Installation options on Core 2 Duo BenQ R43 Joybook

billy123 · #1 18th July 2008, 05:28 AM

I have a
BenQ R43 Joybook laptop having
Intel Core 2 Duo CPU 1.83Ghz ,
1GB RAM ,
120 GB HardDrive ( 38GB ext3 , 76GB fat32)
Intel integrated graphics card 128MB
Synaptics Pad

and
preinstalled with Linpus Linux(2.16 kernel version), Fedora based distro (on the ext3 partition)

Linpus Linux is not that great , so I decided to try the Fedora 9 KDE LiveCd before installing

I tried both the i686 and 64bit LiveCDs.I did the following to get both of them working :

The system hanged ' on booting the kernel' message , so I searched around and found out that there is a problem with Core2Duo processors one has to use use one core to get it working so I edited the booting line to

Code:

vmlinuz0 initrd=initrd0.img root=CDLABEL=Fedora-9-Live-KDE-i686 rootfstype=iso9660 ro quiet liveimg rhgb maxcpus=1

there is also the 'clocksource=acpi_pm' option but that did not work for me.

After this it did not load the GUI , and got the shell based login prompt
I entered 'root' as login and got a root shell.

I tried 'startx' but it gave error messages.

So I edited the xorg.conf file as given in this post http://http://fedoraforum.org/forum/...boot+text+mode

/etc/X11/xorg.conf

Code:

Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier     "Default Layout"
	Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
	InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier  "Keyboard0"
	Driver      "kbd"
	Option	    "XkbModel" "pc105"
	Option	    "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier  "Videocard0"
	Driver      "vesa"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier "Screen0"
	Device     "Videocard0"
	DefaultDepth     24
	SubSection "Display"
		Viewport   0 0
		Depth     24
	EndSubSection
EndSection

After this I entered startx and everything worked properly.

I have got the Fedora 9 installation i386 DVD , so are there any changes I should do or options I have to choose while installing?Or all these above changes to be made after installing?

I want to remove Linpus Linux and install Fedora 9 on that ext3 partition?Is that possible?

Will I be able to use both the cores?

Will I be able to use compiz-fusion with the above given xorg.conf file using 'vesa' option ?Or is there a better xorg.conf file that I can use?Will there be certain programs I will not be able to use because of 'vesa'?

Thanks

sideways · #2 18th July 2008, 09:15 AM

I don't have a problem installing Fedora on my Core2 Duo T7250, so I'm surprised you need the maxcpus=1 option. See if the install goes ok without that parameter, if not you can enter it by pressing tab at the initial install screen. It's a severe handicap though, Fedora kernels have smp enabled by default and will multithread on both cpus if enabled. (type 'top' and then press 1 to see the load on each cpu core)

During the install it will ask if you want to remove existing linux partitions, select that option (Don't select the option to remove all partitions!) if you want to install over Linpus

Xorg usually works with intel graphics, which chipset do you have?

You won't have direct rendering with vesa so the display will be sluggish, and no 3d effects (compiz) or opengl apps. Try the "intel" driver.

***glennzo*** · #3 18th July 2008, 09:22 AM

Installs flawlessly on my Core 2 Duo Satellite. It's never been a problem and runs wonderfully. I agree with Sideways. Try the install without the parameters and see how it goes.

billy123 · #4 19th July 2008, 06:23 AM

Thanks for the replies

I lost the Fedora 9 install DVD

and had deleted the iso as well

so I have started downloading again.Will check and reply whether the install works without maxcpus=1 .

In the meantime I made a live usb , so I need not make the xorg.conf file everytime.

So I am trying to see if I can get the direct rendering and 3d effects working using the liveusb. I checked the type of graphics card.It isn't an Intel Card.Sorry for the wrong info.

