Compal IfL90 Drivers/Bios help am noob :(

Hey guys im rebooting my computer to dual boot vista and ubuntu and im wondering where to get drivers/bios updates for my computer, as well as what order to install them in and in what os to install them in. Thanks .

 

Isn't that simple to have a dual booting system , you can use LILO or GRUB and as they are Linux applications they will be friendly with Ubuntu, but find here below an article where you can use Vista as booting manager as well.

http://port25.technet.com/archive/2...th-BitLocker-Protection-with-TPM-Support.aspx

 

i was wondering where to get drivers....

 

Ok well i figured out to get the drivers from the compal site.... but i cant figure out how to update bios/which one to download. i tried downloading one and flashing it on my computer but it wouldnt let me it seems to be designed for 32bit and not 64 bit which i am using. anyone know where i can get a 64 bit bios for the compal ifl90 sager 2090

 

LILO and GRUB are bootloaders, not linux applications. Ubuntu just installs the bootloader of your choice onto a specific partition or the boot sector of the harddrive.

 

So, let's say I have Vista in HDD1, and Ubuntu in HDD2, then I turn on the laptop, how do I select the OS I want to use?

 

still waiting to hear where to dload bios update for my ubuntu.... i think i need it since i cant hibernate or sleep

 

Press F12 when you see your Bios load, and choose either Harrdrive 1 or USB (if that's how your harddrive is connected).

 

Sorry, first of all I meant XP, not Vista. Secondely, the laptop is clevo based and the BIOS doesn't offer th F12 feauture.

 

Boot in ubuntu and go into /etc/boot/grub/ and open the menu.lst file and post the content here or PM it me, I'll tell you what to add to boot in vista from grub.

 

Your bios has to have a boot menu. If it's not F12 try F11. If it's not that, look in your manual or ask the Clevo forum.

 

Ok, give me about 1h.

 

That makes sense, I did not try F11, I did tried F8 and F12.

 

I don't have grub, so I downloaded it and I got many folders, then what?

 

I tried all the Fn keys, and none of them worked. The BIOS is pheonix dated4/17/2007.

 

Oh well, boot in ubuntu, open a console:

Code:

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

This open the bootloader configuration file.

Add this at the end of it:

Code:

#Windows
title              Microsoft Windows Vista
root              (hd1,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader       +1

replace hd1 by hd0 if the other entries use hd1 or use hd1 if the other entries use hd0.

Remember you are supposed to do that in ubuntu, not windows.

 

hd1 refers to the order the hdd appears in the bios booting order? Like hdd with vista is hdd0 and hdd ubuntu is hdd1?

And when you say "console" you mean terminal, right?

 

Nope, it's not related to the boot order. Console/terminal/shell it's the same thing ^^. So did it work?

 

Nope, it did not work, as I said I do not have brug, I downloaded it but I think I have to extract the files, don't I? I'm too windows oriented

 

So you don't have the /boot/grub/ folder? Don't you have a menu that comes up before entering in ubuntu? While you're there, how on earth do I modify my user title, I couldn't find anything in my user cp....

 

At the top you will user cp, click there, then click edit profile and very close to the begining you'll see the space to put your title.

 

and 3 pages later my thread is just hijacked. im having a really bad day sigh ....
i posted this question on askMefi if anyone can answer this now..

http://ask.metafilter.com/92324/VistaUbuntu-Dual-Boot-desperate-help-needed

 

Sorry man, it is my fault.

1. Drivers update: Compal web site or vendor's web site. Or here; http://www.bizcom-us.com/support/TechSupportDriversDownloadPage.htm#FL90

2. Boot manager: That's what Ayle is trying to explain to me, and you, is to create the boot manager option inside Ubuntu.

 

Sorry about that the hijacking. I'll answer your question here:
1. Try reinstalling grub, instruction here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=224351
2. Does the white screen appear if you disable the nvidia drivers?
3. Disable the nvidia driver, the pink thing is a bug with the current driver in the repository, I suggest downgrading to the 169.09.
4. ACPI problems, nothing you can do about it... While hibernation is a no-no you should at least be able to sleep.

I think the boot problem may come from the fact that you have installed home in a separate partition... Usually you only do that when you know that you will be distro hoping a lot.

@Wirelessman: you never answered if you add the /boot/grub/ menu.

 

Hmm ok i just tested it again and yeah i can sleep sometimes. I gotta look up what ACPI is... too bad there is nothing to do about it i hibernate a lot Also how would i go about downgrading nvidia drivers?

I made a seperate home partition because some guides said that was the smart thing to do. They said that if i had it that way i could reinstall ubuntu root but all my settings and files in home would still be there intact, making it easier at upgrade time.

was trying to do the http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/images/partitioning5.png partition suggested in http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/partitioning

 

Ok to downgrade the driver: first thing first:
get the driver here: http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/169.09/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-169.09-pkg1.run

While that is downloading open a terminal window and type this:

Code:

sudo gedit/etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common

And the following line:

Code:

DISABLED_MODULES="nv nvidiafb nvidia_new nvidia_legacy"

Save and Close the text editor. In the terminal window type :

Code:

sudo aptitude install build-essential automake

and close the terminal windows once it's done getting the packages.
The driver should be on your drive by now. Move it in your home folder if it's not already there.
Disable the driver in the restricted device manager, reboot. Don't log in your account. Instead press ctrl+alt+F1. Enter your username and pass, then type :

Code:

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

then,

Code:

sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-169.09-pkg1.run

follow the directions on-screen: basically accept whatever the installer is asking. Once it's done you'll be back to the shell
just type:

Code:

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start

to go back to the login screen. If all went well you'll be greeted by a nvidia splashcreen. Now the purple/pink/orange artifact should be gone.

I suggest that you print what I wrote.

 

hmmm just to fix some of the commands you stated Ayle for others who might be reading this:

Code:

sudo gedit/etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common

should be (forgot a space)

Code:

sudo gedit /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common

and

Code:

sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-169.09-pkg1.run

should be (it needs root privelages to work)

Code:

sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-169.09-pkg1.run

minor mistakes just saving other people future hassle.

I think my installation went well, it tried connecting to the internet for something (i think to make its own kernel module blah blah something) but couldnt so it made its own. At the end the nvidia logo did come up and i could log in fine so I think it worked thank you again!

Just a quick question, How/should I ever upgrade the driver later on? Would i just delete the part I added to restricted modules common and renable propreitary drivers from the restricted device manager?

EDIT* I just realized that the graphics card doesnt even apprear in restricted driver manager anymore...

 

Glad that it worked. If you want to upgrade later you'll have to use the same method or use envy to remove the driver. Btw do you have the nv control panel? If not got get it in synaptics.

 

yeah i didnt used to have the nv control panel, but using your method i got it !

 

Uh oh, just updated my kernel... It seems that we'll have to reinstall the driver at every kernel upgrade as it has been compiled for the specific kernel that was running before the upgrade.

 

ok good to know thanks