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Linux - Laptop and Netbook Having a problem installing or configuring Linux on your laptop? Need help running Linux on your netbook? This forum is for you. This forum is for any topics relating to Linux and either traditional laptops or netbooks (such as the Asus EEE PC, Everex CloudBook or MSI Wind).

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Old 11-13-2005, 06:32 AM   #1
somewhiteguy05
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Nov 2005
Location: SA, Tx, USA
Distribution: Mandrivia 2006, Fedora Core 5, Knoppix
Posts: 29

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trouble installing on gateway mx7515 laptop


Ok I can't really say i'm new to linux, bc i had sucessfully installed linux on my old desktop. It was mandrake i wanna say version 9.0. I got rid of the desktop for a laptop. Its a gateway mx7515, here are the specs in case it helps.

2.6ghz amd athlon 64 4000+
Dual layer dvd burner drive
1 gig ddr pc 2700 ram
128mb ati radeon x600 video card
100gig hard drive
integrated wireless

My friend got a mac laptop and just being out of windows for a change revived my curiosity in linux for about the 3rd time. I loaded up knoppix 3.8 and 3 things were wrong.
1)didn't recognize my sound card=no sound
2)didn't recognize my wireless internet device
3)didn't recognize my ethernet adapter=no internet whatsoever

I thought i'd say forget this anyways so i downloaded the dvd iso for mandrake 10.1. It started to boot up, then it got to the pre-graphical install phase and it said no cd rom detected(which shows how dumb computers are bc the cd rom drive was the reason it got to that point), then i hit enter over "ok" and it said enter floppy with additional drivers.....little problem.....my laptop doesn't have a floppy drive. So out of all that, my questions are...
1)Is there anyway to get past that point on the install of mandrake 10.1?
2)Is there a live cd version of mandrake, or mandrivia?
3)If I were to purchase a copy of Mandrivia 2005-06 would it have all the drivers i needed for my laptop?
4)Is there another version of linux yall would recommend, if so what are the dl sites?

Thanks for taking the time to read this lengthy post, and I look forward to replies, helpful or not.
 
Old 11-13-2005, 05:56 PM   #2
comprookie2000
Gentoo Developer
 
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Fort Lauderdale FL.
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I`just got a laptop (not as nice as yours) and it has some kind of ati chippset motherboard and
the ati 200x pci express graphics. It only has a sempron cpu but the motherboard uses powernowk8. To make a long story short the support for this is not good. May just take some time. I got a toshiba laptop te2000 from ebay for 350 and can get everything to work.
 
Old 11-14-2005, 04:21 AM   #3
somewhiteguy05
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Nov 2005
Location: SA, Tx, USA
Distribution: Mandrivia 2006, Fedora Core 5, Knoppix
Posts: 29

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
I'm willing to spend money to buy mandrivia linux, i was just wondering if it would have drivers for my sound and network card. When I booted into knoppix it recognized my video card as ati generic, which was fine b/c it still brought up my monitor's max resolution. I was just wondering if anyone of yall knew if it would have the drivers i needed. I don't want to order it and then not have it work on my laptop. Since you can't find it in any retail stores you guys are all I have to turn to.
 
Old 12-01-2005, 09:50 PM   #4
craterburnsyou
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Registered: Apr 2005
Posts: 18

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Quote:
Originally posted by somewhiteguy05
I'm willing to spend money to buy mandrivia linux, i was just wondering if it would have drivers for my sound and network card. When I booted into knoppix it recognized my video card as ati generic, which was fine b/c it still brought up my monitor's max resolution. I was just wondering if anyone of yall knew if it would have the drivers i needed. I don't want to order it and then not have it work on my laptop. Since you can't find it in any retail stores you guys are all I have to turn to.
Don't pay for linux. That's the point of Free open source software. Download a newer copy of linux, Knoppix however widely compatible, is lacking since some versions of it are out dated ISOs. Try downloading the latest Mandriva ISO if you really want Mandriva. It will either have your drivers, Or wont, then it's a case of going into a terminal and typing lspci finding what device the wireless card is, if it's an internal card you probably can't find a driver for it, you'll need to use NDIS-Wrapper for it. The sound card, use the same command lspci to find what card it is, then google for the driver and see if you can locate it.

