Ubuntu Wiki

• Contact: ["TennesseeLeeuwenburg2"], TylerKinkade, SridharDhanapalan

• Brand: Dell
• Make : Inspiron
• Model: 9400 (E1705)

• Website: [http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins9400/]

Current Issues

Note: Issues from previous releases have been moved to end of report. No information has been deleted (only minor edits). It has only been moved for the sake of clarity/organization, to keep this page current with newer versions of Ubuntu, and to make this page more consistent with the LaptopTestingTeamTemplate. Please don't take offense, none is intended. -- TylerKinkade

Note: Issues to the Core 2 Duo CPU and associated hardware are chronicled [wiki:Core_2_Duo_Support here].

• Installing grub removes the built-in [http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/mediadirect.htm MediaDirect] OS, which is located on a secret partition (not accessible by Linux or Windows) at the end of the drive. Instructions to have GRUB co-operate with the Dell bootloader are [http://www.notebookforums.com/thread164182.html here]. I have not tested them. -- SridharDhanapalan

• The PC Speaker is very loud, and there is no way to lower the volume. It can be [http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1547346&postcount=26 disabled] by unloading the pcspkr kernel module or [http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1137455&postcount=3 muted] with the xset and setterm commands. -- SridharDhanapalan

Issues with Edgy x86-32

Note: Do not add the 'notsc' kernel option mentioned in the x86-64 sections below. It will create a kernel panic with a x86-32 kernel.

• X crashes if Fn+Up (to increase brightness) is pressed. Fn+Down has no effect. This could be related to Bug [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+source/hal/+bug/61184 #61184]. I did have both of these keys working for a short time, so I need to re-discover what I did to get it going. -- SridharDhanapalan

• Upon resuming from a suspend/hibernate action, the second CPU core is locked at its full speed. It will not throttle down. The first core behaves normally. This [http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1640184&postcount=1 does not appear] to be specific to Core 2 Duo CPUs. -- SridharDhanapalan

• The built-in card reader does not work (Bug [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+source/hal/+bug/63553 #63553]). -- SridharDhanapalan

Issues with Edgy x86-64

• No WiFi after resume from suspend. (Not an issue in XP.)

• SLOW Ubuntu boot up: on the order of minutes. (WinXP boots in less than 30 seconds.)
• SLOW launch of simple applications: takes about 30-60 seconds to launch terminal, Firefox, etc. (The rectangular launch graphic usually advances at the slow speed of about 1 frame per 3 seconds.)

Forum post on these issues here: [http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=296354] --TylerKinkade

Solutions to Issues with Edgy x86-64

• Problem: Touchpad button AND tap-to-click frequently stop functioning. (Occurs almost every minute. Not an issue in XP.) Bug No.[https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+source/hal/+bug/70687 70687]

  • Solution: Add "notsc" to kernel options.

• Problem: Super sensitive keyboard driver: characters repeat with a single tap. (This is not the same as the holding a key down to repeat feature: keyboard repeat delay is set to about 3 seconds.) (This is not an issue in XP.)

  • Solution: Add "notsc" to kernel options.

System Info

Edgy x86-64 (stable release) tested on this system:

   bios-version: A04
   system-manufacturer: Dell Inc.
   system-product-name: MP061
   system-version: Not Specified
   kernel: Linux 2.6.17-10-generic #2 SMP Fri Oct 13 15:34:39 UTC 2006 x86_64 GNU/Linux

• (10 Nov 2006, TylerKinkade)

Linux 2.6.17-10-generic #2 SMP Fri Oct 13 18:45:35 UTC 2006 i686 GNU/Linux

• -- SridharDhanapalan (2006-11-12)

Hardware details

Issues with Previous Releases

This is supposed to highlight dev release problems, but I am still working on getting Breezy working correctly. Also, I'm still getting my head around this wiki template. Without further ado, my problems are:

• there seems to be an unresolved hardware issue with at least the Inspiron 9300 and 9400. Reproducible only on "affected" laptops and in windows: when system is +/- idle, toggle hardware radio switch (FN+F2) on then off again and leave at off. a ~high pitched whining noise starts, and goes away with radio switch back on, or while computer not idle; ie: if you open some windows, when computer is working, then goes away but comes back right after. any one have the same issue? some people have suggested a hardware vibration issue --purpleidea

Issues with Breezy Badger

• Headphone jack does not mute internal speakers
• Latest SMP kernel breaks keyboard.

