MacBuild Troubleshooting

Touchpad

Intel MacBook touchpad's seem to be a little touchy by default. Usually, the sensitivity can be modified through Xubuntu's System, although it doesn't always have the desired effect.

method one

• Run

sudo apt-get install synaptiks

• Then run this command to open a config file that you will edit to change the default touchpad settings

sudo leafpad /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-synaptics.conf

When prompted, type "freegeek" for password (it's okay if nothing shows up when you type) A leafpad file should open. Find where it says Driver "synaptics" below Section "InputClass". You will be editing this section to change the driver settings.

• At the bottom of the section (and before the words EndSection, insert this text:

Option "FingerLow" "5"
Option "FingerHigh" "20"
Option "FingerPress" "300"
Option "PressureMotionMinZ" "35"
Option "PressureMotionMaxZ" "188"
Option "LeftEdge" "10"
Option "RightEdge" "1200"
Option "TopEdge" "10"
Option "BottomEdge" "50"
MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*

• Save file and close the window
• Shut the computer down and turn it back on again
• When the computer restarts, you should notice that the trackpad is a lot easier to use right away. Open a terminal and type

synclient

and look for the settings you changed to make sure they took effect

method two

• An alternative is to set the touchpad parameters directly through the Synaptics input driver. Run the following script (as root):

 #!/bin/sh
 
 # Check if root
 if [ ! $(id -u) -eq 0 ] ; then
 	echo "ERROR: You must run this script as root!"
 	exit 2
 fi
 
 echo 'Modifying touchpad sensitivity...'
 
 cat << EOF > /etc/X11/Xsession.d/90macbook-touchpad
 #!/bin/sh
 # Synaptics parameters to improve touchpad performance on Macbooks
 synclient FingerLow=10
 synclient FingerHigh=20
 EOF
 
 chmod a+x /etc/X11/Xsession.d/90macbook-touchpad 
 
 echo '... Done!  Please log out and log back in to enact changes.'

This will adjust the touchpad's parameters for all users, including new ones that are added to the system.

iSight Camera

If your iSight camera works in OSX but when you open Cheese the "Device cannot be found", you probably need to install Apple's proprietary iSight firmware. Here are instructions to do this:

• Open Firefox and copy/paste this address into the URL bar:

http://dalmano.bplaced.net/turanct.zym.backup/AUVideoS.zip

When prompted, click "Save" to save the file that will download. When it has downloaded, open and unzip or extract the file to the desktop. Find the file-path by clicking Places >> Desktop then Go >> Open Location and after the suggested pathname, start typing "App" and the rest of the file name should auto fill. You will use this path to install the iSight Firmware in a minute.

• Open a terminal and update the repositories by typing the following 2 commands:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

• Now you will install the firmware

sudo apt-get install isight-firmware-tools

You will be asked if you want to install a program, press enter. Next you will be asked for the file name of the firmware, now is when you need to use the pathname you found earlier. Delete the auto-filled pathname and type the path named above ^^

• Shut down the computer and restart it before opening Cheese and checking the camera. And I mean you need to actually Power The Computer Down. No shortcuts.

• IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY PRESSED ENTER BEFORE CHANGING THE PATH: The installation will not work, but there will be enough of the file to confuse the computer later. Once the install has aborted, you need to completely remove the file by purging it with: sudo apt-get purge isight-firmware-tools

then try the installation again.

MacBook Sounds

For computers that play sounds through the headphone jack in OSX but not in Xubuntu. If you have already tried changing settings in alsamixer, checked your speakers, and double checked the sound in OSX, try installing alsamixer for gnome.

• Open a terminal and type

sudo apt-get install gnome alsamixer

• Wait for the download
• Navigate through: Menu>>Multimedia>>Gnome AlsaMixer
• Check the sound settings and make sure nothing is muted