martedì 5 ottobre 2010

Installing Kubuntu 10.04 (upgrade 11.04) on Acer TimelineX 4820TG

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Last updated: 2011-06-04


Hardware Components
Status under Linux
Notes
 Intel Core i5 430M CPU ,2.26 GHz (with Intel Turbo Boost support)WorksNo special procedure required during installation.
14 inch WXGA (1366×768)WorksNo special procedure required
ATI Radeon HD 5650 graphicsWorksNo special procedure required - no additional drivers are needed
- optionally you can activate FGLRX driver (scroll down!)
4GB RAMWorksNo special procedure required
500GB hard driveWorksNo special procedure required
Built-in videocameraWorksNo special procedure required
Integrated Network CardWorks"AR81Family Linux Driver" from http://partner.atheros.com/Drivers.aspx.
DVD Writer (Dual-Layer, DVD-RAM Support)WorksNo special procedure required
Li-ion 9 Cell BatteryWorksNeed to upgrade to latest version of BIOS 
SoundMicrophone works after some workaroundsupgrade to  ALSA version 1.0.23 and follow the below Davebox23 post.

This laptop is operating under Kernel version:
2.6.32-25-generic   OK
2.6.32-25-generic OK
2.6.35-23-generic OK

2.6.35-25-generic OK
2.6.38-8-generic OK (11.04)

Basic Installation of Kubuntu:


The installation was smooth from the early beginning...
I suggest you to check that your BIOS version is at least the 1.18 version. In any other case to have  your battery correctly recognized you should upgrade by downloading the newest version directly from the support website of Acer. (www.acer.com/acer/service.do) I am using the version 1.19 2010/10/04
After the installation of the new bios (that is quite easy with the released package by Acer) I can say that the laptop support all the relevant feature of the current Kubuntu release (GUI effects, listeners,...)

Setting up additional features for Kubuntu
  • I suggest to install nm-applet instead of knetworkmanager to avoid the manual enabling Wireless connection each startup. (http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/NetworkManager#Automatically_connect_on_boot)
  • To fix the internal microphone (Skype or Google talk) upgrade to the newest version of Alsa  (simply follow the instruction here:https://launchpad.net/~ricotz/+archive/unstable)  .After this operation if you experience a noisy microphone recording just follow this smart fix from the Ubuntu forum:
    Originally Posted by daveboy23 
    yap, i actually searched for that myself - here's the solution: go to skype and disable 
    the automatic sound adjust thing then go to terminal - type alsamixer, press F4 (capture tab) - so to capture and 
    put it all the way up (or to a volume you like) then (on the same 
    column)press 'y' till you completely mute the left channel. now skype works. problem - if you
    change the volume from the pulse you loose this configuration so take care.
    
    
  • Getting the touchpad to operate you should (by giova.86 - http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1495123)
    • 1) create a file named .touchpad.sh in your home
    • 2) open the file and copy these line into it:


#!/bin/sh
sleep 10
xinput set-int-prop "SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad" "Two-Finger Scrolling" 8 1
xinput set-int-prop "SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad" "Synaptics Two-Finger Scrolling" 8 1 1
xinput set-int-prop "SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad" "Synaptics Two-Finger Pressure" 32 10
xinput set-int-prop "SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad" "Synaptics Two-Finger Width" 32 8

  • Finally I found out how to enable proprietary FGLRX graphic driver (2011-05-08)
    The successful activation of the driver depends on a fix operation sequence:
    1. Back up your xorg.conf file (sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup)
    2. Now you can safely remove your xorg.conf file (sudo rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf)
    3. Let Kubuntu propose you to install the FGLRX driver and enable 'em (for this just run the application that you can find in the default kubuntu menu "additional driver")
    4. As soon as the driver is downloaded and installed reboot the system
    5. On reboot enter the BIOS (with F2 key) and change the Video settings to ' discrete' 
    6. Now the system should correctly reboot and you may experience strange "arial" fonts in the kubuntu loader
    7. after your log-in run in your konsole the command " sudo aticonfig --initial "
    8. reboot
    9. if everything works after the reboot it means that FGLRX drivers are up and running...
Unresolved issues
  • currently none
Configuration Files
  • I did not change anything
Links: