Just finished installing Ubuntu!

Hey guys, I'm a complete noob with Linux currently, but I just finished installing Ubunut after having to deal with this Xserver error for about 20 minutes, but I'm here! I just wanted to try something out new, and so far, I really, really like Ubuntu. Right now I don't have Beryl or anything, but could you guys give me some links and tips on what I should be doing? I'm kind of confused on what to do!

Thanks,
-Larson

(Also, I'm on a laptop right now, Dell 1520, and I want to get my resolution to be at 1280x800, but the max it shows is 1024x768, whats the deal?)

 

Open up a terminal, and type in:

Code:

$ gksudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Find the section "Screen" and under each subsection, add "1280x800" in after "modes" (before all the other resolutions). Then, save that file, and restart X (ctrl+alt+backspace), and that should fix your resolution problem.

Now, I suspect that was the problem, if it wasn't, and the 1280x800 is already listed in the mode lines, then post back and we'll try to figure things out (posting your xorg.conf file may help).

 

Usually it's best to go to your distro's user forums and find out what other users' experiences are with the same hardware (where possible). In the Ubuntu forums there is a long thread about folks using Ubuntu on their Dell 1520s. Some of the information there might be useful, specifically to your display issue. Others using the Envy tool to properly setup the nVidia drivers and xorg.conf, were able to properly setup their display resolutions, etc.

The one caveat is that if you are going to use the nVidia Linux drivers you need at least the 100.14.11 rev in order to support your laptop's video. Other than that, if you want to add something new like beryl, then the best place to start is again in your distro's user forums.

Good Luck

 

Alright! Thanks guys, I'll try these things out.

One more thing, I tried installing Beryl, and it wouldn't let me open the file?

 

In the latest version I've only had to install the Nvidia driver and the proper resolution is set automatically.

Goto:
System -> Administration -> Restricted Drivers Manager
check the box for the Nvidia driver
reboot

Your resolution may be set correctly now.

 

It says that my hardware does not need any restricted drivers?

 

I know your sig says so, but, are you sure you have the nVidia card? I mean, if you are, it SHOULD have an option for the restricted driver...

What video driver is specified in /etc/X11/xorg.conf?

EDIT: Oh, and what "file" are you referring to when you're trying to install Beryl? If you downloaded it from the Beryl site, then, don't bother with that. As a general rule for most Linux distros (Ubuntu included), if there's an up to date version in your distro's repositories (which there is for Beryl), it's better to install from there than via tarball from the developer.

 

Hey, I got it working with a program called "Envy".

 

hey im trying to install linux right now as well. how did you get past the xserver error thing. i cant =(

 

What kind of graphics card have you got?

 

This is what worked for me and I have a 8600m GT, but I'm sure this will work for you also (I think?).

Once you get that past that error, do:
Ctrl + Alt + F1 in order to open up a terminal, then type in " sudo dpkg reconfigure xserver-xorg ". Then, you will be able to reconfigure your video settings. Now, be sure to choose "Vesa" as your video card driver. Then just on from there, everything should work out.

 

I highly recommend Envy. I love that program. Before I learned of its existence, I also struggled trying to install the latest nVidia drivers that I downloaded from their site. With Envy, everything was automated, and I didn't even need to restart! And I think the automatic xorg.conf configuration is the best part.

 

Hey, how come I always have to reset my resolution every time I boot up into Ubuntu. I even tried to save my xorg.conf file, and it wouldn't let me... Why?

 

Did you edit it as a superuser?

 

I'm the only user, shouldn't I automatically be the superuser? If not, how do I do that?

 

Also, I need help installing Thunderbird. How do I even install programs!?!?!

 

No, you're not the superuser by default. This is a way of protecting your linux system. To edit your xorg.conf with superuser privileges, type

Code:

sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

. Be sure to back up your existing working xorg.conf first! Otherwise if you run into problems you won't be able to boot into a nice GUI.

And about installing programs, in your System menu, there's an option called Add/Remove. Click it, and browse to your heart's content! You may or may not find Thunderbird in there too! In the event that you decide to download installation files, the best types I've found are .deb packages. Just double-click on the downloaded file and it will handle the dependencies for you.

And... I don't know anything about the resolution problem. Perhaps someone else can help

 

Alright thanks a lot Yin. I'm currently in Vista right now, but I'll try those things in a second.

 

Except for a kernel update you never have to restart when you install something on Linux, that's a Zindowz peculiarity...

 

Yeah but ceminino, I tried installing the nVidia drivers by myself (completely unsuccessfully) and I remember needing to restart or something for the drivers to be in effect. And then when I did restart I had a misconfigured X... hahahah. And then came Envy to my rescue

 

It should not need a reboot of the entire system. The driver runs as a kernel module, it is not compiled into the kernel itself. All it should require is restarting X (the GUI system).

 

Oh I see. Thanks for the clarifications, t12ek!

 

In theory only a kernel upgrade should require a reboot but some drivers are badly written, are in alpha or beta stage or are working with badly designed hardware so that a rmmod/modprobe won't do the trick. There's also times when unloading a module just cannot be done (try unloading all ATA support from a running kernel!). In such cases, a reboot is required. Sad but true.

I sometimes also recommend people messing with configuration files that are used at boot time to reboot right away to make sure that they know their modifications are good. You don't want to find you made a mistake 5 days after the fact. By that time, the source of the problem might not come to mind readily.

People trying to get Ubuntu running on a Dell 1520 might be helped somewhat by the guide I put together for a Compal IFL90. Different machine but some of the issues are the same.

One thing I found out today and that I have not yet integrated with the guide is that suspend-to-ram (sleep) does not work right yet with the 8600GT. There's official word from nVidia people that they know about the problem and will include a fix for it in the next version of the driver. You can suspend and come back but the performance after resuming is atrocious. I've spent several hours trying to get suspend/resume working before finding that information. Hopefully, other people won't have to waste time like I did.

 

Larson, did you ever get your restricted driver manager to recognize that you needed to use a restricted driver? I have been trying all day but with no luck. I'm trying to use Compiz but I don't get any borders on my windows when I turn it on. I think it's a problem with the driver not being properly used, even though I used Envy as well.

Hmm...this is getting extremely annoying. First that stupid Creative Card, now this.

 

Things I reboot when they are upgraded:
KDE components
Kernel
libc

Those require so many programs to be restarted that it's easier to just reboot. Other than that? No real need.