How to fix Hardy (32bit/64bit) SATA/SOUND/MIC problems on Dell VOSTRO 1400

[ukripper]

Hardy 64bit works great on Vostro 1400, I had to only fix the following problems:

Let me start with the first notorious bug SATA drive Load/unload cycle.

Fixing High frequency load and unload cycle, ticking noise of SATA drive in laptop mode

Note: only for affected drives mainly on Dell laptops. Power saving mode is enabled by default on
laptop drives which may cause high frequency load and unload cycles.

To check how often your drive is load cycling:
smartctl -d ata -a /dev/sda
(This command is for SATA drive only; you'll need to install the
smartmontools package first.)


Fix worked on ubuntu Gutsy and on Hardy too:

Download this file,
http://launchpadlibrarian.net/12024037/90-hdparm.sh

and install as following from terminal:


If you have downloaded to desktop then in terminal type following(otherwise go to the location where you have saved the file):


cd ~/Desktop

Install using following commands:

sudo install 90-hdparm.sh /etc/acpi/resume.d/
sudo install 90-hdparm.sh /etc/acpi/start.d/
sudo install 90-hdparm.sh /etc/acpi/ac.d/
sudo install 90-hdparm.sh /etc/acpi/battery.d/


VOSTRO SOUND & Internal MIC FIX

Sound fix -
In terminal type: gksudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base

then add option: snd-hda-intel model=dell-3stack

save and exit, then reboot.

Internal MIC fix-
VOLUME CONTROL APPLET in PANEL

Double click the VOLUME CONTROL APPLET until the PREFERENCES window opens up.

Then EDIT –> PREFERENCES and choose CAPTURE and DIGITAL and DIGITAL INPUT SOURCE.

Then OPTIONS should appear, just click on it (it shows DIGITAL INPUT SOURCE) and change the value to DIGITAL MIC.

This will fix the internal mic then test it in applications like skype.

If anyone knows how to fix LED of IWL3945 please post in this thread?

[anachoret]

In my case I did nothing with sound settings except change the value for Input Source to "Front Mic". After that I am able to use regular headset with either Skype or Sound_Recorder.

Seems to me the "Mic" means the microphone above the screen, but that microphone is not supported by Linux in Vostro 1400.

[anachoret]

In my case I did nothing with sound settings except change the value for Input Source to "Front Mic". After that I am able to use regular headset with either Skype or Sound_Recorder.

Seems to me the "Mic" means the microphone above the screen, but that microphone is not supported by Linux in Vostro 1400.
Here is my "investigation" :)
The microphones in Vostro 1400 are working under any Ubuntu since 8.04. The trick is following.

Run the 'alsamixer', set
1."Digital" -> "Digital"
This settings activates the front microphone above the screen.

Run the 'alsamixer', set
1."Digital" -> "Analog I"
2."Front Mi" -> "Mic In"
3.In "Sound Proferences" choose "Microphone 2" in the "Input" tab.
These settings do activating the line-in microphone below the touch pad.

[ukripper]

Everything works on vostro 1400 using 10.04LTS. This guide is obsolete for 10.04. Must be used till Jaunty 9.04 only.

[anachoret]

And finally with Lucid Lynx.

By default, an option "Microphone 1" is active and the microphone above the screen is working. Change the sound input option to "Microphone 3" and the line-in microphone below the touch pad get up and running (the front screen mic is disabled as well).

Progress! :)