dell latitude 6510 boot black screen ubuntu 11.04

To make a live CD/DVD/USB work for testing/installing Ubuntu, you can just specify

acpi_osi=\"Linux\""

as a one time boot option, at boot time. See http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1613132.

After installing Ubuntu, you can then specify it again as a one-time boot option for booting into your installed Ubuntu system the first time, and then once in it, you can make it permanent by editing the configuration file. (Explained in detail in the forum post.)

Please note that, when (eventually) editing GRUB2 configuration files, you do have to run "sudo update-grub" afterwards to apply the new configuration. (That will only apply when you are actually editing /etc/default/grub, though, which will be *after* you have successfully installed and booted into your system.)

Installation of ubuntu 11.04 32 bit on Dell latitude 6510.

Via USB.

Save contents of USB

The download of the 32 bit version took about 12 hours at about 20kbs a second. I don't know why it was so slow as the 64 bit version was extremely fast to download.

Created boot USB using the Universal USB Installer (PenDriveLinux).

    * Format. (I tried it without the refomat and it didnt work). It formats as FAT32.

Installation

    * Plugged in USB and booted.
    * Pressed F12 during BIOS load (need to press at right time, try a few times until you get the timing right).

UBUNTU menu displayed (but does not appear as described in http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1613132). No function key description at bottom. F6 doesnt work.

    * Select Install UBUNTU to hard disk.
    * Hit tab button (displays boot command string).
    * Insert "nomodeset " before -- . Hit return. ((left arrow left arrow "nomodeset " return).
          o This is required because of a problem with drivers on the Intel graphics chip. But no problem after installation.
    * Set up internet connection (click windscreen wiper symbol on top menu near right hand side).
          o Find your (wireless) internet connection in menu (or sub menu) and click. Make sure you find the right one (check the name).
          o Enter password.
    * Check install no open source software, and also check download software.
    * Select time zone.
    * Dont change keyboard selection from default. Just click continue.
    * Select Install UBuntu in addition to Windows.
    * Select size. I selected 100 GB, but I tried 16GB on another machine and that was fine also. Continue.
    * Partition will take a long time (maybe 20 minutes) and there will be no sign of progress.
          o If you need to abort you need to run Windows 7 again and check disk before trying again.
    * Create user.
          o Do not put - or _ in username. Just alphabetic characters is safe.

Installation allows underscore in username but then all hell breaks loose when you click continue. You get repeatedly told that you are not allowed an underscore in the name. If you click enough you eventually get through. After that you will need to reboot and install again with a username without an underscore.

When it reboots it will not actually shut down during installation. You need to disconnect power and pull battery after it says "REBOOT NOW".

I had some problems selecting keyboard. It got stuck on Chechnia at one stage. Best not to change.

After installation no problems with booting after that. Everything seems fine touch wood.
On booting you can select UBUNTU or windows 7 from menu on boot.
Windows 7 will want a check disk the next time you run it.

AMD64 bit version would not work for me. I am not sure why. Wouldn't even display first menu.
Initially a little hard to find you way around the desktop, after windows, but you soon get the feel for it. Control panel under the on/off switch menu at right top. UBUNTU software centre makes downloading and installing approved apps very simple.

Firefox just worked straight up. Skype can be installed from UBUNTU software centre (category "internet" in combo box at right hand side).

Thoroughly worth while doing. I wish I had done it ages ago.