Install Ubuntu on Dell vostro 1400

Recently, I bought one notebook, Dell vostro 1400.

Hardware list below:

CPU: Intel centrino  duo 5470 1.66GHZ
Chipset: Intel  M965
Memory: 2GB
Video: Intel X3100
Netcard: broadcom 57xx Netlink
Wifi: Intel 3945
Hard Disk: 80 GB

I want to intall dual-OS on it, one is Win XP, another is Ubuntu.
XP installation is very easy, but for Ubuntu, it takes me a long time to install.

I ever installed linux for many times, this is the hardest one. Why?
Because the hardwares of 1400 are very very new, they can't be load by the current linux distribution.
I tried Ubuntu 6.06, 7.04, 7.10 test 4,Fedora 7,Fedora 8 test1, but all failed.

They don't know the Video, Wireless, even the wired netCard.
I searched a lot of articles on Internet about how to install linux on vostro serials, the way they take is install the OS anyway at first, then update the kernel to load the video and wireless devices.
But I can't do like that, I tried many times, the wired netcard never be known.
 
So I have to try by myself, I know the more newer of the kernel, the more changes I can get.

Ubuntu 7.10 developing version(Gusty) give me good news, I download the current live cd, then install.
It knows the wired netcard, but when install the video device, it hang up, it can't know it.

I have to do another test, fortunately I succeed.
Now the wired netcard, wireless device, video, are all known and work well.
The steps below:
1. install Ubuntu 7.10(Gusty),  command line system, not others.
     it knowns the wired netcard, so I can update the other componets.
2. apt-get dist-upgrade,,,,
3. apt-get install xorg
4. apt-get install xserver-xorg-video-intel
5. apt-get install gnome
6. apt-get instll ubuntu-desktop
7. apt-get instll gdm
After above steps I can login the Gnome, that's exciting!

8. add Chinese language support. Administration-->language support

Until now, I'm satisfy  it, I can develop with Eclipse.

Someone tells me a good software---Gkrellm, Fan and temperature monitor. Very good.
9. apt-get install i8kutils gkrellm gkrellm-i8k
10. vi /etc/modules, "i8k force=1"
11. System-->preferences-->sessions-->startup programs, add "gkrellm", so it can auto load when computer start.

Notice:
1. If you get "can't get gnome theme -human" when in logon screen, that's because missing ubuntu-desktop.
2. If you can't get network connection, but all hardware works well. please check Network manager, enable roaming model, so you can get ip by dhcp when start.


Enjoy yourself.  Gusty is developing version, pay attention!