Installing and using Ubuntu 13.10 have some pitfalls. This is a diary of my installation attempt. Although I consider my installation as merely stable, and I’ve already put all the necessary files and configs upon, I am not sure, whether this installation is final.
Identified and solved Problems with Ubuntu 13.10
– Dislplay only works, when the following Kernel parameter is set: acpi_backlight=vendor
– Kernel module ideapad_laptop is loaded automatically, which makes the WLAN and Display brightnes keys not working. Blacklisting or rmmod-ing the Kernel module works.
Resizing Windows Partition
As described, using Windows 8.1 is not my cup of tea. Resizing the Windows partition was merely an adventure, because I could not find the Computer Manager I was used to from Windwos XP and 7. How ever, got to the Classic Desktop, right click the Windows (former Start) symbol in the lower left corner, I found the Computer Manager. On the device manager, the Windows partition was able to be resized down to half of the 256GB SSD.
BIOS Settings
Plug-in the Ubuntu USB stick before you proceed.
To open BIOS/EFI settings, you need to power down the system and start it up with the separate very tiny key right to the power key.
In BIOS settings, disable FastBoot and change the boot priority to start up from USB first.
Booting Ubuntu Installer from USB
While having the Grub menu from the USB stick on display, press e to edit the Grub options. On the Kernel load line, add ‘acpi_backlight=vendor’ before the ‘quiet’ option. Press F10 to load these settings – don’t forget to push the Fn key to get F10.
Before Installing: WLAN and Display Resolution
Use the Try Ubuntu First mode to change some settings first before you install Ubuntu to the disk.
Ubuntu uses maximum resolution by default. However, 3400×1800 on 13.3″ is too high dpi to really use it. Use the Display Settings to switch back to Full HD 1920×1080.
To enable Wifi, unload the ideapad_laptop kernel module by typing:
sudo rmmod ideapad_laptop
Give it some time, then you can select your Wifi in network manager as usual.
Use gparted to reduce the Windows partition to the desired value.
Then, install Ubuntu as usual.
Starting Up the First Time
While rebooting into your newly installed Ubuntu, re-add the kernel option ‘acpi_backlight=vendor’. Since Grub is using the full resolution and is doing a full refresh on every keystroke, Grub is practically unusuable. Have patience.
Grub Resolution and Kernel Tweaking
On you newly bootet Ubuntu installation, change /etc/default/grub with the following:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”acpi_backlight=vendor quiet splash”
GRUB_GFXMODE=640×480
Use update-grub to have those settings persistent.
To have wifi and screen brightnes buttons working, black list the ‘ideapad_laptop’ kernel module. In /etc/modprobe.d/ I created a file “blacklist-ideapad_laptop.conf”, and in it, I put “blacklist ideapad_laptop”.
Like before, display resolution of 1920×1080 seems to be very comfortable and cozy on this ultrabook. Using the full resolution and higher the font sizes does not work like expected. On Gnome3 Flashback, the top panel is empty afterwards.
Unresolved Problems so Far
– Touchpad is way too sensitive, unable to press a button without moving the cursor
– Using full resolution
– Switching Function Keys / Multimedia Keys
– Rotating the display does not rotate the touch screen. Like this, tent mode is not really usuable.
Helpful sources
I was relying my installation attempt on the following sources:
– http://askubuntu.com/questions/367963/ubuntu-on-lenovo-yoga-2-pro
– http://datainfer.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/install-ubuntu-on-ideapad-yoga-2-pro/
– http://askubuntu.com/questions/54067/how-do-i-safely-change-grub2-screen-resolution
Thank you so much for your helpful descriptions!