LaptopTesting

Revision 46 as of 2007-06-15 04:59:38

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This page is part of the ["LaptopTestingTeam"]

How to make a Laptop Testing Report

Laptop testing is not that hard. You just need a laptop and a few hours to do it. Here are the steps you need to follow:

  1. Install the current stable version of Ubuntu ( http://www.ubuntu.com/download )

  2. Check on LaptopTestingTeam if there is already a report for your laptop. If there is hit the upper left edit link and add your WikiName to the testing page. Then see if you have anything different, or can add to the existing report. Otherwise...

  3. Create a new page for your test results. If you own a Toshiba Tecra M2, then the new page is named https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LaptopTestingTeam/ToshibaTecraM2 . You can create the new page by typing the address in your browser and then following it. Hit the edit link and leave the page open for editing (you won't be using one of the listed templates).

  4. In another browser window go to ["LaptopTestingTeamTemplate"], click edit, and copy the contents of that page into the new page you just made.

  5. Add an entry to the table on LaptopTestingTeam, or on your manufacturers sub-page. The vintage should give a rough idea of the date the laptop was originally on sale or purchased. Just the year is fine. If you don't already have a page connected to your WikiName now is the time to make one, use the premade template called Homepage. Make sure there's a way people can contact you.

  6. Now you're ready to fill out the testing report. If you need help, see the info below and the ["LaptopTestingTeam/FAQ"]. Don't file any bugs at [http://launchpad.net] yet.

And then,

  1. Install or run a live CD of the most current point release of the development version of Ubuntu ( http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/ ).

    1. Edgy Knot1 Installation bug note: The released CD has a bug in the installer, requiring localechooser-data to be installed in order for it to work. Using Adept (or your favourite package tool) to install this should solve the problem. Please see [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+bug/56721 bug #56721] and do not file any more bugs on this issue.

  2. Fill out all the information in a new column of your report. File bugs for anything that doesn't work, find debugging tips in the ["LaptopTestingTeam/FAQ"] and remember to mention if the problem was not in the stable version.

  3. When a new point release for the development version comes out, install that and correct any information. File new bugs for items that are now broken and remember to close any bugs for things that now work.

Remember that ["LaptopTestingTeam/FAQ"] can help with common problems and questions. Please add anything that could help others reporting bugs.

Once you've done all that, sit back and take a break! Thanks for helping Ubuntu run on your laptop.

The [https://launchpad.net/people/ubuntu-laptop Ubuntu Laptop Team]

The rest of this page supplements the ["LaptopTestingTeamTemplate"].

Testing Tips

These are questions to help you test. Please fill out the table, as seen on ["LaptopTestingTeamTemplate"].

Install

Did the installer complete without errors?

Basic Hardware Test

  • Does X start correctly?
    • After installation is complete, a graphical login window should appear
  • Is X running at the correct resolution?
    • The X desktop should be sharp and clear. System/Preferences/Screen Resolution should default to the resolution of the screen
  • 3-D Acceleration: Does glxinfo return the line "direct rendering: Yes"?
    • Start a terminal and type the following:

      glxinfo | grep rendering
      This will print either "direct rendering: Yes" or "direct rendering: No"
  • Does the wired ethernet work?
    • Can you browse the internet when plugged into the wired ethernet port?
  • Does the wireless ethernet work?
    • Can you browse the internet when near a wireless access point?
  • Does the trackpad work?
    • Does it move the mouse pointer?
    • Does the right hand side emulate a mouse scroll wheel?
    • Does the trackpoint work?
    • Does it move the mouse pointer?

Advanced Hardware Test

  • Does the modem work?
    • Right click on the panel and select add to panel. Choose "Modem monitor" and click OK. Right click and select properties. Enter the password. Click add, and choose modem (PPP). Enter a phone number on the next screen. Enter username and password. Apply the changes and then select Activate from the phone applet menu. Does the machine dial out correctly?
  • Does the sound work ?
  • Does pressing the volume hotkeys raise, lower and mute volume?
    • This may or may not result in a dialog appearing on screen showing the current volume
  • Do the brightness keys alter the screen brightness?
    • Brightness up should raise the screen brightness, and down should lower it. On machines with light sensors, the hotkey should enable and disable this.
  • Does the video display hotkey switch the external display on and off?
    • Without rebooting the machine, connect a monitor to the external display. Press the display key. Does a picture appear on the monitor? Is it correct?
  • Does the wireless button enable and disable wireless?
    • When enabled, the wireless monitor applet in the top right of the screen should show a signal. When disabled, it should not.
  • Do application buttons (mail, help, web) launch appropriate applications? Pressing application buttons should launch an application, or bring it to the front if it is already running.
  • Is the machine discoverable from a mobile phone with bluetooth?
    • On the phone, select "Discover devices". See if the computer is listed.
  • If an infra red phone is placed in front of the infra red port, does its address appear in /proc/net/irda/discovery?
    • Ensure that infra-red is switched on on the phone. Place it in front of the infra-red port. From a terminal, type

