Install Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) on a Asus P5B + 8800GT + Samsung 2232BW

I've decided to make my new PC a dual-boot system with Windows XP and the lastest version of Ubuntu: Gutsy Gibbon (aka. Ubuntu 7.10).

Using the live CD of Ubuntu 7.10

I downloaded the installation CD of Ubuntu 7.10, the one with the live cd installation. No matter what installation mode I used (normal, normal with a specific resolution, safe-mode graphics), I can get through to the Ubuntu desk in order to start the installation.

In normal mode, I get the message that my monitor and my graphic card are not detected. I tried selecting the generic monitor for the 2232BW and either the VESA or the NVidia driver for the 8800GT, I always get stuck to the 4 lines in text mode, the last one saying "executing local script" or something like that.

Support for the 8800GT

I googled a little a found out in that post and several others confirmed it, that:

• 8800GT card are not supported in Ubuntu 7.10
• One need to install the latest NVidia drivers to get support for 8800Gt (currently 169.09, http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.html)
• NVidia driver 169.07 as a bug which makes the graphic card's fan run 100% all the time
• The best way to install Ubuntu is to use the alternate cd and install the drivers after install is done

Using the alternate CD

So, I downloaded the alternate CD and I encountered no problem setting up the partitions, install ubuntu and the dual boot (ie. Grub). The interface is very well done and all of this is prettry straight forward.

Once installation done, I let the system boot on ubuntu and get the same message I got on the liveCD: my graphic card and monitor are not detected. I don't bother trying to configure anything, I will install the NVidia driver first.

I click "shut it down" to get to a console using CTRL+SHIT+F1 and follow precisle the instructions in this post and manage to install the driver.

After a reboot (could have only startX, though), I see the login screen and can log into a Gnome session without a problem.

One of the step in the post is to let the driver compile a new kernel and configure X but it is not very well detailed how. Here are the details.
When running the NVidia installer, you're asked to download a kernel, don't do it, it will fail anyway. The say 'yes' when asked whether to create a kernel or not. Then you're asked whether you want to let the driver installation configure X or not. Answer 'yes'. That's it.

Running in 1680x1050 (WSXGA+) with the Samsung 2232BW

Now, I get picky and check the screen resolution. It's only 1600x1024. It's neither 16/10 ratio nor the native resolution of the screen nor the maximum resolution for the 2232BW, it's 1680x1050. I found a way to make it work and will detail how in an upcoming post.

Support for the P5B

Because I had some issue setting up my PC, I already know that the JMicron (which is THE specific piece of hardware of the P5B motherboard people had problem with) is supported in linux kernel 2.6.19. Since Ubuntu 7.10 is based on version 2.6.23 that won't be a problem.