Buying something new and expensive that is free is not only is a wast of money, but also does not gaurentee more usability than the older ones.
 
Old 12-08-2005, 02:28 AM   #5
somewhiteguy05
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Registered: Nov 2005
Location: SA, Tx, USA
Distribution: Mandrivia 2006, Fedora Core 5, Knoppix
Posts: 29

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
ok i found the ndis-wrapper, but i have no clue on how to use it, also, can i just copy the sound drivers from windows and load them in linux?
 
Old 12-08-2005, 03:51 PM   #6
craterburnsyou
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Registered: Apr 2005
Posts: 18

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I don't think that it works with anything other than NIC drivers. There should be some kind of REAME on how to use it.
 
Old 12-08-2005, 05:14 PM   #7
comprookie2000
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Download this live cd and see what works and if you can, post lspci and lsmod. Get the 64 bit.
http://mirror.yousendit.com/ubuntu/5.10/
 
Old 12-12-2005, 07:23 AM   #8
somewhiteguy05
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Nov 2005
Location: SA, Tx, USA
Distribution: Mandrivia 2006, Fedora Core 5, Knoppix
Posts: 29

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
ok i got the ubuntu live cd and when i booted it up it said failed to load files from cd rom, what should i try now? I'm very open to suggestions
 
Old 12-12-2005, 07:59 AM   #9
comprookie2000
Gentoo Developer
 
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Fort Lauderdale FL.
Distribution: Gentoo
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First when you are using the live cd can you post as root;
Code:
lspci
lsmod
So we can see what you have.Next you can't load from a windows cd.
Next most sound cards are supported that is why lspci and lsmod can help.Next for ndiswrapper you need to do some research and then we can help;
http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/m...p/Installation
If the ubuntu live cd works ok I would install that because it is new and has support for your 64 bit.
 
Old 12-12-2005, 06:04 PM   #10
somewhiteguy05
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Nov 2005
Location: SA, Tx, USA
Distribution: Mandrivia 2006, Fedora Core 5, Knoppix
Posts: 29

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
Ok the ubuntu didn't work, like i said. I get an error that says could not read file from cd rom (not word for word like that) lsmod said command not found, and here is what the lspci brought up for my sound and wireless. "00:14.5 Multimedia audio controller: ATI Technologies Inc IXP SB400 AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 02)" (SOUND) "03:07.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)" (WIRELESS) Since this is a laptop and i am running a live cd i can't get a windows cd in, but i could copy the drivers to my usb flash drive, Locating my windows drivers isn't going to be a problem, but loading them up into linux is going to give me trouble as i don't know how to do this.

Last edited by somewhiteguy05; 12-12-2005 at 06:06 PM.
 
