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Linux - Laptop and Netbook Having a problem installing or configuring Linux on your laptop? Need help running Linux on your netbook? This forum is for you. This forum is for any topics relating to Linux and either traditional laptops or netbooks (such as the Asus EEE PC, Everex CloudBook or MSI Wind).

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Old 11-14-2003, 10:41 AM   #1
muzicman82
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Dell Inspiron 8000: Mandrake 9.2 Issues


I just installed Mandrake 9.2 Final and overall its working OK. However, I have several things which I think need to be cleaned up and fixed.

Specs:
Pentium III 800 Mhz
512 MB RAM
Hitachi 7K60 7200 RPM HDD - 60 GB
nVidia GeForce2 Go 16 MB
15" UXGA TFT Screen (1600x1200)
Cisco Aironet 350 PCMCIA Wireless
Maestro 3i Sound
Dual Boot with Windows XP

I should first mention that I have visited linix-laptop and read everything on Inspiron 8000 - 8200 series models, and found nothing relavent enough...

1. My system locks up any time I close the lid. I have ACPI enabled, but am otherwise in the dark as to how to configure this. Is there an update to ACPI? Is there something else to configure?

2. My system will also lock up any time I press Fn+Fx. In otherwords, using any of the Fn key combos will lock up the system, mostly the Fn+F7.

3. My screen is at 1600x1200 Flat Panel monitor setting, and my display adapter is set at GeForce DDR Generic (but shows as NV11 GeForce2 Go). However, I am getting distortion on the very left side of my screen (sometimes only). I tried updating the driver with the one on nVidia's website, but it says something about not having something which is distro specific.

4. Overal system performance is kinda slow... disappointing almost. Am I missing some tweaks or something? I'm a Windows XP fan and that OS flies... NO lag time whatsoever. In Mandrake, when I double click on files, I usually have to wait like 3 seconds for it to open. I'm using KDE 3.1 which is built in. Any suggestions? Boot time is about 1-2 minutes.

5. I have lots of external peripherals. Namely, I have a CD Burner and Hard Drive both in external cases via Firewire. If I boot with or without, depending on my previous config, I get notices that my hardware has changed and to run the appropriate config tools. How can I get "plug and play" so that this isn't an issue?

6. I also have a Logitech Cordless MX Duo keyboard and mouse via USB only. Is there any support for this yet? Any way to get this AND my touchpad to work at the same time like in XP?

7. Is there a Cisco Aironet Utility for Linux that will show signal strength and such in the tray?



That's a lot... ANY help would be awesome! I'm a Newbie!
 
Old 11-14-2003, 01:04 PM   #2
BlakeJob
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That is certainly a lot.

1) For the ACPI you may need to get the newest kernel and compile it and point mandrake towards using that one (i've seen on many websites for laptops that you need to do this).

2) i have no idea. Try dell forums for one.

3) you are probably missing a dependancy. Download and install the dependancy onto mandrake (or one of the mandrake cd's may have it on it, it just may not be installed. Are you using RPM's or binaries to install the latest drivers? You are new, so RPM's are easier, but in my experience with mandrake and nvidia, i found it more successful through binaries.

4) a) KDE is naturally slow, if you do not mind jumping into something else, try a windows manager that is "lighter", even gnome (which is as popular as kde) may be better (I personally use enlightenment, but i do not recommend this until you get a little bit comfortable with linux). There are plenty of windows managers out there, maybe some other people will recommend some! ICE also comes with mandrake you may want to try that one (i never have though, i recommend gnome first, but you may not see that much of a speed performance).
b) Boot time depends on what you have loading. One thing to do, is go to the mandrake control center and get rid of things that load at boot that you do not use. Another thing you could do is change the rc level you load (i think it's rc, unfortunately my linux box has been down for 6 months and i've been forced to windows for at least another few more weeks). Switching RC levels will affect what services are and are not loaded!

5, 6, & 7) I don't know, try google.

Sorry, im not a laptop person, im just looking into them myself and waiting for my new job to start so i can get one... If you need more help let me know, i'll look up info for 5,6,7 if you cannot find anything.
 
Old 11-14-2003, 01:50 PM   #3
muzicman82
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What's the procedure for updating the Mandrake kernel to the latest? It looks like the latest is 2.6 test 9.

Thanks!
 
Old 11-14-2003, 08:22 PM   #4
hulkt
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4. > 1
u have enough ram and ur cpu is ok BUT if u recompile, u'll gain speed... for instance after recompiling my system loads 32 ram less and applications open much faster...
4. > 2
unload all services u dont need, boot will be around 1 min.

5. i have a dvdrw and hd both external and firewire.
unplug/plug works great. i sugest that u disable harddrake at boot! this way it wont mess with ur firewire config. plug/unplug anytime will work just fine!

ps: latest kernel is on any ftp in the update directory.
2.6 is beta/alpha not to use!!!!
use 24.xx.22 instead!!!
 
Old 11-14-2003, 09:02 PM   #5
muzicman82
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I have Kernel 2.4.22 as this is what is put into Mandrake 9.2.. Are there any known issues with 2.6? I may give it a shot in hope that there's much better support with my laptop.

How do I disable HardDrake?

Thanks!
 
Old 11-15-2003, 05:50 AM   #6
crashmeister
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For the sluggishness try what hdparm -tT /dev/hda spits out.DMA might not be enabled.Also don't know about Mandrake but with Redhat Kde was slow as molasses on my laptop and gnome was much faster.But I got that fixed.
 
Old 11-15-2003, 10:40 PM   #7
hulkt
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1. keep 2.4.22, 2.6 aint finalized!

2. go to mdk control center (in shortcut configuration > configure my computer)
in system, choose drakxservices and disable all services u dont need (httpd, harddrake, netfs, partmon, portmap, rawdevices...) depends on ur config actually, google a bit for that one...

3. recompile kernel with latest source, my config is not much better than yours, laptop too. kde is very fast. my system boots in 55 sec. (from lilo screen to kde gui), theres no reason yours cant.
 
  


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