Ubuntu Gutsy On Dell Inspiron 6400
Ok, I’ve installed and as said in the previous post, things look good. however they are not perfect. Let me outline some issues I’ve found:
1. Graphics
The ATI restricted driver is detected during install, however you must install it by clicking “Enable” in the Restricted Drivers manager. When you do this three packages are installed: xorg-driver-fglrx, libstdc++5, and gcc-3.3-base. These three do not make the built in Compiz Fusion work however. They only enable your default resolution.
To get Compiz Fusion working you have to additionally install xserver-xgl. This will then allow you to boot into XGL and use the built in effects. I’m not sure yet if you need to write a custom startup XGL script or not. I don’t think so and will test this shortly.
2. Wireless
The Broadcom wifi issue has been fairly well addressed in this release. Again, it’s a driver that is restricted and must be enabled in the Restricted Drivers manager. During the process you’ll be prompted to either provide the location of your firmware or download it…choose to download them and it will complete fine.
3. Power Management
I’m a little annoyed by the constant dimming of my screen while running on batteries. Even when I brighten it manually, it dims after a while and when I move the pointer only brightens it a little. I’m sure there’s a way around this, just haven’t found it yet.
The other more serious issues are that Suspend and Hibernate no longer work. I’ll find out what’s going on with this and if it’s fixable in the current Kernel. But for now, just avoid attempting to do Hibernate and Suspend as it just locks up the system.
What About The Custom CD?
Now about the new Custom CD…I’m going to make it have the XGL, ATI, and WiFi drivers all installed already so you won’t need to go downloading them. I’ll also try to make it boot up into the XGL session the first time without need of enabling the drivers. That to me would be paramount.
Secondly, I’m going to find out what the hell is going on with these power issues and address them immediately.
If any of you figure that out first, let me know.
That’s it for now!
John Westbrook
John,
It seems I’m not able to get as far as you in installing gutsy. I downloaded the official release of 7.10, and it fails to get to the GUI, and says that wireless is nonfunctional due to a bcm43xx error.
I have a Inspiron e1505, with a x1400. Would your custom ISO allow me to get further along in the install process?
Simon
My compiz is not working and I have all the right packages installed. I thought it is because I upgraded rather than fresh installed. I removed those packages and reinstalled them and It still would not work.
Any ideas?
John,
In your Screens and Graphics Preferences under Graphics cards, do you have flgrx selcted or Vesa?
Upgrading to Gusty on my 6400 resulted in these issues:
1. Resolved: Intel 3945ABG wireless network adapter stopped working. On advice found in a Launchpad bug/question, I replaced ipw3945 with iwl9345. The adapter’s working now, but the “WiFi” LED doesn’t illuminate.
2. Resolved: The same restricted driver for video issue as John.
3. Resolved: Some part of the OS produced a dialog box instructing me to not use a special Xgl session because it’ll do it automatically now.
4. Not Working: Suspend/hibernate do not work at all.
5. Resolved: I thought the screen dimming was a nice idea until it started dimming on me while using VNC. Definitely not implemented as nicely as OS X. I turned the “Dim display when idle” feature off in System > Preferences > Power Management.
6. Not Working: X restarts on me when going in to System > Preferences > Screensaver.
And a couple good notes:
1. Bluetooth pairing is easier and works better.
2. Visual Effects are nice — easy to enable (System > Preferences > Appearance | Visual Effects).
Simon
yes, the custom CD should allow you to get to the GUI, once it’s finished. I will release it as soon as I get this graphics card issue figured out.
TheDukeNY
FGLRX is selected as the driver. Sounds like your Compiz is not working because it’s not using XGL. It could also have to do with your xorg.config file. email me it and I’ll take a look. email: john@jrdw.com
Mike,
Great info! I’m especially happy about the dim screen thing you found. Thanks!
John, you’re welcome. I just hope we can figure out suspend/hibernate!
Oh, and there’s one more issue: my hard drive seems to be spinning up/down a lot. Looks like there’s already a bug opened on the issue: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/104535
According to smartctl, my load cycle count is 73,603. Now, I’ve had my 6400 for five months, so that’s ~484 cycles per day. At this rate my hard drive (HTS721010G9SA00) will “last” ~3.5 years. That worries me a little.
I really think the suspend/hibernate issue will get fixed rather quickly in an updated fglrx. I wouldn’t stress it. The question is, what is more important? Your time spent working on your laptop or your laptop’s off time? For me it’s the up time that I care about, therefore the Compiz effects are far more important and I can deal with waiting an extra minute for the thing to power up.
I haven’t heard about the hard drive thing, weird. I’ll have to look at that.
Thanks
John,
It was my xorg.conf. When it got upgradaed xorg.conf got broken. Screens and Graphics was not letting me change to the flgrx driver.
Here’s how I fixed it: I loaded up your livecd for fiesty fawn. I copied the xorg.conf from feisty fawn and replaced it with the xorg.conf in Gutsy Gibbon. Problem solved. Compiz-fusion worked.
I did install the offical ATI driver. I had problems with it. First when I launch the Catalyst Control Center it won’t work. It keeps telling me that the driver is not installed (but it is).
Also the dual monitor support through Screens and Graphics is still really buggy. I have been having problems with the GUI not letting me have the proper screen resolution on my laptop. When I set it to the resolution to my tv, my tv says that the resolution is unsupported even though it technically is. (1024×768) (HDTV is 720P, runs on 1024×768 in Windows when I extend my desktop). I have only been successful at duplicating my desktop on to the tv in 1024×768 when my laptop has the same resolution.
[…] realized. Thanks to John over at mylittleubuntuguide.com for his tireless efforts on the 6400. He mentions that the way to get the wireless and the ATI drivers to work (which also sets up the correct […]
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