Tag Archives: Audio

Now on Ubuntu (HP Mini 2140)

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Oziel needs to use Linux for his masters thesis project and installed Ubuntu. Moving from Windows Vista, he was very pleasantly surprised. Everything was so much faster – install, boot, applications, shutdown. It was prettier. And unlike new installs of Windows, Ubuntu was ready to use with a complete suit of applications after only one reboot.

I had previously tried to install Ubuntu on my netbook (HP 2140), but gave up on the project when I couldn’t get the built-in microphone to work (I want to use Skype). But given Oziel’s positive experience and a new version of Ubuntu I decided to try again.

This time I am happy to report everything works (and happy with Ubuntu) … although the microphone needed some encouragement, and the network card required a proprietary driver installed.

First the network card hiccup. Upon starting Ubuntu I couldn’t connect to the internet wireless or with a cable (a dire situation). However, I just plugging my HTC Tattoo in via USB and the internet worked instantly. With the help of Google I found that Broadcom Corporation BCM4322 802.11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller used in a number of Dell and HP notebooks and netbooks requires a propriety driver. To resolve this:

  1. Check you have the same driver by typing lspci -nn into a terminal window.
  2. Refresh the package list in Synaptic Package Manager.
  3. In Hardware Drivers activate the Broadcom STA proprietary wireless driver.
  4. Relax, you can now connect to a wireless network.

Now connected to the internet I tried to make a Skype call, but was evidently silent. I tried two things to fix this problem, but am not sure which one fixed the problem. Maybe it was both.

  • First try the simpler of the two solutions. Click on the speaker in the top bar and select Sound Preferences …. In the Input tab ensure the microphone is unmuted and that the input volume is at 100%.
  • If that doesn’t work, try the following. From within the Synaptic Package Manager install the linux-backports-modules-alsa-lucid-generic package. Restart and repeat the simple solution.

Happy Ubuntu-ing.