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Ubuntu 6.10 on Acer TravelMate 661LCi

Intro

Okay, here we go for a clean install of Ubuntu Edgy Eft 6.10.
Again, a dualboot with WinXP.

First, we insert the Ubuntu CD. A nice LiveCD will be booted.
+ LiveCD recognizes 99% of the hardware
- it boots quite slowly (Knoppix boots faster)
- stupid graphical bootup. You have NO idea wether it is loading or freezing up.


Specs
Pentium-M 1,4 Ghz
512 MB RAM (2 x 256)
Toshiba 40GB 4200rpm HDD (replaced with a new HDD after mechanic failure)
Intel i855GM chipset 400 MHz FSB with integrated graphics
15" TFT display designed for 1400x1050 with 1 ext. VGA port
Broadcom 4401 10/100 Ethernet Card
Smart Link v.92 internal modem
Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 802.11b card
O2 Micro smart card reader
SmartMedia/MMC/SD/MemoryStick reader
1 32bit type II PCMIA CardBus slot
1 IR, 1 IEEE 1394 (FireWire), 4 USB 2.0
1 S-VHS out, 1 Parallell, 1 RJ-11, 1 RJ-45
1 Headphone/Line-Out, 1 Line-In, 1 Mic-In


Installation
When the LiveCD is finally booted, you can use some of the functions of Ubuntu to see of you like them or not. Screenresolution is stuck at 1280*xxx.
Just dubbleclick the "Installation" logo on the desktop.

Here comes the beauty of Ubuntu 6.10: a nice graphical installer ! Huge improvement since Ubuntu 5.10.
Step 1: fill out your language
Step 2: Choose your timezone
Step 3: Choose your keyboard layout (Ubuntu choses a default layout, based on your previous chosen timezone)
Step 4: Give your real name, loginname, password (2x), pc name
Step 5: Disk Partitioning


Okay, this sucked HUGELY !
First of all, I always do a clean install. I'm always customizing my system, so apt-get upgrade mostly fails. Better to do clean install.
While I was in WindowsXP, I used Partition Magic to format my Ubuntu-partition.
As you can see in the above screenshot, Edgy wouldn't install. I had to use gParted to DELETE that partition, and then reformat it.
Only then Edgy would install.

Total installation time: 20-30min.


1400*1050 resolution
Same thing as in Dapper, no improvements here.
sudo apt-get install 915resolution
next
sudo 915resolution -l

this gives you something like this:
Intel 800/900 Series VBIOS Hack : version 0.5.2

Chipset: 855GM
BIOS: TYPE 2
Mode Table Offset: $C0000 + $36f
Mode Table Entries: 21

Mode 30 : 640x480, 8 bits/pixel
Mode 32 : 800x600, 8 bits/pixel
Mode 34 : 1024x768, 8 bits/pixel
Mode 38 : 1280x1024, 8 bits/pixel
Mode 3a : 1600x1200, 8 bits/pixel
Mode 3c : 1920x1440, 8 bits/pixel
Mode 41 : 640x480, 16 bits/pixel
Mode 43 : 800x600, 16 bits/pixel
Mode 45 : 1024x768, 16 bits/pixel
Mode 49 : 1280x1024, 16 bits/pixel
Mode 4b : 1600x1200, 16 bits/pixel
Mode 4d : 1920x1440, 16 bits/pixel
Mode 50 : 640x480, 32 bits/pixel
Mode 52 : 800x600, 32 bits/pixel
Mode 54 : 1024x768, 32 bits/pixel
Mode 58 : 1280x1024, 32 bits/pixel
Mode 5a : 1600x1200, 32 bits/pixel
Mode 5c : 1920x1440, 32 bits/pixel
Mode 7c : 1024x600, 8 bits/pixel
Mode 7d : 1024x600, 16 bits/pixel
Mode 7e : 1024x600, 32 bits/pixel

the 'mode 3c' is a mode we will never use, so -->
sudo gedit /etc/default/915resolution
change it to
MODE=3c
XRESO=1400
YRESO=1050

# optional setting
BIT=32

sudo /etc/init.d/915resolution start
gives this -->
Starting 915resolution: Intel 800/900 Series VBIOS Hack : version 0.5.2

Chipset: 855GM
BIOS: TYPE 2
Mode Table Offset: $C0000 + $36f
Mode Table Entries: 21

Patch mode 3c to resolution 1400x1050 complete
915resolution.

Okay, final step: we need to apply this patch every time at boot -->
sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf
If all is well, you won't have to change anything. Else -->
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1400x1050" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection

VERY IMPORTANT:
sudo gedit /etc/init.d/bootmisc.sh
at the bottom, there is a line that says "exit 3 " . Just before that line, you have to add:
#
# Modify video BIOS tables to report correct mode for LCD
#
sudo /usr/sbin/915resolution 3c 1400 1050
I didn't to this, and my screen was f*cked up on reboot.

Broadcom 10/100 Ethernet Card
Just works.

Intel Pro/Wireless 802.11b
Just works.

Keyboard and USB-mouse (Logitech)
Just works.

Touchpad
Just works.

Sound
Just works.

Ubuntu does not standard support mp3.
Use Automatix for (among others) all multimedia setting (see customization).

Harddisks (mounting)
In the graphical setup, you have chose your mount points, so everything is okay.

Not tested
* Suspend to disk/ram
* Hibernate
* Infrared
* Cardreader


CD-burner
GnomeBaker (installed by Automatix) works really well.


Webcam (Logitech QuickCam Zoom)
YeeY, this works out-of-the-box :-)


Outro
Also check the customization page !