(sorry for this but first time i edit a wiki ever !!!) I know how to fix that... the "/etc/hotplug/blacklist" file just add pcmcia and pcmcia_core and that will be fixed

• SMP Kernel boots into X and then just before GDM loads it hangs with mouse perpetually doing "hourglass" spin thing -purpleidea
• Intermittent heat-related issues -- not properly understood
• gnome-terminal and xterms not closing properly -- become uninterruptible

Issues with Dapper Drake

• As of around Friday, weird hardware clock problems -- select() to /dev/rtc to wait for clock tick timed out. Seems to have been a common problem in the past, perhaps it has been unintentionally re-introduced? Commonly suggested --directisa workaround does not work.

• /dev/agpart not available with 2.6.15 kernels, but works on 2.6.16.1. -JoelReed

• Hibernate works, but after "wake up" screensaver automatically goes on even if in the middle of moving the mouse, typing, etc.
• Hibernate works, but after "wake up" my screen is full with artifacts, so I have to logoff-logon, then everything is fine again. --morgengenuss

• FN+F1 works to hibernate, but only for a first hibernate and when focus is on desktop. after wake up, to rehibernate you need to click logoff->hibernate.

• wireless can be added (is not part of apt distro right now): http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net

• SMP Kernel (stock or self-compiled -- latest versions) doesn't seem to work 100% CPU0 works fine, idles at 50% and goes up or down appropriately when needed. CPU1 either stays permanently at 50% or 100% (seems to boot up and randomly? be at either one or the other, and never throttles) anyone have the same problem? --purpleidea

Issues now fixed in Dapper Drake

• Headphone jack does not mute internal speakers
• and "jack sense" options aren't available in sound mixer

http://www.math.umd.edu/~olsson/jerome-install.html was recommended to me for fixing the line jack sense.

• headphone issues are cleared up with alsa-driver-1.0.11rc4, see http://lkml.org/lkml/2006/3/17/279 -JoelReed

• ALSA works, headphones broken again in latest source download from ALSA site. haven't checked CVS or above patch. is lkml patch supposed to be merged into regular alsa CVS? --purpleidea

• I just updated my kernel to .20, and everything seems to just work now. Anyone else find this? --TennesseeLeeuwenburg2

• headphones work for me in stock 686-smp kernel -21 --purpleidea
• Hard disk spins down far too soon/often, no obvious control mechanism (i.e. in "power settings" or "disks" -- don't know where else to look)

• FIX with "sudo hdparm -S12 /dev/sda" you can read about it on "http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Use_hdparm_to_improve_IDE_device_performance" --DigitalLF

• now i just found out in ubuntu you should edit /etc/hdparm.conf go to line 61 (spindown_time) and edit that to whatever you want --DigitalLF

• This the spin-down on AC power, on Battery, on both. It is reproducible if you start from a clean reboot? -PaulSladen

• AC Power, haven't checked with battery. Happens 100% of the time, reboots do not affect. --TennesseeLeeuwenburg2

• The problem just ... went away one update. --TennesseeLeeuwenburg2

Notes

This is a first time edit on a WIKI for me (["DigitalLF"]) but i will do all i can to help with anything on this laptop.

• Excellent, many thanks for any testing you are able to do - hopefully you'll get a better experience out of it too! -PaulSladen

• i have now found out how to get the wifi working and i get around 200kbs better speed in linux then i get in windows so it seems like it works great on my home-unencrypted network -DigitalLF

• I have compiled my own kernel and have been trying to install this. The install guide says to look for the firmware directory in 'hotplug.agent', a file which doesn't exist on my system. How did you get it to install? --TennesseeLeeuwenburg2

• i dont have a clue about that but i dident even need to compile my own kernel its much easyer then that is there some way i can contact you msn/irc/skype? i'l walk you right through it its not that hard realy

• I have added information about Edgy on a Inspiron 9400, but don't want to step on any toes. Made some edits in the interest of clarity and organization as noted above. Please contact me if I've offended anyone because that is not my intent. TylerKinkade

• I've made a lot of additions and alterations. I can confirm that the problems mentioned by TylerKinkade are specific to x86-64 and are not present with x86-32. Also, the 'notsc' kernel option causes kernel panics with a x86-32 kernel. -- SridharDhanapalan