HOW TO:1420n Fresh Feisty Install

[specker]

After the recent purchase of a Dell 1420n notebook I felt it was only appropriate to wipe the hard drive clean and start from scratch. Needless to say I encountered some issues doing a fresh install of Feisty. Here is my process to get everything working again. What works:
Wireless AND Wired
Intel Video
Compiz
CDROM recognition
Sound
Modem

1. Packages Partion
When you install Feisty from the alternate cd xorg will break. So we need to install some packages from the command line. However, I was unable to get wireless internet working from the command line. So I used the PCLinuxOS live cd (it boots fine) to download the following packages and copy them to a new parition. MEPIS also works. You will want to make a partition on your hard drive to hold these new packages. The partition only needs to be about 60mb. After you install Ubuntu from the alt-install cd you will need to access these files on that new partition.

Download and copy these to your new partition:

linux-restricted-modules-generic_2.6.20.16.28.1_i386.deb
linux-restricted-modules-2.6.20-16-generic_2.6.20.5-16.28_i386.deb
linux-image-generic_2.6.20.16.28.1_i386.deb
linux-image-2.6.20-16-generic_2.6.20-16.29_i386.deb
linux-headers-2.6.20-16-generic_2.6.20-16.29_i386.deb
linux-headers-2.6.20-16_2.6.20-16.29_i386.deb
xserver-xorg-video-intel_2.1.1-0ubuntu2_i386.deb

If you don't have a Feisty alternate install cd you will want to get that now. Exit PCLinuxOS.

2. Install Ubuntu using the alternate install cd as normal but be sure to add a mount point for your new partition, so it is easily available later. Do not install Ubuntu on to the partition you saved those previous files to. It will erase them. That's bad! When prompted during the install choose manual partitioning. Set a mount point for the new partition and choose automatic partitioning for the rest of the free space on your drive.

3. X Is Broken
After the install you should reboot to a broken X. Get yourself to the command line and install all those packages you just downloaded. I installed them in this order:

sudo dpkg -i linux-image-2.6.20-16-generic_2.6.20-16.29_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i linux-image-generic_2.6.20.16.28.1_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-2.6.20-16_2.6.20-16.29_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-2.6.20-16-generic_2.6.20-16.29_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i linux-restricted-modules-2.6.20-16-generic_2.6.20.5-16.28_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i linux-restricted-modules-generic_2.6.20.16.28.1_i386.deb

I reboot here, not sure if you have to. When X breaks again remove the old i810 package:

sudo apt-get remove xserver-xorg-video-i810

Install the new intel package:

sudo dpkg -i xserver-xorg-video-intel_2.1.1-0ubuntu2_i386.deb

Now:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Choose intel and hit OK. Then choose 1280x800.
Reboot:

sudo shutdown -r now

It should reboot to the login screen.

4. Wireless Internet
Wireless should be working now so do some updates:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

5. CDROM Recognition

sudo gedit /etc/initramfs-tools/modules

Add "piix" no quotes, save and exit.
Then:

sudo update-initramfs -u

Reboot and the CDROM should be recognized.

6. Sound
Create /etc/modprobe.d/1420-sound and add:

options snd-hda-intel model=3stack

Create /etc/acpi/suspend.d/86-1420-sound.sh and add:

#!/bin/sh
 killall mixer_applet2
 modprobe -r snd_hda_intel

Create /etc/acpi/resume.d/66-1420-sound.sh and add:

#!/bin/sh
 modprobe  snd_hda_intel

Add to /etc/rc.local:

modlist=`lsmod | grep snd_hda`
 [ -z "$modlist" ] && modprobe snd_hda_intel

Reboot and you should hear something.

7. Modem (untested)
Download hsfmodem_7.60.00.06oem_i386.deb

sudo dpkg -i hsfmodem_7.60.00.06oem_i386.deb

8. Compiz
This will fix issues with the desktop-effects and screensaver. I haven't gotten up the guts to test it on compiz-fusion.
Enable the Feisty proposed updates from System->Administration->Software Sources->Updates

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

Updates some mesa packages.


9. Totem/Compiz Fix
Video doesn't seem to want to play in totem with desktop-effects activated. Here is the workaround.

gstreamer-properties

Select Video and change Default Output Plugin to X Window System (No Xv).

10. Wired Internet Connection
Check this thread.
Download his script and run it. It will set you up with the Gutsy kernel. Wired then works out of the box.

You should be up and running at this point. Let me know how it works for you. I have done this numerous times now and I get consistently good results.

Credit where credit is due:
http://linux.dell.com/wiki/index.php...lation_Details
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...ht=intel+x3100
https://bugs.launchpad.net/xorg-server/+bug/111257

[notwen]

Assuming you were able to get regular Compiz working, would you guess that Beryl would be functional as well? I was concerned when I saw lots of 1420n owners having issues w/ their Intel GFX. I prefer Beryl's config window more than gconf-editor to change settings in Compiz. My 1420n should arrive mid August hopefully. =]

[specker]

To be honest I don't know because I haven't tried it. My guess would be yes, it would work. Those updated mesa packages in the proposed updates did the trick for the basic feisty compiz.

[Shay Stephens]

Choose intel and hit OK. At this point two/thirds of the time my screen flashes and goes blank. Don't worry just reboot. After the reboot you should see the login screen. At this point I login and run: Code: sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg Choose intel again and 1280x800 resolution. Reboot again just to make sure everything is working.

I have a question. I am trying to get a Dell 1800MP projector working with the 1420N and the projector just says "out of range". So I tried your instructions here and now the projector works (yay), however, my LCD screen now looks like the color depth is 65k colors instead of 16 million colors. Also the resolution options have changed to:
1024x768
1400x1050
1280x1024
1152x864
832x624
800x600
640x480
1400x1400

When I check the xorg.conf file this is what is listed
1280x1024
1280x800
1024x768
800x600
640x480

Anyone have any idea how to get 1280x800 and a 16 million color depth? It is already listed in the xorg.conf file but the options listed at first is all I see in the screen resolution preferences app.

[specker]

What is the default depth set to in your xorg.conf? Should be at 24, I believe. Here is a copy of the Screen section of my xorg.conf file. I guess your could see if there are any differences.

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Device		"Generic Video Card"
	Monitor		"Generic Monitor"
	DefaultDepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		1
		Modes		"1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		4
		Modes		"1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		8
		Modes		"1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		15
		Modes		"1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		16
		Modes		"1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		24
		Modes		"1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Hope it helps!

[rickyjones]

Does suspend and hibernate work with this as well? I'm considering the 1420N for my next laptop.

Thanks,

-Richard

[specker]

Yes. Suspend and Hibernate seem to work just fine.

[rickyjones]

Originally Posted by specker Yes. Suspend and Hibernate seem to work just fine.

Thank you for the update! Suspend/Hibernate are a requirement of mine for using a laptop - I definitely appreciate the work that Dell and Ubuntu are putting into this venture.

-Richard

[specker]

Overall I'm pretty happy with the system. The fresh install process right now is a bit of a pain but I would hope most of that will be taken care of in Gutsy.

[LMP900]

Originally Posted by specker Yes. Suspend and Hibernate seem to work just fine.

Thank you for confirming this.

I cannot wait until my 1420N arrives. Threads such as this one will definitely come in handy when I run into issues. I will certainly try to contribute as much as I can once I sort everything out.