Note: install these package at your own risk, they may cause your system to become unstable or even break.

First, add the respository. Open up a terminal, and type:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-boot/ppa

Then, you need to update your apt-get, and your system:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

The update will install a new version of ureadahead, a tool that will improve your boot time. It’s possible that you need to boot a couple of times to see real difference, since ureadahead needs to build up its configuration to increase boot speed.

This is a guide to set up Ubuntu Karmic Koala on the Inspiron 1501. It contains some basic updates I always do when reinstalling Ubuntu (which doesn’t happen too often). I’ll update it regularly.

Basic configuration

Karmic Koala works out of the box for the basic configuration.

But never give up hope: I stumbled across this post on WebUpd8, where the Bisigi-project is mentioned. It basicly contains a repository for Ubuntu for 9 great themes. These contain:

* Balanzan ( sudo apt-get install balanzan-theme )
* Infinity ( sudo apt-get install infinity-theme )
* Wild shine ( sudo apt-get install wild-shine-theme )
* Exotic ( sudo apt-get install exotic-theme )
* Tropical ( sudo apt-get install tropical-theme )
* Step into Freedom ( sudo apt-get install step-into-freedom-theme )
* Bamboo Zen ( sudo apt-get install bamboo-zen-theme )
* Ubuntu sunrise ( sudo apt-get install ubuntu-sunrise-theme )
* Aqua Dreams ( sudo apt-get install aquadreams-theme )

How to install? First, open up your Terminal, and add the repository:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bisigi

Then, update your lists:

sudo apt-get update


Then, you can install theme by theme (see above), or install them all:

sudo apt-get install zgegblog-themes


My personal favorite: Bamboo Zen

With Flash Player 10, performance is increased immensely. I can play multiple flash videos at a time, without any problems at all. Problem is: the new flash player is not yet included in the sources of apt-get, so you won’t get an automatic update. So, here’s a quick HOW-TO:

(1) Close all Firefox-windows.

(2) Open up a terminal, and type in the following command:

sudo apt-get remove flashplugin-nonfree

(3) Go to http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/flashplayer10.html, and download the .TAR.GZ version for Linux. Please note: this is a pre-release version (at the moment of typing, at least)! Save the file in your home-directory (or where you want it). Then navigate to that directory in you terminal (if you saved it in your homedirectory, if you open a new terminal, you’re in your home-directory).

(4) Execute following commands:

tar -xf flashplayer10_install_linux_070208.tar.gz
cd install_flash_player_10_linux
sudo su
./flashplayer-installer

What you are doing:
- untar the .tar.gz in the current directory
- go to the folder you just extracted
- identify yourself as root (don’t use this too often, rather use sudo when you can)
- execute the installer

(5) Just follow through the installer.

Voilà!

Now, I’ve figured out a way to get it working again – to be honest, I stumbled upon it by accident Anyway, this is how I got it working again:

Step 1: make sure you have Envy (Envy is a tool to automaticly install and configure the ATi and Nvidia-driver). I know I stated in a previous post that you best started from the ATi-installer, but Envy has been updated, and it seems to work fine now.

First, make sure you remove all previous versions by typing in a terminal:

sudo apt-get remove envy

sudo apt-get remove envyng

sudo rm -R /usr/share/envy

Then, update your apt-get resources:

sudo apt-get update

Install Envy using this command:

sudo apt-get install envyng-gtk

If you’re using Kubuntu (if you’re not sure, use the GTK-version!!), this would be:

sudo apt-get install envyng-qt

For more information on installing Envy: http://albertomilone.com/envyngfaq.html#A

Step 2: boot into the “non-working” kernel, by choosing it via Grub (or Lilo, or whatever bootmanager you’re using).

Step 3: when on the white screen, use the key-combination Ctrl+Alt+F2 to get a command-line interface. Log in using your login and password.

Step 4: use the following command to get out again:

sudo shutdown now

Now, Ubuntu will popup a menu with 4 options, among which are ‘resume’ and ‘xfix’. Choose the option ‘xfix’ here. This will set your X-server to a default configuration again (Note: this also applies to your keyboard! For me, Ubuntu set my keyboard to a QWERTY-configuration all of a sudden, so do think of that when logging in afterwards!).

When the xfix is done, you can just boot into your ‘white-screen-kernel’, and see that everything works again!

Step 5: everything works, however, we don’t have fglrx anymore. That’s why we downloaded Envy to start with. Boot it up, by finding it in your menu (Applications -> System Tools -> Envy).

Just choose the automatic installation of the driver (for me, this was the ATi-driver). Afterwards, just reboot, and voilà: the most recent kernel is working perfectly, with fglrx!

