Install Ubuntu on DELL Latitude ST Tablet

15 February 2012 sebastian Linux, 19 Switch language:

NOTE: It’s all testing and not stable! Try at your own risk!

Attention:
The GMA600 graphic hardware acceleration is not working !

dscn2958

1. Install

You need USB-Hub, USB-Keyboard and an USB-Stick.

1.1 Download Ubuntu

First download the latest Ubuntu release (currently Ubuntu 12.04 Alpha 2).

Download Daily Build

Choose ‘precise-desktop-i386.iso’ and download this ISO.

Note: You need Ubuntu 12.04, because the Psb_gfx drivers are already integrated in this version.

1.2 Create Ubuntu USB-Installer

Create an bootable USB-Installer with this ISO. Create USB Installer HowTo or this: USB Creator.

1.3 Start install

Connect USB-Hub to your tablet and the USB-Keyboard with the USB-Installer.

Now boot and press “F12″ and boot from the USB-Stick.

Install Ubuntu as you like (or use the live system).

2. Images

[Show as slideshow]

3. Known problems

3.1 WLAN not working

It is an ‘Atheros Wireless WLAN BT 1535C Half MiniCard’.

The chip of this WLAN card is: “Atheros AR6x02/AR6003 NWF WLAN”.

http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/ath6kl

Thanks to Patrick and kvalo i get the card to work:

rmmod sdhci_pci
rmmod sdhci
modprobe sdhci debug_quirks=0x2
modprobe sdhci_pci

To enable it on startup edit “/etc/default/grub” and change “GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT” to:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash sdhci.debug_quirks=0x20"

And run:

update-grub

3.2 X Server not working

Try:

modprobe psb_gfx
/etc/init.d/lightdm restart

4. Links:

Hardware Support Components Video Cards Poulsbo
Get the Best Performace from the GMA 500
GMA500 Ubuntuusers
GMA500 psb_gfx
Dell Latitude ST
Ubuntu Daily Build
Linux Wireless ath6kl Driver

Please send me response how it works with your tablet.

Latitude ST, ubuntu

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19 Responses to “Install Ubuntu on DELL Latitude ST Tablet”

Alex Fernandez Calvay says:

18 February 2012 at 16:57

Can i install Ubuntu 10.10 in this tablet?…i need the kernel 2…ubuntu 12.04 use kernel 3 :S…

Reply
- sebastian says:
  
  18 February 2012 at 17:03
  
  You can but you have to install graphics drivers by hand.
  Until 12.04 there will be no X-Server for you after installtion.
  
  See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupportComponentsVideoCardsPoulsbo
  
  “A functioning psb_gfx driver is included “out of the box” with Precise Alpha versions”
  
  Reply
  - Alex Fernandez Calvay says:
    
    18 February 2012 at 18:52
    
    Hey thanks for the quick answer!
    I tried to install and tried to use live
    from a usb and a cd, but the tablet kick
    me to the console and show this :
    
    Linux ubuntu 2.6.35-22generic #33-Ubuntu SMP Sun Sep 19 20:34:50 UTC 2010 i686
    GNU/Linux
    Ubuntu 10.10
    
    Welcome to Ubuntu!
    *Documentation: https//help.ubuntu.com/
    
    To run a command as administrator (user”root”), use “sudo “.
    See “man sudo_root” for details.
    
    ubuntu@ubuntu:~$
    
    can you help me?
    
    Reply
    - sebastian says:
      
      18 February 2012 at 19:25
      
      Ubuntu tries to start the graphical user interface but there is no driver for your GMA600 display adapter.
      Try Ubuntu 12.04 Alpha 2.
      
      Reply
      - Alex Fernandez Calvay says:
        
        20 February 2012 at 14:25
        
        Hey bro! thanks a lot! (Y)…i’ll wait for a 12 stable version!…
        thanks again!
soeren says:

16 March 2012 at 8:23

Hi, I tried to install it with ubuntu 12.04 Beta I only get half the screeen?
And after install it will not boot up it goes to a black screen?

Please help.

Reply
- sebastian says:
  
  16 March 2012 at 9:17
  
  Hi,
  
  Use “STRG + ALT + F1″ for a console screen.
  
  Execute “/etc/init.d/lightdm restart” (as root or with sudo)
  
  Greetings
  
  Sebastian
  
  Reply
Patrick says:

25 March 2012 at 14:19

Installed kubuntuu 12.4 and plasma-active from the ppa, using a wlan usb dongle.
If someone get’s the internal wlan card to work please post.

btw, I also have to restart kdm to see something.

Reply
Patrick says:

25 March 2012 at 15:12

Thanks to kvalo in #ath6kl I got the device to work.
[16:30:01] rmmod sdhci_pci
[16:30:09] rmmod sdhci
[16:30:33] modprobe sdhci debug_quirks=0×2
[16:30:38] modprobe sdhci_pci

to enable it on boot you have to change /etc/default/grup
and add sdhci.debug_quirks=0×20 to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”quiet splash ”
then run update-grub

The device is working but from time to time I get some lags

Reply
- sebastian says:
  
  25 March 2012 at 15:54
  
  Thanks a lot !
  
  I got this lags on windows, too.
  
  Reply
kvalo says:

26 March 2012 at 10:24

What kind of lag are you seeing? If it’s over wifi with ath6kl please send a report to the linux-wireless mailing list. More info in the wiki:

http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/ath6kl

Reply
leoar58 says:

4 April 2012 at 13:41

Hi, i found a news: …Kernel 3.3 support The DRM/KMS graphics driver for Intel’s GMA500, GMA600 and GMA3600 graphics cores, developed by Intel employee and kernel veteran Alan Cox…. (http://www.h-online.com/open/features/What-s-new-in-Linux-3-3-1466872.html)
Are you try it?

I would buy it, but I’m waiting for is completely compattibile with linux

Greetings

Leo

Reply
dekkar says:

18 April 2012 at 4:41

Hi, I am a complete newb to all of this stuff, but am trying to get kubuntu active working on my Latitude ST…. I think I only have that wifi driver to go but have no idea what anyone is talking about when it comes to installing it..

Can anyone advise my of a step by step to do something like this?

Reply
- sebastian says:
  
  18 April 2012 at 7:13
  
  I send you an e-mail.
  
  Reply
Mattias says:

20 April 2012 at 8:40

HI, thank you so much for this! I really like this machine but it is a bit slow with Windows.
Now for my problem, I installed Ubuntu 12.04 beta the precise daily. But after reboot the screen just go blank. No splash screen, no nothing. I know this is not much to go on, but any ideas?

Reply
- sebastian says:
  
  20 April 2012 at 8:48
  
  Hi,
  
  connect USB-Keyboard
  Switch to console (STRG + ALT + F1)
  Login
  run “sudo /etc/init.d/lightdm restart”
  
  Greetings
  
  Sebastian
  
  Reply
  - Mattias says:
    
    20 April 2012 at 9:17
    
    Thank you so much! both for the solution and the quick response!
    
    Reply
    - Patrick says:
      
      20 April 2012 at 9:24
      
      For me it also wokrs to swtch to “Ctrl + Alt + F1″ and then switch back to “Ctrl + Alt + F7″.
      
      Reply
smaraid says:

13 May 2012 at 23:58

I try to change /etc/default/grub

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”poulsbo.blacklist=yes console=tty1 sdhci.debug_quirks=4″

machine is working very well

Reply