14 Mar
2005
14 Mar
'05
04:52
I've just ordered a Dell notebook computer, an Inspiron 1000 (looks like a
bargain at $579 after all the rebates, with free shipping). Of course it
comes with WinXP, and of course I want to set it up for dual boot with Linux
(SuSE 9.1 for now, probably).
I have several dual-boot machines, but none of them started out with a
standalone Win system on them. I remember that the installation DVD has a
procedure for this particular case, though. My question is: are there any
gotchas I need to know about? I don't want to find out that I've hosed Win
in the process of setting up Linux, and then be unable to do anything about
it. As an example: is YaST able to cope with the filesystem that typically
comes with a new Win system and shorten the partition without corrupting it?
Paul
14 Mar
14 Mar
05:05
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
Paul W. Abrahams wrote:
My question is: are there any
gotchas I need to know about? I don't want to find out that I've hosed Win
in the process of setting up Linux, and then be unable to do anything about
it. As an example: is YaST able to cope with the filesystem that typically
comes with a new Win system and shorten the partition without corrupting it?
It
shrank the NTFS partitions on my daughter's laptop with no problem.
I would recommend defragging the Windows partition first though before
shrinking.
--
Joe Morris
New Tribes Mission
Email Address: Joe_Morris(a)ntm.org
Registered Linux user 231871
05:17
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
On Sunday 13 March 2005 21:52, Paul W. Abrahams wrote:
I've just ordered a Dell notebook computer, an
Inspiron 1000 (looks like a
bargain at $579 after all the rebates, with free shipping). Of course it
comes with WinXP, and of course I want to set it up for dual boot with
Linux (SuSE 9.1 for now, probably).
I have several dual-boot machines, but none of them started out with a
standalone Win system on them. I remember that the installation DVD has a
procedure for this particular case, though. My question is: are there any
gotchas I need to know about? I don't want to find out that I've hosed Win
in the process of setting up Linux, and then be unable to do anything about
it. As an example: is YaST able to cope with the filesystem that typically
comes with a new Win system and shorten the partition without corrupting
it?
Paul
I installed SuSE 9.2 on an inspiron 8600 with Windows already installed and
the installation worked without any problem.
dj tuchler
06:31
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
On Sunday 13 March 2005 09:52 pm, Paul W. Abrahams wrote:
I've just ordered a Dell notebook computer, an
Inspiron 1000 (looks like
a bargain at $579 after all the rebates, with free shipping). Of course
it comes with WinXP, and of course I want to set it up for dual boot
with Linux (SuSE 9.1 for now, probably).
I have several dual-boot machines, but none of them started out with a
standalone Win system on them. I remember that the installation DVD has
a procedure for this particular case, though. My question is: are there
any gotchas I need to know about? I don't want to find out that I've
hosed Win in the process of setting up Linux, and then be unable to do
anything about it. As an example: is YaST able to cope with the
filesystem that typically comes with a new Win system and shorten the
partition without corrupting it?
Paul
I put it on a dell 1150. I defragged the xp partition several times before
shrinking and installing 9.1. My only real problem was with the video
sharing memory. The bios had not been updated and until it was, I had some
real nasty looking video.
Recently I added 512 mb of ram and a fast harddrive. Made a new machine
for me. Snappy as can be now.
The installation of 9.1 was pretty easy, after updateing the bios. It is
now running 9.2 and still quick.Follow the other's advice about
partitioning and you should have no problem. One little hitch was the
touchpad. I lost the tap to click until I installed the synaptics driver.
One other suggestion. I have been having problems on this and other
machines with reiserfs getting corrupted, especially with improper
shutdowns. I have switched to using jfs and so far no problems. Others
on this list have reported similar problems.
Good luck,
Richard
--
Old age ain't for Sissies!
07:35
New subject: Incorporating obscure hardware.
How do I get a serial port card recognised
on an already built machine?
When YaST builds a machine it notices it
and it is there in a hardware probe
(YaST - Hardware - Hardware Information)
When I put it into another (Suse9.2 or SLES) machine
hwscan doesn't see it nor does Hardware Information.
Worse still, it doesn't work.
