I am trying to install the Catalyst driver. The best I can get is a strange resolution problem and firefox acts all wonkt. The worst I have gotten is low graphics mode in which I just reinstall Ubuntu.

I have a HP Pavilion Dv7 laptop. With Radeon 3200 HD. I plan to try again with a fresh install of Ubuntu 12.4.3 as I have heard its the most compatible.

This is what I have done:

1. I have tried just the easy way of going to synaptic and installing the drivers that way. the fglrx package (not the fglrx update). And if memory serves I think that boots me into low graphics mode. So, fresh install of Ubuntu and tried again.
2. I have done everything a couple times from this site (http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubuntu_Precise_Installation_Guide) following every instruction to a T. That gets me something, such as a lowered fan speed and a much cooler computer, but I also lose most of my resolution. And displays says its the best resolution I can get. I also have a very screwy firefox. Using this method I can see AMD Catalyst Control Center in my dash (two of them really one administrator and one not) but when I try to open it it says no amd driver detected. So again, ubuntu reinstall.
3. I have tried the GUI method from the Legacy driver I got from AMD's site. It runs through smoothly and at the very end after I exit the installer it gives me an error.
4. I have also tried various other methods using terminal, as well as various different drivers (the one from the amd's site and the one suggested in the above link for my graphics card) both to no avail.

When I try the method in the link on number 2, and I get the super low res and screwy fire fox. I type in, fglrxinfo ,and get a badrequest error. I have yet to type in fglrxinfo and get anything like what I am supposed to.

UPDATE: I am now currently reinstalling Ubuntu 12.4. I tried the above mentioned link - thank you very much!- just to see on the previously failed driver attempt by following the purge commands. And to no avail when typing fglrxinfo I still get the badrequest thing. I will update again after a try with a true fresh install. Thanks again!!

UPDATE: Alright everyone. Still no go. I have done everything word per word in the provided tutorial. I have rebooted my computer again to a fucked up resolution and this is what I get when typing fglrxinfo:

$ fglrxinfo X Error of failed request: BadRequest (invalid request code or no such operation) Major opcode of failed request: 153 (GLX) Minor opcode of failed request: 19 (X_GLXQueryServerString) Serial number of failed request: 12 Current serial number in output stream: 12

I would like to add that when installing this file: fglrx_8.970-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb

I got this:

Building initial module for 3.8.0-29-generic Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 3.8.0-29-generic (x86_64) Consult /var/lib/dkms/fglrx/8.970/build/make.log for more information. update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated) Processing triggers for ureadahead ... Processing triggers for bamfdaemon ... Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/bamf.index... Processing triggers for initramfs-tools ... update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.8.0-29-generic Processing triggers for libc-bin ... ldconfig deferred processing now taking place

Any ideas? Anyone? I cant for the life of me figure out what I am doing wrong.