Note: This probably isn’t limited just to the Dell Studio 1558.

For those who tried the HOWTO at https://help.ubuntu.com/ and ended up with headphones and microphones that don’t work, here’s how you do it:

• sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf
• Into that file, insert options snd-hda-intel model=dell-m6-dmic. (Some forum posts will tell you to use dell-eq, but that left me with low volume on the laptop’s speakers and nothing happening on the microphone front. Using dell-m6 fixed my low volume problem, but the microphone was still dead. I read about dell-m6-dmic somewhere and guess what, bitches, it works.)
• Restart ALSA and pulseaudio if you know how (I used to know this, and I blame alcohol for my sieve-like memory) or just reboot.
• ????
• PROFIT

TL;DR: Put options snd-hda-intel model=dell-m6-dmic in /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf to fix your shit.

- You install Lucid Lynx and it looks awesome with the open source ATI drivers. Good.

- Ubuntu then tells you that restricted drivers are available for your shiny ATI graphics card. You install these drivers. Great.

- You reboot and the splash screen and your consoles look like dog shit. (No, not your terminal emulator. There is a difference.) Not so good.

- You try to ignore the crappy splash screen and consoles. It works… for a while. What really pisses you off is the two-second lag you encounter whenever you switch between desktops or maximize/minimize/restore windows. CRAP!

I shall now proceed to tell you how this shit can be fixed.

Fixing your shitty looking splash screen and consoles:

1. Make the above face.

2. Do it again, just to be sure.

3. Install the hwinfo and v86d packages . Do it now. Actual command given below, for noobs.

sudo apt-get install v86d hwinfo

4. Use hwinfo to figure shit out about what sort of available display modes. Do it.

sudo hwinfo --framebuffer

5. Pick through whatever hwinfo throws at you and select an appropriate resolution and color depth. Here’s what it threw at me:

destroy@llnoobs:~$ sudo hwinfo --framebuffer
[sudo] password for destroy:
02: None 00.0: 11001 VESA Framebuffer
[Created at bios.464]
Unique ID: rdCR.QOJHFkjgnM2
Hardware Class: framebuffer
Model: "(C) 1988-2005, ATI Technologies Inc.  M92"
Vendor: "(C) 1988-2005, ATI Technologies Inc. "
Device: "M92"
SubVendor: "ATI ATOMBIOS"
SubDevice:
Revision: "01.00"
Memory Size: 16 MB
Memory Range: 0xd0000000-0xd0ffffff (rw)
Mode 0x0300: 640x400 (+640), 8 bits
Mode 0x0301: 640x480 (+640), 8 bits
Mode 0x0303: 800x600 (+832), 8 bits
... a bunch of similar crap ...
Mode 0x0323: 1024x768 (+4096), 24 bits
Mode 0x0324: 1280x1024 (+5120), 24 bits
Mode 0x0343: 1400x1050 (+1408), 8 bits
Mode 0x0345: 1400x1050 (+2816), 16 bits
Mode 0x0346: 1400x1050 (+5632), 24 bits
Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown

Sadly, the framebuffer doesn’t want to make sweet love to my panel’s native resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. I chose 1400×1050/16 bits because I’m cool like that.

6. Use your favorite non-sucky text editor to edit /etc/default/grub. I used nano.

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

Now, change the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT line to look like this:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash nomodeset video=uvesafb:mode_option=1400x1050-16,mtrr=3,scroll=ywrap"

Next, change the GRUB_GFXMODE line to look like this:

GRUB_GFXMODE=1400x1050

Replace 1400×1050 and 16 with the resolution and color depth you chose.

7. Edit /etc/initramfs-tools/modules and add this line:

uvesafb mode_option=1400x1050-16 mtrr=3 scroll=ywrap

Again, change 1400×1050-16 to the resolution and color depth you chose.

8, Now, to make Linux love the framebuffer, type this:

echo FRAMEBUFFER=y | sudo tee /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/splash

9.  Pour yourself a drink and prepare to update everything you messed with:

sudo update-grub2
sudo update-initramfs -u

10. Reboot and jerk off to your awesome new splash screen and consoles.

Source: Tux’s idyllic life.

Getting rid of that annoying lag when doing shit with windows and desktops:

1. First things first. Add the following to your software sources:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:launchpad-weyland/xserver-nobackfill

2. Update your package database:

sudo apt-get update

3. Apply upgrades:

sudo apt-get upgrade

This should upgrade your xserver.

4. Restart xserver or reboot:

sudo service gdm restart

Note: This might be a coincidence, but I did notice an improvement in fullscreen Flash video playback after I did all of this.

Source: Friendly Tech Ninja.