Welcome to the Linux Foundation Forum!
Can't find a distro to work
snydley100
Posts: 7
in Installation
I just bought an Alienware 14 laptop with the idea of installing Linux on it and dual booting that and Windows 7 in legacy mode,( 7 shipped pre-installed in legacy mode).
The graphics card in the machine uses a GeForce GTX 765M chipset and I can't find a Linux distro that will display the screen correctly, when I boot a live CD the screen is torn into multiple screens, I just can't find a a distro to display correctly.
I have found a file with a driver that is supposed to work, NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-331.17.run. Is there any way to install that to use that with the live CD without installing the live CD to my hard drive so I can Linux first?
Can anyone help with this or point me to a place where I can get help?
Thanks,
Snyde
0
Comments
-
Most distros will offer the proprietary drivers in the package manager, the run file is used for manual distros like slackware or to create the packaged file.
I recommend trying something like ubuntu and going to the hardware drivers option and selecting to install the latest nvidia driver.
If you can share what distros you have tried, we may be able to find the instructions for the distro(s).0 -
mfillpot wrote:Most distros will offer the proprietary drivers in the package manager, the run file is used for manual distros like slackware or to create the packaged file.
I recommend trying something like ubuntu and going to the hardware drivers option and selecting to install the latest nvidia driver.
If you can share what distros you have tried, we may be able to find the instructions for the distro(s).
Hi,
The distros I've tried are:
Zorin 6.2 / 64 (LIVE CD), Zorin 6.4 / 64 (LIVE CD), Zorin 7 / 64 (LIVE CD), Ubuntu 13.10 /64 (LIVE CD)
The problem with Zorin is that once I select boot the LIVE CD and "try it" and get to the desktop the wifi device isn't "seen" and the video screen is torn into 4 images. I can't get any farther because I can't use the Internet to load additional drivers for the video, even if there are any. I'm trying to find ANY distro that has these drivers in the LIVE CD before it is installed so I can navigate around and use it.
With Ubuntu, after I boot the LIVE CD and get to the "try it" screen and select "try it", it starts to load but the screen goes blank and after a few minutes I can hear the CD drive stop spinning and it goes no farther.
The video used in this Alienware 14 is an NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 765M with 2GB GDDR5
The wifi is a Broadcom 4352 802.11 ac 2x2 and Bluetooth 4.0
I found a video driver, that may or may not work, on the Internet. I downloaded the file: NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-319.60.run, but don't know how to load it after the desktop starts, even if I could navigate the desktop with the screen torn as it is.
I have tried this in "safe video" mode, and with the nomodeset switch, and it makes no difference.
Is it possible to create a package file from the run file and load it somehow after the desktop loads, if I can somehow navigate the torn desktop screen? How do I make the package file?
Ideally what I would like to find is a version of Linux that would render the video correctly and load the correct wifi drivers from the LIVE CD before installation, like I've been ably to do with all of my other laptop and desktop machines in the past, so I can try it before installation.
Thanks for the help,
Snyde0 -
I do not think there are any distros that carry the proprietary driver by default due to licensing reasons. However from the command line you can put in the command "sudo apt-get install nvidia-current" to install the nvidia drivers from the online repos for either of those distros as Zorin is based upon ubuntu.
Since you have been using only ubuntu based distros I recommend trying some others out like fedora or magea to see if they are having the same problems.0 -
My big problem, it seems, beside the video tearing, is the wireless & wired connection. Once I get to the command prompt Zorin evidently doesn't natively support my wired or wireless hardware. When I couldn't get it to connect wirelessly, I tried connecting my LAN to the laptop and NOTHING, no connection.
This is really frustrating! I thought by buying a better machine than I needed that Linux would be a breeze to install! This has been the worst installation I've ever done.
Any idea how to rectify the wired connection problem?
As I see it, I can't install the current Nvidia drivers unless I can get on the Internet and I can't get on the Internet unless I can get my wired or wireless hardware to work with Linux!
Thanks,
Snyde0 -
My hardware for the wired connection is listed as a:
Killer e2200 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (NDIS 6.20)
Snyde0 -
mfillpot wrote:I do not think there are any distros that carry the proprietary driver by default due to licensing reasons. However from the command line you can put in the command "sudo apt-get install nvidia-current" to install the nvidia drivers from the online repos for either of those distros as Zorin is based upon ubuntu.