Old 12-12-2005, 08:05 PM   #11
comprookie2000
Gentoo Developer
 
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Fort Lauderdale FL.
Distribution: Gentoo
Posts: 3,291
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I think I have the same motherboard;
Code:
root@laptop> lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: ATI Technologies Inc RS480 Host Bridge (rev 01)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 5a3f
00:06.0 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 5a38
00:13.0 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc IXP SB400 USB Host Controller
00:13.1 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc IXP SB400 USB Host Controller
00:13.2 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc IXP SB400 USB2 Host Controller
00:14.0 SMBus: ATI Technologies Inc IXP SB400 SMBus Controller (rev 11)
00:14.1 IDE interface: ATI Technologies Inc Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller ATI
00:14.3 ISA bridge: ATI Technologies Inc IXP SB400 PCI-ISA Bridge
00:14.4 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc IXP SB400 PCI-PCI Bridge
00:14.5 Multimedia audio controller: ATI Technologies Inc IXP SB400 AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:14.6 Modem: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 4378 (rev 02)
01:05.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc ATI Radeon XPRESS 200M 5955 (PCIE)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetLink BCM5789 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express (rev 21)
03:07.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCIxx21/x515 Cardbus Controller
03:07.2 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
03:07.3 Mass storage controller: Texas Instruments PCIxx21 Integrated FlashMedia Controller
03:07.4 Class 0805: Texas Instruments PCI6411, PCI6421, PCI6611, PCI6621, PCI7411, PCI7421, PCI7611, PCI7621 Secure Digital (SD) Controller
03:09.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)
root@laptop> lsmod                                                                       
Module                  Size  Used by
fglrx                 435200  7 
snd_pcm_oss            52832  0 
snd_mixer_oss          19392  2 snd_pcm_oss
ati_agp                 8716  0 
snd_atiixp             21344  1 
snd_ac97_codec         95740  1 snd_atiixp
snd_ac97_bus            2240  1 snd_ac97_codec
snd_pcm                92872  3 snd_pcm_oss,snd_atiixp,snd_ac97_codec
snd_timer              25668  1 snd_pcm
snd_page_alloc         10888  2 snd_atiixp,snd_pcm
ndiswrapper           179284  0 
agpgart                35912  2 fglrx,ati_agp
That is the modules for sound, ati Xpress200(graphics) and ndiswrapper for wireless.I had problems with the touchpad as it is connected to a serial port on the motherboard. I can go on and on but I have done most of the leg work and can walk you through but first need to get something installed.
I don't have a 64 bit processer, I have a sempron but I could put one in.I am using slackware 10.2 but have a custom kernel
Code:
root@laptop> uname -a
Linux laptop 2.6.14.2 #5 PREEMPT Wed Nov 16 16:58:35 EST 2005 i686 unknown unknown GNU/Linux
I'm using a vanilla kernel from kernel.org 2.6.14.2 It took me a while to get everything working because most of the support is only in the newer kernels.Since you are new you will need to install something that is easy to install. Are you sure you got a good burn with the ubuntu? It should have lsmod. See what happens when you boot up mepis, they have good hardware support. I will try to boot up the cd and let you know the newest on is here;
ftp://ftp.wustl.edu/pub/linux/distri..._3.4-1.rc1.iso
Sorry I can't be of much help, first need to get you some experence with linux and then you can get everything to work. I think mepis may be the ticket as it was just released a few weeks ago and is a easy install. A good site with some good people;
http://www.mepislovers.org/ Good Luck and ask away ...
 
Old 12-12-2005, 09:22 PM   #12
comprookie2000
Gentoo Developer
 
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Fort Lauderdale FL.
Distribution: Gentoo
Posts: 3,291
Blog Entries: 5

Rep: Reputation: 58
The Mepis cd booted fine, you should be able to install that.
 
Old 12-13-2005, 09:11 AM   #13
somewhiteguy05
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Nov 2005
Location: SA, Tx, USA
Distribution: Mandrivia 2006, Fedora Core 5, Knoppix
Posts: 29

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
well as this laptop is my main comp, i'm looking for live cds so that i don't install something that doesn't work, the mepis cd didn't work, i get a lot of errors with my cd rom drive, possibly bc its a dual layer dvd burner and i think those are still pretty new
 
Old 12-14-2005, 11:12 AM   #14
ReinerKa
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Dec 2005
Posts: 11

Rep: Reputation: 0
Gateway MX7515

I'm having some issues with the Gateway MX7515 myself.

I've got everything to work but the Wireless card.

ndiswrapper says everything is fine, but it just does not provide any scans or otherwise, even so I know the network(s) are there from a Windows machine.

The lspci output show the same Wireless card as above and I'm using the bcmwl5 part for the ndiswrapper (which shows up in lsmod) plus gives the message that card is found.

Running FC4 2.6.14-1.1644_FC4 (32 bit mode). I need Java 1.4.x and couldn't find that for the 64bit version, so I can't use the 64bit OS (right now).

Any help is appreciated. I love this laptop, just the wireless drives me nuts.

As well the network card does not retrieve the router information through DHCP (odd).

