Hi all;
I picked up an old Dell to run Fedora Core 3, which is the distro I'm learning about Linux on at school. Default desktop is Gnome.
It installed quickly, sound and printer fine,and as always, I could see what I was doing (unlike Win98 installs!!!stupid cheap video drivers...)
Anyway, two problems:
1. could not figure out software, and got message that modem not detected. Could not decipher either the readme on modem CD or the 5-point Linux install procedure in the paper guide (although I did get kernel version number, 2.6.9). Assumed package directory was still on CD, since I haven't put anything on the computer yet...don't understand instructions about "makefile". The 5th step also implies that I should be using KDE, since it says to use Kppp to dial up.

sidebar - if I install KDE, how do I switch to make it default?

2. Windows not opening properly. Minimized windows show thru desktop, some non-resizable show thru desktop, log off windows totally invisible (can see buttons by rolling cursor over area). Also, pages in windows not scrolling, although scroll bars move (can fake somewhat by scrolling on bar, then moving cursor over page). Crazy. Did not help modem software confusion!

I needed to get online for everyday life, and now down to one old PC, so regretfully wiped Linux and put on bad old Win98SE... (and now sound doesn't work...had to hunt for video driver...modem, no problem, that's how I got here!!!...)

Will be harassing my Linux teacher later, but any input into modem or display problems welcome!

box - Dell Optiplex GXi
-EZ Media, Intel Chipset V.90/92 Voice/Fax modem
-256 RAM
-Pentium 3, 733 MHz
-onboard sound (mystery...Crystal cs4236 drivers not installing/working under Winblows)
-onboard video (thank you Linux for telling me to look for an Intel 810 driver for 98SE...)
-10 GB HD
-DVD-ROM
(etc. - reasonably well equipped for basic Linux personal/router/print server...)

Well, that's a lot in one post. First, go ahead and install kde if you can, and then type 'switchdesk kde' to make it your default desktop environment. I think that will solve several of your problems above anyway, as gnome can still be a bit buggy at times. Once you've done that, let us know how it's going, and what specifically you need.

2. Windows not opening properly. Minimized windows show thru desktop, some non-resizable show thru desktop, log off windows totally invisible (can see buttons by rolling cursor over area). Also, pages in windows not scrolling, although scroll bars move (can fake somewhat by scrolling on bar, then moving cursor over page). Crazy.


I have the exact same problem on a Vaio PCG-SRX87 with an Intel 815EM

does anyone know something to solve this?

What he means is to open a terminal window or at a text based command line type:

switchdesk kde

You obviously can't just type it in the graphical desktop part of gnome or whatever desktop you are using.

The window issues are probably problems with your video drivers. That looks like it is the intel graphics chipset. That sucks. Do you have a 3rd party agp video you can plug into that?

Under linux, modems are not real easy. More than likely you have a winmodem. You'll need to download drivers for those. I'm not sure where to find them but a search of google should point you to a popular place to get them. Just search for winmodem linux driver.

hi i found the soloution for anyone who has the same prob.

as root you need to edit the file/etc/X11/xorg.conf

In the Section "Device" Add the line Option "noaccel" so that it looks like it does below, then reboot and it should be fine.

Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "i810"
VendorName "Videocard vendor"
BoardName "Intel 810"
Option "noaccel"
EndSection

What that probably does is turn off 3d acceleration which means no games that rely on hardware acceleration. I don't know how that really matters with that chipset since it is so pathetic. I suggested you put in a more modern agp video card with at an extreme minimum of 32mb of ram.