Here is part of output of

lspci -vv

Code:

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 771/671 PCIE VGA Display Adapter (rev 10) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
        Subsystem: Benq Corporation Unknown device 0594
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz+ UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 9
        BIST result: 00
        Region 0: Memory at c0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
        Region 1: Memory at d8000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=128K]
        Region 2: I/O ports at 9000 [size=128]
        Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
        Capabilities: [50] AGP version 3.0
                Status: RQ=256 Iso- ArqSz=0 Cal=0 SBA+ ITACoh- GART64- HTrans-64bit- FW- AGP3+ Rate=x4,x8
                Command: RQ=1 ArqSz=0 Cal=0 SBA- AGP- GART64- 64bit- FW- Rate=<none>

and output of glxinfo

Code:

[fedora@localhost ~]$ export LIBGL_DEBUG=verbose
[fedora@localhost ~]$ glxinfo
name of display: :0.0
display: :0  screen: 0
direct rendering: No (If you want to find out why, try setting LIBGL_DEBUG=verbose)
server glx vendor string: SGI
server glx version string: 1.2
server glx extensions:
    GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating,
    GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, GLX_OML_swap_method,
    GLX_SGI_make_current_read, GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_hyperpipe,
    GLX_SGIX_swap_barrier, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_MESA_copy_sub_buffer
client glx vendor string: SGI
client glx version string: 1.4
client glx extensions:
    GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_import_context,
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_MESA_allocate_memory,
    GLX_MESA_copy_sub_buffer, GLX_MESA_swap_control,
    GLX_MESA_swap_frame_usage, GLX_OML_swap_method, GLX_OML_sync_control,
    GLX_SGI_make_current_read, GLX_SGI_swap_control, GLX_SGI_video_sync,
    GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_SGIX_pbuffer,
    GLX_SGIX_visual_select_group, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap
GLX version: 1.2
GLX extensions:
    GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_import_context,
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_MESA_copy_sub_buffer,
    GLX_OML_swap_method, GLX_SGI_make_current_read, GLX_SGIS_multisample,
    GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap
OpenGL vendor string: Mesa project: www.mesa3d.org
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa GLX Indirect
OpenGL version string: 1.4 (2.1 Mesa 7.1)
OpenGL extensions:
    GL_ARB_depth_texture, GL_ARB_draw_buffers, GL_ARB_fragment_program,
    GL_ARB_fragment_program_shadow, GL_ARB_imaging, GL_ARB_multisample,
    GL_ARB_multitexture, GL_ARB_occlusion_query, GL_ARB_point_parameters,
    GL_ARB_point_sprite, GL_ARB_shadow, GL_ARB_shadow_ambient,
    GL_ARB_texture_border_clamp, GL_ARB_texture_compression,
    GL_ARB_texture_cube_map, GL_ARB_texture_env_add,
    GL_ARB_texture_env_combine, GL_ARB_texture_env_crossbar,
    GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3, GL_ARB_texture_mirrored_repeat,
    GL_ARB_texture_non_power_of_two, GL_ARB_texture_rectangle,
    GL_ARB_transpose_matrix, GL_ARB_vertex_program, GL_ARB_window_pos,
    GL_EXT_abgr, GL_EXT_bgra, GL_EXT_blend_color,
    GL_EXT_blend_equation_separate, GL_EXT_blend_func_separate,
    GL_EXT_blend_logic_op, GL_EXT_blend_minmax, GL_EXT_blend_subtract,
    GL_EXT_clip_volume_hint, GL_EXT_copy_texture, GL_EXT_draw_range_elements,
    GL_EXT_fog_coord, GL_EXT_framebuffer_object, GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays,
    GL_EXT_packed_pixels, GL_EXT_paletted_texture, GL_EXT_point_parameters,
    GL_EXT_polygon_offset, GL_EXT_rescale_normal, GL_EXT_secondary_color,
    GL_EXT_separate_specular_color, GL_EXT_shadow_funcs,
    GL_EXT_shared_texture_palette, GL_EXT_stencil_wrap, GL_EXT_subtexture,
    GL_EXT_texture, GL_EXT_texture3D, GL_EXT_texture_edge_clamp,
    GL_EXT_texture_env_add, GL_EXT_texture_env_combine,
    GL_EXT_texture_env_dot3, GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias,
    GL_EXT_texture_mirror_clamp, GL_EXT_texture_object,
    GL_EXT_texture_rectangle, GL_EXT_vertex_array, GL_APPLE_packed_pixels,
    GL_ATI_draw_buffers, GL_ATI_texture_env_combine3,
    GL_ATI_texture_mirror_once, GL_ATIX_texture_env_combine3,
    GL_IBM_texture_mirrored_repeat, GL_INGR_blend_func_separate,
    GL_MESA_pack_invert, GL_MESA_ycbcr_texture, GL_NV_blend_square,
    GL_NV_fragment_program, GL_NV_light_max_exponent, GL_NV_point_sprite,
    GL_NV_texgen_reflection, GL_NV_texture_rectangle, GL_NV_vertex_program,
    GL_NV_vertex_program1_1, GL_SGI_color_matrix, GL_SGI_color_table,
    GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap, GL_SGIS_texture_border_clamp,
    GL_SGIS_texture_edge_clamp, GL_SGIS_texture_lod, GL_SGIX_depth_texture,
    GL_SGIX_shadow, GL_SGIX_shadow_ambient, GL_SUN_multi_draw_arrays

