very interested in Linux
 

Hello all,

I am very interested in installing linux on my machine. I am currently running Windows XP and am not liking it. I have a toshiba satellite 2100 laptop and was wondering if anyone has installed linux on a laptop similar to this before. My main problem is that I am concerned that when I install linux I will not be able to get all my hardware to work. I would like to install RedHat 8 and have downloaded the iso's. Could anyone give me suggestions on whether I my hardware will work automatically because my laptop didn't come with separate cd's for drivers but rather just the windows recovery cd's.

Thank you very much

Evian

I just installed Linux (Mandrake 8.2, and no I don't like it)
on a TE2100 like 2 weeks ago. All good as far as I can
tell, however, I didn't try to use the internal modem since
the box isn't going to need it.

Look here
for others experience...

Cheers,
Tink

I run RedHat myself and detects all my hardware.
And install RedHat first on your laptop to see if you like it, but overwrite Windows (handy in case you want to switch back).
You can also try Knoppix (www.knoppix.de) to see what is linux like and to see if your hardware gets supported in general (may differ with redhat).

I have a IMB R31 laptop and RH 8.0 works fine although I am hopelessly lost

only problem I can think of is a winmodem....

I have RedHat 8.0 running on a Toshiba 1600. I think it should work for you since we pretty much have the same thing just a few pieces different here and there.

cuckoopint is right about the modem. That won't work.

Aye, your laptop should work fine with Linux. Mine does :)
Only thing is, the modem won't work, but u already know that!!!
Just do what I'm gonna do - buy an external one!

i got two laptops both running redhat 8.0 all hardware except internal modem working fine i did not bother with it since i do not need it

The thing is, alot of the time there are drivers for those "winmodems". The most common internal modem on new computers are Conexant-based, and drivers are available at http://www.mbsi.ca/cnxtlindrv/ , yet alot of distros don't install them or even have them available on disc!! (My experience is with Mandrake 8.2) Is there some good reason for this, for example licencing or patents? Distributors should ensure (i) modem and (ii) graphics card drivers are at least available on disc.. it must be a real pain when you've deleted your windowS partition and install Linux, to find there are no modem drivers installed...

Has the situation improved with RH8 or Mandrake 9?

Try filing a bug in Redhat bugzilla asking for it.

I expect licensing issues, but it may be simply that they haven't got around to it. Redhat also might have a policy of no binary drivers, but I don't know for sure.

I've never had a problem with Linux detecting my hardware. ...plus I have found some very good and useful programs under Linux. I've only done a desktop, but I hear the battery management of Linux is legendary. Linux will ge great! You might have to tweak one or two things though, but that's to be expected when you set up a new OS. Windows XP doesn't support very much when first installed, but Mandrake 9 I only had to adjust my video and it was fully ready! As far as the modem, if you can find a Linux version of your ISP, you might wanna check out www.linmodems.org. I hear they have a bunch of modem drivers, but then again, fake modems seem to be hard to support anywho.