Installing Ubuntu 8.04 on Compaq C785 TU

1.Installation
2.Quirks
3.Triple Boot XP, Vista, Ubuntu
4.Virtual Box

Installation: The installation was pretty straight forward. I have ordered a Ubuntu 8 .04 DVD from http://www.zyxware.com. All the hardwares has been detected suceessfully. Here is the Device Manager list: device.txt.

Hardwares that are working perfectly out of the box:

1.Sound: Indel HD Audio
2.Touchpad : Alps Glidepoint
3.Network Card: Realtek
4.SATA: HDD and DVD RW

Hardwares that are working after downloading and compiling drivers or tweaking:

1.Wireless Card
2.Intel 965 Mobile Graphicd Adapter.
3.CPU Speed changing.
4.Various Multimedia Codecs.

1.Atheros Wireless Card:
The hardware driver that came with Ubuntu 8.04 did not work. It says the hardware as present but the driver is defective and does not work. Here are the steps necessary to make it work:

(i) First of all you have to disable the driver/s from System->administration-> hardware Drivers and reboot.

(ii) Next you get or download 5416 driver and unzip the same to a folder of your choice.

(iii) Next install ndiswrapper for windows package from the Ubuntu 8.04 DVD.

(iv) Start System -> administration -> windows Wireless Driver and point to the inf file in the folder you have unzipped the driver. Ndiswrapper shall detect the hardware and report hardware as present.

(v) Your wireless modem/router shall be detected right after that or a reboot.

2.Intel 965 Graphics driver:

Ubuntu 8.04 loads all the required driver during installation. But the same is not enabled by default.To enable Intel driver you have to make sure intel driver is used in Xorg configure file (usually is /etc/X11/xorg.conf):

Section “Device”

Identifier “name”

Driver “intel”

Entries…

…

EndSection

Next enable DRI: DRI (Direct Rendering Infrastructure) is a framework for allowing direct access to graphics hardware under the X Window System in a safe and efficient manner. You need to enable DRI in xorg.conf. Firstly, make sure the GLX and DRI modules are being loaded:

Section “Module”

# …

Load “glx”

Load “dri”

# …

EndSection

Then, set the permissions for DRI appropriately. To allow anyone to use DRI, do:

Section “DRI”

Mode 0666

EndSection

After restart X server, you can check whether direct rendering is enabled by running glxinfo, the output of glxinfo should show:

direct rendering: Yes

( In my case I did not edit Xorg.conf to enable DRI, it was enable automatically)

3.Adjust CPU Speed by using CPU Speed Demon on Panel:
By default change of CPU speed is locked. To unlock issue :
$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure gnome-applets
in a root terminal and answer “Yes” to the question regarding setting the suid of the cpufreq-selector executable. Now, by left-clicking on the CPU Frequency Monitor Now you can choose the frequency for my processor, and things couldn’t be better!!

4.Optimise Broband Speed:

Open /etc/sysctl.conf and add the following to the end of the file. You might have to tweak the value 32768 (all occurrences in the following) to any power of 2 that works perfectly fine for you. We had seen several places where these values were different. 32768 was the value for which we had the best results on the BSNL bandwidth test. We use this test because we have a BSNL broadband connection. Once the file is saved you can reload these kernel parameters by running sudo sysctl -p or by simply restarting the system.

# Tweaks for faster broadband…
net.core.rmem_default = 32768
net.core.rmem_max = 32768
net.core.wmem_default = 32768
net.core.wmem_max = 32768
net.ipv4.tcp_wmem = 4096 32768 32768
net.ipv4.tcp_rmem = 4096 32768 32768
net.ipv4.tcp_mem = 32768 32768 32768
net.ipv4.tcp_rfc1337 = 1
net.ipv4.ip_no_pmtu_disc = 0
net.ipv4.tcp_sack = 1
net.ipv4.tcp_fack = 1
net.ipv4.tcp_window_scaling = 1
net.ipv4.tcp_timestamps = 1
net.ipv4.tcp_ecn = 0
net.ipv4.route.flush = 1

5.Automaic partitions Mounting:

For NTFS Partitions: Install and use ntfs-config
for Fat32 : Install and use pysdm

6.Multimedia:

Basic Multimedia works by default. To enable various codecs like w32 and enable playback of mp3,mov,dat etc. files do the following:

(i) Enable the Medibuntu repository. The first command below is aimed at Ubuntu Family 8.10 Intrepid Ibex users, as are the manual instructions, so if you are using a different version of Ubuntu, you will have to slightly edit the command and sources. If you do have to edit the command, you can do so within the terminal by navigating to the word “intrepid” with the keyboard arrow keys, change it to whatever version you are running, then move the cursor back to the end of the line before executing the command.

