Gateway M275 Tablet laptop with Ubuntu Hardy Heron (8.04.1)
I was recently given a Gateway M275 Tablet PC laptop in a non-functioning state. This laptop ships with Windows XP Tablet, but a clean format and the Recovery CD failed to bring it back to a working state. I thought "If I'm going to have to fight with laptop drivers, I might as well fight with Linux drivers".
(I may summarize my Windows results later, but that is basically outside the scope of this forum apart from what it may tell me about my hardware specifically)
So, this is a report on the things I've learned, and perhaps more importantly, the issues I am still trying to resolve.
If you read this and find it helpful, please drop a comment saying so.
Or, if you read this and it doesn't address some problem (either something else that you have solved, or something that hasn't even yet been solved) a response would be helpful there too.
Any pointers and or help about outstanding issues would be greatly appreciated.
As a disclaimer: I am certainly not a Linux expert, but I like to think I am a quick leaner. If I've made mistakes, please help me make corrections for the entire community's benefit.
bonus tags: Gateway, M275, tablet, linux, ubuntu, hardy, 8.04, gnome, wacom, drivers, graphics
Checking for errors, Installing Ubuntu; Issues remain
I thought it might be possible that this laptop had graphics hardware issues. During the Windows XP reinstall, the Safe Mode always hangs while/after loading "AGPCPQ.SYS". A number of other forums across the interweb report similar problems. Even after a fresh format and new install, the problem persisted. The computer was able to take an Install from a different Windows XP Pro install CD, and make it all the way to the desktop, graphics and all, so I had some hope.
I started with a new LiveCD, to see if any of the laptop's functions would work. To my satisfacton, the LiveCD booted, and I was able to cruise around GNOME successfully.
So, let's check the HDD to see if there are any problems there (bad sectors, etc)
Hard drive info:
Hitachi Travelstar
MODEL: HTS548060M9AT00
60GB 5400 RPM
Code:
>badblocks -n -v -s -c 10240
Testing with random pattern: done
Pass completed. 0 bad blocks found.
Described in more detail here:
Checking disks for errors using the badblocks command
credit: specialj
http://ubuntumagnet.com/2008/01/chec...blocks-command
Well, the HDD appears to be alright. How about the memory? I used MEMTEST86 v3.4. All test Passed, everything was just fine. Again, very encouraging.
Alright, let's get our Linux on. Using the Install/LiveCD, I went right ahead. Partitions were created as follows (shown as "Code" simply for clarity)
Code:
Partition(s):
/dev/sda1 / ext3 4096 MB
/dev/sda2 swap 2048 MB
/dev/sda3 /home ext3 16348 MB
Now things are on the right track. Wireless works no problem, FF runs and browses, once I installed the plugins I could watch YouTube vids easily. Sound works fine. Things are looking good.
But, several symptoms showed up, related to graphics:
- Switching screen modes i.e. virtual terminals leads to hangs/crashes
- None of the LCD bezel buttons work, so no screen rotation, and no On-Screen Keyboard
- Manual screen rotation (System>Preferences>Screen Resolution) fails/hangs/crashes
- Displaying a simple .wmv video clip with Totem causes hangs/crashes
- ON-Screen Display (OSD) for laptop "Brightness", "Sound", "Status" etc. are garbled or no-show (minor importance, but indicative of problems)
2 Attachment(s)
Graphics Driver for Intel integrated 855GM
From the symptoms listed above, I've thought that I may have graphics driver and/or hardware problems.
A good Specifications page about the M275 will list:
Video: Integrated Intel® Extreme Graphics 2
And more specifically:
Intel integrated Graphics 855GM
This can be confirmed using the command to list PCI hardware connections (use switches for more details)
I've attached the results of both from my machine for reference.
Alternatively, a lot can be learned using the package gnome-device-manager, currently v0.2.1
credit: davidmaxwaterman
http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-26800.html
Also, the package sysinfo (0.7-0ubuntu3) can tell quite a few things about your hardware.
