Archive for the 'laptop' Category

Update Dell laptop BIOS with Ubuntu

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dell logoGood news for Dell laptops owners: latest BIOS images can be loaded with Ubuntu, Fedora or CentOS! It was announced at official Direct2Dell blog by Matt Domsch. In a nutshell to get new BIOS installed while you're running Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty, 7.10 Gutsy, or Hardy just enable Universe repository in sources.list (System -> Administration -> Software Sources) and run under root (sudo -s):

wget -q -O - http://linux.dell.com/repo/firmware/bootstrap.cgi | bash
aptitude install firmware-addon-dell
aptitude install $(bootstrap_firmware -a)
update_firmware

The first command enables Dell’s Ubuntu repository as well as downloads and installs GPG key for this repository. As you might guess, restart is needed after last command is done (keep fingers crossed) :)

Please note that detailed instructions on how to update BIOS with Ubuntu (or other Linux distro) and firmware-tools developed by Dell are here:

We are releasing this project in the hopes of moving the industry towards a more scalable and friendly way to update BIOS and Firmware for systems.

Respect to Dell and it’s Linux engineers!

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Dell shares custom-tailored Ubuntu Feisty for it’s laptops

dell

As Dell’s laptop owner I'd like to share information that Dell Inc. prepared special Ubuntu Feisty Fawn version especially for it’s Inspiron E1505N, Inspiron 1420N, Inspiron 530N laptops.

 

 

Dell Linux Engineering team has a remastered copy of the Ubuntu 7.04 Live CD available for download. It includes native system hardware support and many of the fixes listed below. The media will help you get the system installed and running with the necessary drivers.

CD and DVD images are available here.

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Select Linux distro for Lenovo ThinkPad

Lenovo logoHere you can vote for Linux distribution (or Unix) to be pre-installed at Lenovo ThinkPad notebooks. As usually Ubuntu is the most popular distribution, Debian is second, Fedora is third:

Linux distribution selection for Lenovo ThinkPad

Please note: it’s not a full list of suggested distros at the screen.

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Get suspend/hibernate working fast in Ubuntu Feisty Fawn (7.04) and Edgy Eft (6.10)

Linux sleepAfter I upgraded to Ubuntu Feisty Fawn 7.04 Linux distribution I noticed that one of my favorite laptop features suspend/hibernate worked quite baldly and slowly. It took up to few minutes to get laptop sleeping and then awake it. Both default suspend and hibernate features are cheesy in this Ubuntu version. The worst thing I faced was that after I got laptop sleeping and put it into my bag it was still working. This situation caused laptop overheating.

Thanks to heaven there is alternative suspend/hibernate utility for Ubuntu OS - uswsusp (I really don't know who gave such a name for it). To get it working just install it with apt-get or aptitude (I recommend aptitude) :

sudo aptitude install uswsusp

When it’s done it would be great if you test it before making it default suspend/hibernate engine:

sudo s2disk

This will hibernate your system, to check suspend feature execute:

sudo s2ram
or
sudo s2ram -f

Working well? Great! Let’s make it default (including Gnome logout dialog). First of all download these files:

hal-system-power-suspend-linux
hal-system-power-hibernate-linux

Then backup Ubuntu’s original files to your Desktop by commands:

cp /usr/lib/hal/scripts/linux/ hal-system-power-suspend-linux ~/Desktop
cp /usr/lib/hal/scripts/linux/ hal-system-power-hibernate-linux ~/Desktop

Now it’s time to make uswsusp to be default in the system:

sudo cp hal-system-* /usr/lib/hal/scripts/linux/
sudo chmod 755 /usr/lib/hal/scripts/linux/*

Note: if you use Edgy just replace /usr/lib/hal/scripts/linux/ with /usr/share/hal/scripts.

Now you can use suspend/hibernate features normally without any obstacles :)

You may also be interested in:
EV-DO Internet access with Ubuntu Linux
Review of sticky notes applications for GNOME
Video conference between Linux and Windows users
Ubuntu Linux and your Apple iPod
Debian/Ubuntu Linux apt-get vs. aptitude

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Keep files at Linux/Windows/Unix synchronized with Unison

Unison is a file-synchronization tool for Unix and Windows. It allows two replicas of a collection of files and directories to be stored on different hosts (or different disks on the same host), modified separately, and then brought up to date by propagating the changes in each replica to the other.

Unison that is available for Linux, Unix and Windows, shares a number of features with tools such as CVS, PRCS, Subversion, BitKeeper, distributed filesystems (e.g. Coda), uni-directional mirroring utilities (such as rsync), and other synchronizers (Intellisync, Reconcile, etc).

