Problem with Dell XPS-15z - Core i7

dell xps 15 z comes preinstalled with windows 7.... certain laptop models that have windows 7 pre loaded does not allow installation of any other OS which, in a technical term called as "SECURE BOOT". just check from the customer support whether that particular model is secure boot enabled or not.

Optimus is a pain in the ass and causes all kinds of headaches. Try the boot option"

nouveau.blacklist=1

When you get installed and web access, run:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates; sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install nvidia-current

You will need the 285 driver. This may also help:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HybridGraphics

Murali Krishna - Thanks for the info, I'm currently waiting on an answer from Dell's "award winning" technical support

actionparsnip - I'm not sure where I would enter this boot option, my system does not seem to want to let me even load GRUB or any other custom bootloader...

Hold shift at bhoot and then press E, you can then remove: quiet splash and add: nouveau.blacklist=1

actionparsnip: Changing this boot option causes a lot of command line feedback to print to the screen, then the resolution shifts, making all of that splashed feedback smaller, and the system locks up on this command line as before, never actually booting into Ubuntu...

try:

nomodeset

as well, as I said, hybrid graphics are a real pain

nomodeset produces the same result, just without the resolution change

modeset=1 produces the exact same result as before

I'm thinking at this point that this may be a secure boot issue rather than a graphics issue since the boot menu appears and is perfectly navigable when I press Shift-E at boot, but the actual Ubuntu environment never loads up. I will investigate that further and see if I can find any related fixes. Thank you very much for your help.

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Hi to everybody,
I've the same problem on my new Dell XPS-15z Core i7.
I'm investigating on "Secure Boot" issue... and it seems you can't disable it!

Any suggestion about it?

Thank you.

Technically it can be done but you can't expect any help from the customer
support guys out there. speak to them once. I think it requires re-flashing
of the BIOS. Generally the service center of that particular mother board
manufacturer or even the Dell support team can do that at ease.

I've worked on the original issue this night... and I solved it. Follow these steps:

1) Don't use the usb. The usb3 doesn't work correctly with the installation kernel (after the installation the usb works good). Burn the iso on CD.
2) Boot from CD and press any key when you see the logo "keyboard equals human"
3) Select the item "Install Ubuntu" and press F6. Mark with 'X' these options:
 - acpi=off (this is related to battery management... and this is the only option you need to use after the installation. Put it in the grub configuration /etc/default/grub)
 - nodmraid (I'm not sure you really you need this, but it works for me)
 - nomodeset (this is for the black screen)
4) Press ESC to close the popup, then press ENTER

P.s.: I didn't find the "Secure Boot" configuration on bios, but it don't seem to be a problem.

Thanks! Everything seems to be working now. Hopefully this will speed up my MATLAB runs somewhat.

Most everything is working now, but I don't seem to be able to get support for the touchpad working. Are you having any issues there?

I didn't have any error, but I've heard some issue about it. Try this guide:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupport/Machines/Laptops/Dell/XPS/15z