Ubuntu

Upgrading a Dell Vostro 2420 (Vancouver)

Asked by ABW

Hello,
In late 2012 I purchased a Dell Vostro 2420 from Dell Canada's Christmas offerings (certainly a one-of
I suppose) with Ubuntu 11.10 per-installed. I've now realized Dell has no phone support at all after
trying to get support and the run around clearly tells me Dell has no person set up to support these Dell
computers anywhere in the world!
I am writing to you to ask a simple question about future upgrade support. Please read below my
question posted on launchpad https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu-certification/+question/225432 and
then on community forums thus far not answered. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?
t=2135527&p=12603173#post12603173
The partition on this Dell Vostro 2420 has a bunch of Dell proprietary debs specific for this laptop. IF I
install 12.10 made available on the certified page below can I expect all to work or am I heading for
trouble?
Thanks for answering.
Andrew
Asked by ABW on 2013-03-29
On this page: http://www.ubuntu.com/certification/hardware/201202-10592/ it is not made clear if the
version 12.10 made available for vostro 2420 will install properly with all dell specific drivers. I would
assume that setting "software sources" to "any new version" would allow me to start a upgrade to 12.10
from 11.10 on my personally owned vostro 2420. But that channel is not made available and support
for 11.10 expires in early May. Am I to expect owning a limboed-vostro purchased month ago, or can I
expect full Dell/Canonicol support for this laptop?

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Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Should be ok, yes

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#2

Make a backup of the files and install Precise.

Revision history for this message
ABW (abw) said : 		#3

So Your short answer is Yes, install 12.10. But has 12.10 encorporated Dell's proprietary drivers into 12.10 kernal? Here is a list of the debs Dell has in use for this Vostro 2420. These debs are exclusive to Dell and I woul hate to install 12.10 only to find out the Broadcom driver isn't built into the kernal or the audio etc. And then to find out they are not installable on 12.10!! Have a look at these and see if these are now part of 12.10. I wonder why there is a disconnect between US, the retail end user, Dell and Canonical. Seems to me support ans explainations aren't forthcoming or something is missing.

toggle-touchpad-1.3.deb
alsa-hda-cirrus-oneiric-dkms_0.20120112_all.deb
bt-bcm43142-onereic_0.0+20111116somerville2_amd64.deb
bt-dw1703-oneiric-dkms_1.2_all.deb
dell-eula_0.13~oneiric1_all.deb
bt-reload-module-after-resume-oneiric_0.2_all.deb
dell-eula_0.13~oneiric1_all.deb
dell-recovery_1.11.3somerville3_all.deb
dell-recovery_1.11.4~oneiric1_all.deb
libunity-core-4.0-4_4.28.0-0ubuntu2_amd64.deb
linux-headers-3.0.0-14_3.0.0-14.23somerville3_all.deb
linux-headers-3.0.0-14-generic_3.0.0-14.23somerville3_amd64.deb
linux-headers-generic_3.0.0.14.16_amd64.deb
linux-image-3.0.0-14-generic_3.0.0-14.23somerville3_amd64.deb
linux-image-generic_3.0.0.14.16_amd64.deb
linux-libc-dev_3.0.0-14.23somerville3_amd64.deb
netbook-launcher_4.28.0-0ubuntu2_all.deb
network-manager_0.9.1.90-0ubuntu5.1_amd64.deb
unity_4.28.0-0ubuntu2_amd64.deb
unity-common_4.28.0-0ubuntu2_all.deb
unity-services_4.28.0-0ubuntu2_amd64.deb
wireless-bcm43142-oneiric-dkms_6.20.55.19~bdcom0602.0400.1000.0400-0somerville1_amd64.deb

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#4

I suggest you use Precise. It is LTS so supported til April 2017. Quantal is only supported 18 months so is EOL in April 2014.

Revision history for this message
ABW (abw) said : 		#5

Fair enough, 12.04 = Precise it is, but this does not answer any of my questions. While I appreciate anyone replying I dont know who you represent or if you are qualified to answer this question?? Again I need to know that installing 12.04 on this Vostro 2420 by Dell will work just as 11.10 did with the preinstalled Dell-inspired 11.10. I've listed to deb files Dell produced as propriatory and ask if these files are still needed for Vostro 2420. Only Dell and Canoncial would know. I am not about to install into hardware that is not well followed up by either Dell or Canoncial. Is anyone involved with Dell in the know? OR is Canonical's involvement a one time deal per laptop model?

Revision history for this message
Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#6

look at my wiki and karma (click my name to see both). I am also an official Ubuntu member. I have no idea how one becomes qualified to answer questions. You just do it.

The applications in each Ubuntu release are largely the same, just newer versions.

If you want to test, you can always use a USB stick with a large persistence which will allow you to install drivers and updates. If all goes well then do the install to the system proper.

Revision history for this message
ABW (abw) said : 		#7

I read your wiki, Andy and now understand your place in the world of Ubuntu. I appreciate your efforts at answering my simple question. But I realize it is more about a piece of the puzzle missing on Dell and their partner Canonical. I bought a laptop commercially. Dell partners with Canonical to develope the software to make it work (version 11.10) but there is where it stops, so it seems. There is a disconnect which leaves me thinking about buying Dell with Ubuntu onboard ever again. I should have probably bought from a didicated vendor like system76. Leaving it to chance by testing as you suggest is not my way of doing things. I am/was looking for real support. Anyway Andy, I'll leave this laptop as is. I leave this discussion disappointed with Dell mostly. You are very much appreciated though. Thanks and keep up the good works!