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Linux on a Toshiba Laptop M45 S331
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How to set up Fedora Core 3
I really hope it will help people, cause it cost me a lot of time, specially with the Wireless card.
Why Fedora 3 ? Because I like it :-) and because Mandrake was not able to detect the Cdrom/DVD/RW device...
I have to say first : I found how to connect the wireless network, but not the Ethernet card (maybe later).
And second: I detailed everything, so that non-experts (euphemism) like me can do it easily. If you face any problem with that setup, let me know. (VlacDebil).
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1) Getting Fedora Core 3
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1.1)--Download--------------------
Go to : http://fedora.redhat.com/
And download the iso disc you need.
1.2)--Burn Iso Image--------------------
You then have to burn this iso images. Be careful,
Windows XP and Sonic Record can not burn iso-images
by default.
For windows, you can find here some freeware dedicated to that task
http://members.home.nl/lsnoek/iso.htm
Personally I used http://www.snapfiles.com/get/burncdcc.html and it worked well.
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2) Setting Linux/XP dual boot
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2.1)--Provided Toshiba DVD--------------------
Setting the dual boot could be easy. However, Toshiba Laptops (at least this one) come with a partition already made (XP). The problem is that the DVD provided does not allow to reinstall and choose a partition: it reinstall everything as provided originally...
2.2)--Partitioning the hard disk--------------------
There are different way to solve the problem: Use Partition Magik if you have it, Use a Windows XP cd if you have an additional one, or use a Linux tool (Mandrake can do that, but I don't know more). I personally used another Windows Cd, and used the serial number provided with the laptop. The problem is then that you have to use the Toshiba DVD to reinstall all the drivers. The nice point is that you can choose what you want to have on your windows...
2.3)--Booting From CD--------------------
To reinstall Windows XP, you need boot from the CD (if you use the autorun mode, it will not work, cause this way some setup files will be put on the hard drive). To boot from CD you need to restart and to enter the BIOS, (one key, I don't remember: I think F1 but maybe F12? Del??). In the BIOS Menu, find the boot sequence Submenu, and there make sure that the BIOS will try first booting from CD (the default BIOS configuration make it tries the hard drive first).
2.4)--Reinstall Windows--------------------
Then Windows setup starts. Choose to remove the partition C: and then Create a new one with the desired size. (I used 35Gigs). When everything is done, use the Toshiba DVD to reinstall all the missing drivers and soft/spy-wares you need.
2.5)--Create a vfat partition-(optional-very old school)-----
I then did something old school: on the free space of the hard disk, I created a vfat partition of 5G (Control Panel, Computer Maintenance, Disk Manager, Create New Partition, Type FAT32). Someone told me that now, Linux can read/write Windows partition. I like to have a shared partition cause it is easy to setup and I don't know the other option (I should really have a look).
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3) Installing Fedora Core 3
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3.0)--Preparing the upgrade-(optional can be done later) -----
a) Download the new kernel update: for instance here:
http://mirror.cs.wisc.edu/pub/mirror...pdates/3/i386/
Take one like
kernel-2.6.10-1.770_FC3.i686.rpm (This is the last update at this time)
save it under your vfat partition, or burn it on a CD-RW
b) Download what is necessary for the wireless card.
First go here http:/ipw2200.sourceforge.net/
take the driver (Downloads->ipw1.0.0.gz, at that time)
and take the firmware ( Firmware->v0.19.currentfirmware)
Then : go to fresh rpm and take the ipw2200-firmware rpm.
(right now it is ipw2200-firmware-2.2-2.1.fc3.fr.noarch.rpm)
save these three files on your vfat partition or on a CDRW
3.1)--Installing Fedora Core 3--------------------
you can then proceed with FC3 installation: put the CD/DVD in the device, and reboot (be sure that the BIOS is set correctly, see section 2.3.)
Anaconda will take care of everything, and detect all devices, except the Ethernet and the wireless card... (no luck)
3.2)--Mounting vfat (old-school, continued)----------
Logging as root.
Open a terminal and
> mkdir /mnt/vfat
Using emacs, or vi, edit the file /etc/fstab and
add the following line at the end :
/dev/sda2 [tab] /mnt/vfat [tab] vfat [tab] noauto,users,rw [tab] 0 0
save, quit the editor and then type mount /mnt/vfat (do it everytime to access vfat partition)
and ls /mnt/vfat should show you what you saved under windows.
