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View Full Version : Will this laptop work with Ubuntu Hardy or PClinuxOS08



Twitch6000
October 3rd, 2008, 08:21 PM
Okay so I am getting a new laptop and this is the one I have my eyes on.(link at bottom)

I know that I will need envy for the video card and I might need a tweak or two, but that is no big deal for me.

My question is mainly for the wireless if it works then I am set.

Also do you think I could put windows xp on it with no big problems?(I have stuff that will not work with vista and I have bad history already with vista.)

Link to the laptop -

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/HP-G60-120US-15-6-Widescreen-Laptop-G60-120US/sem/rpsm/oid/223182/catOid/-12963/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

binbash
October 3rd, 2008, 08:27 PM
I guess that notebook using Intel 4965AGN and it works on both Ubuntu and PclinuxOS

Kingsley
October 3rd, 2008, 08:30 PM
HP laptops usually work very well with Linux, but you may have issues with the ones that have an AMD processor. A little bit of research should help you figure out whether or not there will be a problem. And if there will be one, how to fix it. Everything else looks good.

Twitch6000
October 3rd, 2008, 09:04 PM
Humm ok I will check on that and thanks for the reply's any more info?

gn2
October 3rd, 2008, 09:30 PM
This one's perhaps a safer bet: http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/HP-Pavilion-dv2910us-14-1-Widescreen-Entertainment-Laptop-FE989UA-ABA/sem/rpsm/oid/214771/catOid/-18746/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Twitch6000
October 3rd, 2008, 09:33 PM
This one's perhaps a safer bet: http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/HP-Pavilion-dv2910us-14-1-Widescreen-Entertainment-Laptop-FE989UA-ABA/sem/rpsm/oid/214771/catOid/-18746/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

I dislike the video card on it :/.I need a laptop that can handle casual gaming,photo editing,video watching,tons of downloading,programming,and homework.

This is why I am wanting a good Nvidia graphics card or ATI.(I Prefer Nvidia though)

Twitch6000
October 5th, 2008, 05:54 AM
Ok so i got the laptop and well I was stupid or something cause right off the bat I tried to dual boot xp and vista(I didn't want to be to dumb lol).

Well after I did that I got the xo drivers I found online and well one of the wireless ones did not work and I have about 6 drives I still need...

Then I couldn't get on my vista partition...

So I was like fine.. I will just dual boot vista and Ubuntu.

So I popped in ubuntu and it went straight to the command line with the busy error :(.

So yeah... can someone help me with either getting me some working xp wireless drivers or an ubuntu a fix for vista(now vista refuses to even start up...)

I think I made a big boo boo this time lol.

So I need one out of three things -

1. A way for Ubuntu to install

2. A way for vista to work again lol

3. All the drivers for xp for this laptop.

Note: Normally I have my head on straight,but today I strangely don't :/.

Kingsley
October 5th, 2008, 07:52 AM
Download all the XP drivers by searching for them on the HP website. Then transfer the files to you XP partition with a jump drive.

mips
October 5th, 2008, 09:25 AM
I do not see any drivers listed for XP on the hp website, you might want to try the HP Software Update on the XP download page listed below:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=228&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=3795258

A better option for drivers is to download them directly from the chipset manufacturers website. First you will need an inventory from your pc as to exactly what components it is made up of. A program like PC Wizard 2008 will do this for you, http://pc-wizard-2008.en.softonic.com/. Once you have that you visit all the chipset manufacturers websites and download their latest drivers. If you would like you could save the full output of PCW2008 and attach it here and I will direct you to exactly what you have to download. This is the method I prefer as it gaurantees the latest up to date drivers.

As for Vista your laptop should have a restore/recovery partition. This should restore your Vista to it's out of the box state the way your laptop came. Make sure you backup this partition for future mishaps ;)

Sorry can't help with Ubuntu but maybe try the 8.10beta version as it should have more up to date support. Also try starting in safe gfx mode.

Twitch6000
October 5th, 2008, 07:15 PM
I do not see any drivers listed for XP on the hp website, you might want to try the HP Software Update on the XP download page listed below:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=228&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=3795258

A better option for drivers is to download them directly from the chipset manufacturers website. First you will need an inventory from your pc as to exactly what components it is made up of. A program like PC Wizard 2008 will do this for you, http://pc-wizard-2008.en.softonic.com/. Once you have that you visit all the chipset manufacturers websites and download their latest drivers. If you would like you could save the full output of PCW2008 and attach it here and I will direct you to exactly what you have to download. This is the method I prefer as it gaurantees the latest up to date drivers.

As for Vista your laptop should have a restore/recovery partition. This should restore your Vista to it's out of the box state the way your laptop came. Make sure you backup this partition for future mishaps ;)

Sorry can't help with Ubuntu but maybe try the 8.10beta version as it should have more up to date support. Also try starting in safe gfx mode.

Ight let me reinstall XP and get things started.

By the way I found out way vista won't start up.

It is because of the boot up script bing messed up how can I fix this without having a vista cd?

Anyways going to reinstall xp.

Twitch6000
October 5th, 2008, 08:22 PM
Ok here is what I got for the drivers and such <.<.

I couldn't find the direct driver info for some reason...

Anyways info attached on this post.

Oh and I found out it has an atheros wireless driver...

Edit:

Ok update i found out a way to get it to the dual boot screen via xp,but when I try to boot into vista it just goes into a black screen ad nothing more.
Any help there??

I can edit vista files through my xp partition so if this is needed just tell me what to edit and exactly how.

gn2
October 5th, 2008, 10:01 PM
Maybe you need to fix Vista's bootloader by doing a "Startup Repair (http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-us/help/5c59f8c1-b0d1-4f1a-af55-74f3922f3f351033.mspx)", this can be done with a Vista installation DVD or if you only have "recovery media" supplied by the PC/Laptop manufacturer, you can download a Vista Recovery CD .iso from here (http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/).

If this fixes Vista you'll probably need to re-install Grub.

Twitch6000
October 5th, 2008, 10:44 PM
Maybe you need to fix Vista's bootloader by doing a "Startup Repair (http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-us/help/5c59f8c1-b0d1-4f1a-af55-74f3922f3f351033.mspx)", this can be done with a Vista installation DVD or if you only have "recovery media" supplied by the PC/Laptop manufacturer, you can download a Vista Recovery CD .iso from here (http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/).

If this fixes Vista you'll probably need to re-install Grub.

Dude thank you I needed to find a recovery cd instead of a full cd.

Dude just freaking thank you....

Edit:Ok I am going to try Ubuntu again.

Now since last time it just went to the command line and not the GUI I figure the Nvidia is to blame.How to avoid this in the installation?

mips
October 6th, 2008, 10:33 AM
Anyways info attached on this post.


Those files are empty except for heading lines.

mips
October 6th, 2008, 10:34 AM
Dude thank you I needed to find a recovery cd instead of a full cd.

Dude just freaking thank you....

Edit:Ok I am going to try Ubuntu again.

Now since last time it just went to the command line and not the GUI I figure the Nvidia is to blame.How to avoid this in the installation?

Just use vesa mode. Then try installing nvidia with envy.

Twitch6000
October 6th, 2008, 05:49 PM
Just use vesa mode. Then try installing nvidia with envy.

Ok I am using version 8.10 beta and wubi for the dual boot.

So things are a wee bit different, so I need help knowning how to get to vesa mode <.<. I know how to use safe gfx mode,but not vesa mode.

mips
October 6th, 2008, 06:01 PM
You need to look at your xorg.conf file.

I'm sure ubuntu has something like a failsafe X. Hopefully someone can shed more light on that.