HOW TO install Ubuntu 8.04 on nVidia 8200 chipset
This is a complete how to on installing Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron on latest nVidia 8200 chipset. Approach is the same for any other hardware but due to the incompatibility some specific issues can occur.
I had some problems few months ago but the new kernel solved this so you don't have to worry about it.
This is a complete list of my hardware:
- Biostar TF8200+ motherboard
- Athlon X2 3600+ CPU
- 4 disks, 3 sata, 1 pata
- 1 pata dvdrw: LG 4163b
- SBLive 5.1 soundcard
- Chieftec 360W dual fan
- DDR2 800MHz Kingmax Value 1GB, DDR2 667MHz Patriot Value RAM
Here we go. Boot from the Live CD. If you get error reporting some bug you need to flash latest version of the BIOS to your motherboard. To do this, boot to Windows and run BIOS update application that came on CD with your motherboard. Process is rather straightforward but just in case backup the original BIOS file. You can use the same software. There are three options in the BIOS update application so you'll figure it out :)
When Live Ubuntu is up and running you will have 800x600 resolution and since installation takes some time we need to fix this. Go to System->Administration->Synaptic Package Manager. Now click on Settigs->Repositories and select Universe and Multiverse repositories.
Click Close and then Reload in upper left corner for these changes to take effect. Next press CTRL+F and search for envy gtk. Of course, install it and then close Synaptic.
Next go to:
Application->System Tools->EnvyNG. Install the latest nVidia drivers:
This proces takes minute or two so feel free to surf the web to kill some time. You can simply switch to another desktop by holding CTRL+ALT and pressing left or right arrow. This is a great feature to have, use it.
When install is finished DO NOT REBOOT computer. Close EnvyNG and press CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE, this will get you to the login screen, just press ENTER to login again. Now the resolution is the way it should be and we can proceed with installation.
Click the install icon on the desktop. All the options are straightforward except partitioning of the disk. Select manual here. In Linux you need at least two partitions but I prefer three. Create new partition of type EXT3 and for the mount point select /. 15-20GB is OK size. This is where Ubuntu and the applications will be installed. The second partition will be of type SWAP, you do not mount this partition. Its size should be from 512-1024MB (more RAM you have less SWAP you need). Third partition is for your documents, photos, movies and similar stuff. It's also EXT3 type and you can mount it to /media/documents. For its size you can choose the rest free space on your hard drive. If you have more than one hard drive watch you don't reformat wrong partition and lose all data on it. For example your hard drive could be /dev/sda or /dev/sdb or /dev/hda. To double check this install gparted using Synaptic, just like you used it for installing EnvyNG. When done it should be located in System->Administration->Partition Editor. In upper right corner you can change between the hard drives so I hope this will help to determine to what HDD you want to install Ubuntu. On last screen
select at what hard drive you want to install grub. If you don't know what I'm talking about just select the hard drive on which you are installing Ubuntu. This is it. Wait for the process to complete and kill some more time surfing the web.
When install finish restart the computer and boot from the hard drive you installed Ubuntu at. You can select from what hard you are booting by pressing F9 (if you have some other motherboard it can be some other key) just after computer had restarted. If some question arise during startup just click on continue. When Ubuntu starts your resolution will be messed up again. Use the same approach you used while running Live Ubuntu to fix this (install EnvyNG). If CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE doesn't work (for some reason for me it didn't) restart the computer.
Update the Ubuntu, install applications you use and thats it.
PS. I am using my sound blaster live sound card 'cause onboard audio is not working. It should be solved by enabling Azalia at ALSA but I don't know how to do this. Since I wrote this tutorial some time ago it is possible that you wont have this problem. For more info look here.
Here is a tutorial on changing the output from your motherboard sound card to the PCI sound card. I guess USB version should not differ by much but I never tried it.
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