I suppose I'm asking if I can trigger a deeper probe than hwscan?
TIA,
michaelj
--
Michael James michael.james(a)csiro.au
System Administrator voice: 02 6246 5040
CSIRO Bioinformatics Facility fax: 02 6246 5166
08:01
New subject: [SLE] Incorporating obscure hardware.
On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 17:35, Michael James wrote:
How do I get a serial port card recognised
on an already built machine?
When YaST builds a machine it notices it
and it is there in a hardware probe
(YaST - Hardware - Hardware Information)
When I put it into another (Suse9.2 or SLES) machine
hwscan doesn't see it nor does Hardware Information.
Worse still, it doesn't work.
I suppose I'm asking if I can trigger a deeper probe than hwscan?
The settings will end up in the /etc/modprobe.conf so it might be easier to
compare the two and see what YaST has added.
There is documentation if you installed the Kernel source
under /usr/src/linux/Documentation although you will have to do a bit of
searching as it is not all ways logical where they put the details.
There are a couple of serial utilities on the distribution from memory but I
doubt they will help.
--
Regards,
Graham Smith
---------------------------------------------------------
14:53
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
On Sun, 13 Mar 2005 23:31:24 -0600, Richard <ratcheson(a)earthlink.net> wrote:
On Sunday 13 March 2005 09:52 pm, Paul W. Abrahams
wrote:
I too recently installed SuSE 9.2 on an 1150. Defragged the windows
install and used knoppix to shrink the partition down. It went on
flawlessly, didn't even have much hassle setting up the internal wifi
card. I've also not had any problems with the default reiser fs,
though occassionally when I go to suspend-to-disk it hangs at one of
the processes... I can't get suspend to memory to work, and closing
the lid does nothing, but otherwise it's a nice setup.
Mike
I've just ordered a Dell notebook computer,
an Inspiron 1000 (looks like
a bargain at $579 after all the rebates, with free shipping). Of course
it comes with WinXP, and of course I want to set it up for dual boot
with Linux (SuSE 9.1 for now, probably).
I have several dual-boot machines, but none of them started out with a
standalone Win system on them. I remember that the installation DVD has
a procedure for this particular case, though. My question is: are there
any gotchas I need to know about? I don't want to find out that I've
hosed Win in the process of setting up Linux, and then be unable to do
anything about it. As an example: is YaST able to cope with the
filesystem that typically comes with a new Win system and shorten the
partition without corrupting it?
Paul
I put it on a dell 1150. I defragged the xp partition several times before
shrinking and installing 9.1. My only real problem was with the video
sharing memory. The bios had not been updated and until it was, I had some
real nasty looking video.
Recently I added 512 mb of ram and a fast harddrive. Made a new machine
for me. Snappy as can be now.
The installation of 9.1 was pretty easy, after updateing the bios. It is
now running 9.2 and still quick.Follow the other's advice about
partitioning and you should have no problem. One little hitch was the
touchpad. I lost the tap to click until I installed the synaptics driver.
One other suggestion. I have been having problems on this and other
machines with reiserfs getting corrupted, especially with improper
shutdowns. I have switched to using jfs and so far no problems. Others
on this list have reported similar problems.
Good luck,
Richard
--
Old age ain't for Sissies!
15:37
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
On Sunday 13 March 2005 11:17 pm, Dennis J. Tuchler wrote:
I installed SuSE 9.2 on an inspiron 8600 with Windows
already installed and
the installation worked without any problem.
Do you know if your Dell came with a backup partition for reinstalling
Windows? If so, any problems with retaining it? And (I know this is a hard
question) would it still work after repartitioning to accommodate Linux?
What's new for me in this is that so far all my machines have been generics
that I've assembled myself, so I have no experience with Dell customizations.
I don't want to lose anything useful that Dell puts on the machine.
And by the way (I know that this is off-topic), what's the difference between
a notebook and a laptop?
Paul
16:49
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
On Monday 14 March 2005 8:37 am, Paul W. Abrahams wrote:
And by the way (I know that this is off-topic),
what's the difference
between a notebook and a laptop?
Paul
Ooo! Ooo! I know this one!!!
An n, 2 o's, an e, 1 b, 1 k, (1) l, 2 p's.
