Inspiron 1420, Linux anyone?

Hi All,
I just ordered an inspiron 1420.. unfortunately in Australia it seems we get ripped off slightly with our prices, because after negotiating about $200 off I ended up paying $1630 AUD/ $1307.52 US for a 1.66 Intel Duo Core (would have loved a higher processing speed but alas, I didn't want to part with the $300 or so extra), 2gig ram, 160hdd, upgraded 14.1” UltraSharp(TM) Widescreen WXGA+ (1440x900) Display with TrueLife (can someone tell me if this is one of the screens to watch for grain issues?), NVIDIA(R) GeForce(TM) 8400M GS, Intel(R) 4965AGN Wireless-N Mini-Card, 9-cell 85Whr Lithium Ion Primary Battery, bluetooth, 2 years complete cover, etc etc etc, and of course spring green colouring!

Anyway, so aside from feeling slightly ripped off that you all paid far less for better systems, I was wondering if anyone here has tried installing any linux-based operating systems on their Inspirons? In particular, I'm intending to install Ubuntu. At this stage I'm expecting that I will have windows of some description on there as well, but primiarly I'm hoping to use Ubuntu. Dell support of course didn't have any advice for me on the issue, so I'm wondering if there's anyone here who has tried the same thing and how it went?

Judging by the delays you've all experienced, no doubt I'll have plenty of time to consider the issue prior to receiving my laptop (supposedly 10 working days time, but I'm dubious).

 

In the future, please ask a mod to move your thread rather than double posting.

 

Sorry, first post here and I accidently posted in wrong thread, however I actually edited the other one so it doesn't even have the same title or content anymore but it didn't update.

 

While you're here, don't suppose you've got any experience in installing linux on the 1420's or having yours shipped to australia as per my other thread?

 

Nope, sorry, not on that model.

 

hi, ...sunin...

Actually, you posted on the wrong forum.

Try the Ubuntu Dell support at:
http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=256

(please no-one get edgy, I refer those folks here when you are more relevant.)

I have a 1420 with Vista loaded. It's brown and it reached my door 9 days after ordering. It is very nice so far, and I hope that running Ubuntu it will be nicer.

Probably tonight I am removing the MediaDirect partition to make way for a resize of C: to install Ubuntu 7.04. Standard LiveCD method does not work, so there is some extra work to do with an alternate install disk. The legendary Dell delay may work in your favor, as by all accounts Ubuntu 7.10 (due Oct 18) will work (mostly) "out of the box" on all the features and fun of the 1420.

The list of known issues and difficulties with Ubuntu 7.04 on the 1420 would likely scare you away if you are new to Linux OS, so...I won't go into it. I would just say check out the Ubuntu forums, people there are commited to making it work. And know that things are getting better soon.

Currently I'm running Vista, will have a dual-boot of Vista/Ubuntu in the next few days, and eventually would like to run Ubuntu only. It's faster, better, cheaper. No virus scans. Really.


Good luck!

 

The standard live-cd does work, as that's all I used to get it installed.

You just need to manually load a driver at the installation command-line (when it bombs out with an error) and then change the X.org graphics driver in the config file and run X again.

Yes a bit of screwing around but no need to download any 'alternative' versions of Ubuntu. If anyone is interested in the method let me know and I'll hunt a link as I forgot the details.

 

I'd love to follow a link on that...haven't actually made much progress on the install...

Do you mean this fix with the x.org driver?



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

sudo dpkg -i xserver-xorg-video-intel_2.1.1-0ubuntu2_i386.deb


Thanks for the correction!

 

I'm currently running Ubuntu on my desktop (no Windows, very exciting!) so I'm really keen to get Ubuntu running on my Inspiron when it arrives. Are you in Australia? My order status is currently saying that it's shipping so I'm hopeful it shouldnt' be too long.
Let me know how you go with your dual-boot Ubuntu installation. That's what I'm intending to do with mine, as I will sometimes need to use windows when at work.
Good luck to you too!

 

If you could find remember it it'd be awesome. Do you also run Ubuntu on a 1420?

 

Ok here's my step-by-step guide. It applies to a Vostro 1400 and Inspiron 1420 with an Nvidia card:

1. Pop the regular Ubuntu 7.04 DVD in (not alternative CD). Boot off it.

2. It will bring up the text menu. Hit F6 to change parameters. Add break=top just before the two hyphens and hit enter like so:



3. The installer will start and then bomb out with tty message. Enter modprobe piix, then exit.

4. Installer will continue for a few minutes (blinking cursor may be all you see) and then X will bomb out.

5. When you drop to the command-line, enter sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf and look for the section that says:

Section "Device"

Identifier "nVidia Corporation NVIDIA Default Card"
Driver "nv"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"​

EndSection​

Change "nv" to "vesa", press ctrl-x and enter to save, then run startx.

6. X will load (probably at wrong resolution) and you continue the installer as normal.

7. After installation, visit a linux-oriented forum like UbuntuForums for post-install config change information to get all your devices working. If anyone has trouble getting the network card to work ("Intel Netlink Fast Ethernet"), I've written a tiny bit of script to get it running on boot.

 

Wow, that is dead simple.

Uh, though I'm stuck at 3. After modprobe and exit I get:

BusyBox v1.1.3 (Debian 1:1.1.3-3ubuntu3) Built-in shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands.

/bin/sh: can't access tty; job control turned off


This is where I started, and modprobe does not seem to get me past. Can you advise?

Thanks,

 

Are you sure you entered "break=top" at the right location before the hyphens? If you did it properly, the installer should drop out to the "/bin/sh: can't access tty; job control turned off" line very quickly after you do the "break=top" thing.

If you're not sure, time how long it takes from when you do "break=top" + hit enter ... until when the "can't access tty" line shows. If it's 10 seconds, you did it correctly. If it's 40 seconds and shows the Ubuntu logo and orange progress-bar .. then it wasn't done properly.