Either of these will report something similar to
82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device
Integrated graphics are fine, but it doesn't leave many options if the hardware itself is actually damaged.
"Intel", they've been around a while, maybe you've heard of them. So, drivers should be pretty well developed and easy to come by. Well, sort of.
Recently, 915resolution would have been a necessity for rotating a tablet
Here's the homepage for Intel Linux graphics
http://intellinuxgraphics.org/
X/Bugs/ScreenModeChange
Bugs with screen mode change (startup/shutdown, hibernate, suspend, screensaver, power save, or tty switch)
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Bugs/ScreenModeChange
Installed xresprobe, in order to provide ddcprobe output
Thread asking for specific help
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=6218154
Some other forums about the M275 refer to upgrading the BIOS. I currently have the most recent version 48.04.01
Screen and Wacom Tablet rotation
Don't be misled, some sites/forums incorrectly report that the M275 uses a FinePoint digitizer. That's incorrect; some tablets do, but the M275 is NOT one of them. The M285 does use FinePoint, find more info here
If you happen to be unable to get a Gateway Recovery CD, the Wacom drivers (for Windows) are inconvienently NOT on the Gateway site. Find them here
A very useful thread:
Hangs/Crashes with tty Virtual Terminals, Suspend...
The most major problem I'm still having, after sorting out how to do rotations.
While I suppose I can just use Terminal for most of the simple Linux commands I might like to be issuing, it's quite bothersome that fundamental aspects of Linux aren't working on my system.
Launchpad Bug #127101: laptop hangs when switching video mode
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...el/+bug/127101
Bugzilla – Bug 10809 System freeze after pressing ctrl-alt-bs.
https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=10809
/var/log/bootchart/
As stated above, this is basically worked out.
Only thing, occasionally I still get "Failed to Suspend" upon waking, accompanied with three or four loud beeps.
How do I go about diagnosing that?
I know there's a pretty significant recording in dmesg when I do a suspend, although I can't quite understand it all yet...
Occurs about 1/3 of the time when I turn the computer back on from Standby, accompanied by 5-6 obnoxious beeps.
Sleep Problem
Your computer failed to Suspend...
System beeps on return from suspend
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=782995
The suggestions here are mostly just how to stop the SOUND, not diagnose the problem...
Acer Aspire 5100 Suspend Problem on Ubuntu 8.04
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=756754
Some useful info (and some webcam nonsense, too)..
Sleep Problem
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=774384
Suspend/Hibernate in Hardy solved (for me)
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=811163
Not actually Solved, but he does suggest how to find the gnome-power-manager...
Troubleshooting Sleep Problem Message
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=828136
Same problem, no suggestions...
Question M1530: After successful hibernation, get "your computer failed to hibernate" message
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=823081
Gees, this problem is ALL OVER the forums, widely reported, mostly unanswered...
[SOLVED] suspend and hibernate questions
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=811890
OK, here we go; Post #14 at least tells how to log the problems...
As I try to follow this problem across the forums, I realize that the vB implementation won't let you search for "some string". So, one work-around is a google site: serach, (pretty common trick, suggested here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=822460)
Another question:
Suspending and Hibernation in hardy -- failed
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=807245
This one linked to the Launchpad bug
Here is the bug on Launchpad (links to similar bug 195095, too)
{Hardy} Message: "Suspend Problem. Your computer failed to suspend"
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...al/+bug/199088
TONS of reported incidences, with no answer or even suggestions. They do tell you how to disable the sound...
Get rid of the beeping by unchecking the box
System->Preferences->Power Management->General
[_] Use sound to notify in event of error
A number of users report that the failure occurs when Suspending for a long time, and not for short Suspend periods...
The very last post says that it stopped happening for one user when she upgraded to Intrepid
OnScreen Display (OSD) system information doesn't work
Status, Brightness, Volume
During booting, the OSD works fine, but starts to not work right at "Loading hardware drivers..." (I have disabled quiet in GRUB)
I don't quite understand it yet, but apparently after coming back from Suspend, the OSD behaves much better, mostly working