Ubuntu 10.10 and Lenovo Ideapad S10-3

Lenovo Ideapad S10-3

If you have a Lenovo Ideapad S10-3 (depicted above), and you want to test or install shiny new Ubuntu 10.10 on it, you need to take a couple of considerations.

1. Use UNetbootin to create the bootable USB drive or SD card with Ubuntu 10.10
2. When booting the flashdrive or SD card, pres TAB key quickly so you may add the following kernel boot parameter (add this to the end of the line starting with the word "kernel"):

intel_idle.max_cstate=0

Install Ubuntu (or any of its variants). You will need to manually add the additional kernel boot parameter once more when you see this screen:

Press the 'E' key as stated and edit the line that contains the words "quiet splash --" (or similar) and add:

intel_idle.max_cstate=0

right before the word "quiet" (after or in the middle may also work, but I did it this way), so it reads

intel_idle.max_cstate=0 quiet splash  --

Now let's see how to permanently change this boot parameter after you have installed Ubuntu to your computer's hard disk.

Open up the Terminal and type

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

You will see something like this:

# If you change this file, run 'update-grub' afterwards to update

# /boot/grub/grub.cfg.

GRUB_DEFAULT=0

#GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0

GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true

GRUB_TIMEOUT=10

GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""
. . .

Change the 9th line so it reads:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash intel_idle.max_cstate=0"

Press Control+X, save the changes by saying Yes (Y key)

Now type the following in the Terminal, and we're done. Next time you'll boot as per normal.

sudo update-grub

Reference:

• Using UNetbootin to create a Live Linux USB (Pendrivelinux.com)
• Installing Ubuntu 10.10 (Softpedia)
• Change Default Boot Order for Grub in Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat (hackourlives.com)