How To: Ubuntu On Hp Compaq 6715B (Widescreen, Amd64) As Dual-Boot
Contents
I had a lot of trouble installing Ubuntu (additionally) on my new HP Compaq 6715b Notebook. I got a lot of help by a friend. He solved that the main problem is the wide-screen of this laptop. Wide-screens aren't supported by the default graphic driver versa. So here is a little How To, to solve this and other problems, like getting Wireless LAN running.
Preparing your Windows PC to dual-boot
Some steps must be taken before you can start installing Ubuntu.
Partitions
First of all, use a partitioning program of your choice to create two (additional) Linux partitions you'll need. Doing this in Windows could be done with Partition Magic (which is expensive), or use Knoppix. Knoppix is a Linux distribution, which can be used without installing. This distribution has a program installed Gparted. You can partitionate your hard drive with this free program. (I've used Partition Magic, so I can't tell you more on Gparted.)
You need two new partitions:
- Partition 1: Linux Installing Partition
- Partition 2: Linux Swap
So you may have these partitions:
-
NTFS: Windows (primary): 30GB
Home of Windows, and all Windows programs. -
NTFS: HP_RECOVERY (primary): 10GB
I left this partition alone (For HP-Notebooks only). -
EXT3: Linux (primary): 30GB
Home of Linux and all programs. (Probably too much space.) -
SWAP: Linux Swap (logical): 2048MB
I have exactly 2048MB, like the size of my RAM. (For notebooks it is recommended.) -
NTFS: Data (logical): 80GB
I decided to create a shared data storage, which is in Windows My Documents. I choose to create it as NTFS, as the Linux and Windows compatible FAT32 is getting really slow, when you create a partition bigger than about 30GB. You can teach Linux very fast to work with this file-system. (I'll explain later.)
Downloading the Installer
As the HP Compaq 6715b really have problems with the latest Ubuntu (Gusty), you'd better download Feisty. To make installation straight forward, download the Alternate CD. And burn the image on a CD.
For those, who don't know where to get this CD, do the following steps:
- Go to the Mirror List
- Search the mirror, which is near your location (in my case Europe / Germany RWTH Aachen Univerity)
- Now click the link Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn)
- Scroll down to the Alternate install CD-section
- Download the file, which is liked with the text 64-bit PC (AMD64) alternate install CD (In case your laptop is running an AMD64 CPU, otherwise take the Intel x86 link)
When you are ready with the partitions and you hold an Ubuntu Installer CD in your hands; preparation is over.
Installing Ubuntu as second operation-system
Put the CD into your CD-drive. Re/-start your computer.
Click on "Install in Text Mode".
The installation is straight forward, just follow the commands.
At the end the installation asks you to remove the CD. Plug an external 4:3-Screen on your Notebook (if it is a Wide-screen) and switch to this screen (HP Compaq: [Fn] + [F4]). Remove the CD and let the system reboot.
This avoids the following error message:
Fatal server error: no screens found
Getting your screen active
If Ubuntu started without problems, and you see it on the external screen (the Notebook-Screen is black), than you can skip the next paragraph.
Troubleshooting with the external screen
If not, there are many possibilities what could have gone bad:
-
You notebook doesn't send the picture to the external screen. Try to switch again, until you see the
no screens found-error on the external screen. Restart the x-server. - Your external screen is a wide-screen? Change that :)
-
I have no ideas any more. Checkout this tip or give it a try in Google.
In case you figured out your problem, let me know what it was, I'll add it here.
How to...
... restart the x-server? Use this command, after switching into the kernel ([Ctrl] + [Alt] + [F1]):
startx
Installing Envy
A great helper for graphic drivers is a program called Envy. Go to your package manager (usually located in "System - Administration - Synaptic-Packagemanagement"). Search "Envy" here and install it. Go to "Applications - Systemtools - Envy". Select the driver you want to install and confirm your choice. See the magic!
Switching to your usual screen
Change the picture from your external screen to the notebooks screen. If it doesn't work, select another driver in Envy.
You don't see it at once, but the proportion isn't correct. The driver still uses the 4:3 resolution for your wide-screen. Go to your terminal and type:
sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Scroll to the section Monitor and add at the end of this section this line (used for HP Compaq 6715b, hope it also works for you):
Modeline "1280x800@60" 83.91 1280 1312 1624 1656 800 816 824 841
Restart your x-server again and see if it worked. If not, search Google for a Modeline for your computer.
Your system is running
If everything worked fine, you have a dual-boot computer now. Congratulations!
Making it even better
There are lots of tasks to do before your system really is running...
Wireless LAN
I tried a lot of tutorials, but none really worked until I found out that my computer sometimes switches the WLAN off. So first of all check that your wireless is still running (in case you have a HP Compaq 6715b: The blue symbol on top of your keyboard must be on). If not... Try to activate it in Ubuntu, in my case this doesn't work, so reboot, change to Windows, switch it on, and reboot again... Nasty, I know.
After it is on, follow this great tutorial: Get Wireless working in Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn
Write access to NTFS hard drives
Check in your packagemanager that ntfs-3g, ntfs-3g0, ntfs-3g-dev (for AMD64) and ntfs-config are installed. If not install them.
Go to "Applications - Systemtools - NTFS Something" and click on both checkboxes. Your done!
In case you still have problems, consult this tutorial, it is very good.
More small tips
Waiting 10 sec on every start is too long, change your GRUB by typing this into your terminal:
sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
Change the line timeout from 10 to whatever you like, I have 5.
For developers: EasyEclipse is much faster than the classic Eclipse. It's also more stable. (This subjective opinion of mine is also shared by a friend, who uses Fedora) Go here to select the distribution you'd like. Download the Linux version and install it with the packagemanager.
When you'd like to use Evolution as well as Outlook in your Windows, change your E-Mail account to IMAP. IMAP will, unlike POP3, download all folders and so on without removing them from the server.
Some help: Gmail, AOL, 1&1
Picasa works on Linux too. If you've used Picasa in Windows, you learned to love it. So installing Picasa on Linux is no problem. Download the package and install it using the packagemanger. However, when you have an AMD64, like I have, it isn't that easy. But there is a (quite easy) solution as well. Check this tutorial.
iPod with Ubuntu isn't a problem at all. Check out this: Ubuntu and Your iPod.
Even more (external) help
If you still have problems, here is a (small) list of great tutorials, which I try to update every once in a while.
- Dual Booting Ubuntu Linux and Windows on a Toshiba Laptop
- Ubuntu Forum: Ask people for help
- Comments on this site: Leave a comment with a question and I'll try to figure it out
Comments
i have a different problem. My compaq presario V3730AU cannot proceed during installation and there is an error flash. Then it will reboot. What is the problem with that? pls. help me....
Nicolai Jorgensen commented, on March 6, 2008 at 10:04 a.m.:
Hi there.
I've had the same problem with my 6715b. But found a solution.
I installed without an external screen. At reboot i plugged in an external screen an booted in safe mode. Used the startx as root and enabled the restricted driver. And voila ubuntu is running.
Used these pages for guidance:
http://www.linlap.com/wiki/HP-Compaq+... http://www.linlap.com/wiki/Configurin...
Nicolai