[SOLVED]Kubuntu on a Samsung NC20?

[Nohtanhoj]

Hey all, I'm brand new to Linux and I've got a few questions about the different versions. As far as system specs go, I have a Samsung NC20 netbook with a VIA Nano processor and 2GB of RAM. Integrated graphics card.

I'm looking at Linux because I want to move beyond Windows (face it, Windows is crap), but Mac OS X is too expensive. I'm a student and I love the OS X architecture/software, but I just don't have that kind of cash.

I heard from a buddy that Ubuntu was a good starting point for Linux, as it's relatively easy to install and use. Since my NC20 doesn't have a CD drive, I downloaded the Ubuntu desktop ISO (not the Netbook Remix because of processor constraints), MD5'd the download (it worked out fine), and used UNetBootIN to make my Kingston flash drive bootable. I booted from it, and I've had nothing but problems. After the Ubuntu loading screen displays, my screen starts displaying colourful bars that float up and down the screen. Then it flashes on and off, obviously rendering Ubuntu unusable. I'm conjecturing that this has something to do with either my graphics card or my chipset (they both have the possibility not to support GNOME).

So, I figured I'd try Kubuntu, since it's based on a different graphics environment. Has anyone else here booted Kubuntu successfully off either the Samsung NC20 or the VIA Nano? Also, I'm looking forward to getting the open-source experience. =D

[MoonRise]

Re: Kubuntu on a Samsung NC20?

First the USB part. Try using this How To. Let's make sure it isn't related to that.
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3089474.0

Don't know much about netbooks myself but maybe this will help?
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3102334.0

[arochester]

Re: Kubuntu on a Samsung NC20?

Did you look at "Ubuntu on the Samsung NC20"?
at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/NC20

[MoonRise]

Re: Kubuntu on a Samsung NC20?

Well, that is a far better link there since it is directed right at that model system.

[Nohtanhoj]

Re: Kubuntu on a Samsung NC20?

Well thank you guys.... Just one more question. I was talking to a friend and he told me that different versions of Linux run like "patches," meaning that I would have to install vanilla Ubuntu first and then Kubuntu later.... Is he right?

[MoonRise]

Re: Kubuntu on a Samsung NC20?

No. Ubuntu and Kubuntu share the same "base". The only difference is the Desktop Managers. Ubuntu being GNOME and Kubuntu being KDE. Now I have heard where form some that had installed Ubuntu first then opted to install the kubuntu-desktop package that things that didn't work with a straight Kubuntu install worked this way around. This really in effect gives the user the option to log into a GNOME or KDE desktop, which ever they choose and could have the appearance that it "helps" one or the other Desktop Manager. It can get a little more muddled if I described any further, so I want, but the gist of this ramble is No to your question. Truthfully, if you want the KDE desktop, then I'd use the Kubuntu Install. If you want GNOME, then use the Ubuntu Install.

[Nohtanhoj]

Re: Kubuntu on a Samsung NC20?

Fair enough. I do want KDE, but I have somewhat of an issue. After reading the Ubuntu guide to the NC20, I have figured out my problem. When I boot my NC20 from my Kingston drive, I get nothing but a flickering screen (I've conjectured that this is because the graphics driver is not the correct issue). However, how am I supposed to install the correct driver without installing Linux to begin with?

[MoonRise]

Re: Kubuntu on a Samsung NC20?

Is there a Safe Graphics Mode on this USB boot device?

[arochester]

Re: Kubuntu on a Samsung NC20?

I don't know for sure if this will work, but you could edit from the boot screen (press "e") and include the command: xforcevesa

This should give basic graphical entry, although you wont have accelerated graphics.

See "BootOptions" at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions. Then scroll down to: Installer options

[MoonRise]

Re: Kubuntu on a Samsung NC20?

Give what Arochester states a try and let us know.

[Nohtanhoj]

Re: Kubuntu on a Samsung NC20?

So we've hit something, but I don't know whether it's good or bad. The first thing I tried today was to boot Linux including the 'xforcevesa' command in the second line of the boot commands (the one that ends with splash). I figured since calling the splash screen was the last action before mine, I should put 'xforcevesa' there. This command made things worse. Now, after the Kubuntu loading screen, I get a whole bunch of command-line text which looks like pre-startup diagnostics to me. Some of the lines read things like"Initializing Battery Manager to (insert really obscure number)". When my computer gets to this point, the screen begins to flash on and off, and it doesn't progress any further. Have I done something wrong?

What I have been able to do is plug my laptop into an external monitor, and when I boot from the Live CD, Kubuntu runs beautifully... This confirms that the problem is only with the display driver. I installed Kubuntu on my hard drive, and have been able to get "recovery mode" working well. In recovery mode (a command-line OS), I tried to follow the instructions on the OpenChrome wiki page to install the new xorg driver. However, I encounter problems when it comes to the last few steps. The commands "make" and "sudo make install" return the following message. "Nothing to be done". This tells me that the files have already been compiled, so I proceeded onto the next step. I opened the xorg.conf file through nano, and it looks like this:

Section "Device"
Identifier "Installed Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Installed Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
EndSection

This is rather interesting because my computer doesn't seem to have any drivers present. I added the following line, so my xorg.conf file now looks like this:

Section "Device"
Identifier "Installed Video Device"
Driver "openchrome"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Installed Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
EndSection

After the whole openchrome process, my booting attempts have not changed at all. My computer still gets to the command line diagnostics and then stops, with the screen flickering every 5 seconds or so......

Any ideas?

Just FYI, I am consciously ignorant when it comes to Linux and general command-line syntax....

[vinnywright]

Re: Kubuntu on a Samsung NC20?

when you say.

What I have been able to do is plug my laptop into an external monitor, and when I boot from the Live CD, Kubuntu runs beautifully...

this makes me think the display on the lappey is burnt out.............has it ever ran eney os for you latley??

the display drivers deall more with the chipset than the Monitor ...(allthough that coms into play to) in other words if the vga driver is working for the adapter pluging in a diferent Monitor dosent make mutch dierence.

but I may be rong ...........some one will chime in and tell us

VINNY

[Nohtanhoj]

Re: Kubuntu on a Samsung NC20?

It runs XP just like it did the first day I bought it... I've only had this computer for 2 months.

[Snowhog]

Re: Kubuntu on a Samsung NC20?

This is rather interesting because my computer doesn't seem to have any drivers present. I added the following line, so my xorg.conf file now looks like this:

Section "Device"
Identifier "Installed Video Device"
Driver "openchrome" <<<<<<<<!!!!!!
EndSection
,
,
,
After the whole openchrome process, my booting attempts have not changed at all. My computer still gets to the command line diagnostics and then stops, with the screen flickering every 5 seconds or so......

Are you able to boot into Recovery Mode (single user)? If you can, I suggest that you check to see if you have the openChrome xserver-xorg-video-openchrome driver installed. It likely is not. You can try to install it:

apt-get install xserver-xorg-video-openchrome

Keep in mind, that this provides only 2D graphics - no 3D. For 3D, additional packages will have to be installed.

See: OpenChrome Project Documentation - Components

[Nohtanhoj]

Re: Kubuntu on a Samsung NC20?

1 question - why did you put the exclamation marks beside my added line in the xorg.conf file? Is this a bad thing? I would try out the ideas tonight, but I have a multivariable calculus/taylor series midterm tomorrow. D= I'll get back to you guys tomorrow.