Reiner
 
Old 01-22-2006, 12:47 PM   #15
wolfenstein2890
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Dec 2005
Location: 64-bit Hell...
Distribution: SuSE and others
Posts: 14

Rep: Reputation: 0
ok, i also have the MX7515, and I'm running Ubuntu 5.10 with the only problems being no sound and no wireless... I took the liberty of running lsmod and lspci for you...
Code:
lspci
0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 5951 (rev 01)
0000:00:02.0 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 5a34
0000:00:06.0 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 5a38
0000:00:13.0 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 4374
0000:00:13.1 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 4375
0000:00:13.2 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 4373
0000:00:14.0 SMBus: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 4372 (rev 11)
0000:00:14.1 IDE interface: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 4376
0000:00:14.3 ISA bridge: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 4377
0000:00:14.4 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 4371
0000:00:14.5 Multimedia audio controller: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 4 370 (rev 02)
0000:00:14.6 Modem: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 4378 (rev 02)
0000:00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
0000:00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
0000:00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
0000:00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 315 0
0000:02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Marvell Technology Group Ltd.: Unknown device 4351 (rev 10)
0000:03:05.0 CardBus bridge: ENE Technology Inc CB1410 Cardbus Controller (rev 0 1)
0000:03:07.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation: Unknown device 4318 (rev 02)
0000:03:0e.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): VIA Technologies, Inc. IEEE 1394 Host Control ler (rev 80)

lsmod

Module                  Size  Used by
rfcomm                 37168  0
l2cap                  24328  5 rfcomm
bluetooth              48964  4 rfcomm,l2cap
powernow_k8            10512  0
cpufreq_userspace       5584  1
cpufreq_stats           5896  0
freq_table              5384  2 powernow_k8,cpufreq_stats
cpufreq_powersave       2432  0
cpufreq_ondemand        7212  0
cpufreq_conservative     8236  0
pcmcia                 28556  2
video                  17416  0
tc1100_wmi              8200  0
sony_acpi               6296  0
pcc_acpi               13696  0
hotkey                 10696  0
dev_acpi               14980  0
i2c_acpi_ec             6528  0
i2c_core               22936  1 i2c_acpi_ec
button                  7968  0
battery                10760  0
container               5248  0
ac                      5768  0
ipv6                  246400  6
af_packet              22668  2
pcspkr                  4176  0
ohci1394               32844  0
yenta_socket           24460  1
rsrc_nonstatic         12160  1 yenta_socket
pcmcia_core            49928  3 pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
sk98lin               171236  1
snd_atiixp             21792  1
snd_ac97_codec         87000  1 snd_atiixp
snd_pcm_oss            51232  0
snd_mixer_oss          17664  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm                91020  3 snd_atiixp,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_timer              24200  1 snd_pcm
snd                    55784  8 snd_atiixp,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_ oss,snd_pcm,snd_timer
soundcore              10912  1 snd
snd_page_alloc         11408  2 snd_atiixp,snd_pcm
shpchp                 87976  0
pci_hotplug            28008  1 shpchp
dm_mod                 54904  1
joydev                 10880  0
tsdev                   8960  0
evdev                  10496  1
sr_mod                 17188  0
sbp2                   24328  0
scsi_mod              143984  2 sr_mod,sbp2
ieee1394              101880  2 ohci1394,sbp2
rtc                    13448  0
psmouse                27908  0
mousedev               12260  1
parport_pc             36328  0
lp                     13576  0
parport                38540  2 parport_pc,lp
md                     43904  0
ext3                  127632  1
jbd                    54960  1 ext3
thermal                15120  0
processor              25684  2 powernow_k8,thermal
fan                     5384  0
ehci_hcd               31752  0
ohci_hcd               20228  0
ide_cd                 40608  0
cdrom                  36520  2 sr_mod,ide_cd
ide_disk               17152  3
ide_generic             1920  0
atiixp                  6544  1
ide_core              148932  4 ide_cd,ide_disk,ide_generic,atiixp
unix                   28728  685
vesafb                  9252  0
capability              6152  0
commoncap               8448  1 capability
vga16fb                12288  1
vgastate                9216  1 vga16fb
softcursor              2944  2 vesafb,vga16fb
cfbimgblt               3200  2 vesafb,vga16fb
cfbfillrect             4736  2 vesafb,vga16fb
cfbcopyarea             4352  2 vesafb,vga16fb
fbcon                  36480  72
tileblit                2944  1 fbcon
font                    9216  1 fbcon
bitblit                 5760  1 fbcon
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