Installing Linux (SuSE 7.2) on a Dell Inspiron 4000
Hardware description
Processor: Intel Celeron (Coppermine) 800 MHz /128 KB cache
Memory: 192 MB SDRAM
Hard Disk: 10 GB Ultra DMA/33
Monitor: 14.1" TFT XGA, resolution 1024 x 768
Graphic card: 8MB ATi 2xAGP Rage Mobility 128 3D
Sound card: ESS Maestro-3i PCI Audio Accelerator
3.5" 1.44MB floppy drive and 24x CD-ROM: floppy can be internal (swapping with CD-ROM) or external (via parallel port)
Connectivity: Internal Combo 10/100 NIC & 56K Modem
Keybord: qwerty/ US
Others: 16 bit/3D loudspeakers, IR (Infra Red) port for wireless network, touchpad & pointing stick, AC adapter, Smart Lithion Ion Battery
Installing SuSE Linux 7.2
Preparation: the computer came with Windows ME pre-installed. I unistalled it and started the installation of Linux on the whole disk, since I don't use Windows. For dual boot, see other pages on Linux-Laptop. SuSE 7.2 comes with: kernel 2.4.4 and XFree86 4.0.3.
Installation: The installation went smooth ("out of the box") from the beginning (booting the kernel) to the end (X-System configuration), with the use of the graphical installation tool of SuSE (Yast 2). No manual configuration was necessary, the installation was trivial and fast. Everything (apart from IRDA + Modem, see further **) is well supported and working:
-- partition table:
/dev/hda1 / reiserfs defaults 1 1
/dev/hda3 /mnt reiserfs defaults 1 2
/proc proc defaults 0 0
/dev/hda4 /home reiserfs defaults 0 0
/dev/hda2 swap swap pri=42 0 0
-- graphic card: supported (XFree86 4.0.3, driver r128)
-- resolution: 1024 x 768 is ok, set with Sax 2
-- internal network card: supported (module eepro100)
-- sound: supported: snd-maestro-3 sound driver
-- APM (Advanced Power Management) and Ultra DMA for IDE disk are also supported.
-- USB port supported (module usbcore)
-- touchpad & pointing stick supported
Notes:
(**) The Infra Red interface gets recognized and configured, but I cannot make it work..... :(. The modem is a Linmodem and it should work (but it's a lot of work! And not needing it, I didn't try. Look for other Linux on Inspiron 4000 pages
Remarks:
The installation of SuSE Linux 7.2 was extremely easy and problem free on this notebook. All the features (apart modem and IRDA) are supported and working stable, without any single failure. Even swapping the CD and the floppy can be done "on line" (provided that you unmount the dvices first!).
Disclaimer: This information is provided without any warranty.
