Ubuntu
xserver-xorg-video-nouveau package

ubuntu install screen video corruption on wide screen laptop

Asked by Frank Mika

    Hello, I have a HP Pavillion dv6700 wide screen laptop, I am trying to install Ubuntu on. Ram 512mb. Nvidia graphics chip. The Ubuntu 11.04 install screen is corrupted and I can`t see what to click on at all. The picture is very stretched top to bottom and has overlapping side by side views of the menu`s.
    I then tried installing Ubuntu 11.10 when it was just now released. I tried installing it side by side with Windows xp. It seemed to install ok. but when I went to run it, I have the same problem with a stretched and overlapping screen. I can`t even find the system icon to try the hardware sections.
   Windows xp screens on the laptop are normal.
 I also have tried to install Ubuntu 11.04 on my older computer running windows 98 with a standard crt monitor and the screens are normal. Thank you for any help.

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu xserver-xorg-video-nouveau Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
Frank Mika
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Joe Winczewski (joewicz) said : 		#1

Hello Frank
 I am not an expert but have been an Ubuntu user for a few years.
I have some suggestions that may be helpful.
 Let us start with the dv6700.If the 512 mb. ram you are referring to is the ram (random access memory) installed into your computer it might be sufficient to meet the minimum system requirements for a successful install of 11.10 but it is not enough to
support the needs of all the great software the comes with the fully featured desktop environment of 11.10. Butt do not dis-pare! you have other options available.
 My first recommend is to upgrade your memory to all you can stuff in it.
I think I recently worked on one of these computers for my sons friend and I think it will manage a total of 1 Gig (2-526 mb. cards) this will be necessary to run pretty much any modern software.My 2nd. recommend is to try LTS. (Long Term Supported ) versions of Ubuntu for first time Linux users.Also here is a good place to start looking for alternative installations and search the Ubuntu documentation pages minimal installations to get you going.
 Note #1 Even after a successful install it may be necessary to navigate to System>>>Preferences>>>Appearance then click the Visual Effects tab and select none.

 As for your Windows 98 machine I could be wrong but I am certain that this machine
will not be upgradeable to manage a modern fully featured desktop environment
of any version or variant.However again do not dispare this system is not a lame duck
yet you do have very useful options available for this machine.
 Option #1 install Ubuntu server and use it for storing files ,media or backups
 Option #2 go with a minimal installation and install the software of your choice.

Revision history for this message
Joe Winczewski (joewicz) said : 		#2

Here is another page which may be useful
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation

Revision history for this message
Joe Winczewski (joewicz) said : 		#3

Alternative installations
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/alternative-download#dvd

Revision history for this message
delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#4

If you have issue with screen resolution, you could try command: nvidia-settings
For more help, could you provide result of command: sudo lshw -C display

Revision history for this message
Frank Mika (easyeagle2) said : 		#5

Thank you Joe and delance. I am working on your suggestions. And yes that is 512mb of Ram installed right now. It came with 2gb of ram, so I will try that.

Revision history for this message
delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#6

With 512 GiB of RAM, you could have a look at Xubuntu and Lubuntu, which use less memory. Instead of new Unity interface, you will have something closer than previous user interface.

Revision history for this message
Frank Mika (easyeagle2) said : 		#7

Partly solved. Installing 2gb of ram made very little difference in the overlapping images. I then thought of adding a standard crt monitor in the svga port. With this I was able to straighten out the menus enough that I could completely install Ubuntu and eliminate Windows xp. I then removed the crt monitor.
      Now i can see the problem is one of resolution. there are only 3 options in the display menu. 800 x 600 with 4:3, 1024 x 768 with 4:3 and 1280 x 800 with 16:10. This last resolution is what Ubuntu used on my wide screen laptop to try and use the install screens and gave the corrupted display. I have to use the 800 x 600 (4:3) resolution to run Ubuntu and see the menus. This of course does not properly fit a wide screen (16 x 10) display.
    I also reinstalled the 512mb ram and Ubuntu runs the same as with the 2 gm ram. It just takes a little longer to load. (a few more seconds)
    Looking at the system info menu its says the the Graphics driver is unknown. I think this is an issue with Ubuntu, that needs to be addressed. probably more wide screen laptops will run into this problem. I have to look for an updated n-vidia diver that Ubuntu can use.
     Delance, I don`t know where to type the, CMD: sudo ishw -C display, command, since I don`t see a DOS screen like in windows.

Revision history for this message
delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#8

To open a terminal, you can type on desktop Ctrl+Alt+T

Revision history for this message
Frank Mika (easyeagle2) said : 		#9

delance, the result of the cmd you gave is: program version 8.02.15 ,
then the rest of the result was format types and options.

I have solved it as far as I can tell by going to the software center and downloading the recommended N-vidia driver. Now it displays the wide screen 1280 x 800(16 x 10) resolution properly.
The only thing I am wondering about is that I only have this display resolution, (the others do not fit the screen) I would prefer to run 800x 600 or similar, for my old eyes.

Thanks for all the replies. :)