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    FL90 + Linux Experiences?

    Discussion in 'Other Manufacturers' started by v1k1ng1001, Mar 15, 2008.

  1. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

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    Who's running Linux on the FL90? What distros have you installed? What's worked and not worked?

    I guess I'm specifically concerned with which distros work well with the Intel wireless card, the sound card and the 8600 GT. My hope is that hardware detection catches up with the next round of releases here in 2008 but so far I've been having bad luck with some or all of these three things.
     
  2. Ayle

    Ayle Trailblazer

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    I am using ubuntu atm, it's fast and everything, and look nice( nicer than vista and still is zippy :D ), wifi works out of the box, 8600 works OTB but you need to install the proprietary drivers to take advantage of the 3d acceleration, webcam works, sounds need some elbow brease(fixed in 5 minutes), fingerprint reader and card reader don't seem to work but everything else is working great. :cool:

    That site gives plenty of info about running linux(ubuntu) on the fl90: http://lddubeau.com/avaktavyam/linux-on-a-compal-ifl90/
     
  3. skitpt

    skitpt Notebook Enthusiast

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    Didn't you have a problem with GRUB ?
    Damn is it always me who has some problem on installing something ? :p

    When i first installed opensuse everything went ok, then i installed ubuntu and every time i reboot from ubuntu everything was ok, everything i would reboot or shutdown after using vista on the next boot grub would hang. Kinda weird ...
     
  4. vashts121

    vashts121 Notebook Evangelist

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    I am currently running SuSe 10.3, and everything works except sound. I had the same problem with Ubuntu; it's a known bug that the ALC268 doesn't work well with ALSA. There are lots of sites that tell you how to fix it though.
     
  5. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

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    Yeah, I tried to fix the sound in 7.10 with that guide and it didn't work. :mad:

    I did get the 3d acceleration working, although not that great with the drivers provided and wifi worked fine with Ubuntu.
     
  6. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

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    Ok, so the sound problem is there with the new Suse release too. Hrm.

    Do you have a link to a particular page that was helpful or should I just search the forums for ALC268 and ALSA?
     
  7. Ayle

    Ayle Trailblazer

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    what drivers? What did you exactly do to fix the sound? I know that I had to get the module assistant as it wasn't installed...
     
  8. vashts121

    vashts121 Notebook Evangelist

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    Here is the page confirming the bug.
    This is how you can fix it, but everytime I try to make and install, it makes a locked folder....
     
  9. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

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    You want to clear GRUB any time you install a new distro that is dependent upon GRUB. For example, if you install Mint and then install Ubuntu without clearing GRUB, GRUB is going to be messed up.

    In general I've found that Ubuntu's GRUB will autodetect all of your OS's, so plan to install Ubuntu and/or its derivatives last.

    FWIW, I use GAG to clear GRUB.
     
  10. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

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    No, i was talking about the video drivers.

    I only remember trying to follow the instructions provided by that guide you had linked to (this was back in January)...it didn't work for me for some reason.

    I've been shopping around for new distros but I don't see anything that looks like it will be as nice or as easy to set up as Ubuntu.
     
  11. Ayle

    Ayle Trailblazer

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    You can try mint, but as it is based on ubuntu, I doubt the sound problem will be solved...
     
  12. bmwrob

    bmwrob Notebook Virtuoso

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    I have Suse and Ubuntu dual-booted (no Windows at all) in a cheap desktop. I won't tell you how many times I had to try to get both to work right! LOL

    You're right, too. Each worked fine installed alone, or with XP. When I finally realized that Ubuntu should go in last - end of problems.

    Where the hell were you when I needed you?? :D
     
  13. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

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    Making the same mistake. :D
     
  14. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

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    With the live cd, X will start but nautilus hangs in Mint. No idea what is going on there as Ubuntu 7.10 runs well 'cept for the video being slow and the audio not working.

    I never really saw the advantage of Mint anyway. In some ways it is easier for noobs, but not really.

    I like Mepis and PCLinuxOS, but hate KDE. I'd really like to see a fully-featured slackware-based distro emerge to compete. Wolvix would be great if it were more up to date!
     
  15. Ayle

    Ayle Trailblazer

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    The Video is slow even with the restricted drivers? :confused: Weird. Anyway Slackware is the first distro I tried like 8yrs ago And it gave me nightmares about Linux :D ...
     
  16. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

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    Well try out Wolvix if you get a chance. Slackware is super efficient if someone could just make it easy to install and use.
     
