog. Continue…

Grub boot loader dialog. It detected my Vista and MediaDirect (as XP embedded) partition. I wil just go with the default setting, installing it to the MBR. Will edit it later. Finishing installation.

Booting… a black and white grub welcomes me. Its ugly. 2.6.20-15-generic kernel? For sure going 2 update it. Lets boot into Ubuntu. OK. X is broken (garbaged output). Just select no on any dialog. Jumped back into the terminal. Logged in. Plugged in the thumb drive with the packages downloaded earlier and mounted it.

Inside the command line, the packages will be installed in the following order.

sudo dpkg -i linux-image-2.6.20-16-generic_2.6.20-16.32_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i linux-image-generic_2.6.20.16.28.1_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-2.6.20-16_2.6.20-16.32_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-2.6.20-16-generic_2.6.20-16.32_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i linux-restricted-modules-2.6.20-16-generic_2.6.20.5-16.29_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i linux-restricted-modules-generic_2.6.20.16.28.1_i386.deb

Restarted the system. Not sure need or not but since I think the changes affected the kernel, I just reboot.

Removed the bundled Xorg

sudo apt-get remove xserver-xorg-video-i810

To install the Intel Xorg packages, a few dependencies has to be met:

• libc6 (>= 2.6-1) however version on system is (2.5-0ubuntu14)
• xserver-xorg-core (>= 2:1.3.0.0) however version on system is (2:1.2.0-3ubuntu8)
• libc6 conflicts with tzdata (<< 2007e-2). version on system is (2007b-0ubuntu1)
• update tzdata to 2007f-3ubuntu1
• gcc-4.2-base (= 4.2.1-5ubuntu4) but gcc-4.2-base not installed

sudo dpkg -i tzdata_2007f-3ubuntu1_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i libc6_2.6.1-1ubuntu9_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i gcc-4.2-base_4.2.1-5ubuntu4_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i libgcc1_4.2.1-5ubuntu4_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i xserver-xorg-core_1.3.0.0.dfsg-12ubuntu8_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i xserver-xorg-video-intel_2.1.1-0ubuntu5_i386.deb

Enable the resolution 1280×800

sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

In the Xserver configuration, choosed Intel, selected 1280×800. Selected OK. Reboot.

X worked. Ubuntu welcome screen welcoming me Logged in.
Wi-fi worked right out of the box. A newly installed system should get updated first.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

Enabling write capability for the DVD+-RW drive

sudo gedit /etc/initramfs-tools/modules

Added “piix” (no quote) at the end of the file and saved. Making the change in effect:

sudo update-initramfs -u

Going to reboot here since the kernel is affected.
The sound does not work after resuming from suspend or hibernation. Here’s the fix.

sudo touch /etc/acpi/suspend.d/86-1420-sound.sh
sudo gedit /etc/acpi/suspend.d/86-1420-sound.sh

Add the lines below to the file and save:

#!/bin/sh
killall mixer_applet2
modprobe -r snd_hda_intel

Continue:

sudo touch /etc/acpi/resume.d/66-1420-sound.sh
sudo gedit /etc/acpi/resume.d/66-1420-sound.sh

Add the lines below and save:

#!/bin/sh
modprobe snd_hda_intel

Continue:

sudo touch /etc/modprobe.d/1420-sound
sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/1420-sound

Add the following line and save:

options snd-hda-intel model=3stack

And the last part:

sudo gedit /etc/rc.local

Add the following lines above ‘exit 0′ (without quote):

modlist=`lsmod | grep snd_hda`
[ -z "$modlist" ] && modprobe snd_hda_intel

After adding it, the bottom part of your rc.local should look something like this:

modlist=`lsmod | grep snd_hda`
[ -z "$modlist" ] && modprobe snd_hda_intel
exit 0

Reboot to enable the new settings. The sound mixer applet should reload everytime the system resumed from suspend or hibernation. This will fix the issue of the sound not working after resume.

Download this package hsfmodem_7.60.00.06oem_i386.deb to enable modem support. Navigate to the directory you saved the file and run this command:

sudo dpkg -i hsfmodem_7.60.00.06oem_i386.deb

It will ask for the linux source built directory that matches the current kernel. If your kernel is different from the default listed, you will have to enter your own location

To fix the issue of the desktop hang when using desktop effect, enable the Feisty proposed updates from System->Administration->Software Sources->Updates. Tick Pre-released updates (feisty-proposed). Close the dialog box and it will ask you to reload your package information.

Update again with all the new proposed updates:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

Enable desktop effect: System->Preferences->Desktop Effects. Enable the Desktop Effect.

Fix for video doesn’t play when desktop effect activated.

gstreamer-properties

Select Video and change Default Output Plugin to X Window System (No Xv)
Install Firestarter (a firewall)

sudo apt-get install firestarter

To start using Firestarter: System->Administration->Firestarter. Firestarter will start with a wizard.
Install codec for MPEG4, DIVX, MP3, WMA, WMV etc…

sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg
sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly

Almost forgot. Installing bluetooth support to the gnome gui:

sudo apt-get install gnome-bluetooth

Enabling NTFS write capability:

sudo apt-get install ntfs-3g
sudo gedit /etc/fstab

Edit the fstab to change the type ntfs to ntfs-3g

Up to this point, my system already running fine.
What’s working:

• Network (Wireless & Wired)
• DVD-RW write capabilities recognize
• Sound (fixed the issue no sound after resuming from hibernation or suspend)
• Modem (tested with efax-gtk modem query.No phone line to try the dial-out)
• Compiz (Desktop Effect working properly and does not cause the system o hang)
• Card slot Partially working (Tested with SD card [working] and Memory stick [not working])
• Bluetooth (Hardware detected but I have no bluetooth device to test)
• Left Headphone port (works normally)
• Middle Headphone port (works as middle channel and LFE channel)
• Right Microphone port (works normally)

What’s not working:

• Webcam (Easycam might work but no time to try)
• Internal microphone (I suspect its a directional digital mic. Hardware not detected)
• Wireless scanner button (The buttons is detected but haven’t associate it with any program)
• FN+F8 button for various display mode

I not sure my Express card slot works or not because I don’t have any cards to test it.