Sony PCG-FX370 laptop and Linux
 

Please excuse my ignorance, but I would like to begin using and taking advantage of Linux. I was given a used Sony PCG-FX370 laptop with a bad power cable. I think I've fixed the power cable. The computer hardware is respectable; 1G PIII proc, 256M RAM, 18G hard drive, DVD/CDRW drive, modem, NIC etc. I am fairly profficient with windows and DOS, but that and 3.25 will get you a cup of Joe in Linux world I see.

I installed Debian 3.0r4 a couple times before I realized that the video driver section is what is causing me grief. The computer appears to be running, but I can't get into a GUI and frankly, since I don't sit around pounding out bits on computers I can't figure this one out. I can get to s screen that tells me what appears to be wrong. After a lot of relevant, but not necessarily meaningful code I see (EE) Unable to open /dev/agpart (No such device). Further down I see (II) I810(0) Not using default mode "1024x768" (unknown reason) amidst other unused 'profiles' (if you will). This is the native resolution of my screen. At the bottom I see Fatal server error:
AddScreen/ScreenInit failed for driver 0.

Sorry to make this so long. I can give details, I can fish around in files and I can make changes, but I have no idea where to start to fix this and make the machine work in a meaningful way to me.

Anyone? Beuler? Beuler?

I'd sure appreciate a kick start.

Thanks

Jeremy

The Sony Way is the way of the Dark Side. They don't even know what their laptop spec's are. I wish I could help but Sony is teH suck of ass. Best you can do is try different new OS's and see what works. mandrake 10.2, suse 9.3, fedora core 4, etc.

I like to test out a Knoppix CD first, before trying to install anything on my laptops. Usually it works, and you can just take the config files generated by its hardware detection for your system of choice. Or just use knoppix-install if you want a debian system anyway.

Post Postum: I had success with several Vaios, TR1MP, VGN-S2XP and older ones.

Fedora core 3 and FreeBSD always load up on my PCG sony laptop without any problems, you might want to try them

Sonys are not the darkside, they make some of the nicest laptops I have seen, I have one and I am thinking about getting anouther one since I dont see any other companies making anything better

You keep thinking that on your 2 distro's. I stand by what I said. Sony sucks.

haha I will