On my repository there are some new packages: nc10-fb, 915res, usplash-theme-ubuntu and usplash-theme-ubuntu-blue.
The first two are needed for getting the 1024x600 framebuffer, the usplash-theme-ubuntu package is a fixed version of the official ubuntu splash theme (it fixes some bugs for 1024x600 resolution), the usplash-theme-ubuntu-blue package is a blue version made by me (and its use is optional, of course).
The following method is not available for Intrepid because it seems to randomly break suspend/hibernation on it. My advice? Upgrade to Jaunty.
The 915res package installs an utility (915resolution) that allows us to modify the video BIOS on the fly (only on the ram, the changes are not permanent and are lost when PC is shutted down). This way we can add the 1024x600 resolution to the list of reported (and usable) resolutions when the system is started. This utility was deprecated and removed from Intrepid (and obviously from Jaunty), because the intel driver for X server is now able to find all the usable resolutions on its own (infact the X server works at 1024x600 with no problems at all). However, we need it because we have to set up the 1024x600 resolution at boot time, before the X server is started and the intel driver gets loaded.
The nc10-fb package is the main one, it contains a bunch of scripts used by initramfs-tools to insert all the needed stuff into the initramfs file. The initramfs file is a virtual file system loaded at boot, all its content is immediately available to use when the system starts to boot, even before the real partitions on the disk are mounted. The scripts contained in the package put the '915resolution' utility into the initramfs, making possible to use it when the system is starting, and load the 'uvesafb' framebuffer driver for setting up the new custom resolution. All this stuff is enabled on boot ONLY IF the 'nc10-fb' option is specified on the kernel command line.
Well, that was the explanation, now the instructions to use it.
Install the nc10-fb package with the command
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sudo apt-get install nc10-fb
Open in your text editor the grub menu.lst file:
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sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
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## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash
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## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash nc10-fb
Now update the grub with the command
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sudo update-grub
Reboot the NC10 to see the framebuffer in action, and usplash working at the right resolution (finally).
If for any reason you are unhappy with the new framebuffer and want to go back to the bad-looking default one, you can simply remove the 'nc10-fb' option from the '/boot/grub/menu.lst' file, then use the command 'sudo update-grub' to update grub.
Remember, the new framebuffer is used only when the above option is present.
Just a few words about the usplash-theme-ubuntu-blue package.
This is a blue version of the official ubuntu usplash theme, I made it because I prefer blue to brown.
I just want to say that usually I'm not that good at image editing, but this time I got a nice result, so give it a shot if you want.
To use the new theme, install it with the command
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sudo apt-get install usplash-theme-ubuntu-blue
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sudo update-usplash-theme usplash-theme-ubuntu-blue
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sudo update-usplash-theme usplash-theme-ubuntu