Notes afterwards:

- If you do not have a ATi or Nvidia card, you can probably reïnstall your driver, and skip Step 1 and Step 5. You can also reconfigure the X-server with the following command:

dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

The problem lies in the security-settings of Firefox. In a default configuration, Firefox checks if you are accessing a suspected attack site. If you have enabled it, it even checks if you’re accessing a phishing site (a forgery site, as it is called). When you access a site containing Javascript, Firefox will go nuts, and this will eventually result in a high processor load – which is never good.

Now, there is a very simple workaround, given the fact that you will have to turn off the security settings. Go about it as follows:

(1) in Firefox, go to your preferences (Edit -> Preferences). Go to the Security-tab, and uncheck following options:

- Tell me if the site I’m visiting is a suspected attack site
- Tell me if the site I’m visiting is a suspected forgery site

Then, close down Firefox completely.

(2) go to your Home Folder (Places -> Home Folder). Make sure you’re able to view hidden files and folders (by pressing either Ctrl+H, or go to View -> Show Hidden Files).

(3) navigate to /home/(username)/.mozilla/firefox/xxxxxxxx.default/

The folder may vary, but the name always ends in .default .

(4) delete the file urlclassifier3.sqlite and (if present) the file urlclassifier3.sqlite-journal.

(5) restart Firefox. The file urlclassifier3.sqlite will be recreated, but this time, it will stay about 9 kB, without getting any bigger.

Note: you have to repeat this for every user account!

Enjoy your Firefox v3!

Everything you need to get Ubuntu 8.04 running on your Dell Inspiron 1501.

Installation
Hardy installs with no problems. Whether you’re using the LiveCD, Alternative Install or Wubi.

Wireless
The Restricted Driver Manager can install the Broadcom B43 fireware.
Firmware cutter will not work when used through the Driver Manager. In order to install B43-fwcutter you need to use the terminal.
In a terminal Type:
sudo apt-get install b43-fwcutter

Just use the B43-fwcutter. Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT use NDISwrapper: it’s a bitch setting up, and this method will work. And … it’s much faster

ATI Proprietary Driver

This is, perhaps, the point I disagree most on with redDEAD’s explanation. You see, installing the ATi proprietary driver alone is NOT enough to get full 3D acceleration. In fact, it’ll make your laptop run even slower – at least, it did in my case, since Compiz-Fusion is trying to do all kinds of cool stuff, but your card will not have the correct configuration to do so.

What you want to do here, is follow the hard way. It is explained on the Ubuntu-Wiki, but I’ll talk you through it, telling you how to configure your ATi-card. You can just copy (Ctrl+C) the commands (in blue) and paste them into a terminal window (Ctrl+Shift+V).

Method 2: Manual Method

Download the installer: ati-driver-installer-8-4-x86.x86_64.run (this installer is for 32bit and 64bit systems)

Follow These Instructions Carefully

Switch to the directory you downloaded this into and the run the following. (Make sure universe and multiverse are enabled in your repository sources).

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install build-essential fakeroot dh-make debhelper debconf libstdc++5 dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r)

This installs the dependencies for the installer.

Using Synaptic, completely remove any packages containing “fglrx” in their name.

Remove any old fglrx .debs:

sudo rm /usr/src/fglrx-kernel*.deb

Now use the following command to create the .deb files you will be using for installation:

sudo sh ati-driver-installer-8-4-x86.x86_64.run –buildpkg Ubuntu/hardy

Now we have to blacklist the driver in Ubuntu’s repository. This is so it doesn’t ever overwrite our installation.

sudo gedit /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common

Add “fglrx” to the line “DISABLED_MODULES”

File: /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common

DISABLED_MODULES=”fglrx”

Please note that after the modification above, the “Restricted Driver Manager” will signal “ATI accelerated graphics driver” not enabled (unticked). This is perfectly correct. At the end of the installation procedure it will signal in Status: “in use” (green light), but NOT enabled. It simply means that the fglrx module contained in the linux-restricted-modules package is not enabled, but another fglrx module (8.4) is in use.

You may also need to edit the file (if it exists):

sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-restricted

Put a # in front of the line “blacklist fglrx”, if it is present. Otherwise, the kernel module will not load automatically, and you will not get 3D acceleration.

Install .debs:

sudo dpkg -i xorg-driver-fglrx_8.476*.deb fglrx-kernel-source_8.476-0*.deb fglrx-amdcccle_8.476-0*.deb

Finishing the Install: Configuration

Now you’ll have to edit your xorg.conf

sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

and add the following line to the Device section (if it does not already exist – do not add this entire section, just add, if necessary, the line in bold to the Device section):

Section “Device”
[...]
Driver “fglrx”
[...]
EndSection

Save and exit, then run

sudo aticonfig –initial -f

in a terminal. If it does not error you should be fine. Finally, reboot the computer and type

fglrxinfo

into the terminal. If the vendor string contains ATI, you have installed the driver successfully.

