Jamie's Random Musings
Various thoughts and adventures, including but not limited to Linux, Windows XP and Widows Vista, and assorted bits of hardware new and old.
Sunday 8 February 2009, 1:46 PM
HP2133 & Ubuntu - Sometimes You Just Have To Laugh
I had been avoiding trying Ubuntu 9.04 because it is still in the Alpha stage, and the release notes say that it uses a newer version of Xorg, for which a lot of the video drivers haven't caught up yet. Finally, I gave up on 8.10 and just for a laugh put in the 9.04 LiveCD. It works. Insert the CD, boot, select "Install Ubuntu", and it works. Sigh. Oh Ye of Little Faith!
So, as I write this Ubuntu 9.04 Alpha 4 is installing on the Mini-Note. Next comes finding and installing the latest openchrome video and broadcom wireless drivers, and then I'll see how it all looks. Updates to follow...
jw 8/2/2009
Update: Ubuntu 9.04 Alpha 4 does install on the HP2133, and it does work, at least to the extent that one might expect of an Alpha release. I was able to compile and install the latest openchrome drivers, as described in the Ubuntu How-To's. However, the sound is extremely bad (very scratchy), the screen size and resolution are inconsistent, and then when I had been working on that for a while Ubuntu suddenly hung in a loop playing the login music. At that point I gave up for this release, I'll have another go when the next Alpha comes out.
jw
PreviousComments on this post
If the LiveCD is unable to start X (perhaps a blank screen, even using 'safe graphics mode'), the Ubuntu alternate install CD is another option, since it doesn't rely on X.
Thanks for reading and commenting. I had thought of that, but I'm not that determined to get an Alpha release loaded. I'm assuming that this problem will get worked out as Ubuntu moves through Alpha, Beta and RC testing, so I'll just wait and watch, and test as each new release comes out. They're obviously making good progress, since Alpha 3 wouldn't work at all, and Alpha 4 at least boots and installs.
jw
