64-Bit Flash Fix

THIS GUIDE IS NOT FOR MINI 9/10v & VOSTRO A90 Users
These machines are 32-bit only and the following is not needed.

This guide is for other 64-bit users (my desktop run Ubuntu 9.10 64-bit) who are running into problems playing/clicking YouTube Videos using the nspluginwrapper and 32-bit Flash plugin.

In a terminal type:

sudo gedit /usr/lib/nspluginwrapper/i386/linux/npviewer

add the following before the last line of the text:

export GDK_NATIVE_WINDOWS=1

- then Save


- You can use this picture as a reference, the needed line is highlighted in grey.

Now when you click a YouTube video it will actually play.
- Enjoy!

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.

Broadcom Wireless Driver Fix In Lucid

For yet another release, Ubuntu 's Driver Manager is unable to properly install the Broadcom Wireless driver.

Some users are getting a permission error, telling them that they are not authorized to perform this action:



or Ubuntu is just not recognizing the card:



The Broadcom wireless card that came with the Dell Mini 9/10 or Vostro A90 does work in Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx. You just have to manually install it.

Manually installing the driver can be done two ways:
Connect to the internet via a wired connection. Then go to Synaptic Package Manager (System>Administration>Synaptic Package Manager)

- Click the Reload button in the upper left corner of Synaptic to refresh your repository index.


- Then install the bcmwl-kernel-source package

OR: after connecting to the internet via a wired connection in a terminal type:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get --reinstall install bcmwl-kernel-source

-Reboot the machine. Afterwards you will see the driver installed and working.

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.

Fix A Stuck Pixel

My two month old Vostro A90 recently suffered from three stuck white pixels. Stuck pixels, unlike dead pixels, are fixable. A dead pixel is when all three sub-pixels are permanently off, producing a permanently black pixel. A stuck pixel has one of more sub-pixels always on or always off displaying a white, green, blue or red color.

If your pixel is displaying a color this guide will help you fix it without having to resort to rubbing it back to life.


Before You Can Fix The Stuck Pixel:
Make sure your monitor will not shut off due to inactivity and that your computer sleep function is disabled.

You can find these settings under System>Preference>Power Management


Also turn off your Screensaver.

You can find these settings under System>Preference>Screensaver


Go to http://www.jscreenfix.com/


- click launch application to begin the fix

A pop window will appear.

- hit F11 key to set the window in fullscreen mode (on the mini9/vostro a90 F11 is the Fn+z keys)

Allow the program to run for 20 minutes to 2 hours depending on the severity of the problem and the number of stuck pixels. I ran the program for about 20 minutes and all three pixels became unstuck.

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.

Broadcom Wireless Driver Fix In Karmic

This works for the Dell Mini 9/10v & Vostro A90.

Usually installing the proprietary Broadcom wireless driver in Ubuntu is handled with couple mouse clicks by the Hardware Drivers (aka jockey-gtk). But Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala has shipped with a bug that makes jockey unable to recognize the card and install the driver. No worries, the fix is incredibly easy and only requires a wired internet connection.


- Ubuntu is unable to recognize and install the Broadcom Driver via the Hardware Drivers.

First connect to the internet via a wired connection. Then go to Synaptic Package Manager (System>Administration>Synaptic Package Manager)

- Click the Reload button in the upper left corner of Synaptic to refresh your repository index.


- Then install the bcmwl-kernel-source package

OR: after connecting to the internet via a wired connection in a terminal type:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get --reinstall install bcmwl-kernel-source

-Reboot the machine. Afterwards you will see the driver installed and working.

Enjoy the freedom!

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.

Fix The Audio on The Dell Vostro A90

Even though the Dell Mini 9 and the Dell Vostro have identical components, the audio for the Vostro doesn't work out of the box like it does for the Mini 9.

In order to enable audio you need to add a line to your /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf file.
- In a terminal type:

sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf

- Then add this to the bottom of the alsa-base.conf file:

options snd-hda-intel model=dell

- Then reboot the machine for the changes to take effect.

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.

Fixing USB Mounting Problems After Install

Wolfkeeper, good looking out and thanks for the heads up!

When you use a LiveUSB drive to install Ubuntu on the Dell Mini 9, you create a problem with your fstab: any USB flash drive you insert into your mini will be seen as a CD/DVD drive.

If you get this error, "invalid mount option when attempting to mount the volume", apply this very easy fix.


In a terminal type:
sudo gedit /etc/fstab

You should get a text file similar to this:

Look for a line that is similar to the highlighted section.
It has my USB drive as /media/cdrom0, making it unable to mount.

If you need to see what your USB drive is being mounted under,
In a terminal type:
sudo fdisk -l
and look through the output for your device name.

Simply delete the line.


Now you can use USB drives normally.

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.