Linux on a Compaq Presario 1685 laptop

Disclaimer

I created this page to hopefully help other people installing Linux on their Computers. I claim no responsiblity if you use this info to damage any part of your computer, or anything else for that matter. Also, I don't claim to be super smart, so not all of this stuff may be correct or work properly.

This linux box is named Angelina

Current News

          My laptop, currently (and I find this a bit unfortunate)
          is running redhat9.0 instead of debian.  The reason being,
          the school semester was starting, I needed my laptop pcmcia
          card fully functioning, and I was having a heck of a time
          getting it to work under debian. So, I saved everything, 
          dropped in the redhat9.0 cd's, and boom, I have a perfect
          fully working linux installation.  Ok, so it took the fun
          right out of things, but atleast I could surf the net at
          campus without any problems.  Someday, when I get the free
          time again, debian will go back on it...I almost guarantee it.

Past News

date	description
10-02-2003	redhat9.0 installation
09-28-2003	it now has 192MB RAM
5-03-2003	recommended software to install
5-02-2003	install sudo, gkrellm, fluxbox
5-01-2003	mount a windows partition from your linux side
4-30-2003	dialup internet using ppp and debian
4-29-2003	how to make the laptop triple-boot (debian, mandrake8.1, win2k)
4-19-2003	how to format a floppy (fdformat, mkfs)
4-16-2003	I explored the 'pstree' command
3-01-2003	What works as of March 2003?

What are the specs?

Laptop Computer: Compaq Presario 1685 laptop

380 MHz AMD-K6�-2 Processor with 3DNow!� Technology
ATI Rage LT Pro, 8MB Vid (use Mach64)
12.1", 1024x768,
Lucent 56k WinModem
4.3GB Hard drive (TOSHIBA MK4313MAT, 4126MB w/0kB Cache)
192 MB pc100(originally 64MB, now has 1 slot with a 128 MB, 144 pin SODIMM, pc100 PNY stick in it)
95MHZ system bus
integrated 24x dvd-rom drive (TOSHIBA DVD-ROM SD-C2202 ATAPI CDROM drive, 128k Cache)
ESS Solo-1 ES1946 sound card

Network connection

I have a PCMCIA ethernet card thanx to my friend Tony. Initially, debian was installed using this card, but then I finished school and moved back to the middle of nowhere with just dial-up...so I used ppp and dialup. I install distros using CDs at the current moment, no high speed yet.

What was my goal?

This is to be my best linux box. I tend to take it with me and guard it w/ my life. I just want to have everything working and use this box to learn everything I can about linux.

The Beginning

The pc came with win98, then went to win98se, then went to win2k, and sometime in 2002 it went to dual boot with win2k & debian. then went to win2k, debian, mandrake triple boot 4-29-2003.

Partitioning

Alright, after reinstalling, win2k and mandrake are approx. the same size (because I installed kde for mandrake). Debian once again, is smaller than the other two, but in my opinion it's the best one, and it takes up the least space! For debian, I run fluxbox.

Partition Name	Will be used for	Size
hda1	Win2k	1501.84 MB
hda2	Linux (debian)	998.65 MB
hda4	Linux (mandrake)	1563.78 MB
hda5	linux swap (debian)	131.61 MB
hda6	linux swap (mandrake)	131.61 MB

Kernel & Graphics & X

The Kernel is 2.2.20-idepci for debian Mandrake 8.1 I believe has kernel 2.4.8 if I'm not mistaken. The Graphics card is a Rage LT Pro. I use the 'ati' driver. The BusID is "PCI:1:0:0" The VideoRam is 8912 MB. I use XFree86.

Audio

It has an ESS Solo-1 sound card, and thanx to my friend hachi, it works! All I remember is we downloaded and installed the driver, but I can't remember at the moment what driver it was? I think it might have been esssolo1, it rings a bell.

CD-Rom

It works just fine without any configuration that I recall.

PCMCIA

I have an old ethernet card. I haven't used it in a while, so I don't know if it works.

Built-In Modem

This is a lucent modem (ltmodem) for debian... I used to use the following driver -- ltmodem-2.4.18-386_8.00a3_i386.deb Now, since I reinstalled everything, I use -- ltmodem-2.2.20-idepci_6.00c2_i386.deb Then to connect, I just create a connection using 'pppconfig' and then type in 'pon connection_name', to disconnect I type 'poff connection_name' for mandrake... I haven't been able to figure the modem out yet...

Fans

So noisy it's painful. The worst thing about the laptop.

Powermanagment

I take that back about the fan, the power management could be the worst. I haven't had the time to figure out if it's the power supply, ac adapter, or battery, but one of them is majorly out of whack. Now, since I reinstalled everything, my pc hibernates and such, but when I halt, or shutdown, the computer doesn't turn off by itself, I have to hit the power button. Thanks to hachi for all his help!

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