Other than that - not much.
Stan
18:48
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
On Monday 14 March 2005 10:49 am, Stan Glasoe wrote:
On Monday 14 March 2005 8:37 am, Paul W. Abrahams
wrote:
Is one typically more compact than the other, at least?
Paul
And by the way (I know that this is off-topic),
what's the difference
between a notebook and a laptop?
Paul
Ooo! Ooo! I know this one!!!
An n, 2 o's, an e, 1 b, 1 k, (1) l, 2 p's.
Other than that - not much. 
22:08
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
* Paul W. Abrahams <abrahams(a)acm.org> [03-14-05 12:53]:
Is one typically more compact than the other, at
least?
*Only* in the spelling....
--
Patrick Shanahan Registered Linux User #207535
http://wahoo.no-ip.org @ http://counter.li.org
HOG # US1244711 Photo Album: http://wahoo.no-ip.org/gallery
15 Mar
15 Mar
03:16
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
Paul W. Abrahams wrote:
And by the way (I know that this is off-topic),
what's the difference between
a notebook and a laptop?
Once upon a time, there were laptop computers, that were small enough to
fit on your lap. Then came a smaller and thinner computer, which was
called a "notebook".
14:02
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
On Sunday 13 March 2005 11:17 pm, Dennis J. Tuchler wrote:
On Sunday 13 March 2005 21:52, Paul W. Abrahams
wrote:
Are you guys using a network install? Or is there someway to get the cd/dvd
to boot on a lappy? Most I've looked at just can't .. at least the ones
where I could get a look at the bios or boot settings.
I don't want to dual boot, but if I could get the cds/dvd to load from a
windows prompt and run install as per usual, it could save some money ..
well up to $150 which is what most people who sell linux pre-installs want
to put Suse9.2 on it, instead of some system they have done to avoid
paying for anybodies pre rolled version. Seems a tad pricey, even if they
do give me the box.. I already own it here.
--
j
My ears are bleeding now.. this line may be left empty for a while
ahhhhh silence!
I've just ordered a Dell notebook computer,
an Inspiron 1000 (looks
like a bargain at $579 after all the rebates, with free shipping). Of
course it comes with WinXP, and of course I want to set it up for dual
boot with Linux (SuSE 9.1 for now, probably).
<snip>
Paul
I installed SuSE 9.2 on an inspiron 8600 with Windows already installed
and the installation worked without any problem.
15:07
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
jfweber(a)bellsouth.net wrote:
Are you guys using a network install? Or is there
someway to get the cd/dvd
to boot on a lappy? Most I've looked at just can't .. at least the ones
where I could get a look at the bios or boot settings.
Most newer laptops do have an option for booting from cd/dvd. I have
installed on a couple brands (not Dell, E-Machines and IBM), and they
had that option and were almost as easy as a desktop. They often have a
different F key for boot options, like F10, F11, or F12. HTH.
--
Joe Morris
New Tribes Mission
Email Address: Joe_Morris(a)ntm.org
Registered Linux user 231871
15:14
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
* Joe Morris (NTM) <Joe_Morris(a)ntm.org> (Tue, Mar 15, 2005 at 08:07:48AM -0600)
jfweber(a)bellsouth.net wrote:
I think I've personally installed Suse on pretty much any dell brand since
1999 orso.
Hit F2 (it's a Dell, so hitting DEL does not work) to get into the bios.
Use Alt-P to switch pages until you come to the page where you cans et the
boot order, and ensure that CD/DVD is listed above the first harddisk.
Also, on most newer Dells you can hit F12 to change the boot order
Kind regards,
--
Gerhard den Hollander Phone :+31-10.280.1515
Global ICT manager Direct:+31-10.280.1539
Fugro-Jason Fax :+31-10.280.1511
gdenhollander(a)Fugro-Jason.com POBox 1573
visit us at http://www.Fugro-Jason.com 3000 BN Rotterdam
JASON.......#1 in Reservoir Characterization The Netherlands
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arise as a result of e-mail transmission.
Are you guys using a network install? Or is there
someway to get the
cd/dvd to boot on a lappy? Most I've looked at just can't .. at least the
ones where I could get a look at the bios or boot settings.
