Installing Ubuntu on a Gateway LT3103u
The next OS (and last) that I care about getting working on the Gateway LT3103u is Ubuntu. This is the OS that I use day to day, and so the most interesting to me.
Unfortunately, the current release of Ubuntu, 9.04, is currently using kernel 2.6.28, which isn’t new enough to have working wireless drivers for the chipset in the LT3103u. Fortunately, Ubuntu has a very clean way to upgrade to their “testing” release:
sudo do-release-upgrade -d
After having done this, wireless works perfectly. The beta of 9.09 Karmic Koala includes kernel 2.6.30. Other devices seem to work well, so far, with one exception: video. 
Video was working fine until I closed the lid, at which point it never recovered. So, based on some data I read elsewhere, I disabled DRI using the following in xorg.conf:
Option “DRI” “off”
This is highly suboptimal, as DRI dramatically increases X11 performance. However, this does seem to have fixed the problem. I’ll do some more research to see if I can figure out a better solution. But in short, Ubuntu works well if you’re willing to run pre-release software. If I figure out anything else of note, I’ll be sure and update this post.
7 Responses to “Installing Ubuntu on a Gateway LT3103u”
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Yep wireless didn’t work on ubuntu 9.04 but installing koala creates more problems than it resolves. I installed 9.04 then after 1st boot installed all updates (which updated the kernel to 2.6.28.13). After a restart I installed ‘linux-backports-modules-2.6.28.13-generic. Now reboot and wireless works. I prefer super os (a modified ubuntu install).
What about battery life?
I didn’t play with the machine under Ubuntu long enough to determine that, as I have been testing a lot of the various OS’s available for the unit.
However, I’m currently testing Jolicloud on it, which has an optimized kernel, but it still based on Ubuntu. I’ve been seeing a little over 4 hours of battery, as compared with around 5 hours under Windows 7.
I’ve been thinking about picking up one of these Gateway netbooks. Has it been pretty good to you so far?
Chris,
Do you have any wireless driver for Windows XP? I installed Ubuntu, the wireless didn’t work for me. Then I installed Windows XP ’cause Windows Vista is too slow for this system. If you have the driver? Can you send it to me at hgorman@smu.edu ?
Thanks..
Henry
how do I install this? linux-backports-modules-2.6.28.13-generic?
and does ubuntu updates by itself? will be my first time trying ubuntu so I need some help
I still very much like the LT3103u. The newest kernels (i.e. the kernel in Jolicloud) works fantastically, and I have no video, suspend, or wireless problems. It’s only a short time before those same patches make it into the other Linux distros as well.
I don’t have drivers for this unit for XP, sorry. Windows 7 runs like a champ on this unit, though.