2 GLX Visuals
   visual  x  bf lv rg d st colorbuffer ax dp st accumbuffer  ms  cav
 id dep cl sp sz l  ci b ro  r  g  b  a bf th cl  r  g  b  a ns b eat
----------------------------------------------------------------------
0x21 24 tc  1 24  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x3a 32 tc  1 24  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None

16 GLXFBConfigs:
   visual  x  bf lv rg d st colorbuffer ax dp st accumbuffer  ms  cav
 id dep cl sp sz l  ci b ro  r  g  b  a bf th cl  r  g  b  a ns b eat
----------------------------------------------------------------------
0x3b  0 tc  1 24  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x3c  0 tc  1 24  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0  0  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x3d  0 tc  1 24  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0 24  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x3e  0 tc  1 24  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x3f  0 tc  1 24  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x40  0 tc  1 24  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  0  0  0  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x41  0 tc  1 24  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  0  0 24  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x42  0 tc  1 24  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  0  0 24  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x43  0 tc  1 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x44  0 tc  1 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0  0  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x45  0 tc  1 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0 32  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x46  0 tc  1 32  0 r  y  .  8  8  8  0  0 32  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x47  0 tc  1 32  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x48  0 tc  1 32  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  0  0  0  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x49  0 tc  1 32  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  0  0 32  0  0  0  0  0  0 0 None
0x4a  0 tc  1 32  0 r  .  .  8  8  8  0  0 32  8  0  0  0  0  0 0 None

I tried using Driver "sis" but it did not work.
I checked the /usr/lib/dri and it has a file sis_dri.so .

Can I get the 3d rendering and compiz working on this graphics controller?

What changes should I make in the xorg.conf file so that I can get rendering and compiz-fuzion to work?

Thanks

sideways · #5 19th July 2008, 08:33 AM

The sis 771/671 isn't supported by xorg's sis driver (see 'man sis')

Maybe try the sis driver in this thread

http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=191671

or google 'sis 771/671' for lots of links and relevant info

billy123 · #6 21st July 2008, 02:29 PM

I tried installing from the Fedora 9 DVD without any options but it hangs at

/sbin/loader

Then I added the maxcpus=1 option and the installation went fine.No problems.
What is the problem with my Core2Duo configuration ?

Here is output of

cat /proc/cpuinfo

Code:

processor	: 0
vendor_id	: GenuineIntel
cpu family	: 6
model		: 15
model name	: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     T5550  @ 1.83GHz
stepping	: 13
cpu MHz		: 1000.000
cache size	: 2048 KB
physical id	: 0
siblings	: 1
core id		: 0
cpu cores	: 1
fdiv_bug	: no
hlt_bug		: no
f00f_bug	: no
coma_bug	: no
fpu		: yes
fpu_exception	: yes
cpuid level	: 10
wp		: yes
flags		: fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe nx lm constant_tsc up arch_perfmon pebs bts pni monitor ds_cpl est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr lahf_lm
bogomips	: 3670.20
clflush size	: 64

Is there some way I can get it working without maxcpus=1 ?

