sony VGN-FW200 Series

[drews_blunted]

Hello, i just bought a sony vaio labtop and i am trying to install ubuntu onto the computer. When i start the ubuntu install as the loading screen goes and finishes i am left with a weird white screen with odd blackish colors on the screen. It doesnt alow me to see anything or install ubuntu. Does anyone know why this is happening. I do belive that ubuntu should be able to install on this machine! any help would be great!

[blls]

same problem here... I'm new to Ubuntu, but have experience with Suse. Sony vaio FW270

[ronmillsap]

Make that three... FW270
I tried 32 bit and 64 bit, no difference.
Tried live CD, tried install, no difference.

[NotoriousMOK]

Sony Vaio VGN-NS135E

I was able to complete the installation using the alternate CD, but am still working on video issues.


good luck

[drews_blunted]

I have been able to install ubuntu using the Alternative Cd as well. I tryed the normal cd is safe mode but i couldn't get pass the partitioning stage. I am still having a problem getting the white screen to go away.
I tryed to edit the xorg.conf file but when i opened it in nano there was nothing in the file? Not sure if i either had a bad install or if the file is blank for some other reason. hope someone else will come up with a good fix if i cant figure it out.

Also i found this link witch may help fix some other of our problems with ubuntu and this labtop!
http://vaioubuntu.wordpress.com/

[drews_blunted]

WOW i found a quick fix to get past the white screen of death!

First i logged into ubuntu once i got to the white screen i typed Ctrl alt f1 to switch to a diffrent console then i loged in.

And typed: sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

Just went with the regular options.

Once my xorg.conf file was created i edited it with nano
"sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf"

Then i added the line

Driver "vesa"

under the section "device" part of the xorg.conf file.

I saved the file by typeing ctrl x to exit and it asked me to save i typed Y for yes. Then i switched to the xorg console "ctrl atl f7" and typed ctrl alt backspace to restart the xserver and WHALLAH! i had a working Xserver.

Hopefully this will fix some of your problems.

I just got this labtop at bestbuy on black friday, i have a feeling theres a bunch of us out there who wanted to put ubuntu on it!

Now all i need to do is figure out if i can get a better video driver than vesa to get full performance outta the onboard video!

Thanks!

[ronmillsap]

Thanks Drews,
I'm on my way out to work so I can't do this till tonight. I'll go nuts all day thinking about it. I HAVE to have my Ubuntu. I too bought a FW270 at Best Buy when my HP died on Friday.
I hope it works !
Thanks again

[drews_blunted]

Ok, so after i got my vesa setup i went ahead and found this generic xorg file somewhere on the forums for a similar sony labtop and i tryed it and i was alowed to get a higer resolution. Only 1024 x 800 but thats better than 800x600. I have a feeling there is not suitable video drivers for this graphics ard right now for ubuntu. For now this is my best workaround untill myself or someone else figure out how to get the onboard video to work with the intel drivers. Hope this helps someone else out!

### X.org configuration file


## Server settings
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "X.org Configured"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Touchpad" "AlwaysCore"
InputDevice "USBMouse" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection


## Font settings
Section "Files"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection


## Module settings
Section "Module"
Load "xtrap"
Load "glx"
Load "dbe"
Load "extmod"
Load "dri"
Load "vbe"
EndSection


## Input devices
# Keyboard
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
Option "Name" "Sony Vaio Keys"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

# Trackpad mouse
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Touchpad"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5 6 7"
Option "HorizSrollDelta" "0"
Option "SHMConfig" "true"
EndSection

# USB mouse
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "USBMouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5 6 7"
EndSection


## Monitor settings
# Built-in LCD display
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "LVDS"
VendorName "Sony"
ModelName "Vaio SR X-black LED"
Option "DPMS"
Modeline "1280x800_76.00" 108.77 1280 1360 1496 1712 800 801 804 836 -HSync +Vsync
HorizSync 62-63
VertRefresh 76-77
Option "Monitor-LVDS" "LVDS monitor"
EndSection

# VGA output
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "VGA"
VendorName "VGA"
ModelName "VGA-output"
Option "Monitor-VGA" "VGA monitor"
EndSection


## Graphics card driver
Section "Device"
Identifier "Card0"
Driver "vesa"
#Driver "intel"
VendorName "Intel Corporation"
BoardName "Cantiga Integrated Graphics Controller (Q45)"
Option "MonitorLayout" "LVDS"
BusID "PCI:0:2:0"
EndSection


## Display settings
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Card0"
Monitor "LVDS"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

[ronmillsap]

Drews,
Thanks for continuing to post here. Your first solution worked like a charm. I didn't complete the install thinking that I would try to find a more sutible driver. Now, you've once again found the solution and once again, I'll have to try it when I get home from work.
I for one really appreciate your posts.
Thanks again

[drews_blunted]

Well so far everything work hardware wise on my FW270 even the webcam/wireless works perfectly! Im still working around with the video. So far all i have been able to get is better resolution. But im hoping to see if i can either get the right intel drivers to work (may not be released yet for ubuntu) or trying to find if i can get vesa to run at a higer resolution. Iall post back with any results if i can fix the problem.