I think you touched on a very important point. Slackware will default to a 2.4 kernel. You can install a 2.6 kernel during install, but you need to make sure and install the modules that go with it.

I prefer to do things the old way. Install the 2.4 kernel. Then, install a 2.6 kernel on your own.

Probably best at this point to stick with the latest 2.6.14.x kernel for right now. There are issues with 2.6.15+ kernels and udev. Though they MAY not affect you, IMHO it's easier to just avoid them.

Also, from what I read, it is best to run a 2.6 series kernel on a laptop (I don't own one myself, so I can't confirm). It seems you already know that, though.

Bob,

I have not heard about Dropline GNOME. I would agree that if you want to learn Linux, Slackware is a good choice. My first install was Red Hat 9.0. It was good but I kept reading and liked what I read about Slackware. I'm a old DOS / Windows techie and still a Linux newbie. I'm not a programmer but I like to tinker. I've learned much by trying and retrying. LinuxQuestions has been a big help.

Right now I have Slackware 10.2 running on my older IBM Thinkpad 380ED P166, 81megs of RAM and a 3 Gig Harddrive. IMO, it is not powerful enough to run a graphical interface and enjoy the experience. My PC also has limited space so a complete install is not an option.

By taking most of the defaults, not installing any of the graphical components of Linux, Slackware installed right out of the box and found my wireless card. If I enable WEP it doesn't work.

It seems I need to modify the rc.local, rc.wireless or rc.wireless.config file.

Where do I add or modify the config to add the WEP code?

Bob

I tried yesterday but the partioning process is too painful. I had to stop before I smashed the machine. I am sure I will try again once my spirits have been lifted...

Don't give up ... I was frustrated with partioning also...Try CFDISK. If you can boot your system either with CD or Floppy, just run CFDISK I found it much easier to partition with... I was not trying to run multiple OS's just Slack.

Bob

Im running slack 10.2 on a thinkpad r50e. Running on 2.6.14.5 kernel.

configuring wireless is a real pain. keep on trying! don't give up!

I believe you have to recompile the kernel to suit your needs. Which installation phase are you having problems with? Post it here.

Im sure many would be glad to help.

I have Slackware (kind of current), most from 10.2, running on a HP pavilion zv5200, it's really smooth. I use it for common desktop applications, internet (wireless on ndiswrapper, it wasn't that hard just follow the installation guide), gaming and testing new stuff

Hi

I think Slackware 11 will come when it's ready. Not later, not earlier than the right time.

I have been periodically making improvements to my Slackware system, the most big of them is the kernel (2.6) I don't even consider trying a new version of the kernel until it has made its way into /current. Volkerding know what he's doing and so far it has worked for me that way at least for the software provided by Slackware. Kernel 2.6.14.6 works well and I didn't want to update to 2.6.15.x Until onw that 2.6.15 is in /current. I think I will update it now.

Keeping an eye on www.linuxpackages.net to check if there's something new I want (mostly games) and compiling them from source using SlackBuilds.

Toshiba Satellite A50-111
Intel Centrino
Pentium M 725 - 1.6 GHZ / ipw2200bg /i855GM
Kernel 2.6.14.6 patched with ipw2200 version 1.0.10 and the matching ieee80211

Slackware 10.2 with FreeRock GNOME. (and a 2.6 kernel)

It works perfectly so far. The only issue is that there's no 3D after resuming from sleep (mem). But I don't think it's a Slackware issue.

Currently running Slack on an HP Pavilion. The kick to a laptop, for me, was finding a kernel that could handle a touchpad. At first I had to have a mouse plugged in all the time, which is obviously a pain when you want to be portable. Otherwise, though, I like it. I've tried a few distros and this one's done best at finding my hardware (of the kernels it comes with, raid.s was the only only one to find my touchpad.) I'd say go for it, so long as you're willing to work at it.

One thing though: full installation is 3 GB, I believe, and that installs multiple browsers, multiple music players, etc. Since laptops usually have smaller hard drives (I learned this the hard way) go through and kick out all that stuff.

cfdisk is easy enough to use that I was able to figure it out never having touched Linux before, so don't give up! ^_^

Anyway, good luck! =-)

Hi,

I'm using Slackware 10.2 kernel 2.6.13 on an old Gateway Solo 2500 with 192MB memory, 60GB HD.

No major issues on the install for this ole girl. I'm using xfce and find it meets my needs graphically.

Yes, you can trim the install down without too much effort. I did upgrade the HD but that was because the old one was failing.

I've installed 10.2 Kernel 2.6 on IBM Thinkpad 760el. The network & wireless were issues but got them going with some major effort.
I use these for controller experimentation/development.

There's a lot of good cheap laptop hardware out there to experiment with. For the older laptops, I use a desktop system to compile with for speed reasons. No problem moving the kernel and modules to the laptop. I've even used the network to compile via the laptop. Just easier to use the desktop for the compilation then transfer.

Just curious - to start the install loading the 2.6.13 kernel, I need to type what when I boot from disk? I think it was "test26" or something like that...

Slackware 10.1 on Dell PIII 500Mhz (cpx) without problems. Easiest than windows, I can't believe that you have problem with partitioning :-)

Only the screen does not shutdown and I believe you preper acpi instead of apm (better cpu frequency management). it's the only thing I changed (you need to make your own kernel)

i learned GREAT stuff from slackware. I am still learning, go for it, if you need education :-)

Viva slackers.

test26.s or press the help key for an actual list of kernel names you can enter at the install boot: prompt.

I'm using Slackware 10.2 on my Acer TravelMate 4150NLCi and everything was detected perfectly, including touchpad, WiFI, irda, bluetooth, etc (some of them need 2.6 kernel, but it's easy to install also)

When you configured you Wi-Fi... did you enable WEP?

If so, how did you confirgure your WEP key?

Bob