Need help installing Linux on an Alienware 14 laptop

Question

Hi, I just bought an Alienware 14 laptop, service tag . I want to install Linux on it and dual boot, Ubuntu is preferred, but the more important thing to me is ANY version of Linux that will work with Alienware 14's hardware. I don't care if the Alienware's software, command center, LEDs etc. work with it or not, but it would be nice if they did, the important thing to me is a version of Linux that supports the laptop's hardware, video, sound, wifi, USB etc. Rather than just going off on a 'hunting expedition' and installing version after version of Linux until I find one that works, and possibly screwing this laptop up, I thought I would first ask you if there was a version you could recommend. I found a LIVE version, Fedora 19 that will work with my video card but not my wifi hardware. I was able to use a ROSWELL USB wifi adapter and connect with it, but wondered if you knew of a version of Linux that might be more compatible with this laptop's hardware. I ordered Windows 7 and it was shipped with a 750G MBR formatted hard drive, with Windows 7 installed in legacy mode with secure boot off, MBR formatted hard drive, which is what I wanted. I plan on 'shrinking' the pre-installed Windows 7 partition, create another partition and install Linux in that partition and dual boot this computer. The hard drive partitioning on this hard drive is: a 39M OEM partition,(sda1), a 10.20G Recovery partition, (sda2), and the OS partition C: (sda3). I'm a little confused as to where to install the Linux boot loader, Grub. Normally on a 1 partion hard drive with Windows installed on it, the boot loader would be installed on the sda1 partition and a second partition, (sda2), created for Linux, but with this hard drive a special OEM partition is in that spot. The OS, C:, is installed on the 3rd partition, sda3. Is this where I should install the Linux boot loader? Where is the Windows boot loader located? My instinct is to shrink the Windows partition, (sda3), and create a partition for Linux, (sda4), and a small partition, (sda5) for a Linux swap partition, and install the Linux boot loader, Grub, on the (sda3) partition, but I would like to discuss this with someone and see if this is correct before I go ahead and do this. Please help me if you can, if not, would you please send me the email address, or phone of someone who could? Thank You, Rick Snyder

ieee488 · Answer

Question is best asked on the Ubuntu or Federa or whichever distro forum you plan on using.

ieee488 · Answer

You won't find much help here for Linux especially for a product that wasn't shipped with Linux. http://www.ubuntuforums.com

snydley100 · Answer

Is there a Ubuntu forum on in the Dell forums? When I clicked on the Ubuntu forum on the Dell site it took me to the ubuntu.com website. I need someone that knows Alienware hardware and Linux, that's why I posted it here. Incompatibility is the problem I'm having. I don't need general knowledge or installation help.

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