Drivers

Depending on your computer, you might have to install some specific vendor drivers and/or dedicated programs.

Know your hardware

To know your hardware you should install:

sudo apt-get install sysinfo
sudo apt-get install hardinfo

Then you have to run:

sysinfo

hardinfo

Source: http://askubuntu.com/questions/304566/how-to-get-graphics-card-memory-info-windows-and-linux-shows-different-value

Audio

Audio ALSO mixer

apt-get install alsamixergui pavucontrol

Bluetooth headset manager

Drivers setup

Pulse-audio + bluetooth requirements:

apt-get install paprefs paman padevchooser
apt-get install pulseaudio-module-bluetooth*

Low quality sound driver:

apt-get install bluez-btsco

High quality sound driver:

apt-get install bluez-alsa

Restart your computer.

Pairing

Pair your audio device using the User Interface (blueman). Xubuntu > System settings > Bluetooth manager

... Then note its bluetooth HW address.

Declare audio device

Create a bluetooth configuration file.

vim ~/.asoundrc

Insert

pcm.btheadset {
        type bluetooth
        device 00:02:5B:02:56:E0
        profile “auto”
}

Replace "00:02:5B:02:56:E0" by your real hardware address

Restart your computer.

Auto-connect

Edit your bluetooth settings:

sudo vim /etc/bluetooth/audio.conf

Under [general] add and un-comment:

[General]
Disable=Socket
AutoConnect=true

Edit your Pulse-audio settings:

sudo vim /etc/pulse/default.pa

Line 42, add:

load-module module-switch-on-connect

Restart your computer.

Usage

You should see your device from the bluetooth manager.

Xubuntu > System settings > Bluetooth manager

Your bluetooth device should appear in PulseAudio Volume control.

• Go to the configuration tab
• In the bluetooth headset section, select profile High Fidelity Playback A2DP
• Go to playback tab
• Set your headset as default output
• Play your music / video

Troubleshouting

If your device does NOT appear in pulseaudio, try to:

1. Pair the bluetooth device
2. Reset pulseaudio service:

   pulseaudio -k

Then the headset should appear!

Sources

Ubuntu official help:

• https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BluetoothAudio
• https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BluetoothHeadset

Other thread:

• http://askubuntu.com/questions/223136/pavucontrol-doesnt-show-bluetooth-headset

Nvidia graphical driver

This is required to manage many screen on Nvidia chipsets.

!! As of now (November 2013) Ubuntu cannot work with Nvidia Optimus technology !! You have to disable it from your bios (under video > Optimus).

Nvidia driver:

apt-get install nvidia-current-updates

Reboot after installation. Then you should be able to configure your screens.

Script to automatically switch between screens

You can use the following script to automatically change screens, just adjust the target resolutions :

PS - you can download the script here: http://www.daxiongmao.eu/wiki_upload_files/screen/Screens_manager.sh

#/bin/sh
######################## 
# Script to automatically configure screens on DELL Latitude E6430
# Version 1.1, May 2014
# Author: Guillaume Diaz
########################

LAPTOP_OUTPUT="LVDS-0"
VGA_OUTPUT="VGA-0"
DVI_OUTPUT_1="DP-0"
DVI_OUTPUT_2="DP-1"
DVI_RESOLUTION="1920x1080"


echo " "
echo "Screen configuration"
echo " "

####################################
# DVI outputs
####################################
# Check for DVI 1
xrandr | grep $DVI_OUTPUT_1 | grep " connected "
if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
	xrandr --output $VGA_OUTPUT --off
	echo " ... DVI 0 detected"

	# Check for DVI 2. If enable, then the laptop screen will be off
	xrandr | grep $DVI_OUTPUT_2 | grep " connected "
	if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
		# both DVI 1 and DVI 2
		echo "  ... DVI 1 detected. Using DVI0 + DVI1"
		xrandr --output $LAPTOP_OUTPUT --off 
		xrandr --output $DVI_OUTPUT_1 --auto
		xrandr --output $DVI_OUTPUT_1 --mode $DVI_RESOLUTION
		xrandr --output $DVI_OUTPUT_2 --mode $DVI_RESOLUTION --right-of $DVI_OUTPUT_1
	else 
		# DVI 1 + laptop
		echo "  ... Using DVI0 + laptop"
		xrandr --output $LAPTOP_OUTPUT --auto
		xrandr --output $DVI_OUTPUT_1 --mode $DVI_RESOLUTION --right-of $LAPTOP_OUTPUT
		xrandr --output $DVI_OUTPUT_2 --off
	fi

	echo " "
	echo "DVI configuration is complete."
	echo " "
	exit
else
	# No DVI
	echo " ... No DVI output"
	xrandr --output $DVI_OUTPUT_1 --off
	xrandr --output $DVI_OUTPUT_2 --off
fi

####################################
# VGA
####################################
xrandr |grep $VGA_OUTPUT | grep " connected "
if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then	
	# VGA + laptop
	echo " ... VGA detected. Using VGA + laptop"
	xrandr --output $LAPTOP_OUTPUT --auto 
	xrandr --output $VGA_OUTPUT --right-of $LAPTOP_OUTPUT
	
	echo " "
	echo "VGA configuration is complete."
	echo " "
	exit
else
	# No VGA
	echo " ... No VGA output"
	xrandr --output $VGA_OUTPUT --off
fi


####################################
# Laptop only
####################################
xrandr --output $LAPTOP_OUTPUT --auto 
echo " "
echo "Laptop configuration is complete."
echo " "
exit

Do set the variables, you can check the " xrandr -q " output.

Brother DCP-7055

see Brother DCP-7055

Smart-card drivers

Manual install

!!! If required, you can have a look to: Smartcard drivers manual installation !!!

Swedish BankId & e-ID

See Smartcard bankId eId

Installation from repository

apt-get install libpcsclite1 pcscd pcsc-tools

Note: you must reboot your computer for the pcsclite library to be installed

Check your smartcard terminal and cards

Before launching the check application you have to:

• Reboot your computer after packets installation
• Connect card readers
• Insert cards in card readers
• Run the following command to scan for card readers. Plugged | unplugged card(s) and card reader(s) should appear.

pcsc_scan -n

How to detect a dead card?

You can detect a dead card easily.

• If all cards are OK then the previous command should never exit
• No card should be in shared mode or unresponsive. Every card in shared mode won’t be used.

Wifi DELL inspiron 1521

Get to know your hardware

# Short summary
lspci 
# Detailed list
lspci -v

# Network Broadcom devices
lspci -nn -d 14e4:

Install Broadcom packages

See the list of drivers you need on: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2214110

DELL inspiron 1521 ==> firmware-b43-installer

apt-get install firmware-b43-installer
apt-get install network-manager-gnome

Load modules on boot

If your wlan is NOT detected after reboot, try to load modprobe b43

modprobe -r b43legacy
modprobe b43

If it works then you need to update your modules configuration:

vim /etc/modules-load.d/modules.conf

Put the following content:

# Network generic
ssb
brcmsmac
# Ethernet card
b44
# Wifi board
b43

Reboot... Done!

You can use your wifi card! :)