If you’ve followed this tutorial completely, you should now have complete 3D acceleration. You want a way to test it? Download the game Planet Pinguin Racer. If you have no 3D acceleration, you’d experience about the same gaming experience of playing Medal Of Honor on a 386 with a 66 MHz processor

Compiz-Fusion
Compiz-Fusion is enabled once you install the ATI Propiety Driver.
To get the most out of Compiz try installing the advanced configuration tool.
In a terminal:
sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

Media Codecs
Hardy Heron makes codec installation easy mp3, DVD, avi, aac, mpeg, wmv, asf, mov, flv, mp4, flash codecs are installed when you try to play them. If you like to add all the major codecs and make playback easy, check out my codec cheatsheet. The only thing not enabled in Ubuntu is reading encrypted DVDs. To add DVD playback and some other helpful media codecs to Ubuntu follow this guide.

Ethernet
Works out of the box. In order to do any of these guides you’re going to need to plug in your Dell Inspiron 1501. Don’t be cheap, go out and buy an Ethernet cable.

Brightness & Volume
Brightness (Fn Up/Down Arrow) and Volume (Fn Page Up/Page Dn) keyboard shortcuts both work with BIOS 1.70. Please leave a comment letting others know if your BIOS work. You can find a mini guide about BIOS flashing here.

Suspend & Hibernate
Both Suspend and Hibernate work with BIOS 1.70 and the Ubuntu repository ATI 2.1.7281 fglrx driver. Please leave a comment letting others know if your BIOS and/or ATI driver combination work. You can find a mini guide about BIOS flashing here.

Video Out
Works out of the box, Hardy’s Screens and Resolutions (System>Administration>Screens and Resolutions) makes using multiple monitors a breeze. Configuration doesn’t require editing your xorg.conf file.

Again, a point on which I disagree: the video out is still not properly supported in Ubuntu. Yes, you can add multiple monitors, but that’s about as far as it goes. I’m still trying to look for a way for connecting my laptop to my widescreen TV. As soon as I find a solution for this problem (so, using the video out for connection to the TV ànd have a correct resolution (the resolution is slightly different: a bit wider)), I’ll post it to the website.

Modem
The Conexant Modem driver is usually released by Dell once they switch their Linux machines over to the new version of Ubuntu.

Card Reader
Works out of the box.

Overall:
Hardy Heron is the Ubuntu release that Dell Inspiron 1501 owners have been waiting for. Everything works, you only need to install 3 drivers (ATI, wireless and modem). If you were hesitant about trying Ubuntu on your 1501, rest assured, it takes minimal skill and computer knowledge to setup.

I would have to agree that Ubuntu 8.04 is perhaps the easiest installation thusfar, bùt still not good enough to top Windows in every aspect. The thing that frustrates me most, is the video out: I use my laptop on a daily base to watch videos on my TV, and I still have to boot in Windows for that. If I did find a way to circumvent that problem, I’d probably not even look at Windows anymore …

The Add/Remove Wizard is located in your Applications menu. I have a Dutch version of Ubuntu, but the main features (such as this one), stay in English, so most likely, it will look the same in your version.

When it opens up, it will look something like the picture above. This tool you’ll be using a lot, since it is the

main access to new software in Ubuntu.

1 thing I do suggest you do, is choose the option of “All Available Applications”. By default, “Ubuntu Supported Applications” will be selected, which will only give you a selection on the total package which is available.

In this example, I will be looking for Ogle, which is a DVD-player that can handle menus. In my experience, it is also the BEST application on Linux for playing DVD’s (with menus), since the other ones I’ve tried (VLC, Totem, Kaffeine, Xine) all fail terribly at playing menu-driven DVD’s. When you click it, some notification will pop-up, after which it will be selected. However, it is not installed – yet.

To install, you simply have to hit the “Apply” button down below. It will commence to install, and you’ll see some windows pop up with notifications and progress bars. The fun part about this wizard, is the fact that it will download all dependencies too. So, you don’t have to worry about not having certain software you’ll need to run the package you selected. That immediately points out the philosophy behind Ubuntu: Linux for everyone. Where you had to be a brainiac in the old days, installing only through terminal and Google’ing the crap out of the internet, looking for the dependencies; you can just point and click now.

If all goes well (and it probably will), you’ll get a dialog stating where the software is located, and you can start using it. Hooray!

Ubuntu also has a more advanced way of managing packages and installing them, called the “Synaptics Package Manager”. The Add/Remove Wizard is actually more of a very basic GUI frontend for this Package Manager. You’ll find it in System -> Administration (or something like that) -> Synaptics Package Manager (again, I have a Dutch version of Ubuntu).

It will look somewhat less attractive, but they idea is basicly the same: you search for something, you click it (if found), and install it – it will also install all dependencies. The more advanced part is that you can manage seperate packages, where the Add/Remove Wizard only allows you to manage full software solutions. I tend to use it a lot when looking for dependencies for software I’m installing via the terminal.

Et voilà! You’re set to go Now go install all those games!