I am encountering several issues while trying to set up a dual-boot system with Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and Windows 11 home on my laptop. Here are the details about my system and the problems I am facing.
Laptop Specifications:
Model: OMEN Transcend Gaming Laptop 14-fb0097nr, HP
Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
Memory: 32GB RAM
Storage: 2TB SSD
Graphics: NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 4070
Secure Boot: Disabled
BIOS Mode: UEFI
Windows Version: Windows 11 Home
Steps Taken for Dual Boot:
Created a bootable USB drive using Rufus with the Ubuntu 20.04 LTS ISO.
Disabled Secure Boot in the BIOS and ensured that Fast Startup in Windows was turned off.
Used the Install Ubuntu alongside Windows option during installation.
Successfully installed Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.
Problems Encountered:
Touchpad Not Working:
The touchpad on my laptop is not functioning in Ubuntu, but a USB mouse works perfectly.
Running xinput list does not show the touchpad device.
Wi-Fi Not Detected:
The network controller shows as UNCLAIMED in lshw -C network.
I attempted to install the linux-firmware package and manually load the iwlwifi module, but no success.
The device works perfectly in Windows, so I believe it’s a driver issue.
General System Freezes:
The system occasionally freezes when booting into Ubuntu. I have to force a hard restart.
What I’ve Tried So Far:
Checked BIOS Settings:
Verified that Secure Boot is disabled and that the touchpad and wireless adapter are enabled in the BIOS.
Reinstalled Ubuntu:
Reinstalled Ubuntu 20.04 LTS with the same issues persisting.
Questions:
How can I get the touchpad working in Ubuntu? Are there specific drivers or configurations I need for OMEN Transcend Gaming Laptop 14-fb0097nr?
Why is the Wi-Fi network controller unclaimed, and what are the exact steps to fix this issue?
Are there any known compatibility issues with my laptop and Ubuntu 20.04 LTS?
Additional Notes:
If needed, I can provide detailed logs or outputs (e.g., dmesg, lshw, lsusb) to help diagnose the problem.
I am running a dual-boot system and need both Windows and Ubuntu for my work.
Thank you for your time and help! I appreciate any guidance or recommendations the community can provide.
Recent processors require a later kernel.
Rather than Ubuntu 20.04, I suggest you try Ubuntu 24.04 (or possibly 24.10) in a “Try Ubuntu” live session.
I understand that newer processors may require a later kernel for optimal performance. However, I specifically need to use Ubuntu 20.04 LTS due to the following reasons:
Software Compatibility:
The software and SDKs I am working with (e.g., NVIDIA SDK Manager for flashing Jetson devices) explicitly list Ubuntu 20.04 as a supported and tested platform.
Using a newer Ubuntu version might introduce compatibility issues, as these tools are not officially supported on Ubuntu 24.04 or 24.10.
Project Requirements:
My project’s environment and dependencies are standardized on Ubuntu 20.04 to ensure consistency and avoid unexpected behavior during development and deployment.
Testing Environment:
The final deployment environment for my project also uses Ubuntu 20.04, so I need to develop and test within this specific version.
I appreciate the suggestion to try newer Ubuntu versions in a live session, but for now, I need to prioritize maintaining Ubuntu 20.04 compatibility for my work.
Note that 20.04 has a 5 year life or next April it expires. You may need Ubuntu Pro, free for 5 systems as home user for extended support. You may be able to install 24.04 and then install 20.04 into a VM, but I have not used a VM, so do not know details. Software should be updated to support newer systems.
I appreciate the reminder about Ubuntu 20.04’s lifecycle and the option of using Ubuntu Pro for extended support. It’s helpful to know that extended security maintenance is available if I need to continue using 20.04 beyond April 2025.
Why I Need Native Ubuntu 20.04:
While using Ubuntu 20.04 in a VM inside a newer version (like Ubuntu 24.04) is an interesting suggestion, I require native hardware access for my work, including:
Flashing Jetson devices with NVIDIA’s SDK Manager, which may not work reliably in a virtualized environment.
Running software that depends on native Ubuntu 20.04 compatibility and may not support newer Ubuntu releases yet.
My Future Considerations:
I plan to explore Ubuntu Pro if I continue to use 20.04 after its standard support ends.
I also agree that software should evolve to support newer systems, and I hope the tools I rely on will soon become compatible with more recent versions of Ubuntu, like 24.04.
Thank you again for the advice and suggestions. Your insights are greatly appreciated!
I am currently using Ubuntu 20.04.6, which, as you mentioned, is the latest point release of 20.04 with updated firmware and drivers. Despite this, the issues with the Wi-Fi adapter and touchpad persist, likely due to the newer hardware on my laptop not being fully supported by the kernel included in Ubuntu 20.04.
