If you’ve tried to install the new alpha 3 release of Ubuntu in VMWare, you’ll find that it doesn’t work well. Here’s how I installed it and got it up and running:
1. Download the Intepid Ibex Alpha 3 from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/intrepid/alpha-3/. Configure VMWare to use it as a disk image for installation. It’s best to create a new VMWare machine for the installation, because, as you’ll see in Step 2, installation is tricky and you want to be in a situation to accept the default options, rather than deal with complicated upgrade/repartitioning options.
2. Choose to Install Ubuntu at the boot menu. Unfortunatly your mouse won’t work during installation, so you’ll have to move about using the Tab key, and hitting Enter/Space to select options. You should be able to install Ubuntu this way by mostly accepting the default choices, and tabbing into text fields whenever you need to fill them in.
3. Once installed, don’t login straight away! At the login prompt (GDM), switch to a virtual console (Ctrl+Alt+F2) and login. Then type the follow to edit the xorg.conf file:
$ sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf
4. Look for the line that reads as follows:
Driver "vmmouse"
and change it to read
Driver "mouse"
5. Save the file (Ctrl+O) and then quit nano (Ctrl+X). Then type the following:
sudo modprobe -r snd_pcsp
6. Now switch back to the login window (Ctrl+Alt+F7), then login and enjoy testing the new alpha! Because the standard mouse driver is being used, you’ll have to hit Ctrl+Alt to escape the mouse from the VMWare program window.
You’ll also have to repeat Step 5 whenever you want to login in future. Alternatively keep updating in the hope that it’s fixed—it is a known problem that they’re working on.
EDIT: Somebody has pointed out that you can permanently stop the module loading by adding it to the bottom of the /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist file. This is probably true (I haven’t tried) but this will stop the module loading forever, and it’s very likely the buggy module will be fixed pretty soon, if it hasn’t already. Without this module you won’t have any sound in Ubuntu under VMWare. So blacklist it at your peril.
(C) 2008 Keir Thomas. You may reproduce the above on your blog provided that an author credit is given and a link to www.ubuntukungfu.com is clearly shown.
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6 comments ↓
[...] (blank screen then to busybox terminal). Under VMWare the mouse would not work. Found this blog: Installing Ubuntu Intrepid Alpha 3 in VMWare — Ubuntu Kung Fu helpful… in addition I think you can blacklist the problematic snd_pcsp driver in /etc/modules [...]
[...] Ubuntu Kung Fu] Segnala presso: var adbard_key=”dbdaacea9c45944d20f71f320c63c888″; Etichette: Guide, Intrepid [...]
[...] Finally found a fix after practicing my google skills, must have been lacking last time I tried but found this post “Installing Ubuntu Intrepid Alpha 3 in VMWare“ [...]
[...] Finally found a fix after practicing my google skills, must have been lacking last time I tried but found this post “Installing Ubuntu Intrepid Alpha 3 in VMWare“ [...]
[...] Finally found a fix after practicing my google skills, must have been lacking last time I tried but found this post “Installing Ubuntu Intrepid Alpha 3 in VMWare“ [...]
I’ve had similar mouse/keyboard problems in VMware and kubuntu. Check the “ServerLayout” section of /etc/X11/xorg.conf and make sure it looks something like this:
Section “ServerLayout”
Identifier “Default Layout” screen 0 “Default Screen” 0 0
Inputdevice “VMware Keyboard” “CoreKeyboard”
Inputdevice “VMware Mouse” “CorePointer”
EndSection
Make sure there is only one listing each for mouse and keyboard. There should only be 5 lines: Section Identifier, Inputdevice, Inputdevice, and EndSection. If there is a linebreak somewhere between Identifier and the first Inputdevice line then remove it. I’ve had no problems with either my mouse or keyboard in X even with the snd_pcsp module loaded as well as using the vmmouse driver.
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