Most newer laptops do have an option for booting from cd/dvd. I have
installed on a couple brands (not Dell, E-Machines and IBM), and they
had that option and were almost as easy as a desktop. They often have a
different F key for boot options, like F10, F11, or F12. HTH.
16:15
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
On Tuesday 15 March 2005 9:14 am, Gerhard den Hollander wrote:
* Joe Morris (NTM) <Joe_Morris(a)ntm.org> (Tue,
Mar 15, 2005 at 08:07:48AM
-0600)
Gerhad and all
Thanks for this info I suspect I may have to give this a push up the food
chain <VBG> Dell's lappys aren't as cool as the Vario's for
instance. But
the dif in price.. from $3200 US at the lower end, Suse 9.2 installed to
the about $1k USD for the Dells, we might just have to use costuming for
the cool factor and hide the lappy at the hotels <VBG>
I am posting an increased good karma points to the accounts of all who
answered so kindly. I guess I just might have to start managing laptops
too. dammit! ( Don't we all need just one more thing to do <VBG> ??? )
BTW: Have any of you heard of a non removeable plate, that seems to be
glued onto the laptop and according to the ( reformed) Thieves who are
attempting to show people they really do need to lock doors and windows
etc. these days cause, the thing might be worth a quick $500 to him if it
has no identifying info on the box itself.
I can't imagine anything that is basically glued on being impossible to
remove, but if it's a good item it might slow them down. Clearly it would
be wise to encrypt everything somehow as well.. Since people WILL insist
on putting their banking info onto the little gems. Usually w/ some form
of "remember me" login page kindly bookmarked for them. <Sigh>
Thanks a lot guys.
--
j
That's why I wander & follow la vie dansante
on the nightwind that takes me to where I want
that's all I want .. la vie dansante.
jfweber(a)bellsouth.net wrote:
I think I've personally installed Suse on pretty much any dell brand
since 1999 orso.
Hit F2 (it's a Dell, so hitting DEL does not work) to get into the bios.
Use Alt-P to switch pages until you come to the page where you cans et
the boot order, and ensure that CD/DVD is listed above the first
harddisk.
Also, on most newer Dells you can hit F12 to change the boot order
Are you guys using a network install? Or is there
someway to get the
cd/dvd to boot on a lappy? Most I've looked at just can't .. at least
the ones where I could get a look at the bios or boot settings.
Most newer laptops do have an option for booting from cd/dvd. I have
installed on a couple brands (not Dell, E-Machines and IBM), and they
had that option and were almost as easy as a desktop. They often have
a different F key for boot options, like F10, F11, or F12. HTH. 
16:25
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
On Tue, 2005-03-15 at 08:02, jfweber(a)bellsouth.net wrote:
On Sunday 13 March 2005 11:17 pm, Dennis J. Tuchler
wrote:
If they want $150 for pre-installed SuSE I would shop elsewhere. Sounds
fishy to me.
--
Ken Schneider
UNIX since 1989, linux since 1994, SuSE since 1998
* Only reply to the list please*
"The day Microsoft makes something that doesn't suck is probably
the day they start making vacuum cleaners." -Ernst Jan Plugge
On Sunday 13 March 2005 21:52, Paul W. Abrahams
wrote:
Are you guys using a network install? Or is there someway to get the cd/dvd
to boot on a lappy? Most I've looked at just can't .. at least the ones
where I could get a look at the bios or boot settings.
I don't want to dual boot, but if I could get the cds/dvd to load from a
windows prompt and run install as per usual, it could save some money ..
well up to $150 which is what most people who sell linux pre-installs want
to put Suse9.2 on it, I've just ordered a Dell notebook computer,
an Inspiron 1000 (looks
like a bargain at $579 after all the rebates, with free shipping). Of
course it comes with WinXP, and of course I want to set it up for dual
boot with Linux (SuSE 9.1 for now, probably).
<snip>
Paul
I installed SuSE 9.2 on an inspiron 8600 with Windows already installed
and the installation worked without any problem.
21:02
New subject: [SLE] Incorporating obscure hardware.
