[HOWTO] Ubuntu 7.10 and ASUS F3Sv

[Fittersman]

alright, after a few trial and error sessions im running the new ubuntu 7.10 on my ASUS F3Sv.

What works and what doesnt:

Works
--Wireless
--direct rendering
--memory card reader
--touchpad
--webcam
--some of the Fn keys
Doesnt
--fingerprint reader
--some of the Fn keys
Untested
--webcam
--TV tuner
--anything i didnt list (unless i missed it)

First, you will need the alternate x64 install CD, you can get that here:
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu

it should install without any problems but dont forget to make a backup of your important data incase something does go wrong.

To get X working

[this guide seems kind of pointless now after some ubuntu updates (i had a detailed explanation of how to get the nvidia driver working, but it doesnt work anymore) so, basically download Envy New, install and run it. But, ill give some steps anyway ]

1. When you first boot into Ubuntu you should get a warning that it is running in "low graphics mode", select continue.
2. download Envy New
3. by default, things are downloaded to your desktop. There should now be an envy .deb package on your desktop. double click on it
4. proceed with the installation
5. after it is done installing, go to Applications >> System Tools >> Envy
6. make sure "install the nvidia driver" is selected and click apply
7. proceed with the installation of the nvidia driver
8. after it is finished it may require a reboot, so reboot when you are ready
9. your X server should be ready to go!

To get webcam working

i found this on the ubuntu forums, ill post the actual directions when the person who originally posted this ok's it.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=476451&page=3
its at the bottom of page 3

[solargaze27]

Hey - thanks for this post. I have an Asus G1S-A1, which is almost the same as your F3SV (main difference is T7500 and 8600M GT). I followed the directions, but when I went to install the NVIDIA driver, it gave me an error that it failed to compile nvidia.ko and the installation failed (after first reaching 100% I might add). Do you by chance have any ideas for what I might do to remedy this?

[Scythe]

Why do you guys need to compile the nvidia drivers? Shouldn't they be precompiled on the alt disk?

[solargaze27]

There have been ongoing problems with getting the 8000 series of NVIDIA cards working with some of the more recent Asus laptops. The provided drivers don't seem to work that well. The solutions I have found have involved using the vesa driver which provides no 3D acceleration and really isn't much of a solution. I am able to run things at my native resolution (1680x1050), but even moving a browser window around is incredibly choppy and slow.

[Fittersman]

Hey - thanks for this post. I have an Asus G1S-A1, which is almost the same as your F3SV (main difference is T7500 and 8600M GT). I followed the directions, but when I went to install the NVIDIA driver, it gave me an error that it failed to compile nvidia.ko and the installation failed (after first reaching 100% I might add). Do you by chance have any ideas for what I might do to remedy this?

no.. sorry, i have no idea what would have caused that, maybe someone else could help you out, what install options did you use?

did you use the x64 version? (i forgot to mention that in the first post, but it is edited now)

[solargaze27]

Thanks - I guess I'll keep experimenting... I have not tried x64 yet and that is at the top of my list of things to try.

[Fittersman]

Thanks - I guess I'll keep experimenting... I have not tried x64 yet and that is at the top of my list of things to try.

if you used the 32bit version, you could probably install those 32bit openGL drivers instead of saying no there, maybe that would fix your problem.

[voidshado]

I was trying to get the visual effects to work...but I ended up just messing around with graphics resolution and.. the eye candy seems to work on lower res like 1440 x 900. Then when I switched to 1680 x 1050, the window frames seem to stick so.. its working for me.

[solargaze27]

Alright, so I installed the 64bit version of Ubuntu and I was able to get a lot further. This time, the NVIDIA installer completed successfully. I then rebooted into the normal Ubuntu kernel. This is where I run into my next problem. The screen shuts off, as you said it would. I can Fn+F8 my way back into seeing the loading bar, but once Ubuntu finishes loading (the part where it takes you to the log-in screen), the screen shuts off again. At this point, Fn+F8 does nothing (nor does Fn-F7, which turns the LCD lamp on or off). I can still blindly type in my user name and password and hear the jungle music that tells me that Ubuntu successfully logged in, but I can see nothing. Even when logged in, Fn-F8 does nothing. Any ideas?

Thanks!

[Fittersman]

Alright, so I installed the 64bit version of Ubuntu and I was able to get a lot further. This time, the NVIDIA installer completed successfully. I then rebooted into the normal Ubuntu kernel. This is where I run into my next problem. The screen shuts off, as you said it would. I can Fn+F8 my way back into seeing the loading bar, but once Ubuntu finishes loading (the part where it takes you to the log-in screen), the screen shuts off again. At this point, Fn+F8 does nothing (nor does Fn-F7, which turns the LCD lamp on or off). I can still blindly type in my user name and password and hear the jungle music that tells me that Ubuntu successfully logged in, but I can see nothing. Even when logged in, Fn-F8 does nothing. Any ideas?

Thanks!

can you press Ctrl + Alt + F1 to get a command line?

if so, check your xorg.conf file to see if its using the proper driver.