Linux for laptop
 

I'm not a total newbie but I am when it coems to laptops!

I have a packard bell easy one silver, but no matter what disto I try I cannot get X working properly with my LCD screen. Whatever settings I choose once the installer gets to testing X or running it the screen turns white with some coloured pixels dotted about and gets brighter and brighter.

Does anyone have any ideas? I really want to get linux up and running with KDE but X-Wndows doesn't like it!

One Idea I had was to install it without X, and then download the latest X but I don't know how to get my PCMCIA cardbus ethernet adapter working in the console. :(

There's another site which deals specifically with this Linux and Laptops. Use google and come back if you can't find it.

Bert

the site is www.linux-laptop.net which has been mentioned quite alot here. check it out, look up your laptop and see if anyone has successfully gotten X to run on that laptop of yours.

I think when noobs come here they might assume that linux doesn't have a strong presence on the Internet - people don't expect to find their problem out there. This could explain why so few people use google before asking questions here.

I totally agree with you, in fact its easier for me to find a answer for a Linux problem than with Windows.
I also like to mention that I supplied the link cause I've typed it so many times and I included it with a statement that it has been mentioned here, thus reminding others that a search here would find you answers to your questions as well.
But you have to think, maybe some of these new members get here because of google.com. They get here, see that we have awesome members who answer questions so they stop their searching once they get here... hmmmm..

I've tried that site, the only Packard Bell model listed is an old one. It says RH7.1 and Madrake 8.0 work but I have attempeted both on the laptop with the same result i've listed above.

FYI the GPU is a SiS of some variety (630 I think).

"This driver was primarily written for the SiS6326 and SiS530 by Alan Hourihane. It also works on 5597/5598 chips, and probably on older SiS862X5 family."

I don't think it works with the 630.

Why not go straight to the source: http://www.sis.com/support/driver/linux.htm

Looks as if they have driver downloads for 3.3.6 and 4.0 for the sis630 which are probably included already with those versions of X.

looks like it may have better support under xfree 3.3.x .

If you can't find what you're looking for in the supermarket, which do you do first, ask a produce assistant or categorise your item and read the produce signs? Both valid approaches, taken by different types of users. I actually prefer finding out on my own (unless I'm in a big hurry!) because I think it's not good to rely on produce assistants - who are often busy people (and not usually paid well for their trouble) ...

I reckon it's OK to knock a noob back to google, just like when you're standing under the "Jams and Preserves" aisle, and when you ask the produce assistant for Marmalade he just points to the sign above your head. If a noob reckons they're in a hurry, I'll point to the shelf. Otherwise, I think pointing to the sign is OK. It teaches people to read signs in crowded places. So next time they might not need the assistant.

I'm sleepy. Time for bed. :o

Yes, I've tried google, and several other search engines, I tried linux-laptop.net, I check the XFree Site. I even searched these forums but found no solution.

I cannot however search people brains, thats why I asked here.

Apparently support is in XFree 4.2.x so I have just downloaded to first ISO of RH8.0 that lists this version as a feature. Unless I can work out what isos I need - only another 12 hours of downloading left.

Go back and look at trickykid's input. It's what you're looking for :) .