Testing Newer Versions:
I have tested newer Ubuntu versions (e.g., 24.04 and 24.10) in a Try/Live session to confirm whether the Wi-Fi adapter and touchpad work. In the newer versions:
Wi-Fi Adapter: Works fine
Touchpad: Works fine
This confirms that a newer kernel resolves the hardware compatibility issues, but I still need to find a way to make Ubuntu 20.04 work.
Thank you for your help, and I’m open to any further suggestions for making my hardware work on Ubuntu 20.04!
Have seen others suggest just getting an older system that is well supported by Operating system you are using. You often can get an used system relatively cheaply to resolve issue. Since many vendors do not officially support Linux, I would check this site. If they offer UEFI updates via Linux then at least they recognize users may use Linux. Devices using LVFS for firmware updates https://fwupd.org/lvfs/devicelist
I am going to risk being accused of taking this topic off-topic by making a suggestion. Please ask for help to carry out this suggestion by opening another topic.
Research how to install the Linux kernel from Ubuntu 24.04 into Ubuntu 20.04. I think that you would also need the 24.04 Hardware Enablement Stack. Do not do this on your working install of 20.04. Experiment in another install of 20.04.
I understand the benefits of using an older system that is fully supported by the operating system, as it could simplify hardware compatibility issues. However, in my case, there are a few reasons why this might not be the best approach for my setup:
Newer Hardware Is Essential:
My current system is equipped with modern hardware that is crucial for the performance and efficiency needed in my projects, including running resource-intensive applications and tools.
Budget and Practicality Constraints:
While purchasing an older, compatible system could be a workaround, it may not be practical or cost-effective for me at this time. I’d prefer to optimize my current setup to work with the required OS (Ubuntu 20.04).
Vendor Support for Linux:
Thank you for sharing the link to the LVFS firmware update list. I’ll definitely check if my hardware is listed there, as having firmware updates available via Linux could improve my system’s compatibility and performance.
Next Steps:
I’ll explore updating my system’s firmware if supported by LVFS.
I’m also considering upgrading the kernel or using the HWE stack on Ubuntu 20.04 to address hardware compatibility issues while staying within my project’s requirements.
If you have any other suggestions for optimizing newer hardware on older Linux distributions, I’d love to hear them. Thanks again for your helpful advice!
I appreciate your willingness to provide an alternative approach, even if it might feel a bit off-topic. Installing the Linux kernel and Hardware Enablement Stack (HWE) from Ubuntu 24.04 into Ubuntu 20.04 is an interesting idea, and I can see how it could potentially address the hardware compatibility issues I’m facing.
My Plan:
I will first research the compatibility and feasibility of using the 24.04 kernel and HWE stack with Ubuntu 20.04.
As you suggested, I will not attempt this on my working 20.04 installation. Instead, I’ll set up a separate instance of Ubuntu 20.04 for experimentation to ensure my current environment remains intact.
Questions for the Community:
Has anyone successfully integrated the 24.04 kernel or HWE stack into 20.04? If so, are there any known challenges or pitfalls I should be aware of?
Are there specific dependencies or compatibility checks I should perform before attempting this experiment?
Thank you again for the suggestion! If I manage to get this working, I’ll be sure to share my results in case it helps others facing similar issues.
I appreciate your curiosity and willingness to help, even if this isn’t an area you’re familiar with. The idea of reaching out to the NVIDIA forums is a great one, as they might have more specialized knowledge and experience with the issues I’m encountering, especially since my project heavily involves NVIDIA tools like the SDK Manager and Jetson devices.
I’ll consider posting my queries there to see if they can provide additional insights or solutions. Thanks again for your input!
The install of first release like 20.04 and first update like 20.04.1 keep the original kernel. That is so those with systems that need to be absolutely stable do not get kernel updates. But since LTS version, newer hardware may need newer kernel & drivers, so 20.04.2 and later installs will automatically get the enablement stack. You can turn on enablement stack with initial install, see link above.
But we do not know your software & its requirements. New kernel & drivers may break that, just like the newer install does. So as suggested above best to test in another install.
I am thinking of of installing latest version of ubuntu. Other than turning off secure boot what else have you done during live boot?
Any guidance is very much appreciated.
The one point I will add is … prepare your target hdd/ssd in advance by using GParted (in Live USB) to create (looking at my GParted) two partitions. One for EFI the other for Ubuntu installation. Note that this target can be internal drive or external in an SSD container connected to host PC via USB 3.0 port.
partition: /dev/sda1
name: EFI system partition
filesystem: fat32
mount point: boot/efi
size: 100.00 MiB (minimum, can go up to 500.00 MiB)
used:
unused:
flags: boot, esp
partition: /dev/sda?? … where Ubuntu will be installed
name: Ubuntu …
filesystem: ext4