Report on Installing Linux on Genesis V Laptop

Just a report on installing Linux on a Genesis V laptop.

This article was useful: http://www.howtogeek.com/175641/how-to-boot-and-install-linux-on-a-uefi-pc-with-secure-boot/ . Also, although it doesn't say this in the documentation sent with the laptop, I spoke to them on the phone and tapping F2/Delete alternatively (and fast, from immediately as you press power) got me into the BIOS. Secure Boot actually seemed to be disabled once I got in there - it does use UEFI boot.

For future reference I installed Kubuntu on it fine - presumably other ubuntu distros would work too - but didn't manage to install Debian, although I think this was a bug with the installer, rather than an inherent limitation ( I believe I was using the testing installer as well which isn't recommended by debian - installing wheezy and then upgrading is the suggested route)!

Network drivers worked out the box (the realtek / intel drivers are non-free but included in the kernel within ubuntu - not in debian though) and pretty much everything else seemed to. To get the brightness controls working I had to follow these instructions:
itsfoss.com/fix-brightness-ubuntu-1310

Good luck!

Update: everthing continues to work ok, except that I haven't yet been able to get the GENESIS V's memory card reader. It doesn't show up on the system (not sure if it did on Windows). I've emailed PC Specialist about it. If I get any more info or get it working I'll post here again.

I have the same issue with the Skyfire III as well. I can't figure it out at all, it does not show in any inspection tool.

iamsorandom said:

Update: everthing continues to work ok, except that I haven't yet been able to get the GENESIS V's memory card reader. It doesn't show up on the system (not sure if it did on Windows). I've emailed PC Specialist about it. If I get any more info or get it working I'll post here again.

Click to expand...

If you post your lspci -v -k , there is a chance that the hardware can be identified and maybe which module is needed.
Or did you mean that it doesn't seem to be there when you say "it doesn't show up .." ?

Interesting, I have a Genesis V that arrived 3 days ago. Installed Kubuntu14.10 on it in under 1/2 hour including updates. Today tried card reader and worked instantly. Only problem I had was spotting where about on the machine it was!

I have not had major problems with Debian, using netinstall although did need to have WiFi firmware/drivers on a memory stick to add during the installation.

yep - with debian jessie memory reader now works fine too. pre-jessie the screen wouldn't work but updating fixed that so no-one should have problems from now.

I should also add, after a bit of use I don't really like the keyboard on this laptop - often seem to miss keys!