Jan's Linux Log

This blog started out as an install log of RedHat 9 on a Compaq Presario 2538cl laptop (linuxpresario.blogspot.com) . However, I soon started to include little logs to myself when I made configuration changes to software, etc. So, I've moved it over to our domain, and changed its name to Linux Log. Here you will find some tips & tricks related to Linux configuration on a laptop, as well as software related things that I run into. I log here things that worked for me, of course, your mileage may vary.

Any questions/comments? E-mail me at linux_atsign_boshoff|za|net.

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Linux Laptop Blog

May 20, 2003

This will be a log of my attempts to install and tweak Red Hat Linux on a Compaq Presario 2538cl notebook. I'm at the verge of writing my PhD thesis, and would very much like to do it in LaTeX, which is why I've chosen to go this route.

Quick bio of the Notebook:

P4 2.6GHz
1GB RAM
60 GB HDD
15" SXGA TFT (1400x1050)
ATI Radeon IGP 340M

I'll need to get more details later on about the above specs, but for now, this will do.

Red Hat 9.0 Installation will not run as automatically, since it hangs at the point where the firewire driver is loaded. Consequently, to start the installation:

  1. At the Linux Boot screen, type 'linux nofirewire'
  2. Installed with everything that made sense - kept the VESA generic driver for the video card and generic monitor.
  3. Boot from CD and specify linux 'rescue nofirewire'
  4. In rescue mode, after the installed image is mounted, typed the following in the shell: ln -s /mnt/sysimage/etc/rc.d/* /etc ln -s /mnt/sysimage/etc/init.d /etc ln -s /mnt/sysimage/etc/rc.d* /etc chkconfig kudzu off
  5. Reboot, now I was able to have the machine boot and log in.

Unresolved issues:

  1. The video resolution is 800x600, not good since the native resolution of the monitor is 1400x1050. Have to look into which driver to specify.
  2. When shutting down the computer, it hangs on "Stopping pcmcia: unloading Kernel Card Services."