Compaq Presario 2100 Laptop Fedora Install

[BearCreek]

Thought I'd add my 2 cents on how I got a dual-boot Fedora installation on a NTFS laptop single 40MB disk loaded with XP Pro and a scad of Windows aps and files.

1. Dumped a lot of unneeded files freeing up 13GB on a 40GB drive. Defragmented a couple times.

2. Backed up all essential files to an external 20GB. If I blow it I'll need these back.

3. Got an inexpensive copy of Partition Magic 8 ($19.00 downloadable). Partitioned active ext3 Linux 6GB for use with Fedora.

4. Downloaded i386 iso images. Used Cheetah (trial) to burn. This was the biggest headache: trying to get good MD5Sums on four disks. Finally I opted for multiple copies of failed burns. If disk 3 dies I just stick in the other disk 3 - risky but works.

5. Boot from disk 1 of 4 with "linux noprobe" because it would hang at "running /sbin/loader" every time.

6. I chose Custom install. If you want most of the features it takes a good 5GB.

7. Then "Remove all Linux partitions on this system" for hda 38154MB ST94019A (your drive may be different) is the only option that worked here.

8. Fedora automatically set up VolGroup00 for 5856, LogVol01 as swap at 896MB, and LogVol00 as / (root) ext3 at 4960MB. The remainder of the screen let me know my NTFS drive would not be formatted.

9. GRUB Defaults to Fedora Core on dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00. Added a password for boot loader (I have teens).

VERY IMPORTANT: Check "Configure advanced boot loader options" then click "Next." Do NOT install the boot loader on the Master Boot Record. I've heard that this hoses your MBR. Instead, put the boot loader (GRUB) on the First Sector of Boot Partition. Mandriva 10.1 does a better job with this on a 2100 but...Mandriva 10.1 is another story (and why I chose Fedora).

10. Since I selected "Custom Install" I added all the goodies I could get my hands on for Gnome.

11. Started install at 3:50 p.m. Finished for reboot at 4:21 p.m.

12. Rebooted into WinXP from the Gnome option window. No problems.

13. Rebooted into the default Fedora OS. It hung when starting networking. However, since I had a Symbol LA-4121 802.11b PCMCIA card in the slot I had to assume Fedora wasn't exactly expecting that. Took it out and rebooted.

14. Since it did not shut down cleanly it wanted asked if I wanted to do a file check. Nah. After the Welcome Screen I set my LCD to 1024x768.

15. ALi Corporation M5451 PCI AC-Link Controller Audio Device on snd-ali5451 did not pass the sound test. Hmmm, I'll figure this out later (suggestions?).

16. Additonal CD's. Hmmm. Tried that but it did not detect my CD/DVD drive with Fedora's Install Disk 4 in. Another curiosity. I'll put this on my to-do list as well.

17. Ran Gimp image editor to test for "issues." Worked fine.