1

Without going into unnecessary detail, I purchased a laptop with Win8 pre-installed, spent a couple days troubleshooting/learning how to get Ubuntu 12.10 to load up from both a flash drive and a DVD-R.

I can boot to the GRUB2 screen, but either choice of trying to install Ubuntu or loading it without install sends me to blank/black screen. The bits I've found from other threads has pointed to this possibly not having an Ubuntu-specific driver installed for my graphics card.

Here is what I need to install: http://www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/amd-driver-installer-catalyst-13.1-linux-x86.x86_64.zip

The problem is that this unzips to a .RUN file...

How do I install a .RUN file from within Windows 8? Any ideas? I'm new at this so I might be behind on some of the technical jargon... will try my best. Any help is much appreciated.

don.joey
  • 28,662
user134349
  • 11
  • 2

1 Answers1

2

You really can not install that driver into the live session. You need to first install Ubuntu, then install the driver from the command line.

If you can not install from the desktop CD, you may have to use the Alternate CD. The alternate CD has a more robust installer.

BUT ... you really do not need to manually install the driver at all. Just install Ubuntu , then install the driver from the repositories.

Save a backup copy of xorg.conf in case this doesn't work.

sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.BAK

Remove/purge current fglrx and fglrx-amdcccle (If you have used a method outside of aptitude, apt, Software Center or Synaptic, follow the other party's instructions for removal):

sudo apt-get remove --purge fglrx fglrx-amdcccle

For some users, the fglrx-updates and fglrx-amdcccle-updates packages do not work. If you attempted to install them, also do:

sudo apt-get remove --purge fglrx-updates fglrx-amdcccle-updates

Reboot.

Install the driver:

sudo apt-get install fglrx fglrx-amdcccle

Generate a fresh xorg.conf BEFORE REBOOTING!

sudo aticonfig --initial

or:

sudo amdconfig --initial

If you are using multiple AMD graphics cards or AMD dual graphics (i.e.: notebook users), use:

sudo aticonfig --adapter=all --initial

or:

sudo amdconfig --adapter=all --initial

Reboot again.

See https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI for details.

Panther
  • 102,067
  • I think his problem is that when he boots Ubuntu there's no display :( so he can't do the initial install. – roadmr Feb 21 '13 at 20:54
  • OK, I updated my answer. – Panther Feb 21 '13 at 20:57
  • He wants to install 12.10 which has no alternate image :( Using nomodeset may enable him to at least get it installed, press F6 in the "try / install" selection screen, and choose "nomodeset". More here: http://askubuntu.com/questions/207175/what-does-nomodeset-do. Apologies for the drive-by comments, I'm quite busy but still trying to be helpful :) – roadmr Feb 21 '13 at 21:07
  • Odd, use the network installer then - http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/netboot/12.10/ "The network installer lets you install Ubuntu over the network. This is useful, for example, if you have an old machine with a non-bootable CD-ROM or a computer that can’t run the graphical interface-based installer" – Panther Feb 21 '13 at 21:11
  • THIS:

    I think his problem is that when he boots Ubuntu there's no display :( so he can't do the initial install. – roadmr 25 mins ago

    I'll try the network installer when I get a chance.

     – user134349 Feb 21 '13 at 21:22
  • @user134349 - that is what the old alternate CD and new network installer is for, more robust installer ;) – Panther Feb 21 '13 at 21:24