Can I use Ubuntu with the HP 8510p?

I've been doing some reading about Ubuntu and have decided that I'd like to install it in a dual-boot config with XP Pro on the laptop I just ordered. An HP8510p. I understand that there are some issues with Linux and ATI drivers. This computer comes with the ATI Radeon HD2600. Have any 8510p users with this card been able to successfully install and run Ubuntu. I'd like to get some info/pointers before I try and become too frustrated to give it a chance. I'm a newbie when it comes to Linux.

 

I don't have an HP8510p, but do have a machine with and ATI card. Don't worry about the installation of drivers. Even I got them to work! LOL

Before installing, use the Live CD and check things out. The ATI card may even work with 7.10. My own wireless fired right up (different machine so am not sure about the ATI card issue). The new distro is nice - go for it. It won't be so hard or frustrating. Members here can walk you through when the time comes if you're not able to make it happen on your own. But remember: I did, so any knucklehead can do it!

 

I have 7.10 running as my sole OS on my 8510p.

I installed during beta so your results may vary.

Out of the box Ubuntu worked with the HD2600 but only at 1440x1050 which is really hard to look at on the screen.

At the time the binary / proprietary ATI driver that Ubuntu can install (through the Restricted Drivers Manager) didn't support the HD cards and I don't think this has changed. So to get the ati card working at 1680x1050 I had to download and install the ati driver for the HD2600 manually.

Download from:
x86: http://ati.amd.com/support/drivers/linux/linux-radeon.html
x64: http://ati.amd.com/support/drivers/linux64/linux64-radeon.html

Then follow the instructions from here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/B...head-99489608eb537a1a0346cdd3ad34209d7887714a
You want to start from the section: Install from ati.com (latest version of drivers)

Note: you are installing for Gutsy, not for Feisty adjust appropriately.

 

Thanks for the replies. They've been very helpful!

 

My laptop (specs in sig) virtually works out of the box, all that doesn't is that plugging in headphones doesn't cut out the speakers and the ATI driver doesn't work. But, the driver is easily fixed using a program called envy. Use google to find it, it will take care of all the nitty gritty of installing the driver for the 2600 (which didn't work when installing using driver from ATI site), now everything works, except for my sound. Ubuntu is awesome.
EDIT: Forgot to note that suspend/hibernate don't quite work, but that could likely be fixed with a kernel recompile with suspend2.

 

pls can you write some HOW TO there becaue I have already BIG head from going from one link to another....i try everything(still going to blackscreen or succes but with misserable artefacts and slow grafic interface)..but when i see that you succes on laptop 8510p(i have this one) i want to ask you. PLS SIMPLY WRITE STEP BY STEP WHAT TO DO after the fresh installation of gutsy 7.10 there

 

wibranttweed PLS PLS PLS

 

OK I recently rebuilt my 8510p with Gutsy x86_64, these are the steps I used:

1. Download the ATI driver:
x86: http://ati.amd.com/support/drivers/linux/linux-radeon.html
x86_64: http://ati.amd.com/support/drivers/linux64/linux64-radeon.html

2. Enable the Universe and Multiverse repositories.

3. sudo apt-get install module-assistant build-essential debhelper debconf dh-make fakeroot libstdc++5 linux-headers-generic dpkg-architecture dpkg-dev

The instructions diverge here for the different architectures.

32bit 4. bash ./ati-driver-installer-<version>.run --buildpkg Ubuntu/gutsy

64bit 4a. Download:
http://www.michaellarabel.com/downloads/fglrx-8.42-ubuntu+debian-2.tar.bz2
64bit 4b. Exctact the ati driver (it needs patching):
bash ./ati-driver-installer-8.42.3-x86.x86_64.run --extract ati64
64bit 4c. Extract the above download into the ati64 directory:
cd ati64 && tar xjf ../fglrx-8.42-ubuntu+debian-2.tar.bz2
64bit 4d. Build the packages:
./ati-installer.sh 8.42.3 --buildpkg Ubuntu/gusty
64bit 4e. Move back to the parent directory:
cd ..

5. You will now have several .deb files to install:
sudo dpkg -i fglrx-kernel-source_<version>.deb
sudo dpkg -i xorg-driver-fglrx_<version>.deb

6. Now install the kernel module:
sudo m-a prepare,update
sudo m-a build,install fglrx-kernel
sudo depmod -a
sudo rm -f /usr/src/fglrx-kernel*.deb

7. Blacklist the Ubuntu fglrx driver by adding "fglrx" without quotes to the DISABLED_MODULES in /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common

8. Modify your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file:
sudo aticonfig --initial
sudo aticonfig --overlay-type=Xv
Alternatively you can make the changes by hand by changing the Driver to fglrx. A backup copy will be made of your original xorg.conf file in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.original-0 so if X fails to restart below revert to that file.

***EDIT***
8a. Modify your /usr/bin/compiz file:
You need to add "fglrx" without quotes to the WHITELIST variable. You may also need to comment out the BLACKLIST_PCIIDS variable. This will need to be done everytime you update compiz.
***END EDIT***

9. Load the kernel module: modprobe fglrx

10. Restart your X server. Usually logging out will do this.

11. You should be able to find the Catalyst Control program in your menu if you wish to do some tweaking.

Links
Ubuntu ATI Wiki
64Bit Instructions

 

which driver do you use??? 8.42.3 or 7.11????

 

The version number is: 8.42.3

 

ia have already done evereything what you write,but after restart and login everithing comes to white screen, and I was no able to do something, any ideas?