Spin 5 SP513-54N NX.HQUEC.003 touchscreen/stylus, touchpad and installation issues on Ubuntu 20.04

crysman · June 2020

Please, anybody got anything on this model (ACER Spin 5 SP513-54N NX.HQUEC.003) working on GNU/Linux Ubuntu?

touchpad - not working at all
neither touchscreen nor stylus/pen working
Ubuntu cannot be installed due to Intel Optane RST SSD mode - there is no option in BIOS to actually change drive mode to something else (like AHCI)

I really do like this convertible notebook and I am willing to keep it, but if there is no way to make Ubuntu running on it... I will have to search for something else (and that is something i do NOT want to do)

Thanks for any help.

I've put more info and debug logs on AskUbuntu: https://askubuntu.com/questions/1251719/ubuntu-20-04-acer-spin-5-sp513-54n-touchpad-and-touchscreen-stylus-pen-not-wor

And yes, I am aware that ACER SPIN notebooks officially do NOT support GNU/Linux operating systems - this is not an official complaint, I'm just willing to make it work - I am ready to tweak the system, use custom recompiled drivers etc...

Thanks!

Commodore_1995# · June 2020

What happens when you press ctrl + s on the main bios tab?

crysman · June 2020

WOW, that seems to be it, thank you! This secret key combo allows you two things:

switch SATA to AHCI mode - have not tested yet (OS Windows has to be prepared for this first via some registry tweaking, otherwise it won't boot)
switch touchpad to older standard PS/2 mode instead of I2C - this makes touchpad working "out-of-the-box" in booted Ubuntlu LIVE, but touchscreen works not. (Whereas if this kernel trick is applied https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1884232/comments/4 touchscreen works - it seems like in order to have touchscreen working, we need default I2C mode (?))

crysman · June 2020

OK, here are some good results:

touchpad being solved here https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1884232 (temporary workaround available)
touchscreen - see above ^
Switching to SATA AHCI mode via CTRL+S while in Main tab in BIOS works and solves issue 3. If you change modes remember to prepare OS Windows for that. No registry hacks needed, this is simpler and more transparent to follow: https://support.thinkcritical.com/kb/articles/switch-windows-10-from-raid-ide-to-ahci

Thanks!

Commodore_1995# · June 2020

If the i2c touchpad is not working, do this:

a) access the bios and press the f9 key to restore it. then, press f10 to save;

b) then, try to reset the battery like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfhgnxUJoZo&list=FLVBqwtBw09_Z9tXo1Injakw&index=8&t=0s

Moomanji · October 2020

crysman said:

OK, here are some good results:
touchpad being solved here https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1884232 (temporary workaround available)
touchscreen - see above ^
Switching to SATA AHCI mode via CTRL+S while in Main tab in BIOS works and solves issue 3. If you change modes remember to prepare OS Windows for that. No registry hacks needed, this is simpler and more transparent to follow: https://support.thinkcritical.com/kb/articles/switch-windows-10-from-raid-ide-to-ahci
Thanks!

Chiming in to confirm the referenced Kernal parameter fix also works on Linux Mint 20. Touchscreen and trackpad working in I2C mode. Also:

-Don't seem to have screen rotate in Mint

-Multi-touch doesn't seem to do anything on touchscreen, does function in trackpad

-Stylus only has basic functionally.

But otherwise, now a near fully functional dual boot! Managed to get Mint on yesterday alongside a fresh Windows 10 after several hours not knowing that Ctrl-S unhid a fair bit in UEFI. Wish that was documented (or unhidden by adding supervisor password?).

hperrin · December 2020

Thanks to your answers here, I've managed to get everything working on this laptop under Ubuntu! I wrote an installation guide which includes your steps above plus more to get all the touch controls, gestures, pen, and fingerprint reader working:
https://sciactive.com/2020/12/04/how-to-install-ubuntu-on-acer-spin-5-sp513-54n-for-the-perfect-linux-2-in-1/