      cat /proc/net/irda/discovery
      and see if it contains a line referring to the phone
  • Does attaching a docking station result in all of the hardware appearing correctly under Ubuntu?
    • Do USB ports on the docking station work?
    • Does the video out on the docking station work?
    • Do any removable media devices in the docking station work?
    • If the docking station contains a battery, does it show up correctly?
    • Does removing the docking station result in correct behaviour?
    • If the docking station is removed, does Ubuntu carry on running?
    • If the docking station is reattached, does the docking station still work?
  • Does the PCMCIA/CardBus port work?
    • If you have a PCMCIA/CardBus card to try with, is the device picked up? The lights on the device should light up.
  • Does the firewire work?
    • If you have a device to try with, plug in a firewire device and see if it is detected.
  • Do the USB ports work?
    • Plug in a USB device, does it work? Using something simple for testing like a mouse is good.
  • Note: For the above tests, if the usability of the device is not apparently, you may wish to refer to the 'dmesg' command, or the "Device Manager" located under System->Administration to see if the device is listed.

Power Management Test

  • Does pressing the sleep button cause the machine to sleep?
    • After a few seconds, the machine's screen should go blank and the sleep light come on
  • Does the machine then wake up correctly?
    • After a few seconds, the machine should wake up. Moving the mouse should result in a screen unlock box appearing.
    • Does the keyboard still work after resume?
    • Does the network still work after resume?
    • Do USB devices work correctly?
    • Does the audio still work correctly?
  • Does pressing the hibernate button cause the machine to hibernate? (Not all machines have hibernate buttons)
    • The screen should go blank. Some time later, the machine should switch off.
  • Does the machine then wake up correctly?
    • Pressing the power button should result in the machine waking up. After a while, moving the mouse should result in a screen unlock box appearing.
    • Does the keyboard still work after resume?
    • Does the network still work after resume?
    • Do USB devices work correctly?
    • Does the audio still work correctly?
  • Does performing these actions from the logout menu behave identically?
  • Does repeating the entire process, having already done one suspend perform the same (i.e. suspending more than once)?
  • Is CPU frequency scaling supported?
    • Start a terminal and type the following:

      sudo invoke-rc.d powernowd restart

      It should not print "CPU frequency scaling not supported".

Questions

  • The process described provides answers to questions that don't exist in the template, what should we do with those answers?
    • PaulSladen: For the moment, please add any that you notice not working to the Current Issues sections at the top. Longer-term, these can be worked into the main LaptopTestingTeamTemplate.

  • Should we record changes in the development version (ie. I just installed Colony-3 and a number of things are broken over Colony-2)?
    • PaulSladen: Yes, these are regressions (things that used to work but don't work any more. They are more important to track down as soon as possible. This should be reported immediately to https://launchpad.net/malone to hopefully allow the particular change that caused the breakage to be identified. Users are more likely to get upset at features that used to work and now don't over features new features that they haven't discovered yet.

  • Can we put up some sort of recommended laptop page? Take the results of all the test laptops and produce a list of Perfect/Near Perfect/Good/OK/Poor/Bad/Terrible laptops so anyone who might maybe be looking at purchasing a laptop would have a nice point of reference. I know this might defeat the idea of bringing RAD support for all, but someone looking to spend £500+ might just want to start higher up the ladder in terms of compatibility.
    • I'd like to second this request. Instead of simply having a Perfect/Near Perfect/etc. page, it seems to me the best thing would be to use the data more powerfully still. For example, I'd like to buy a laptop with working sleep -- it would be awesome if I could get a list of all laptops that had been confirmed to have working sleep in Ubuntu. In fact, I'm thinking of making a quick script to do this for myself anyway -- would there be a good place to post the result if I did this? Obviously it would have to be rerun periodically, which is unforunate, but still, it might be helpful... -- ThomasMHinkle
  • I've got a Samsung Laptop called X20 1730III, there is an article for SamsungX20. There are minor hardware differences between 1730III and 1730V for example. Shall I create a new article for different versions or just add extra notes at the relevant points in the existing article? --LukasDrude

  • I want to update a laptop testing survey that contain testing survey related to old Ubuntu version (i.e.: Dapper and Breezy ) what should I do? Should I add extra column to the testing result table (i.e.: So the wiki page will have 4 column, Dapper, Breezy, Edgy, Faisty) or should I drop the column related to old version (i.e.: So the wiki page will have always 2 column: current stable and current development) ? --StefanoLenzi

CategoryHardware CategoryLaptop