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I need a lifeline for my lifebook! I'm trying to load Linux onto a newly purchased Fujitsu lifebook N5000 (3.0 GHz.), and need to install Red Hat v8.0. As Linux starts to boot from the installation CD, it freezes after it displays info about the DVD drive and then ide0 and ide1. I haven't re-paritioned the hard drive yet (but going to make it dual boot w/XP), just wanted to see if I could get the installation disk to work. Does anyone have any suggestions? Are there any options (such as "linux nousb", which i've already tried) that could help? Do you have to be on the 2.6 kernel instead of 2.4?
Okay, now I'm trying RH version 9. Seems like RH8 is a lost cause. RH 9 gets past the previous point where it used to stick, but now it goes to a blank screen before entering the installer. This happens whether I use text mode or regular mode for the install. Could this be a video card problem?
I too have just recently obtained an n5000 3.0ghz and am having the same problem as you. I tried installing RH 8.0 with no luck, was going to go to 9.0 but decided to try Mandrake instead. Mandrake hangs at the same IDE line as RH did. I think we may have to load some special drivers before we can initiate the installation. Whats different in my situation is I have already partitioned my drive accordingly, with the linux file format. Don't ya just love the display tho?
It's at least consolation to know that someone else is having the same problems as me. I'm going to try Fedora Core 1 today. I saw somewhere on the net that a guy was able to get it running on a Lifebook N3010 (2.8GHz.) with few problems except for the wireless LAN and modem. I'll let you know if it works out. And yes, the screen is fantastic! Gotta love it.
Great news, funkyFi - got RH9 to work. It was the strangest thing, though. The laptop had to be connected to an external monitor for the install. I had to press function-f10 to get the screen working, and this only has an effect if it is connected to an external monitor. Partition Magic worked just fine. After the initial install, you don't need the external monitor anymore. When booting linux, I have to choose the second option given to me by GRUB (first option freezes at the same line as mentioned above for RH8, third option is DOS (XP) ). Only problems - wireless NIC, modem (haven't tested yet- so I don't know), and have to switch the mouse settings to go from touchpad to USB mouse (both won't work simultaneously). Hope your install goes well. Linux looks GREAT and crystal clear on the display.
Thats great news man! Hopefully Mandrake will install using the same method of running an external monitor aswell. So odd that it appeared to hang at an IDE line though huh. Anyway, I hope to have Mandrake installed soon and I'll let you know how the wifi drivers go with that. If you are still having trouble with RH by then maybe you'll consider switching to Mandrake if all is well with it. Can't wait to get it all up and running. Best of luck to you and keep me posted.
I just bought the n5000, and intend to install linux.
Glad to hear of some sucess. I hope you two will continue
to post details. I'm sure I'll need help.
Mandrake 10 Community install on a fujitsu lifebook n5010: Everything works!
I'll post the gory details in a couple days.
Quick details now:
1) Enter bios and enable boot from cdrom (before harddrive)
2) Boot from MDK 10 CD 1
Hit F1
Use boot options "expert noauto noapic alt0"
This solves the hardware lockup problems that people experience
with many distros.
3) Manually select packages to install, or when installation is complete,
run the Install Software tool. Get the kernel-source package,
modutils, sharutils, alsa-utils, aumix.
wireless-tools, dhcpcd. Get all of the gcc, make, autoconf, cvs, tar
and related tools for development/compiling/installing.
4) Download madwifi.tgz for the wireless card. Every time you update your
kernel, you will need to recompiles the wireless stuff.
lots of pages out there on configuring.
5) Download kernel 2.6.6
This contains fixes for the SiS648 board, and AGP3.5 stuff.
This is a cleaner option than patching.
You will need to download the most recent procps too.
Install procps first.
In /boot, make copies of everything important.
edit /etc/lilo.conf, and make it also point to copies.
You don't want the kernel install to kill a working backup.
DRM must be disabled in the kernel for 3D hardware acceleration to work.
6) DO NOT upgrade libGL from Mesa or whereever!
7) download fglrx-3.7.6-4.3.0.whatever.rpm from ATI
do not install while X is running.
exit X: "init 3"
install: rpm -Uhv --force fglrx.......rpm
8) add to /etc/modprobe.conf:
alias ath0 ath_pci
install fglrx /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install fglrx && { /sbin/modprobe sis-agp; /bin/true; }
add to /etc/modules:
alias ath0 ath_pci
below ath_pci wlan ath_hal
pre-install fglrx /sbin/modprobe "agpgart"
9) run fglrxconfig
choose external AGPGART
reboot
10) try glxgears and fgl_glxgears to see if 3D hardware acceleration is enabled
Good luck. I'll answer questions after I have posted a more complete account.
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