Since you have been using only ubuntu based distros I recommend trying some others out like fedora or magea to see if they are having the same problems.
I had some luck with Fedora, the screen won't tear when I get to the desktop, but the stock wifi won't work with it, BUT, I have a Roswell USB wireless adapter, Fedora sees it and I'm able to surf the net using this configuration. Now I've got to figure out how to install Fedora to a GPT hard drive and not screw it up. I am finally making progress though.
Thanks for the help,
Snyde0 -
Due to licensing issues with broadcom the drivers cannot be included in any live or installation cd, once you get a distro installed you can check their package management system for broadcom and in most cases the drivers are then available to be installed.0
-
I finally found a LIVE Linux CD to work on this Alienware 14 laptop, Fedora 19.
I displays the desktop correctly, and with a Roswell USB wifi adapter will connect to the Internet. Now I just have to figure out how to install it to the GPT hard drive with Windows 7 preinstalled,(in legacy mode).0 -
Hi, I am/was running in the same sort of problems while running Slackware. As for the video options you just have to enter nomodeset as an extra parameter while running your distribution. This because of the fact that both your nVidia GPU and your Intel CPU have graphic capabilities which will conflict if not set up properly. As for the Network card is really hard to get it to work and still haven't found my way around it. The default network manager in the huge.s kernel of Slackware does support the wired card, but unfortunately not the wireless one, so I could use some help there as well.0
-
jellegouds wrote:Hi, I am/was running in the same sort of problems while running Slackware. As for the video options you just have to enter nomodeset as an extra parameter while running your distribution. This because of the fact that both your nVidia GPU and your Intel CPU have graphic capabilities which will conflict if not set up properly. As for the Network card is really hard to get it to work and still haven't found my way around it. The default network manager in the huge.s kernel of Slackware does support the wired card, but unfortunately not the wireless one, so I could use some help there as well.
I ended up finding that Linux MInt 16 MATE version, Ultimate Edition 3.8 Mate ver., and Zorin 8.1 all work "out of the box" with my Alienware 14 with no "tweeking" needed to get the video to work. As far as the wifi card goes, I was told by someone on a Linux website to replace it with one with an atheroes chipset in it, they are much more "Linux friendly", and found a used one on Ebay for $11.99 plus shipping that came out of a Dell laptop. I was also able to get the Windows driver for it from the Dell website so it work with both Zorin 8.1 and Windows 7 Ultimate on my Alienware 14.
Here's the info. on the wifi card:
DELL DW1901 -0K2GW5 802.11ABGN Wireless Wifi + Bluetooth 4.0 Two-in-one Card
and the eBay auction number: 251340132337
Put that number in the eBay search box on the main page and it will take you to the page where I bought it. I bought this back in late 2013, so this specific auction is probably expired, but it will give you all the info. on a wifi card that works well with Linux and the Alienware. There's probably another current similar auction for that model wifi card available now, and it was a breeze to change. I didn't even have to do anything to the BIOS, the Alienware accepted it after install, and I've been using it since.