Thanks

sideways · #7 21st July 2008, 03:27 PM

you could try 'noapic' instead, or perhaps update the kernel once installed and see if the new kernel helps at all, or perhaps try an x86_64 kernel.

billy123 · #8 24th August 2008, 10:34 AM

I got both the cores working

. Yesterday I tried to find all the booting options possible that can solve the problem , and I found them on
http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/KernelCommonProblems

The option that worked for me was

Code:

nohz=off

Also the laptop had the AR5007EG card (listed as Atheros AR242x) which is not supported currently by the ath5k driver.

Thanks to scottro's page http://home.nyc.rr.com/computertaiju...less.html#5007

I got it working by enabling livna-testing and installing madwifi. And the card will be supported in 2.6.27 kernel as mentioned in this post
http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showth...86#post1069286

Considering this was sold as a linux laptop , the manufacturer should have sold it with supported hardware.Anyway, I found out about new options which I would not have tried otherwise.

What does nohz=off do? How will it affect performance?

What remains to be configured is the sis 771/671 which is also not yet supported by the 'sis' driver .
So I am still stuck with the 'vesa' driver. I tried a few other sis drivers ,but they did not work. Hopefully sis 771/671 will be supported in the future.

Nokia · #9 24th August 2008, 10:43 AM

Regardless of your current situation, did you perform a full update ? It might fix many (unseen yet) problems and perhaps you could get rid of the nohz option.

billy123 · #10 15th December 2008, 06:10 AM

I did a fresh install of Fedora 10 in my above mentioned BenQ laptop over my Fedora 9 installed previously.These are some of problems and solutions to the installation

I started the install with Fedora 10 i386 DVD.

As with the Fedora 9 install, the install hanged but this time on the message "TSC halts on idle."
So I chose the nohz=off option and as the SiS 671 chipset is not yet supported, I added the option xdriver=vesa and got the graphical install.The install went smooth.So my additional options were

Code:

nohz=off xdriver=vesa

However and the terminal I kept getting the message "eth0: auto-negotiating" continuously
at all ttys (even in vi editor and while entering login details) .My ethernet card was detected properly and was working.

I thought it must be something related to nohz=off option so I re-installed I found that

Code:

clocksource=jiffies

also worked.But after installing I found out that the "eth0: auto-negotiating" was still there.So I decided to yum update and afterwards the nagging message had gone.Still don't know what caused it.

I got the Plymouth screen working through sideways' page at http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=205768 with the booting option vga=0x318

Also I couldn't go above the 800x600 resolution with my previous xorg.conf file from Fedora 9 .I found out that mentioning Hsync and Vertical rates might solve the problem and now I have the max resolution of 1280x768 with this xorg.conf file.Note : It is important to mention Monitor "Monitor0" in the Screen section.

Code:

Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier     "Default Layout"
	Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
	InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier  "Keyboard0"
	Driver      "kbd"
	Option	    "XkbModel" "pc105"
	Option	    "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
  Identifier   "Monitor0"
  HorizSync    31.5 - 74.5
  VertRefresh  56.0 - 65.0
  Option	    "dpms"
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier  "Videocard0"
	Driver      "vesa"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier "Screen0"
	Device     "Videocard0"
	Monitor	   "Monitor0"
	DefaultDepth     24
	SubSection "Display"
		Viewport   0 0
		Depth     24
		Modes 	  "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

I must also mention that the BenQ c500 webcam (PixArt Imaging) worked out of the box using Cheese Webcam booth.

I hope that SiS will at least release their 2D driver for the 671 chipset .Barros Lee ( http://barroslee.blogspot.com/2008/0...supported.html ) the developer at SiS has mentioned that they will release it soon.
Has anyone got a working 2D driver for the 671 chipset for Fedora 10?
How can the clocksource=jiffies affect performance or am I better off with nohz=off?

Thanks