This article tells how to sync data between Desktop PC and laptop with Unison.

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EV-DO Internet access with Ubuntu Linux

The following manual is applicable for 32bit Ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy Eft) and 7.04 (Feisty Fawn) and Verizon Motorola v3 EV-DO enabled phone connected via USB cable as well as number of other EV-DO cards like PC5750.

Motorola v3 EV-DO with Ubuntu

Make sure your device is activated by service provider and if possible test on other OS to which you may have software and drivers.

Open terminal window and type:

sudo -i

and enter your password.
Now all commands typed in this window will be executed with root privileges.
In terminal type:

apt-get update
apt-get upgradeapt-get install wvdial

Before you insert the Card or connect USB cable open terminal window and type:

cat /proc/bus/usb/devices > devices

Insert your data card or plug in USB cable and wait for a few seconds before continuing.
In terminal type:

dmesg

You will get output with some device info like this :

[17186692.460000] usb 3-1: configuration #1 chosen from 2 choices[17186692.460000] cdc_acm 3-1:1.0: ttyACM0: USB ACM device[17186708.176000] usb 3-1: USB disconnect, address 4
[17186714.588000] usb 3-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address

At the end of this output you will find your device witch will be represented like this: ttyACM0 or ttyUSB or similar , make note of it you will need it later.
Now type in terminal:

cat /proc/bus/usb/devices | grep Vendor

Output will be similar to:

< P: Vendor=1234 ProdID=5678 Rev= 0.00

Make note of lines: Vendor=1234 , ProdID=5678

Now in teminal type following code Replacing values 1234 and 5678 with your own output from previously noted lines ::

modprobe usbserial vendor=0x1234 product=0x5678

Now you will edit wvdial config file by first typing in terminal :

sudo gedit /etc/wvdial.conf

In new opened window replace all text with following :

[Dialer Defaults]
Stupid Mode = on
Modem = /dev/ttyACM0
Baud = 921600
Init = ATZ
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
Phone = #777
Username = ??????????@vzw3g.com

Password = vzw
Init1 = ATZISDN = 0
Modem Type = Analog Modem
Auto Reconnect = on
Carrier Check = no
[Dialer shh]
Init3 = ATM0
[Dialer pulse]
Dial Command = ATDP

In the line "Modem =" replace ttyACM0 with value you noted from output of dmesg command.
In the line " Username = " put your phone number followed by your providers domain, for Verizon it is area code, your phone number and domain, in this format: 9178889999@vzw3g.com for Sprint it will be 9178889999@sprintpcs.com, for AT&T / Cingular WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM, for Alltel 9178889999@alltel.net and so on, further post have config’s posted for other providers.
In line " password = " in case of Verizon put: "vzw" for Cingular: "cingular1" and so on, make sure to check with your provider as username and/or password may differ for other regions and countries.

If you are Cingular/AT&T subscriber and after completing whole guide you have problem with dropping connection you have to add another int line in wvdial script which is posted here http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=343989&page=3
If you need any specific info regarding your domain or password please contact your cellular provider.
The last thing you need to configure is wvdial line checking, by disabling LCP echo checking witch is not supported by most of providers.
Open terminal and type:

sudo gedit /etc/ppp/peers/wvdial

And insert aditionally those lines:

lcp-echo-failure 0
lcp-echo-interval 0

Make sure your ethernet jack is unplugged and wifi radio switch is turned off.
Now you can start connection by typing in terminal :

wvdial

Another thing i have been suggested is automating the connection process.
To do so in Gnome go to :

System > Preferences > Sessions next, click on the tab labeled, "Startup Programs" then click the "Add" button.
In the Startup Command field, enter "wvdial" and then click "OK".Then restart your system.

Now make sure your EV-DO card is inserted before you boot it up, it will initiate the connection process automatically in the background connecting you to internet the second you log in.

The manual is kindly provided by Mach1US.

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Ubuntu Feisty Fawn at Dell Inspiron 1501

Ubuntu Feisty Fawn 7.04 at Dell Inspiron 1501

Ubuntu now works perfectly at my just bought Dell Inspiron 1501 laptop that has the following characteristics: AMD Turion 64 X2 1600 Mhz, 512 Mb RAM, 80 Gb HDD, Broadcom Wi-Fi adapter, 15.4'' wide screen display… 32-bit Fiesty has been installed without any problems and provides all needed hardware support for the laptop. I really recommend this operating system to be installed onto Desktops and Laptops. ubuntu1501.blogspot.com contains all necessary information and provided invaluable help.
In case you have any problems and/or questions regarding this laptop running Ubuntu feel free to contact me at artiomix{at}gmail.com.

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