SONY VAIO P – Ubuntu 9.04’s problems and how to solve them
Many people, like me, love to dual-boot. Until now, I ran Windows Vista Ultimate SP2 on my VAIO, but being a Linux geek, I could not stop myself in installing Ubuntu. I went for the Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop edition this time as I thought that VAIO P has extra-ordinary resolution and Desktop edition might just fit the bill right. Boy, was I wrong!
Installation
I opted to install via flash-drive as VAIO P does not have a optical drive built-in. I could have burnt the ISO to a CD and install it from there, but I decided to install via flash drive. I used a tool called UnetBootin, which allowed me to make bootable flash drive. You can download it from here.
When you boot from the flash drive/DVD, you are straight-away taken to the Ubuntu desktop, which allows you to play with the OS without actually installing it on the system. This is great for the Linux newbies who want to play around with the OS a bit before installing it physically on their system.
However, rather than running in its native resolution which is 1600×768, it was running at netbook-ish resolution, 1024×600. I ignored it and installed Ubuntu by clicking on the “install’ icon on the desktop.
How does its runs?
It runs fine, given the fact that you are ready to use it under 1024×600 resolution and can bear rather poor performance. However, there is a solution to (almost) every problem on this earth. An immediate search revealed that one must install GMA 500 chipset drivers manually as Ubuntu 9.04 does not support this chipset out of the box.
To make the GMA 500 work properly (which will make overall system breezy), follow these steps
- go to Synaptic package manager (System>Administration>Synaptic Package Manager)
- Go to Settings>Software Sources and under third party software tab, add these: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mobile/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main and deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mobile/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
- Open terminal. Copy and paste the code in 4 and 5 steps one by one
- gpg –keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com –recv C6598A30
- gpg –export –armor C6598A30 | sudo apt-key add –
- Now, open Synaptic package manager again. Type in poulsbo and select poulsbo-driver-2d, poulsbo-driver-3d, psb-kernel-headers, psb-firmware, psb-kernel-source and xserver-xorg-video-psb
- Click on Apply to install them
- Open terminal app again and type what is given in step 9 and 11
- su
- (enter your password)
- gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
- replace kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-13-generic root=UUID=c34d1d57-59d3-4f6f-abc1-fd83aea4 ro quiet splash with kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-13-generic root=UUID=c34d1d57-59d3-4f6f-abc1-fd83aea4 ro quiet nosplash mem=1500mb
- Restart the computer and now you will be able to use your VAIO P at its native resolution
Read our SONY VAIO P review!
VAIO P running Ubuntu at 1600x768. Click to view bigger resolution
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note:
It has two dashes everywhere
gpg --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv C6598A30and here
gpg --export --armor C6598A30 | sudo apt-key add --I am stuck on step 6. When I type in poulsbo into the search field I get no hits…
The main reason could be that you must not have added these packages
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mobile/ppa/ubuntu jaunty maindeb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mobile/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main[...] How to get everything working in Ubuntu on Sony VAIO P [...]
I am not able to run the two terminal commands I don’t know why I have added every thing but still its not running. I have tried with sudo as well but could not do so.
gpg –keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com –recv C6598A30
gpg --export --armor C6598A30 | sudo apt-key add –
I hope you are using two dashes
--and not single dash-Use two dashes before keyserver
Hi
I was not able to run the commands however after restarting I think my system’s resolution has changed and it is now running on 1200 by 800 but I didn’t check it before……what it was.
Thanks
This means that you that you have not added the sources correctly. Check the list of sources and let me know if they appear on the list
another problem with my is since last few days my system just hanging I don’t know why. While shutdown it hangs usually and some times when I try to download some thing. It is annoying because these days I am working on my Masters thesis and some time it hangs in the middle while I am working. Is any body now some thing about it. I suspected my firefox and I reinstalled it but still I am having this problem.
Thanks for your time.
Both of them are there in the list. I have copied and paste them after clicking the add button.
but I don’t know what’s wrong with the two commands. when I write poulsbo in synaptic manager, could not result in any hits I mean there nothing.
Have you added the keys properly?
This time I ran the first command but when I try to run
gpg --export --armor C6598A30 | sudo apt-key add –after entering the password it says
gpg: can’t open `–’: No such file or directory
Yes I have added them as you mentioned above
It looks fine to me, but have u executed this before it?
gpg --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv C6598A30deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mobile/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mobile/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
Have added these two lines in the third party software…
which file should I execute….? and how.
This..
gpg --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv C6598A30it gives the following out error.
gpg: requesting key C6598A30 from hkp server keyserver.ubuntu.com
gpg: keyserver timed out
gpg: keyserver receive failed: keyserver error
This time I execute the one that you mention before and I got the out
gpg: requesting key C6598A30 from hkp server keyserver.ubuntu.com
gpg: key C6598A30: “Launchpad PPA for Ubuntu Mobile Team” not changed
gpg: Total number processed: 1
gpg: unchanged: 1
but the main problem is with the other command. It produces the out put….
gpg: can’t open `–’: No such file or directory
Do not worry. I’ll reload Ubuntu on my VAIO again tomorrow and I’ll see the problem being faced by you.
I executed both of the commands but still I couldn’t find the files in synaptic package manager…….
ohhh by the way the at the end of the second command there should be “–” not a single dash its double minus.
now the main problem is how to get the abovementioned file in synaptic manager list. But I could not….
[...] box! In 9.04 Ubuntu, you had to quite a few tweaks to get it running in full resolution, but that problem is now gone in Ubuntu 9.10. Full review to follow [...]
Ghani, in
gpg --export --armor C6598A30 | sudo apt-key add --use double dash in the end. It will work
I think both the codes works fine I mean the above code produces OK output
The problem is I am not able to get any hits in synaptic manager on poulsbo.
Try UBUNTU 9.10. It supports native resolution out of box:
http://gadgetmix.com/index/download-ubuntu-netbook-remix-9-10-for-your-netbook-now/
http://gadgetmix.com/index/ubuntu-9-10-loves-sony-vaio-ps-resolution/