Sony Vaio PCG-F540 install Diary

[MX-5EE]

I am currently attempting to install Fedora Core 5 on an old Sony Vaio. The purpose is to evaluate the viability of using Linux on my future desktop when I get the cash for it instead of Windows. This thread will document my attempts to install Linux on this laptop.

The hardware:
Sony Vaio PCG-F540
PIII 500MHz
192MB RAM (original 128MB + 64MB addon)
original 6MB HDD replaced with a new 40GB HDD
PCMCIA 10/100 Ethernet card
DVD-ROM
keyboard with a few broken keys, I use a USB keyboard. fortunately TAB, space, and the top row of numbers all work.

About one year ago, in July of 2006 I successfully loaded Fedora Core 5 on this laptop. Then while trying to learn about the OS I poked at something while in root I now know I wasn't supposed to poke. Long story short, Linux refused to reboot. I tried to wipe the HDD and do a fresh install, and it was then that the DVD-ROM decided to go south.

The CD-ROMs all fail the self-test on the Sony, but will pass on all other computers tried. The Sony will load the installer app just fine, but then fail when accessing the repository on the disc. From the evidence (notably the fact that the discs pass on all computers except the Sony), I have concluded that the Sony's disc drive is faulty. At this point, I dropped the project for a year.

May of 2007: I attempted a fresh burn of the media with the same results. I gave up again.

June of 2007: I suddenly remembered that I can install Linux from the network. I assisted in doing this in my first internship in the Summer of 2003 (or was it 2002?). I did some research and decided an FTP install would be the best way for me to go with the setup of my home network. So I got an FTP server going on my Windows XP laptop using Filezilla. I put the contents of (cdrom)/fedora/ of all 5 CD's into a folder on my harddrive and made that the root of the FTP server.

I found these instructions online, but I also read that you can just place the DVD iso onto the root of the FTP server. Will this work also?

I successfully got the installer to come up with some complaining from the Sony and ran 'linux askmethod' and selected FTP. This is where I hit more problems. The PCMCIA ethernet card, dubbed by Linux to be 'eth0', could not get the DHCP information from my router. Now, the PCMCIA card had been crushed while in storage in the closet. However, I figured that the card was ok because all the right lights came on when the CAT5 cable was plugged into the card. However, on further inspection I found that there is now a fine bend to the PCB inside the card. I think I will just go ahead and replace that

That is where I stand. Why I don't just throw this laptop away is beyond me. The only explanation I can offer is "I am stubborn". If the new card still can't get the DHCP info, then I remember there is a way in my router to statically assign IP's to specific MAC addresses.

[Gnafu the Great]

Sounds like a worthy project. I hope you have as much fun as I had with my iMac (similar disc drive problems, though I ended up doing a Debian netinst for other reasons). I did a network install of Fedora 7 on a Pentium 3 workstation (see signature), and it went very smoothly. I used the DVD ISO mounted and shared via HTTP in FC6 on the main desktop, and it was quicker than it would've been from disc. Keep us updated; I'm looking forward to it .

Welcome to the madhouse! First off, I think you're not going to have fun with Fedora with a default Gnome (or KDE) install with that amount of RAM, the minimum I'd use is 256Mb. You'll be much better off installing XFCE as it's much lighter than both and uses less resources. I'd grab a couple of XFCE based LiveCDs, Distrowatch is a good place to look, as Bob said in your other thread. Xubuntu is one that springs to mind.

Wayne

[Dan]

I can tell you right now, you're going to want and need more RAM.

[Gnafu the Great]

I wouldn't say "need." It may be a bit slow, but 192MB is enough to get by. It's still quicker than XP on the same hardware .

[MX-5EE]

This is just a "test drive" so to speak. In the brief time that I had it loaded last year, it ran to my satisfaction. I was able to get online and surf the web with mozilla (so I know that FC5 works fine with my router's DHCP server, I am guessing that the damaged PCMCIA card is not functioning).

[MX-5EE]

I am putting the laptop project on hold as I have resurrected my old desktop from the grave. Apparently it only needed a new power supply. The desktop is perfect for this. It is an Athlon XP 1800 with 512MB of RAM and a 160GB HDD and a 30GB HDD. So the plan is to load Fedora on the 30GB drive and then load Fedora onto the clunker laptop from there.