Good Luck,
Snyde0
Categories
- All Categories
- 207 LFX Mentorship
- 207 LFX Mentorship: Linux Kernel
- 735 Linux Foundation IT Professional Programs
- 339 Cloud Engineer IT Professional Program
- 167 Advanced Cloud Engineer IT Professional Program
- 66 DevOps Engineer IT Professional Program
- 132 Cloud Native Developer IT Professional Program
- 122 Express Training Courses
- 122 Express Courses - Discussion Forum
- 5.9K Training Courses
- 40 LFC110 Class Forum - Discontinued
- 66 LFC131 Class Forum
- 39 LFD102 Class Forum
- 221 LFD103 Class Forum
- 17 LFD110 Class Forum
- 33 LFD121 Class Forum
- 17 LFD133 Class Forum
- 6 LFD134 Class Forum
- 17 LFD137 Class Forum
- 70 LFD201 Class Forum
- 3 LFD210 Class Forum
- 2 LFD210-CN Class Forum
- 2 LFD213 Class Forum - Discontinued
- 128 LFD232 Class Forum - Discontinued
- 1 LFD233 Class Forum
- 3 LFD237 Class Forum
- 23 LFD254 Class Forum
- 689 LFD259 Class Forum
- 109 LFD272 Class Forum
- 3 LFD272-JP クラス フォーラム
- 10 LFD273 Class Forum
- 109 LFS101 Class Forum
- LFS111 Class Forum
- 2 LFS112 Class Forum
- 1 LFS116 Class Forum
- 3 LFS118 Class Forum
- 3 LFS142 Class Forum
- 3 LFS144 Class Forum
- 3 LFS145 Class Forum
- 1 LFS146 Class Forum
- 2 LFS147 Class Forum
- 8 LFS151 Class Forum
- 1 LFS157 Class Forum
- 14 LFS158 Class Forum
- 5 LFS162 Class Forum
- 1 LFS166 Class Forum
- 3 LFS167 Class Forum
- 1 LFS170 Class Forum
- 1 LFS171 Class Forum
- 2 LFS178 Class Forum
- 2 LFS180 Class Forum
- 1 LFS182 Class Forum
- 4 LFS183 Class Forum
- 30 LFS200 Class Forum
- 737 LFS201 Class Forum - Discontinued
- 2 LFS201-JP クラス フォーラム
- 17 LFS203 Class Forum
- 117 LFS207 Class Forum
- 1 LFS207-DE-Klassenforum
- LFS207-JP クラス フォーラム
- 301 LFS211 Class Forum
- 55 LFS216 Class Forum
- 50 LFS241 Class Forum
- 43 LFS242 Class Forum
- 37 LFS243 Class Forum
- 13 LFS244 Class Forum
- 1 LFS245 Class Forum
- 45 LFS250 Class Forum
- 1 LFS250-JP クラス フォーラム
- LFS251 Class Forum
- 145 LFS253 Class Forum
- LFS254 Class Forum
- LFS255 Class Forum
- 6 LFS256 Class Forum
- LFS257 Class Forum
- 1.2K LFS258 Class Forum
- 9 LFS258-JP クラス フォーラム
- 116 LFS260 Class Forum
- 155 LFS261 Class Forum
- 41 LFS262 Class Forum
- 82 LFS263 Class Forum - Discontinued
- 15 LFS264 Class Forum - Discontinued
- 11 LFS266 Class Forum - Discontinued
- 23 LFS267 Class Forum
- 18 LFS268 Class Forum
- 29 LFS269 Class Forum
- 200 LFS272 Class Forum
- 1 LFS272-JP クラス フォーラム
- LFS274 Class Forum
- 3 LFS281 Class Forum
- 7 LFW111 Class Forum
- 257 LFW211 Class Forum
- 178 LFW212 Class Forum
- 12 SKF100 Class Forum
- SKF200 Class Forum
- 791 Hardware
- 199 Drivers
- 68 I/O Devices
- 37 Monitors
- 98 Multimedia
- 174 Networking
- 91 Printers & Scanners
- 85 Storage
- 754 Linux Distributions
- 82 Debian
- 67 Fedora
- 16 Linux Mint
- 13 Mageia
- 23 openSUSE
- 147 Red Hat Enterprise
- 31 Slackware
- 13 SUSE Enterprise
- 351 Ubuntu
- 465 Linux System Administration
- 39 Cloud Computing
- 71 Command Line/Scripting
- Github systems admin projects
- 91 Linux Security
- 78 Network Management
- 101 System Management
- 47 Web Management
- 56 Mobile Computing
- 17 Android
- 28 Development
- 1.2K New to Linux
- 1K Getting Started with Linux
- 366 Off Topic
- 114 Introductions
- 171 Small Talk
- 20 Study Material
- 534 Programming and Development
- 293 Kernel Development
- 223 Software Development
- 1.1K Software
- 212 Applications
- 182 Command Line
- 3 Compiling/Installing
- 405 Games
- 311 Installation
- 79 All In Program
- 79 All In Forum
Upcoming Training
-
August 20, 2018
Kubernetes Administration (LFS458)
-
August 20, 2018
Linux System Administration (LFS301)
-
August 27, 2018
Open Source Virtualization (LFS462)
-
August 27, 2018
Linux Kernel Debugging and Security (LFD440)