Surprisingly, the release of Ubuntu 8.04 LTS (Hardy Heron) works pretty well in HP Pavilion DV2715nr with just a few fix. After installation Ubuntu desktop will be basically ready to use but the screen will be stucked on 800×600 resolution and wireless is still cannot be used. Installing Ubuntu is very easy and you just need to follow simple steps. You only need 2 additional task to make Ubuntu 8.04 in dv2715nr ready to go.

First: Making Wireless Connection Work

• Step 1 (run in terminal)
  echo ‘blacklist bcm43xx’ | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist
  sudo apt-get install ndiswrapper-utils-1.9
  mkdir ~/bcm43xx; cd ~/bcm43xx

• Step 2 (run in terminal)
  sudo apt-get install cabextract
  wget ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp37501-38000/sp37950.exe
  cabextract sp37950.exe

• Step 3 (run in terminal)
  sudo ndiswrapper -i bcmwl5.inf
  ndiswrapper -l
  sudo depmod -a
  sudo modprobe ndiswrapper
  sudo cp /etc/network/interfaces /etc/network/interfaces.orig
  echo -e ‘auto lo\niface lo inet loopback\n’ | sudo tee /etc/network/interfaces
  sudo ndiswrapper -m
  echo ‘ndiswrapper’ | sudo tee -a /etc/modules
  echo ‘ENABLED=0? | sudo tee -a /etc/default/wpasupplicant

• Step 4 (run in terminal)
  sudo aptitude remove b43-fwcutter

• Step 5 (run in terminal)
  sudo gedit /etc/init.d/wirelessfix.sh

• Step 6
  Paste the followings in the opened file(wirelessfix.sh)#!/bin/bash
  modprobe -r b44
  modprobe -r b43
  modprobe -r b43legacy
  modprobe -r ssb
  modprobe -r ndiswrapper
  modprobe ndiswrapper
  modprobe b44

• Step 7 (run in terminal)
  Run this :cd /etc/init.d/ && sudo chmod 755 wirelessfix.sh

• Step 8 (run in terminal)
  finally run this:sudo update-rc.d wirelessfix.sh defaults

• REBOOT

Second: Enable NVIDIA Graphic Driver

• Step 1 (run in terminal)
  sudo aptitude install libc6 libc6-dev
  sudo aptitude install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r);
• Step 2
  Download latest NVIDIA Driver for Linux
  http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.html
  
• Step 3 (run in terminal)
  sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop
• Step 4
  Login in Text Mode
  Locate where you downloaded Nvidia Driver then do:
  sudo chmod +x NVIDIA-Linux-x86-169.07.pkg1.run
  sudo ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86-169.07.pkg1.run
• Step 5
  Follow the steps on nvidia installer (usually just press ok)
• REBOOT

Check this website for complete Ubuntu Installation Guide on HP Pavilion DV series