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Thread ID: 94991	2008-11-19 23:13:00	Ubuntu on Laptop	davehartley (3487)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
721501	2008-11-19 23:13:00	I've been running Ubuntu on my Toshiba laptop (Tecra P5) ever since 8.04 came out, and I've been relatively happy with it. However ... ... there are a couple of things which are making me think that switching back to Windows might be less painful in the long run. The two things that are driving me spare are dual monitor support and (of all things) the microphone. Although I work in a school which is predominantly Microsoft (of course), I have got a lab of computers dual-booting into Windows and Xubuntu so I can teach some "real" computing :) So I think the problem is predominantly my laptop's hardware -- and, in doing a bit of research, I've found that laptops running Linux is not always plain sailing. The software issue isn't a problem for me, as I have got Windows running in VirtualBox, and can run anything I need Windows for in that. (And, in fact, I've found that almost anything I want to do can be done by a native Linux program.) However, not being able to record anything through the lappy's microphone is a real problem -- meaning recording audio comments in Audacity is impossible, for instance. And, as I use my laptop for both teaching classes and tutoring other staff, being able to use a projector with it is essential. However, try as I might, I can't seem to get this running "properly" in Ubuntu. Under Windows, my dual-monitor support just 'works'. Under Ubuntu, if I don't start up with the projector plugged in, I have all sorts of problems -- and then I don't seem to be able to specify the screen geometry correctly. It's come to the stage where, if I'm running a tutorial using a projector, I boot into Windows so I can use it. (I'm using the latest nVidia Linux drivers, which work brilliantly on the laptop itself, but I can't seem to control it properly for the projector as well ....) Ideally, I'd like to fix these problems and carry on using Linux. Unfortunately, I don't see an "easy" fix on the horizon :( If anyone can point me in the right direction, I'd be most appreciative! The other alternative is to run Windows as the main OS, and have Ubuntu running in VirtualBox. I'm seriously considering this rather than having a dual-boot system -- is there any way of getting my current Ubuntu partition turned into a VirtualBox file? (He asks hopefully? :))	davehartley (3487)
721502	2008-11-20 00:03:00	I can help with the dataprojector thing if a MOE toshiba go into the BIOS and set video display to both (take it off automatic) that forces a signal to both outputs regaurdless. vga out and lcd screen.	beama (111)
721503	2008-11-20 00:52:00	I can help with the dataprojector thing if a MOE toshiba go into the BIOS and set video display to both (take it off automatic) that forces a signal to both outputs regaurdless. vga out and lcd screen. Thanks for that, and yes it is and MOE Toshiba ... however, after spending some time trying to find out just how to get into the BIOS, I get in there and ... that section is not there :(	davehartley (3487)
721504	2008-11-20 04:45:00	Toshiba A80, S100 through to S300 have that option ( I think 1800 and 1410 do also) I think that option is on the second screen of the bios setup, look down the bottom of the screen for the keys to navigate the bios i think if memory serves, page up/page down keys to change to the different screen/ setup pages of the BIOS good luck	beama (111)
721505	2008-11-20 04:55:00	Yeah ... unfortunately, the Tecra P5 doesn't have that option :( I think I'm resigned to putting Windows back on as my default OS ... but I'll have Ubuntu running in VirtualBox, and use that most of the time.	davehartley (3487)
721506	2008-11-20 05:20:00	don't go to the dark side young one. Heard of vmware server, all our 6 servers inculsive of a M$ server 2003 are virtual machines running on a linux host	beama (111)
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