[Tuto] Install 14.04 on Asus K501LX or V502LX

[thatoo2]

Before going further, my computer is the persian version of K501LX, it's a V502LX. Differences are minimal such as the keyboard (mine has a persian keyboard which doesn't have backlit, I hope the backlit works for lucky owner of V501LX).

I installed Ubuntu 14.04 because I trust more the LTS.

To install the last version of the nvidia driver, I add the repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa

sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:xorg-edgers/ppa

sudo apt-get update

Then
I assure that bumblebee is not install, I checked in synaptec and I entered that command anyway

sudo apt-get purge bumblebee* primus libvdpau-va-gl1

Then I installed Prime

sudo apt-get install nvidia-prime mesa-utils vdpau-va-driver

Then
I installed the addon drivers nvidia-355, if it's not offered through the settings (software and update), you can enter the command

sudo apt-get install nvidia-355

and then you enter

sudo apt-get install nvidia-settings

sudo reboot

It works, your two graphic card are good to go. You can change it from the Nvidia setting and then reboot. You can also install prime-indicator

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kranich/cubuntu

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install prime-indicator

but I don't recommend it because it only logout/login and that work only from Nvidia to Intel, to change from Intel to Nvidia, you need to restart or you'll face an error.

If you can't control the brightness, just follow that,
(source : http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2028269 and http://itsfoss.com/fix-brightness-ubuntu-1310/)

In /etc/X11/xorg.conf
add

      Option "RegistryDwords" "EnableBrightnessControl=1" 

below

Section "Device" 
     Identifier "nvidia"  
     Driver "nvidia" 
     BusID "PCI:4@0:0:0" 

and, in /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf

sudo gedit /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf

add

Section "Device" 
     Identifier "intel"  
     Driver "intel" 
     BusID "PCI:0@0:2:0"  
     Option "AccelMethod" "SNA"  
     Option "Backlight" "intel_backlight"  
 EndSection 

For me, the brightness works now in the settings in both nvidia and intel, but the hotkey (fn f5/f6) are not yet working.
You can add a shorcut linked to the following command in order to decrease brightness

xbacklight -dec 10

and an other one to the following comand to increase brightness

xbacklight -inc 10

If you don’t want the brightness to start at maximum, open the “Startup Applications” and add a new startup item with the command:

xbacklight -set 40

(40 is for 40 % but you can set the one you want)

For the wifi/airplane hotkey, the only one which is not working with the brightness, follow that (source : http://forum.ubuntu-fr.org/viewtopic.php?id=1770081)

sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

Replace in the file, the line

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash" 

by

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash acpi_osi=" 

Save it and then you add this command in your terminal

sudo update-grub

Restart the computer and the hotkey should work. For me, all work except the brightness.


To make the touchpad working properly,
You could either
install the driver

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:hanipouspilot/focaltech-dkms
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install focaltech-dkms

Then reboot, or do this to get things working instantly, as documented in README:
Code:

sudo modprobe -r psmouse
sudo modprobe psmouse

or update the kernel
I followed this threat, https://forum.ubuntu-fr.org/viewtopic.php?id=1891911
Install Kernel and http://www.yourownlinux.com/2015/08/...-in-linux.html
It Works! You've got a small error when the computer start, “Error parsing PCC subspaces from PCCT” because of a conflict between the new kernel and the nvidia driver but nothing to worry about. It just slow down a little bit the boot time.
Don't expect pinch to zoom or rotation with two fingers…

Only one problem so far, the touchpad is not working after you suspend your computer.
If you suspend the activity of your computer, you’ll need to restart.
However, if it gives a clue, before suspending ( it doesn’t work after I suspend the computer) I can deactivate and activate again the touchpad with the hotkey of my keyboard.

I found that but it doesn't help too much so far,, http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2182922&page=2
It gave a solution to a similar problem :
create a file here /etc/pm/sleep.d/0000trackpad

sudo gedit /etc/pm/sleep.d/0000trackpad

and add

#!/bin/sh  
 case "$1" in  
     suspend|hibernate)  
         modprobe -r psmouse;  
     resume|thaw)  
         modprobe psmouse;  
 esac 

Save it.
Now, the computer will refuse to suspend so no risk to loose your keyboard. However, you can't suspend your computer... tricky choice.
Some people have the same problem with Elantech keyboard on other computer, https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...x/+bug/1490130 .
My keyboard is a Focaltech.
I file a bug here https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...x/+bug/1504445 and I ask a question on this forum here, http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2296850&p=13364663#post13364663

I wish I could add the tag asus k501lx and asus v502lx to help others...