  17. vitalik

    vitalik Notebook Geek

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    Sound works fine with new ALSA driver, it is just not included in recent distros yet, but should be this year. You can install it manually if you folow instructions carefully:

    #

    I recommend that you add this repository because it is more secure than downloading the file manually. The repository is signed with private OpenPGP key. Execute:

    $ sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list


    Add the two following lines at the end of the file:

    deb http://lddubeau.com/downloads/ubuntu gutsy main
    deb-src http://lddubeau.com/downloads/ubuntu gutsy main


    Save and exit. Execute:

    $ sudo apt-get update


    apt-get should execute normally except that it will complain that it does not have the GPG key for my repository. Execute the following commands to get my key:

    # The next 3 commands import my public key to your
    # apt keyring.
    # (Note: if you don't have gpg installed already you should execute
    # "apt-get install gnupg" and continue after that is done.)
    $ gpg --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys F70DFA47
    $ gpg --export --armor F70DFA47 > /tmp/key.asc
    $ sudo apt-key add /tmp/key.asc

    # apt-get should not complain about a missing GPG key now.
    $ sudo apt-get update

    # This installs the required package
    $ sudo apt-get install alsa-source

    #

    This is what you need to do once the package is installed:

    $ cd /usr/src
    $ sudo module-assistant a-i alsa-source


    #

    Module-assistant will end with:

    You should now stop all applications using sound devices and reload all ALSA sound modules.


    Although it would be possible to just stop those applications, I suggest a reboot but DON’T REBOOT JUST NOW.
    #

    Execute the following:

    $ sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base


    Go to the end of the file and add the following lines. The first line is just a reminder to yourself as to what the next line is about. Such reminders are useful when packages are upgraded. You might want to change “LDD” to your own initials.

    # LDD: I added this line for supporting the ALC268 audio chipset.
    options snd-hda-intel model=toshiba


    Press Control-X to exit and save.
    #

    Now you should reboot. The advantage of rebooting instead of just trying to fiddle with modules is that by rebooting you can make sure that everything is going to work right after a reboot. If you just fiddle with the modules, you may be setting up something which will be undone next time you reboot. So rebooting is better to make sure to trap possible problems early.

    BIG THANKS to avaktavyam for this guide. http://lddubeau.com/avaktavyam/linux-on-a-compal-ifl90/
     
  18. Ayle

    Ayle Trailblazer

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    I think you should do:
    sudo apt-get install module-assistant
    before starting because on my computer it wasn't installed...
     
  19. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

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    ^^^ maybe that is what I was doing wrong :confused: I can't remember now.

    I'm going to fire up pclinuxos 2008 and Mepis 7 to see what they look like on my Compal. The new Ubuntu beta is released some time next week I believe.
     
  20. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Is Ubuntu reliable and user friendly?
     
  21. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Is Ubuntu reliable and user friendly? :eek:
     
  22. bmwrob

    bmwrob Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yes, pretty much. Try it, you'll like it.
     
  23. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Where can I DL this OS?
     
  24. RePaRaQu

    RePaRaQu One name. One legend.

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  25. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Hi RePa... are you using ubuntu too? My concern with Unix based OS's, is that you have to mount by yourself all the drivers, plus you may not be able to run windows based appplications, unless you mount a windows emulator, which is no sense.
     
  26. bmwrob

    bmwrob Notebook Virtuoso

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    You probably won't have to chase down many drivers, Wirelessman. On my desktop, wireless, sound and graphics all worked fine without my having to do anything other than turn on my machine. lol

    On a separate machine which has an ATI card, installing an adapter the first time took me forever, but it really isn't hard - I'm clueless. :D

    It's true that you may have trouble with apps designed for Windows, but you can probably find open source apps which will accomplish the same task, or, if that's not an appealing idea, just dual boot Ubuntu with Windows.
     
  27. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    That's what I'm planning to do as soon as I see the value of it, do you see any? What motivate people to install Ubuntu?
     
  28. bmwrob

    bmwrob Notebook Virtuoso

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    Well, it's free, fun to use/get to know, different than Windows. There are far fewer malware issues = no AV, antispyware blah, blah, blah = not much to worry about and nothing to buy. It's solid and stable, looks great, and is easy to learn.

    Ubuntu fans: how'd I do? forget anything important? If so, please add to this.
     
