mtcougar832

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I have installed slackware 10 and gentoo (2004.3 -- 32-bit) on this laptop. I have quite a bit of Linux and general computer experience, and I have learned a lot. Without my previous experience (esp. a year with Slackware) installing linux on this machine would have been much more difficult.

I custom built my current kernel (under gentoo). Installing Slackware went normally. I remember a lot of google sessions to track down problems (wireless, video). The installs of both OSes went smoothly, but I couldn't get networking to work (even with modprobe via-rhine) for installing gentoo - it could have been the flaky connection I had at the time.

I have everything working except the modem and reading SD cards (CF Cards work). dmesg detects inserting the card but I can't figure out how to mount it. I have never tried the modem. The wireless works with ndiswrapper, and only in 32-bit (but it will only work in 32-bit Windows as well). Use the driver from your eMachines CD for ndiswrapper. Switching off the wireless (Fn+F2) hardlocked the system each time I tried it. The other Fn+ controls I tried work (lights [F1], brightness [F7/F8], numlock [scroll]).

I haven't tried 64-bit, but since ATI (www.ati.com) has released 64-bit drivers, I plan to try it within the next month.

ATI doesn't provide official drivers for their laptop, I just used the normal Radeon 9600 desktop drivers (or emerge ati-drivers) and they work. I am playing World of Warcraft via Transgaming and I get 10 to 50 FPS (which is adequate and seems about average -- esp for a laptop). I found a working config for the display somewhere online, the relevant x.org sections are:
Under "Moniter" section
HorizSync 31.5 - 67.0
VertRefresh 50.0 - 71.0
Under "Screen" section add "1280x800" to the begining of your Modes line (ie. Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600")

I found a driver for getting the features of the touchpad to work - http://tuxmobil.org/touchpad_driver.html. It contains a driver and appropriate xorg.conf section.

The CD with this machine will allow you to install the programs (except anti-virus) and drivers separately from the OS, so in theory (I haven't tried it) you could try running the bundled software through WINE.

This is a nice laptop - I'm very pleased with it. Linux is doing everything I want (playing World of Warcraft was the last program) - I am finally able to delete my Windows partition!


/sbin/lspci (note - I don't believe Slack had the unknown devices - I probably missed installing something in gentoo):
0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc.: Unknown device 3188 (rev01)
0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc.: Unknown device b188
0000:00:0a.0 CardBus bridge: ENE Technology Inc CB1410 Cardbus Controller (rev 01)
0000:00:0c.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation: Unknown device 4320(rev 03)
0000:00:10.0 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB (rev 80)
0000:00:10.1 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB (rev 80)
0000:00:10.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB (rev 80)
0000:00:10.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB 2.0 (rev 82)
0000:00:11.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8235 ISA Bridge
0000:00:11.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586/B/686A/B PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 06)
0000:00:11.5 Multimedia audio controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8233 AC97 Audio Controller (rev 50)
0000:00:11.6 Communication controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. Intel 537 [AC97 Modem] (rev 80)
0000:00:12.0 Ethernet controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT6102 [Rhine-II](rev 74)
0000:00:13.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): VIA Technologies, Inc. IEEE 1394 Host Controller (rev 80)
0000:00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
0000:00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
0000:00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
0000:00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 4e50

draggor

I'm trying to get Debian installed, and I'm having trouble getting XFree86 working. Is there someplace I can find a sample XF86Config? I'm also willing to use xorg if there's a sample config file somehwere out there for the m6811. Thanks if you can help me out!

~Ross

Present

install for 9.2 dvd for a friend went rather flawless. everything works fine with 64bit kernel except wireless. it appears that the card is unsupported under 64bit kernels at this time.

have talked to several people who own them, and both have had lcd hinges break. doesn't seem to affect functionality, but may be a consideration if support plans are an option.

very fast and very good computer for linux. 64bit kernel kicks...

emachines and gateway (like many vendors) have little linux expertise to throw at the problem. don't count on help from them.

Cyberman

Update: NDISWRAPPER 1.2 works with Broadcom.
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I've started using Kubuntu on this setup and have found that it runs pretty smooth. There is the problem with getting the wireless card to work however.

I'm glad that I came here, because I too have cracked hinges for my LCD screen. I saw them there and I thought I bumped them or something. No, they just started cracking without reason.

Also, this laptop is prone to static shock as the mouse area has burn marks on it from shock.

I suggest you buy a linux pcmia wireless card for this type of e-machine because it would just be a lot quicker to mess with than setting up the ndiswrapper. Of course that takes the fun out of open-source and free stuff.

Well, time to take it back to get the hinges fixed!! ^_^