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Dell + Ubuntu ==> Disaster

November 20, 2006

Dell pre-installs two hidden partitions on the harddisk; the idea behind them is sound as it eliminates the need to remember your XP’s product code and automate the activation process and when something goes really wrong, the option to restore the computer to its original factory state is always there. Re-installation of the OS is done simply by expanding a backup image file. There is no need to look for any device drivers and all the pre-installed software are there the first time you boot back to Windows after re-installing it. But in order to automate the process and to allow the user to access the hidden utility partition, Dell uses its own partition structure which unfortunately is not what a typical normal OS will see. And it includes Windows XP – the OS Dell has pre-installed for you.

Hidden in small prints under one of Dell’s FAQ, which no one will read until after disaster strikes, is a warning not to use FIXBOOT or FIXMBR (two of the most powerful tools under the XP’s Recovery Console). Now comes the most popular Linux distro – Ubuntu. Ubuntu6.06 LiveCD is perhaps the only distro on earth which doesn’t give you a chance to specify where to install its Grub Loader – it installs itself on the default boot disk’s MBR – something that will nicely mess up Dell’s special MBR.

Ubuntu will run fine after the installation. Windows XP will run too but not for long. And the useful Dell Utility Partition is gone (because the MBR has changed). You think you can fix it by FIXMBR and get the Windows NT Bootloader back. Great. You just mess up your harddisk further.

The irony is that Dell, who sells millions of desktop every month, will ship you a harddisk, pre-configured in a way that using a recovery tool in Windows XP (something they also pre-installed for you) will precisely mess up the harddisk. As for Ubuntu, there are certain intelligent people there who do not think it is necessary for you to choose where the Grub Loader should be installed (unlike every other not-as-popular distros). You run the LiveCD, like Ubuntu so much and decide to click on the “Install” icon. Done. End of story for your harddisk.

There are probably many ways to salvage your special partitioned harddisk – sending it to an expert who will do a forensic hard coding of the partition table is one way. A simple way is to use DSRFIX – something Dell should acquire and give the guy a few tens of millions. I am sure the spending will be easily recovered in due time as it means a significant reduction in recurring expense, ie the size of Dell’s Tech Support.

DSRFIX is a small program which will fix your harddisk partition. It restore Dell’s special partition structure so that you will not only have your utility partition back but also enable your Windows XP to run longer without being interrupted by Windows’ trademark Blue Screen.

After DSRFIX, your Ubuntu will have problem. One easy option is to throw away your Ubuntu6.06 LiveCD. Download the OEM version and reinstall it or better, download Suse 10.1 which is as good if not better than Ubuntu (both Suse 10.1 32 bit and 64-bit version run smoothing in my Dell without any troubles at all). Indeed, if you have an ATI X600 graphic card, you probably won’t be able to boot up to Ubuntu the first time after installation. The problem is Ubuntu’s faulty fgrlx driver (fgrlx is something that gives you nice graphics and eye candies in your desktop). You need to boot into rescues mode first and do some configuration on the xserver.

And configuring ATI video driver under Suse 10.1 and Ubuntu will be the subject of my next post.

Posted to General at November 20, 2006 12:36 PM :    Furl It!    del.icio.us

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