Ubuntu on my Dell XPS M1330 - Booted with the MediaDirect button
October 9th, 2008 Roshan Posted in Gadgets |
So when my motherboard was replaced, MediaDirect stopped starting up, so there was no Media to be had from the button, Direct or otherwise and the button itself booted Vista and then started the MediaDirect application. Thinking I had a brilliant idea, I set out to see if I could boot Ubuntu using the MediaDirect button and Vista using the Power button, only to find that hundreds of other people have done that before to.
However none of those guides worked because I simply couldn’t manage to install GRUB to the extended partition due to many many errors. Finally, I deleted MediaDirect, installed Ubuntu in a couple of logical partitions and went back to using Windows. Then today, I decided to finish the job, and with LiveCD in hand proceeded to fight the demons of distro installation under esoteric conditions. GRUB kept failing trying to find stage1 and stage2 files, and no matter how many tricks I tried, none of them worked. Until I discovered this lovely parameter to grub-install.
So with GRUB already installed on the logical partition (as part of the Ubuntu installation process), I just had to point grub-install to the right place to get all the files from:
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/media/disk-1/ /dev/sda4
and boom! I had a bootloader on the extended partition.
The best part is that I’d already installed the Dell bootloader (the one that handles the difference between MediaDirect and Power) configured to look at the third and fourth partitions and so I shut down and hit the MediaDirect button and then much happiness ensued. At least until I saw how fonts looked in Firefox :)
The command to run from the Dell MediaDirect disc is:
rmbr.exe dell 3 4
Remember to start cmd.exe with Administrator permissions (right click, Run as Administrator). The only problem is that ‘Restart’ always means ‘Restart into Windows’.
To get proper instructions on how to do this instead of this garbled mess, here are the links I found most useful:
Using the Media Direct button to boot Ubuntu
Another thread for that
The thread where I found out about --root-directory
October 9th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
You installed an entire operating system just to use one application you like.
October 10th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Say what?
And then you complain no one comments! The weird part being, of course, that you’re actually wrong!
October 10th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Marc: Actually I installed it just for the coolness of having separate buttons to boot separate operating systems. Next, I’ll see if grub can boot an operating system that I place on an SD card. If it can do that, then I can just switch cards and switch operating systems, how awesome is that?!
Chitra: I certainly am not, this place looks like a desert. Never fear, I will make readable posts also.
October 11th, 2008 at 1:51 am
Did you have to turn off your wi-fi catcher too ?
October 11th, 2008 at 2:01 am
The wi-fi catcher simply doesn’t function. I never did see a use to it. Did you?
Interestingly, the wi-fi LED won’t light up. Only the bluetooth one, even if you have wi-fi.
October 11th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Dell XPS :???:
That’s a bit costly! Isn’t it :???:
anyways,
If you feel really bored, just call Dell tech support. I am sure you will have lot of Fun!!!
:lol:
October 11th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
It seems worth it, except for that whole G84 overheating issue.
Ha ha, I have called Customer Support, but they’re really helpful, really quick. But maybe that’s how they work on the XPS line.
October 24th, 2008 at 7:43 am
:lol:
May be we doesn’t work that good as the XPS support here in desktop and printers :lol:
October 25th, 2008 at 11:13 am
You’re in Dell Support? Ha ha, awesome. So next time I call Dell, I’m going to ask for you.
November 9th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
No need. I Quit!!
LoL
March 24th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
So, how is this new motherboard working for you? I’ve used a dell before, and don’t really intend to use it again. Gonna stick to my Toshiba. :)
March 24th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
the new motherboard was replaced after it failed too. Good choice on the Toshiba. My dad’s old Toshiba lasted 7 years and his new one shows no sign of wear as of now (half a year).
May 30th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
hey
u own an dell XPS M1330???
actually this comment might be completely out of the path
but got to ask
does ur notebook experience any heat sink problem???
mine did and its totally useless
check out my blog for details