How do I get a Dell Latitude e6420 working?

Solution 1:

So I believe I've fixed it. I'll note down here what I did, in case someone (me included) needs to repeat this on an Optimus setup.

1. Firstly, unfortunately, I needed to reinstall ubuntu. During install, I chose not to install updates during installation. Note that when it booted for the first time it still would not run unity-3d, only 2d.

2. I added the X-SWAT ppa: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates, and sudo apt-get update then I used the software updater tool. I used this rather than apt-get upgrade so I could choose which updates to install. I went through the list and ensured that there was no nvidia updates selected.

3. I now checked installed packages, and noted that nvidia-current and nvidia settings were installed. I removed both of these.

4. I restarted. Now, I installed mesa-utils, and restarted, and noticed that now unity-3d IS working. (hooray!)

5. Now, just to be sure, I remove the configuration file generated by nvidia if any:

    rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf
   

6. Reinstall Xorg and mesa packages... sudo apt-get --reinstall install xserver-xorg-core libgl1-mesa-glx:* libglx-mesa-dri:*

7. Now reconfigure x-org... I'm not sure if you need to do this. I did and it didn't kill anything (I think).

   sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

8. sudo reboot

9. Now install bumblebee as directed by @Web-E above.

   sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bumblebee/stable then sudo apt-get update

10. To install Bumblebee using the proprietary nvidia driver:

    sudo apt-get install bumblebee bumblebee-nvidia

11. Run following

    sudo usermod -a -G bumblebee $USER

12. And finally, sudo reboot

Note, when prompted by update manager to install nvidia-common (September 2012), I did - and it didn't break anything. I suspect that perhaps whatever bugs were present early on have been ironed out. Still... I will not install nvidia-common to begin with, but follow this tutorial above.

If anyone has any comments or suggestions as to how this method should be changed, please tell me!

Dave.

Solution 2:

There is no way you can turnoff intel and work with nvidia only because the images are transported through intel card. Aim of most projects in dual graphics card is to turn off nvidia gpu and use it when required using a special command.

Intel integrated is sufficient to run unity 3d. Never install nvidia graphics card manually.

You need bublebee.

Instruction for installing Bumblebee to turn off discrete GPU and enable only when required

1. Type the following in terminal,

   sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bumblebee/stable then sudo apt-get update

2. To install Bumblebee using the proprietary nvidia driver:

   sudo apt-get install bumblebee bumblebee-nvidia

3. Run following

   sudo usermod -a -G bumblebee $USER

4. Reboot.

If you just want to disable nvidia card, no need to learn followings

Usage Instruction :

To run a program with nvidia card, use optirun command prefixed in terminal. Like to run glxspheres with nvidia card type

optirun glxspheres

To run firefox type : optirun firefox &

Note: If you intend to run 32-bit programs like Wine and using Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric or later, install 32-bit libraries with: sudo apt-get install virtualgl-libs:i386 libgl1-mesa-glx:i386 libc6:i386

If Unity still didn't work

run /usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test-­p If unity 3d support is coming as "No", just boot with usb live disk and choose to upgrade/reinstall. This will remove extra programs you have installed but keeps all data. And will restore unity3d

Linked Questions:

How well will Nvidia Optimus cards be supported in 12.04?

Is a NVIDIA GeForce with Optimus Technology supported by Ubuntu?

Can't use nvidia card/driver on optimus notebook