HowTo: Ubuntu Linux on HP Pavilion series laptops

8. Media Card Reader

On Ubuntu Linux Intrepid 8.10, Jaunty 9.10 and Karmic 9.10 the media card reader is fully supported: SD (Secure Digital), MMC (Multi Media Card) and MS (Sony MemoryStick).

On Ubuntu Linux Hardy 8.04 the media card reader support is limited to: SD (Secure Digital), MMC (Multi Media Card)

It’s a Ricoh Co Ltd R5C822 SD/SDIO/MMC/MS/MSPro Host Adapter

Modules governing this device are:

ricoh_mmc
mmc_block
sdhci_pci
sdhci

I tested only SD and MMC cards. Please send feedback for the other types of media (MS, MS Pro, and XD cards)

Support for MS (Sony MemoryStick) cards has been added with 2.6.25 kernel.

http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commit;h=baf8532a147d5b76681ce040e2c8f25a3f0e718d

9. VGA, S-Video & HDMI Outputs

On Ubuntu Linux Jaunty 9.04, Intrepid 8.10 and Karmic 9.10 the video outputs are fully supported using the restricted drivers (nvidia for nVidia cards, fglrx for AMD ATi cards).

Does not work with the 2D nv driver when the xserver is running

Screen is cloned by default.

To manage the second external screen/projector:

  • gnome-display-properties (System -> Preferences -> Display) has been completely reworked with Gnome 2.26 and is much more handy and capable. Only works with OpenSource drivers, otherwise will suggest to use the restricted drivers tool.
  • nvidia-settings (System -> Administration -> NVIDIA X Server Settings) to configure resolution, refresh rate and display mode (cloned, extended, etc.)

HDMI video works perfectly with nvidia settings and nvidia-glx-180.22 drivers installed from ubuntu jaunty 9.04 repositories. Previously audio did not work.

Note: Some users still have difficulty in having audio work, if anybody comes along with a reliable fix please drop a line! Unfortunately I do not have any hdmi enabled video device.

User Giorgio advised to add three lines in xorg.conf in order to workaround X not starting any more

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "IgnoreABI" "True"
EndSection

S-Video is fully supported by nVidia 3D restricted drivers (nvidia) and AMD ATi ones.

Intel newest drivers also fully enable S-video support (see comment).

Contrast problems can be fixed with xcalib

xcalib -contrast 55 -alter

You can download the latest drivers from

http://intellinuxgraphics.org/download.html

10. Remote Control

On Ubuntu Linux Intrepid 8.10, Jaunty 9.04 and Karmic 9.10 the remote control is partially supported.

This works out of the box, even without installing any infrared support (since HP Pavilion series do not actually have a IR communication port, it is just a receiver)

To configure the buttons have a look at paragraph 20 (Touch Sensible Buttons)

11. Firewire

On Ubuntu Linux Intrepid 8.10, Jaunty 9.04 and Karmic 9.10the firewire is fully supported.

12. Battery

HP recommends battery calibration every three months. This means disabling low power shutdown and allowing the computer to discharge the battery to 0% charge.

To do this, change your Power Management setting “When battery power is critically low:” to “Do Nothing”.

For batteries storage is advisable to leave them in a fresh and clean environment with a charge ~50%. For longer life you should not sotck your batteries full 100% or empty <1% in charge

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