The Monday 2005-03-14 at 17:35 +1100, Michael James wrote:
You hijacked the thread "Linux on new Dell notebook computer", by the way.
When I put it into another (Suse9.2 or SLES) machine
hwscan doesn't see it nor does Hardware Information.
Worse still, it doesn't work.
I suppose I'm asking if I can trigger a deeper probe than hwscan?
Try "hwinfo".
--
Cheers,
Carlos Robinson
23:04
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
Mon, 14 Mar 2005, by james.knott(a)rogers.com:
Paul W. Abrahams wrote:
Shouldn't that then be called "crutchbook"? :-P
Theo
--
Theo v. Werkhoven Registered Linux user# 99872 http://counter.li.org
ICBM 52 13 26N , 4 29 47E. + ICQ: 277217131
SUSE 9.2 + Jabber: muadib(a)jabber.xs4all.nl
Kernel 2.6.8 + See headers for PGP/GPG info.
And by the way (I know that this is off-topic),
what's the difference
between a notebook and a laptop?
Once upon a time, there were laptop computers, that were small enough to
fit on your lap. Then came a smaller and thinner computer, which was
called a "notebook".
16 Mar
16 Mar
00:21
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
On Tue, 2005-03-15 at 23:04 +0100, Theo v. Werkhoven wrote:
Mon, 14 Mar 2005, by james.knott(a)rogers.com:
Shouldn't that then be called "crutchbook"? :-P
And if it gets hot enough and you keep it in your (males) lap long
enough it could be used for birth control. :-)
--
Ken Schneider
UNIX since 1989, linux since 1994, SuSE since 1998
* Only reply to the list please*
"The day Microsoft makes something that doesn't suck is probably
the day they start making vacuum cleaners." -Ernst Jan Plugge
00:46
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
On Tuesday 15 March 2005 8:02 am, jfweber(a)bellsouth.net wrote:
Are you guys using a network install? Or is there
someway to get the cd/dvd
to boot on a lappy? Most I've looked at just can't .. at least the ones
where I could get a look at the bios or boot settings.
The machine hasn't arrived yet. Perhaps you've given me something to be
concerned about. I was hoping to boot off the SuSE DVD, though if that
doesn't work there are, I suppose, other options.
Paul
11 May
11 May
18:03
New subject: [SLE] Linux on new Dell notebook computer
On March 13, 2005 10:52 pm, Paul W. Abrahams wrote:
I've just ordered a Dell notebook computer, an
Inspiron 1000 (looks like a
bargain at $579 after all the rebates, with free shipping). Of course it
comes with WinXP, and of course I want to set it up for dual boot with
Linux (SuSE 9.1 for now, probably).
I have several dual-boot machines, but none of them started out with a
standalone Win system on them. I remember that the installation DVD has a
procedure for this particular case, though. My question is: are there any
gotchas I need to know about? I don't want to find out that I've hosed Win
in the process of setting up Linux, and then be unable to do anything about
it. As an example: is YaST able to cope with the filesystem that typically
comes with a new Win system and shorten the partition without corrupting
it?
Newer Dells will have a small partition with a ghost image of the factory
install, you get at it with crtl-F11 at boot. There may also be a small Fat
partition with diagnostics. I've had no problems so far with SuSE resizing
the XP partition, and using the NT bootloader to start linux. Just copy the
boot sector to a file and point to it in boot.ini.
dd if=/dev/hda3 of=linux.boot bs=512 count=1
move the file to a location that XP can reach then add this to boot.ini
c:\linux.boot \ "SuSE"
--
Collector of vintage computers http://www.ncf.ca/~ba600
Machines to trade http://www.ncf.ca/~ba600/trade.html
Open Source Weekend http://www.osw.ca
5816
days inactive
5874
days old
21 comments
16 participants
participants (16)
-
Carlos E. R. -
Dennis J. Tuchler -
Gerhard den Hollander -
Graham Smith -
James Knott -
jfweber＠bellsouth.net -
Joe Morris (NTM) -
Ken Schneider -
Michael James -
Mike -
Mike -
Patrick Shanahan -
Paul W. Abrahams -
Richard -
Stan Glasoe -
Theo v. Werkhoven