I was wondering if installing Slack 10.2 on my Dell Latitude D810 is a good idea? I never tried Slack because well...there is no package manager and I would not know how to install applications I need and all its dependancies. I get frustrated if stuff does not work but I am very dedicated and would like to try Slack on my notebook.

Any suggestions? I have 10.2 on DVD and am getting ready to dive in head first. I am open to suggestions.

It's not Slack, but might help, two guides to install debian in your laptop (exact model):

http://people.mech.kuleuven.be/~kgad...inux/dell.html
http://tkrat.org/d810/

You can also search here, there are lots of guides for similar laptops:

www.linux-laptops.org
linux-laptop.net/

Bye!

I'd rather just run Ubuntu if I wanted a Debian based distro on my notebook since it runs side by side with Debian and picks up wireless right out the box. I really rather try Slackware on my machine.

If it works on one distro, there is no reason why it wouldn't work on other. Instructions to install Debian are probably useful to you even if you choose Slackware instead of it. It's definitely recommendable reading.

Where does this idea that Slackware has no package manager come from??? Of course it has a package manager, it has always had one. To install package you do:

installpkg [packagename].tgz

to upgrade it:

upgradepkg [packagename].tgz

to remove it:

removepkg [packagename].tgz

Or you could just user pkgtool if you prefer a menu based approach for this. In addition there are tools to help you create packages for Slackware (makepkg and checkinstall) that also come with the distribution.

Sounds interesting - I guess I should have done some research about Slack not having a package manager. I will give it a shot however I don't think many distros are very laptop friendly inregards to standby and power management that is catered to Windows settings. Ubuntu from what I have seen seems to do it best but we shall see.

I've been using Slack with Fujitsu lifebook since version 9.1 and have had no problems with it. Everything works including the power management, even hibernation to disk works fine (I use APM because I'm familiar with it and can't be bothered to switch to ACPI). I think you'll do fine

Look at my website: www.cwwilson721.dyndns.org/slack It tells about installing Slackware on an old Gateway Laptop.

The major probs I can figure out will be your video (If I remember right, on a Dell it's a Nvidia, should be real easy.) Ethernet should be either a Intel or a Broadcom chip. that's fairly easy too.

Just do a full install. That way you make sure you have all the compilers, etc, all ready to go.

Also check out Shilo's site: www.shilo.is-a-geek.com/slack for a Wonderful Guide on installing/using/upgrading Slackware.

And welcome to Slackware. It's a steep learning curve, but come back to the forum. Lots of answers here.

I'm running Slackware 10.2 on a Latitude C610. It's a bit outdated, but great hardware for Linux. Slackware will run on the later models of Dell laptops, but there are issues that require special drivers. For example, the i9xx series chipset might require a special kernel module. Your mileage may vary!

I'm running Slack 10.2 on a dell inpsiron 4000 (P3/700mhz/256mb). Installed like a dream and works great! I switched from SimplyMepis and Slack is a huge improvement. Much faster on this old girl. Loving slack

I just want to be sure I can install Slack 10.2 with a new 2.6 kernel and not the older 2.4 which was the default in 10.1. I will look at the guide posted above and if anyone has any other guides to help me as the most difficult thing I have seen from the 10.1 install was partitioning that disk. Very diffifcult if you've never done that before.

Thanks!

Hi,

Welcome to Slackware!

Look in my sig for references.

HTH!

I am running Slackware 10.2/2.6.13 on a Dell Inspiron 8200. I love it!

With a little coaxing, I have Slamd64 running on my Acer Aspire 5021WLMi.

A few things you need to be aware of with laptops, and Slackware in general are:

1) With modern laptops, a 2.6 kernel is really recommended, because that's where the development work is taking place (ACPI especially on laptops of the last few years).

2) Slackware has packages, but dependency resolving is left to you, the system administrator, as the person best qualified to judge what is necessary. Slackware will not try to second guess you with strange dependency resolving.

In most cases though, a full Slackware install should provide you with all the necessary libraries/ dependencies you need (for some more exotic software, then yes you will need to track down the dependencies).

3) 2.6 kernel - IIRC, there is a 2.6 kernel called "test26" that comes with Slackware now on the installation? Otherwise, it's not that difficult to install the 2.6 kernel in /testing.

4) Laptop goodies - If you want some of the fancier software for dealing with power management, hard drive power down, etc, you will need to decide for yourself which software you want to use and install it.

I am currently running Slackware 10.2 on an old AST Ascentia 810N (Cyrix DX2/66- Intel 486 clone cpu) with 20 MB ram and a 500 MB hd.

Shoehorning it on that machine is a story in itself - http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...08#post2100508

I have had good luck running Slackware with Dropline Gnome on a couple of older laptops (Compaq Presario 2145 and Dell Latitude C600). I have been experimenting with compiling the latest kernels on the C600 and have learned a lot about how these work. Currently running kernel 2.6.15.4 and it is running great on the C600.

I did have problems getting my wireless card running due to bugs in the Slackware 10.2 dhclient. Was able to get a patched copy from the Dropline forum and now ndiswrapper and the wireless card are working great.

In my opinion, while Slackware is not the most hands off or automated distro, I am finding that Slack is allowing me to learn much more about how Linux really works, and not hiding it under fancy GUI tools. If you are interested in really learning what is going on with Linux and your system, I recommend Slackware completely.

I keep trying other distros, but I always seem to come back to Slackware and Dropline Gnome.

Bob