Quick Method: Open the terminal (Applications > Accessories > Terminal or KMenu > System > Terminal Program (Konsole) in Kubuntu and Applications > System > Terminal in Xubuntu) and paste these wget commands into it:

sudo wget http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/intrepid.list -O /etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list

wget -q http://packages.medibuntu.org/medibuntu-key.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add – && sudo apt-get update

Manual Method: If the above method didn’t work, and you received an error, you will have to add the repository manually, which is actually quite easy. First of all, open the sources file with your default or favourite text editor (replace “gedit” with “kwrite” in Kubuntu and “mousepad” in Xubuntu):

gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

Add the following two lines to the bottom of the list, remembering to change the Ubuntu version accordingly:

deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ intrepid free non-free
deb-src http://packages.medibuntu.org/ intrepid free non-free
(Repalce inter pid with hardy for ubuntu 8.04)

Finally, close and save the sources file and install the Medibuntu key by copying and pasting the following command into the terminal:

wget -q http://packages.medibuntu.org/medibuntu-key.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add – && sudo apt-get update

Ubuntu Users: It’s also a good idea to make sure the Multiverse and Universe repositories are enabled, although they should be enabled by default in the latest versions of Ubuntu. To make sure they are, or to choose a local server for downloads, navigate to “System > Administration > Software Sources” and tick whichever sources you wish to use, perhaps including unofficial updates (backports) in the “Updates” tab, as that will enable you to receive newer versions of some applications. While you’re there, you can also untick the CD/DVD-ROM source and choose a local server (both now default in current releases) instead of using the main server. There are two good reasons for this – first of all, you will be giving the main server a break because you’re using a local mirror, and secondly, it will improve download speeds when updating the system, or when installing software and packages.

Kubuntu Users: To enable Multiverse and Universe in Kubuntu, navigate to “KMenu > System > Adept” and launch it. On the menu of that application, navigate to “Adept > Manage Repositories” and enable the Multiverse and Universe repositories in the first tab. You might also want to enable unsupported (backports of newer software) updates in the “Updates” tab, disable the CD/DVD-ROM source, and choose a local server for all system-related downloads.

Xubuntu Users: Navigate to “Applications > System > Software Properties” and make sure the Multiverse and Universe repositories are enabled by ticking the relevant boxes. As with Ubuntu and Kubuntu, you may want to enable unsupported (backports of newer software) updates for your system, disable the CD/DVD-ROM source, and choose a local server for all your system-related downloads.

UBUNTU FAMILY 8.04 HARDY HERON USERS ONLY

A quick and easy way to install most of the packages you need (Flash, Java, codecs for playing/ripping/converting music and video etc) is to use the command line. If you would rather use a graphical application with descriptions of packages, you can either use Add/Remove, Synaptic in Ubuntu and Xubuntu (“System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager” in Ubuntu and “Applications > System > Synaptic Package Manager” in Xubuntu), and Adept in Kubuntu (“KMenu > System > Adept”). For the sake of speed, I suggest using the terminal for most of this howto. Open up the terminal, then copy and paste the relevant command for your particular Ubuntu variant and architecture into it:

Note: Those of you installing Sun Java will be asked to accept an end-user license agreement (EULA) before the installation of the Sun Java packages begins. Press the tab key on your keyboard (above the caps lock key), followed by the enter key to accept the EULA and complete the installation.

