Configuring a high-performance laptop... HELP, PLEASE!!!
 

:Pengy: :Pengy:
Hello!
I use linux since more than a year so i'm not new in installing and configuring different distributions.
I recently baught a very high-performance laptop. It's an officially linux-compatible Keynux laptop.
CPU Pentium M Dothan 2.13 GHz
video: ATI Mobility Radeon X700 256MB
1GB ram


I've tried some of the most important distros: MAndriva 2005 LE, 2006.0, Suse 9.1,9.2,10.0 oss, RedHat fedora core 4, Debian Sarge... but none of them have all the necessary drivers for sound, video and networking and the webcam built in the screen (Camtel) not recognised by the kernel (module needed?)

I've found onthe ati.com site the last driver, but some times (Mandriva for example) the installation does't start (error extrancting)

I have lots of questions, and a i look for answers on forums since a month so please don't say i repeat the existing questions: on the forums they usuammy speak of an other card or an other config, so this info is not exactly what i'm looking for...

My main questions are:
1)Is there a distribution developped specially for this kind of computers? (including all the necessary drivers)
2)If there isn't, let's organise this thread as a conclusion for configuring all these periferals
3) While installing these distros, some of them asked if i have a "drivers cd"... what is it and where i can get it?
4) What is the simplies solution to be able to configure this laptop as well as possible?

It could be good if we could make a complete tutorial for linux users with new computers...

Hi,

I mainly use Gentoo as my distro of choice. If you look on their HCL, most of those drivers should be on there. If you haven't looked at gentoo in a while, you should. They have a "live" CD that has an installation GUI ( i know i was still in shock ). Best part is, you can use emerge to grab drivers on the live CD to see if it works. (granted you have enough ram,if not yay for swap space). Poke around the gentoo.org site, see what you think.

I have not used the GUI from the live cd yet, but from what i hear it makes gentoo installs that much easier. However they no longer support from stage 1 tarballs : (.

Let me know if you decide to try this out.

Regards,
ZST

yes, i never tried gentoo, and it could maybe be a solution... my connection is not so fast, so i'll take some days to download the iso...
thanks

You are not going to find a distro that installs everything out of the box. This ain't Windows. No manufacturer would dare to release hardware without a Windows driver, not if he expected to sell it. Any of the distros you mentioned would run everything you have flawlessly, but you're going to have to work at it a little. Pick one, get a workable desktop, and attack each problem individually. You'll get plenty of help here if you follow that plan.

As regards, Debian, your odds are much better at early success using Etch instead of Sarge.

Finally, I ordered a new laptop with similar specs to yours (except 64-bit) for my daughter's graduation gift. I expect to pick it up tomorrow (Friday); spend the evening getting Windows tweaked out, then install Debian testing, and have everything working by Saturday night.