Ubuntu Wiki

• Contact: ErikHess2

• Make: Hewlett-Packard
• Brand: Mini-Note
• Model: 2133 (KX869AT)

• Website: [http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF25a/321957-321957-64295-321838-306995-3687084.html HP 2133 Mini-Note]

Current Issues

1. CPU Scaling (fix below)

2. WiFi (works fine with ndiswrapper)

System Info

Hardware details

Notes

How-To: Installing Ubuntu on the HP 2133 Mini-Note

Tested Configuration

The specific model tested for this Wiki was the KX869AT, which arrived with SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10.1 pre-installed. No Operating System or Restore CDs were included with the Laptop, nor was there a Restore partition.

Disclaimer

The following instructions assume a complete install of Ubuntu 8.04 LTS (Hardy Heron) from scratch. Be sure to back up any data you feel is important. The following instructions have been kept as simple as possible to appeal to the widest audience.

Pre-Boot

1. Download a copy of Hardy Heron and burn the image to an installation CD. Connect an external CD/DVD drive to the USB port and load the installation CD.
2. Put your finger somewhere close to the F9 key, because the Mini-Note's BIOS options pass quickly. Start or restart the computer and press F9, which will bring up the Boot Device menu. Select your CD/DVD drive and hit enter.

Base Installation

1. When the language menu comes up, select your preferred tongue and hit enter. At the Ubuntu install menu hit F6, which will bring up the Boot Options line. Add the word xforcevesa at the end of the line and hit enter. The installer will then load the kernel and begin the installation process. It is normal for the progress bar to freeze for a short period of time. Have patience.

2. Eventually you should hear the welcoming sounds of Ubuntu through the Mini-Note's ample speakers, and see the Hardy Live session desktop. While WiFi is not available at this point, you should be able to connect to the internet through a wired ethernet connection if necessary. Double-click on the "Install" icon and follow the wizard through the subsequent screens, selecting your location and keyboard layout.

3. Step 4 will ask you how you'd like to partition the disk. If you're comfortable with losing everything currently on the disk, select "Guided - use entire disk". REMEMBER - This will kill everything else on the disk if you follow the wizard to its completion. BACK UP FIRST! The remainder of the tutorial will assume a Guided partition of the entire disk. Continue through the wizard, filling in your user information, password and computer name. When you're sure you're ready to wipe your hard-disk, hit "Install" on the final page.

4. The "Installing System" dialog will come up next. Grab a tasty beverage and watch the progress bar slowly creep across the screen. When installation is complete, hit Restart Now. The CD should eject, and remove it from the tray/slot at this time. Press enter to restart your computer.

Drivers and Fixes

1. As Ubuntu starts for the first time you may see some video artifacts from forcing the vesa video driver. You should still get a clear Ubuntu login screen and your speakers should work right from the start. Log in with the user you created during the install process.

2. Video Driver Installation -- VIA now provides Ubuntu-ready video drivers for the HP 2133 at [http://linux.via.com.tw/support/downloadFiles.action this site]. WiFi is still not working, so use an ethernet connection to connect to the internet. If you have no ethernet connection, you'll need to go to the "WiFi Driver" section below and set up your WiFi card before continuing.

   2.1 Open up Firefox and head to the VIA website at the link above. Once there, be sure to select "Ubuntu 8.04 LTS" instead of "SuSe Linux Enterprise 10 SP1" in the "OS" selection box. Click on the GFX driver link and save the driver file somewhere you'll remember it. Firefox will save it to the desktop by default. Next, download a new xorg.conf file [http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=68029&d=1209510864 here]. Save it somewhere convenient, like the desktop.

   2.2 Double-click on the downloaded file, and in the window that appears click the "Extract" button. Again select somewhere that makes sense (the Desktop is fine) and click "Extract" at the bottom right of the dialog. Close any remaining windows and open Terminal, in Applications > Accessories > Terminal. Assuming you extracted the driver folder to the desktop, type:

   cd ~/Desktop/via-chrome9.83.40558
   sudo ./vinstall

   2.3 Be sure to use the appropriate "via-chrome9..." folder name for your driver version. Before the new video will work, you'll have to make a couple more tweaks. Don't restart yet!

3. Video and CPU Scaling Fixes -- Back in Terminal, type the following:

   sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

   This will bring up the grub boot menu configuration file. Scroll to the bottom of the file and you'll find a three boot options. Go to the first, titled "Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic" and in the "kernel" line, delete "xforcevesa". in it's place, type:

   acpi_osi="!Windows 2006"

   This will enable CPU speed scaling, helping preserve the Mini-Note's already limited battery life. For more information about this bug (which is in the kernel, and not specific to the Mini-Note) see [https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/hardy/+source/linux/+bug/177076 this link].

   3.1 Close gedit and go back to the Terminal. Remember where you put the replacement xorg.conf file, because we'll back up and overwrite the old one next. Unzip the xorg file if necessary. Then, assuming you saved the new unpackaged xorg.conf file to your desktop, type:

   sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.old
   sudo cp ~/Desktop/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf

   When that successfully completes, reboot your machine.

4. WiFi Driver -- As of this writing, there is no functioning native linux WiFi driver available. An outstanding tutorial on using native Windows drivers with ndiswrapper can be found [https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/Driver/bcm43xx/Feisty_No-Fluff here]. Follow the instructions step-by-step and you should be all set. Don't forget to update your apt repositories with:

   sudo apt-get update

What's Left?

The biggest flaw left is the audio driver. As of May 3, 2008 there is no way to mute the speakers automatically when headphones are plugged into the jack. The various forum posts below are good places to watch for the solution to this and other quirks. If you find solutions, please update this Wiki.

Helpful Links

• [http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=749693 HP Compaq 2133 Mini-Note PC thread from Ubuntu Forums] Without this I would never have been able to get my Mini-Note up and running. Most of the tricks in the Installation How-To come from the talented folks in that thread. Thank you.

• [http://linux.via.com.tw/support/downloadFiles.action VIA Graphics Driver Download Page]

• [http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=68029&d=1209510864 Correct xorg.conf File]

• [https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/hardy/+source/linux/+bug/177076 Hardy CPU Scaling Bug]

• [https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/Driver/bcm43xx/Feisty_No-Fluff WiFi Driver with ndiswrapper]

CategoryLaptop