sony-vaio-z-series team mailing list archive

[Chris Cannam <cannam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello all.  I have a new-style Vaio Z (VPCZ11C5E) with 1080 screen and
HDD, no SSD or optical drive, and I'm trying to get Ubuntu (or indeed
any Linux or other Unix distribution) to work with it.  The machine
comes with Windows 7, which I'd like to dual-boot, and the Insyde BIOS
identifies as version R1180C3.

The problem I have is that although both video cards seem to work (if
a bit unpredictably) when running from a "live" USB, I can't get
either of them to work when booting from an installed system:

 1. boot Ubuntu 10.04 beta from USB: works fine.  Sometimes comes up
with the "stamina" light lit, using the Intel X module; sometimes
comes up with the "speed" light lit, using the nv module; I haven't
worked out the pattern -- what might it be?  (the hardware switch is
set to "stamina" in both cases)

 2. install to disc (performing the installation from a live session
in which the "stamina" light was lit, just in case that makes any
difference): appears OK

 3. boot from new installation: screen blanks out at console mode
setting.  Try again with nomodeset option: get plain 80x24 console, no
X server starts, but the "speed" light is illuminated.  Try to start X
manually: screen blanks, caps and shift lock lights flash, user locked
out.

What differences between live and installed system boot procedures
might be the cause that I am overlooking?

Am I right in thinking (from the notes on Peter Fern's blog) that
there is no way to force this machine to boot up with only the Intel
card visible to the OS, except by painfully tweaking the BIOS?  Is VGA
Switching Policy known to exist still as a hidden option in the new
series?

I have no interest in using the nVidia card at all -- in fact if it
had been possible to eliminate it entirely as a configuration option,
I'd have done so -- I would be quite happy forcing both Windows and
Linux to always use the Intel card.

Thanks,


Chris