3.3)--Upgrade the kernel--------------------
> cp /mnt/vfat/kernel* .
Then type
> rpm -vif kernel_blablabla.rpm
reboot. The new kernel should detect the wireless card.
Select automatic, or setup the parameter of the dhcp stuff according
to your home network (most probably automatic)
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4) Set up the wireless card
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4.1)--Remove old drivers--------------------
In a terminal window, you need to find all versions of
> ieee80211_crypt_ccmp.ko ieee80211_crypt_tkip.ko ieee80211.ko
> ieee80211_crypt.ko ieee80211_crypt_wep.ko ipw2200.ko
What I do, but there are better ways:
>updatedb
>locate ieee80211*.ko ipw2200*.ko
and remove whatever it gives
4.2)--Install the new drivers--------------------
Copy the driver and the firmware tarballs (tar.gz) in the directory.
a) Extract the firmware directory and copy its contents (*.fw + INSTALL)
in /lib/firmware (depends on the distribution, check /etc/hotplugs/firmware.agent). Then do something unpleasant :
>rpm -vih with the name of the rpm firmware
I had to do this because at some point I had a problem with the name of the firmware. Maybe it will be fixed in the next future ??
Now if you ls /lib/firmware, you should see *.fw stuff,
some of them ipw2200_*.fw which are duplicates of the original ipw-2.2-*.fw
You can also stick to the ipw2200 Install manual, to see if that name issue has been corrected.
b) Extract the driver source directory archive ipw2200-?.?.tar.gz (gunzip and tar -xvf) get in and type make and make install
4.3)--Setup the ACPI option--------------------
Here is the trick I waste my time before finding it (a couple of days, enjoy this post). In a text editor edit the /boot/grub/grub.conf file and
add at the end of the line beginning with 'kernel' going on with the name of your new kernel and finishing with 'rhgb quiet' the following:
> ... rhgb quiet acpi=off
save, exit, and you will have to reboot (do 4.4. first...)
4.4)--Set the Internet configuration--------------------
Check that the Wireless switch is on (looks stupid, I know)...
Put the following in a file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0
# Intel Corp. PRO/Wireless 2200BG
DEVICE=eth0
TYPE=Wireless
ONBOOT=yes
#IPV6INIT=no
MODE=Managed
ESSID=xxx
KEY=xxx
BOOTPROTO=dhcp
reboot (due to 4.3 if already rebooted don't reboot, use the steps below)
If the connection does not work, don't panic. You have to play with
the following tools :
modprobe -r ipw2200 // To unload the driver
modprobe ipw2200 // To reload the driver
iwconfig // To see the devices
iwconfig eth0 essid my_essid // To set your essid
iwconfig eth0 key open 123456_my_key // To set your key (open/restricted)
iwlist scan // To see the available ap (including your neighbors !)
ifconfig eth0 up
ifup eth0 // To give the connection a try
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5) Set the resolution (new !)
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At this point, the resolution is not good, but you cannot see that there is a problem,
because of a BIOS option. So when rebooting, use F1 to enter the BIOS menu, and disable the
screen option 'stretched'. Now when you start Linux, you end with a screen which does not use the all possible surface. This is because the resolution is set on 1024x768. To change this, you need to edit the
/etc/X11/xorg.conf file and make the following changes (make a copy first, to avoid big mistakes)
1) add the ModeLine line as follows (Don't ask why, I am not an expert)
>Section "Monitor"
> Identifier "Monitor0"
> VendorName "Monitor Vendor"
> ModelName "LCD Panel 1280x800"
> HorizSync 31.5 - 90.0
> VertRefresh 60.0 - 60.0
> ModeLine "1280x800" 83.9 1280 1312 1624 1656 800 816 824 841
> Option "dpms"
>EndSection
2) and the following display options
>Section "Screen"
> Identifier "Screen0"
> Device "Videocard0"
> Monitor "Monitor0"
> DefaultDepth 24
> SubSection "Display"
> Viewport 0 0
> Depth 24
> Modes "1280x800"
> EndSubSection
> SubSection "Display"
> Viewport 0 0
> Depth 24
> Modes "1280x800"
> EndSubSection
>EndSection
Reboot, and now you should use the full available resolution !