  29. mufflan

    mufflan Notebook Consultant

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    This have been the fix that always got my sound working in Ubuntu 7.10

    sudo rm /lib/modules/`uname -r`/ubuntu/media/snd-hda-intel/snd-hda-intel.ko
    sudo aptitude install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r) libncurses5-dev libncursesw5-dev
    sudo cd /usr/src
    sudo mkdir alsa
    sudo cd alsa
    sudo wget ftp://ftp.alsa-project.org/pub/driver/alsa-driver-1.0.16.tar.bz2
    sudo tar -xf alsa-driver-1.0.16.tar.bz2
    sudo cd alsa-driver-1.0.16.tar.bz2
    sudo ./configure --with-cards=hda-intel
    sudo make
    sudo make install
    sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base

    Then add "options snd-hda-intel model=toshiba" without the quotes to the document, save it, reboot and cringe in horror as you get to hear the horrible start up sound in Ubuntu.

    Yes it's sudo on all, last time I had ubuntu it wouldn't let me do **** in /usr/src without sudo, not even wget or cd in the folders. (Fedora 8 ftw anyway if you ask me ;) )
     
  30. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    This is was I was referring to , too much pain for just installing a driver fix.
     
  31. mufflan

    mufflan Notebook Consultant

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    Not really, it's not that much if you want to get it working, doing that have been my bible for fixing sound in Ubuntu on my FL90, it have yet to fail me, installing NVIDIA drivers are something similar to this, I could write a little bible for that too if anyone wants :)
     
  32. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Soon you will be called the Unbuntu prophet :)
     
  33. Ayle

    Ayle Trailblazer

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    Mhhh it seems like every fl90 are built different, I got the gfx drivers through the restricted driver manager, and I got the sound fixed with the usual method with the exception of having to install the module-assistant first. Btw did they fix the audio in Hardy? I run out of blank cd...
     
  34. rabiddawgr

    rabiddawgr Newbie

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    Yeah hardy uses alsa 0.15 which is included with with the new kernel. The issues were related to a bug in alsa 0.14. The beta is out now and its quite stable ( kubuntu is for me anyways so ubuntu shoul be even more so)
     
  35. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

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    BETA is out!!!! Yay!
     
  36. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

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    You can always dual boot, where you partition your drive so that you can install windows and linux. That way you can try out linux without much risk.
     
  37. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

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    I've just installed the 8.04 beta right now. So far so good...meaning I have sound and it looks like most of my hardware has been detected. Have to see if any bugs show up after the system is done updating itself and I can run a few things.

    Got to play around with Mepis 7.0 and PCLinuxOS 2008 in live cd. I couldn't get X to start in Mepis so not good. PCLOS looked like it might be nice after an install (no wireless in live cd) but to be honest I simply can't get into KDE. After taking the live cd for a spin...no thanks.

    Fwiw, Suse 11 is coming out soon too. I've never been a big fan of Suse but it was pretty easy to set up on my last laptop.
     
  38. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

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  39. Ayle

    Ayle Trailblazer

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    Downloaded both ubuntu and kubuntu. Well kde4 is nice but was too unstable to be used: crashes and rendering errors... Ubuntu 8.4 is nice but firefox 3 don't work with mplayer-plugin... I hope that'll be fixed. I tried virtualbox with win2k and Oh boy how could I forgett that there was a time when Windows was lightning fast now if only I could use my gfx card in it and usb was working I would ditch vista altogether...
     
  40. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

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    I am going to wait for the Ubuntu updates to roll in over the next month or so.

    I've been shopping for distros on and off for the last few months. I always end up back with Ubuntu.
     
  41. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Can you explain all the nice features of Ubuntu that you cannot find on other OSs?
     
  42. Ayle

    Ayle Trailblazer

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    Wohoo! mplayer-plugin has been updated now it works with ff3 ^^
     
  43. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

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    For me it's about the repos/pkg management, community, hardware detection, ease of installation...with an emphasis on gnome. :)
     
  44. RePaRaQu

    RePaRaQu One name. One legend.

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    price for the OS is great and all the nice stuff you have in Windows is in linux so.
     
  45. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Not everything, there are much less applications for Linux.
     
  46. Ayle

    Ayle Trailblazer

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    That's not Linux's fault, the most commonly used apps have equivalents, some can be ran with Wine and the rest(as long as it is not 3d intensive) can be used with a virtual machine.
     
  47. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    I didn't say it was Linux fault, but is a reality. And I know Wind can do a nice job, but still it doesn't cover all.

    Again, what it really bothers me is that you have to mount the drivers as you were a programer, and not everyone is a code writter.
     
  48. Ayle

    Ayle Trailblazer

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    If you want to use it on your ifl90, download the ubuntu 8.04 beta, you won't have to use the console as the most annoying driver problem(audio) has been fixed.
     
  49. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

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    yeah, 8.04 beta is solid...much easier to install than windows actually
     
  50. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    I will dl and I'll share my experience.
     
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