How To: Ubuntu Hardy Heron Alpha 5 on Acer Aspire 7520G

This HOWTO describes the procedure of getting Ubuntu Hardy Heron Alpha 5 (latest release as of 28 Ferbuary 2008) working on an Acer Aspire 7520G laptop computer.

Here is the configuration of the system that this thread refers to:

CPU: AMD Turion 64 x2 Mobile Technology TL-60 (2.0 GHz, 2x512KB L2 cache)

RAM: 2GB DDR2

GPU: NVIDIA Ge Force 8400M G Turbo Cache, 256MB

Monitor: 17.1" WXGA+ Acer Crystal Brite LCD

Hard Disks: 320GB dual HDD (160 GBx2, Western Digital)

Optical Drive: DVD-Super Multi DL ( Matshita DVD-RAM UJ870QJ )

Wired Network Adapter: NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller

Wireless Network Adapter: Atheros AR5007EG 802.11b/g

Firewire Controller: Ricoh OHCI Compliant IEEE1394

Audio Controller: Realtek High Definition Audio Controller, 5.1

Webcam: Acer Crystal Eye

STEP 1: Getting and Installing Ubuntu Hardy Heron Alpha 5

Ubuntu Hardy Heron Alpha 5 hit the servers for download in 23 February 2008. You can see the release details at http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/hardy/alpha5 and in the forums at http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=704944. You can download it here: http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/hardy/alpha-5/

Since Acer Aspire 7520G comes with an AMD Turion 64x2 processor, you need to download the .iso file labeled: "64-bit PC (AMD64) desktop CD"

After you have downloaded and burned the .iso to an empty CD, you have to boot your laptop from it. To do so, restart the laptop and press F2 while the Acer Splash Screen shows to get to BIOS. Navigate to the Boot tab and bring the CD/DVD: MATSHITADVD-RAM option to the top by highlighting it and pressing F6 as many times as needed. Then press ESC and select Exit Saving Changes and then Yes to confirm the changes to your BIOS.