Ubuntu 8.10 install on Dell XPS 1530
In August 2008, I bought a Dell XPS m1530.
I recently had a hard disk failure. I am still not sure if the cause is physical or a shutdown/freeze related event. I decided to do a fresh install with Ubuntu 8.10. It went well at first, except for the touchpad, which went nuts, a problem I did not experience when installing 8.10 on a Dell Inspiron 1420n.
I was advised to add this to the grub boot line: i8042.nomux=1
To edit the boot script, I used this command:
sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.1st
It worked fine, but it seems surprising that someone would have to know this to make the featured Dell Linux laptop work right after the 1st Ubuntu upgrade.
Backups and data migration
Here are some tips on moving data from one computer to another. First, if you can, save your email from evolution using the backup settings option off the file menu.
Second, in Firebox, back up and migrate your bookmarks by using the export/import options in Firefox’s Bookmarks/ Organisation Bookmarks menu.
I use grsync to back up and restore the rest of the data files, using the option of preserving the file dates. You can also do this from a unix copy command using the -p option. (You will find it useful to keep the original file dates.)
Software you will want to install
Go to http://www.medibuntu.org and follow the directions on repositories.
I would add all of the recommended repositories and multimedia codecs. I recommend using both free and non-free components.
After this is done, here are some programs I like:
adobe acrobat reader: arcroreader
archive utility: 7z
archive utility: rar
archive utility: unrar
art: art manager
art: gimp data extras
art: open clip art
backup: grsync
create-resources
editor: bluefish
editor: Gooby
internet: gftp
internet: skype
linux-restricted-modules
multimedia: vlc
statistics program: r-base
text to speech: acroread-plugin-speech
text to speech: espeak
text to speech: festival
ubuntu restricted extras
utility: gpass Password manager
utility: gprename
utility: kchmreader
If you want to collaborate with anyone who doesn’t use Linux, you will need to add the Microsoft True Type core fonts:
sudo apt-get install msttcorefonts
Sound and Video
Next, I’ll try to get the video cam and the microphone working.
So far, this seems to be a challenge.