32-Bit Ubuntu Users:

sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common icedtea-gcjwebplugin libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash openjdk-6-jre openjdk-6-jre-headless openjdk-6-jre-lib swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse gstreamer0.10-pitfdll liblame0 non-free-codecs sun-java6-fonts sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin unrar

32-Bit Kubunu Users:

sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common icedtea-gcjwebplugin libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash openjdk-6-jre openjdk-6-jre-headless openjdk-6-jre-lib swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree libk3b2-extracodecs liblame0 libtunepimp5-mp3 libxine1-ffmpeg non-free-codecs sun-java6-fonts sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin unrar

32-Bit Xubuntu Users:

sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common icedtea-gcjwebplugin libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash openjdk-6-jre openjdk-6-jre-headless openjdk-6-jre-lib swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree liblame0 libxine1-ffmpeg non-free-codecs sun-java6-fonts sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin unrar

64-Bit Ubuntu Users:

sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse ia32-libs icedtea-gcjwebplugin liblame0 non-free-codecs openjdk-6-jre unrar

64-Bit Kubuntu Users:

sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree ia32-libs icedtea-gcjwebplugin libk3b2-extracodecs liblame0 libtunepimp5-mp3 libxine1-ffmpeg non-free-codecs openjdk-6-jre unrar

64-Bit Xubuntu Users:

sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree ia32-libs icedtea-gcjwebplugin liblame0 libxine1-ffmpeg non-free-codecs openjdk-6-jre unrar

Note: Please refer to the errors section below if you’re having installation problems with the packages above, or the troubleshooting section at the end of this howto if it’s a performance-related problem that you’re experiencing.

DID YOU HAVE ERRORS?
Note: You may have to perform “sudo apt-get update” twice after recovering from any of the errors below.

COMMON ERRORS

If you had errors while trying to do the above, one of these following commands may help. Did the terminal tell you to run “dpkg –configure -a”? All you have to do is add “sudo” to the front of that command, like so:

sudo dpkg –configure -a

or if it was the install -f command:

sudo apt-get install -f

Then make sure your system is up to date:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

NON-EXISTANT PACKAGES

Do you keep getting messages that certain packages don’t exist and can’t be installed? First of all, make sure you have enabled the Medibuntu, Universe and Multiverse repositories. If you’re certain that you have the necessary repositories enabled, then you may have a currupt apt list due to an interrupted “apt-get update”, which would then make the package manager think certain packages don’t exist on the server. Execute both of these commands in the terminal:

sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/partial/*

sudo apt-get update

NEWLINE ERROR/PACKAGE ERROR

An error which can prevent ANY system update/upgrade or package installation is the troublesome “final newline error”, but there are also other errors and curruptions which can prevent upgrades and installations. If you notice the same package or application being mentioned when you’re trying to upgrade or install something completely unrelated to it, take a note of which package the error is referring to, copy and paste the command below into the terminal, replace the “filename*” example with the name of the package that’s giving you grief, then execute the edited command to remove the currupt file(s):

sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/info/filename*

sudo apt-get update

This doesn’t mean the package has been removed, just the pre/post-install scripts, md5sums, and file lists related to it. You should reinstall the package – even if you plan to remove it, as those deleted and currupted files related to it will be replaced with non-currupted ones.

FORBIDDEN 403 ERROR

Those of you receiving the “Forbidden 403″ error should change your sources from “http” to “ftp”. You can change it by opening the sources file with your default or favourite text editor (substitute “gedit” for “kwrite” in Kubuntu and “mousepad” in Xubuntu) from within the terminal:

gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

Change all instances of “http” to “ftp”, then close and save the changes made. You should now be able to update the list of available packages:

sudo apt-get update

Once your errors are fixed, try repeating the command to install the restricted packages for your particular Ubuntu variant.

Quirks:

1.Brightness adjust buttons (Fn +f7/f8) do not work.

Tips

1. Open Terminal Here: Nautilus plugin for opening terminals in arbitrary local paths nautilus-open-terminal is a proof-of-concept Nautilus extension which allows you to open a terminal in arbitrary local folders.

To install this quick-launch to the terminal simply run:

sudo aptitude install nautilus-open-terminal

You may need to restart gnome / nautilus for the change to take effect, but afterwards you’ll have a “open terminal” button on your right-click menu anywhere within nautilus or gnome-desktop area.

Links

1.Power Saving in Linux: http://www.lesswatts.org
2.