Hello....After abandoning Windows and using primarily "Point and Click" distros such as Mepis and Xandros for apporximately the last 2 years, I decided to make the plunge and really dive into this linux revolution. I just ordered the GNU/Debian 3.1 2-DVD set and plan to install this on a Dell Inspiron 4150 and am having some trouble identifying some of my hardware. The following is what I am sure of:

CPU: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 Mobile 1.8 GHZ
Video: ATI Radeon Mobility M7 LW (aka 7500c)
Sound: Chipset ICH (i8xx) - I assume this is a i810_audio module
Network: 3Com 3C920 Integrated Fast Ethernet Controller (3C905C-TX Compatible)
Modem: Actiontec v92 MDC Modem
PCMIA Adapter: Texas Instruments PCI-1420 Cardbus Controller

The problem that I am having is finding the description of my DVD/CD-ROM, Hard Drive/ and Monitor Specs. I have searched the Dell site and googled for this information. The Dell Site offers no information at all. Under device manager in Windows XP, this is what I receive for the DVD/CD-ROM and Hard Drives:

DVD/CD-ROM: HL-DT-ST- RW/DVD GCC-4240N
Hard Drive: IC25N030ATCS04-0

Any clues????

Also, under Device Manager it list 3 monitors - 2 each Default Monitors and 1 each Digital Flat Panel (1024x768) but lists no resolutions supported, horizontal refresh rate, vertical refresh rate, color depth supported, or resolutions supported.

Can someone point me in the right direction for locating this information?

Finally does anyone forsee any issues with the hardware configuration that I have listed and if so can you link me to information, drivers, hacks that I can read about before I attempt the install?

You often don't need any special stuff for ide cd/dvd and hd. The drivers you need for it are compiled in the kernel already.

You don't have to know the horizontal and vertical refresh rates yet. You can get it to work without as a start and if you have trouble you might have to change them. Same for resolution. Don't know where you can search else for info if it's dell.

I don't see any problems especially if you used other distros right as well. Only thing you might have to do is tweak a few things.

The HDD is a hitachi drive but that doesn't matter. Harddisks and optical drives aren't problematic at all. They will work. The only thing I'm not quite sure about is the modem. That's often a problem with notebooks. (And, as always, suspend to ram might not work). These links might help:

http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/dell.html
http://www.comp.nus.edu.sg/~liqm/lin...piron4150.html

when installing- it's important to READ EVERYTHING ok, well, most things. Debian eats newbies for breakfast- so just be warned that it can be a bit tricky, but if you keep your wits about you you should be fine.

titanium_geek

Thanks for the replies guys. I wasnt really to concerned with my hardware, but I just wanted to run it past the experts just to make sure. I have read repeatedly about Debian installs and know that they can be problematic, but I am confindent that with the help of this forum and the almighty google that I can accomplish my goal.

Just a couple of questions about the replies:

Regarding "Darkleaf's" comment about kernels, I believe that I read somewhere that GNU/Debian 3.1 comes with 2 options for the kernel. 2.4.x and 2.6.x. Is this true, and given this option, which is the best for me?

Regarding "Demian's" comment about "suspend to ram". This is the first I have heard about this and cannot find anything about it in the Debian Handbook, is this something that I need to make myself smart on before the install, or can I add this to my "to do"/"notes" page?

Thanks in advance!

I think 2.4 is default option then and the 2.6 is optional. 2.6 is of course newer and has support for a wider range of hardware and probably fixes to problems, or other ways of doing stuff. I'm not sure which 2.4 kernel is used but I suppose it'll be a new one. Some things won't work with an older 2.4 kernel like wireless. Shouldn't be a problem though.

debian wont ask you which kernel you want except if you chose the expert installation

just type expert at the boot prompt

You can type "linux26" when booting to the DVD in order to install the 2.6 kernel as part of the installation. You will not be able to select the specific 2.6 kernel (the 386 version is the default) unless you use "expert26."

Another way is to hit F1 for help once you install the CD/DVD. At the menu, hit F3, and type linux26. That will install the 2.6.x kernel, and is a much better choice for trying to get wifi and other things going.

LOL