Ubuntu on a Dell....

#1 05-03-2007, 06:05 PM

BOOM, I'm downloading it right now... I might be bugging you a lot about it looking for help, bro.

I've got an Inspiron E1705. Currently running Vista on it.

Figured I'd give Ubuntu a chance.

Any tips on running a dual boot system with Ubuntu?

#2 05-03-2007, 08:08 PM

K... so I TRIED to install it, but I evidently do not know what I'm doing.

Booted from the bootable Ubuntu CD I made (after I checked it for errors). It ran through a bit of loading drivers, etc... then it told me the "GMC" (?) failed to load because there were no screens present.

Then it went to a Linux command prompt...

I'm ig'nant....

Praxeas · #3 05-04-2007, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronzo

BOOM, I'm downloading it right now... I might be bugging you a lot about it looking for help, bro.

I've got an Inspiron E1705. Currently running Vista on it.

Figured I'd give Ubuntu a chance.

Any tips on running a dual boot system with Ubuntu?

is it the new version? I hear it stinks

#4 05-04-2007, 05:00 AM

I downloaded the newset version... like I said. It didn't install.

It hates me.

BoredOutOfMyMind · #5 05-04-2007, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronzo

K... so I TRIED to install it, but I evidently do not know what I'm doing.

Booted from the bootable Ubuntu CD I made (after I checked it for errors). It ran through a bit of loading drivers, etc... then it told me the "GMC" (?) failed to load because there were no screens present.

Then it went to a Linux command prompt...

I'm ig'nant....

If this is the live CD, you are already logged in as root, as root is the only user on the live CD. Is this an experiment to supplement Winders, or is it a new complete install?

Type this at the command prompt

startx

Mind you there could be a hardware conflict stopping the window manager (program that makes the deektop and allows Graphic Interface to access all the programs) to not load. Most often the video card drivers are the culprit. I replaced the ATI card in my Dimension 4100 with a new NVIDIA card this year.

Prax, the Beta was problematic, but the release is rock solid.

#6 05-04-2007, 08:11 AM

It's an install in addition to Vista. Looking to do dual boot.

Don't tell me I have to wipe Windows off and load Ubuntu first... please? PLEASE don't tell me that.

I'm not going to switch video cards on my notebook... Sorry...

I guess I'll just wait until Dell releases Linux drivers for the Inspiron E1705.

BoredOutOfMyMind · #7 05-04-2007, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronzo

It's an install in addition to Vista. Looking to do dual boot.

Don't tell me I have to wipe Windows off and load Ubuntu first... please? PLEASE don't tell me that.

I'm not going to switch video cards on my notebook... Sorry...

I guess I'll just wait until Dell releases Linux drivers for the Inspiron E1705.

http://lkozma.infogami.com/linux

Quote:

Downloaded Ubuntu 6.10 CD image for desktop/laptop PCs. Booted the cd, but the installation in graphic mode wouldn't start, not even in safe mode. "Failed to start the X server (your graphical interface)." After viewing all the logs, it says: "The X server is now disabled. Restart GDM when it is configured correctly.".

Here I pressed CTRL-ALT-F1 to open a console.
There I enter: "sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg"
A lot of questions about video card and stuff, as far as I remember, I left the defaults in most places, and it seemed to detect everything ok. After that "startx", then the gnome graphical interface started, and I clicked the install.
From then on, everything went smoothly, I used the whole hdd for linux, and let ubuntu do everything automatically. Installation took about 30 minutes, and recognized most stuff automatically, including the wireless 3945 and the touchpad with scrollbars.

BoredOutOfMyMind · #8 05-04-2007, 08:34 AM

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=296354

#9 05-04-2007, 08:43 AM

Tanx.

I'll mess with it over the weekend.

#10 05-04-2007, 09:27 AM

If it still works the way it used to, Linux will not support an NTFS partition, so you would need to have your Vista installed on a FAT32 partition before being able to dual boot.

However the fact that it won't even boot into X windows while on the CD makes me think you have some hardware incompatibility on your computer... you might take out any cards that you are not using and try booting to the cd again.