CrunchBang Linux

Hi mufurios,

As requested:

Install dependencies

sudo apt-get install build-essential module-assistant

Download and extract kernel, I've gone with 3.8.2

mkdir ~/tmp
cd ~/tmp
$ wget https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/linux-3.8.2.tar.bz2
$ tar -jxf linux-3.8.2.tar.bz2
$ cd linux-3.8.2/

Download and apply the patches

wget 'https://patchwork.kernel.org/patch/1859901/raw/' -O cypress-touchpad-v7.patch
wget 'https://patchwork.kernel.org/patch/1843461/raw/' -O increase-struct-ps2dev-cmdbuf-to-8-bytes.patch

patch -p1 -i cypress-touchpad-v7.patch
patch -p1 -i increase-struct-ps2dev-cmdbuf-to-8-bytes.patch

To build and install

make oldconfig 

(hold down the return key, accept the default values for all the options)

Install the kernel

sudo make
sudo make modules_install
sudo make install

At this point reboot the machine, and you have the option to boot into the new kernel.

To fix brightness controls, create /etc/init.d/brightness-fix with the following contents:

#!/bin/bash
echo 0 > /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness

Grant the file execute permissions so it gets executed each time you startup

sudo chmod +x /etc/init.d/brightness-fix

I also have the new XPS 13, to enable two finger scrolling you'll have to compile your own kernel with patches released by Dell.

If you've never done this before, I'll be happy to write up a tutorial when I get home.