Updates:
- Updated on June 2006:
Upgrade to Ubuntu. Now I have 3D acceleration (using the via driver in xorg.conf). - Updated on Juanary 2006:
Back to Debian. Now I'm using Sarge, with a custom kernel 2.6.12. I'm tired with heavy desktops and I use Icewm + Rox-filer now: - Updated on March 2005:
Now I'm using Kanotix 2005-02 (includes KDE 3.4, kernel 2.6.11 ). You must pass the option xmodule=vesa to the kernel for a proper X window setup. All the devices and features are available: winmodem, pcmcia, USB devices, hibernation ...
Good job, Kano! - Updated on December 2004:
I've abandoned SuSE Linux!. Now I'm using Kanotix "Bug Hunter 8", ( don't use superior versions of Kanotix with this laptop, they doesn't run properly) which is perfect for this laptop. It includes: - Linux kernel 2.6.8.1 with swsuspend enabled: you could hibernate successfully. As root, type
echo 4 > /proc/acpi/sleep - Smartlink softmodem driver but I don't use it: I have a PCMCIA modem now, which is better than a softmodem.
- A functional pcmcia implementation: the computer doesn't hangs now using pcmcia.
- Synaptics touchpad driver: you can use all the features supported by the device. Add the following lines to your /etc/XF86Config-4 file:
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Touchpad"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "LeftEdge" "1700"
Option "RightEdge" "5300"
Option "TopEdge" "1700"
Option "BottomEdge" "4200"
Option "FingerLow" "25"
Option "FingerHigh" "30"
Option "MaxTapTime" "180"
Option "MaxTapMove" "220"
Option "VertScrollDelta" "100"
Option "MinSpeed" "0.06"
Option "MaxSpeed" "0.12"
Option "AccelFActor" "0.0010"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
EndSection - Updated on September 2004:
I can suspend to disk (hibernate) now!. In this months I've been testing several Linux distributions with the kernel 2.6.x.
I you are using a distro with kernel 2.6.7 or higher, probably you could hibernate successfully. As root, type
echo 4 > /proc/acpi/sleep
Warning: you must pass to the kernel the following paramenter (in lilo.conf or menu.lst)
resume=/dev/my_swap_partition
(Tested on Knoppix 2.6) - Updated on May 2004:
My pendrive is not recognized. Solution: the kernel needs the parameter pci=noacpi in the boot. I've write this parameter in /etc/lilo.conf, in the section apend. - Updated on March 2004:
Problems with hangs, pcmcia service and winmodem resolved (read the complete document). In few words: if you are using pcmcia, the computer hangs :-(
Full report:
Installing Linux in an Acer Aspire 1352 XC laptop
Preface
I have purchased this laptop to use it with the Windows XP which is included with it. I would like to test the applications that I'm developing on this operating system and I have only Linux installed on my desktop PC.
I don't like to use illegal software, so I don't want to install a pirate copy of Windows on my desktop machine. In the other hand, I think that buy a Windows XP box in order to testing my open source apps it's a nonsense and very expensive: I don't use Windows.
At last, I need an affordable laptop, so with this Acer Aspire 1352 XC I have the two things that I need: a legal Windows XP and a cheap laptop. Thanks to GNU Win project, I could use my prefered software that I use with my Linux powered desktop machine.
After two days using Windows XP, I was remembering my Linux, so I try to install Linux on my new machine, preserving the installed Windows XP.
Legal note
English is not my lenguage, so excuse my poor vocabulary and rudimentary syntax. Corrections will be wellcome!
This document is a simply report based on my personal experience with this computer.
I am not an employee neither I have any relation with the corporations mentioned in this article.
All marks and names are property of its owners. I won't write any © or TM symbol after the name of a trademark because it's very bored. If you are owner of one of this trademarks and you think that there is something wrong, please, write me (forodejazz (at) yahoo (dot) es) and I will correct any error.
I DO NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSABILITY FOR DAMAGES, LOST DATA OR ANY OTHER THING IF YOU READ AND FOLLOW THE ADVICES GIVEN IN THIS ARTICLE.
Computer's features
Front view. Click to enlarge.
Back view. Clik to enlarge.The Aspire 1352 XC is a low end laptop with an affordable and competitive pricing (800 € in Madrid, Spain). These are the main features:
- AMD XP Mobile 2200 processor
- RAM memory: 256 Mb
- Hard disk: 20 Gb
- Monitor: 14 pulgadas
- Shared memory graphic card (it "stoles" 64 Mb to RAM memory)
- 100/10 network card
- 56K modem
- Ni-MH battery. Short time unplugged :-(
- CDRW-DVD combo unit
- Windows XP Home Edition preinstalled
- Ports: ieee1394, mic in, audio out, parallel port, VGA port, S-Video port, 4 USB ports.
Previous steps
First at all, I purchased more RAM. It's not expensive. In Spain, a 256 Mb module costs nearly 70 € With this ampliation, the computer runs better, because the graphics card take some memory from RAM.
The next was to launch with Windows. In Windows I look for all information about the hardware. For example, the modem was named "Agere AC97 Modem". Well, I wrote it.
After this, I launched with a LIVE - CD Linux distribution. First, I tried a Knoppix 3.2
Most hardware was reconigzed, the graphics card was configured with the "vesa" driver. The soundcard gave some problems.
The next test was with a SuSE Linux 9.0 Live CD. Results: perfect. All components were detected and configured, excepting the modem, of course. It is a "winmodem".
The laptop comes from factory with the next partition table:
1. Primary partition (hda1 - "C:" unit), nearly 10 Gb, including the Windows XP operating system and some other utilies.
2. Extended partition (hda2) which contains a logical unit (hda5 - "D:" untit), nearly 10 Gb, contains temporary files and more trash.
It is safe format or delete this partition, Windows XP doesn't need any data stored here.
3. A small primary partition (hda3) (8 Mb), hidden, contains system files and data. I have preserved this partition.
All partitions are formated as FAT32.
I decided to preserve hda1 and hda3 partitions, to resize hda5 (make it smaller) to use it with Windows, and, finally, to create one partition for swap (hda6, 128Mb) and leave the free space (hda7, nearly 8 Gb.), in order to install Linux on that.
Installation
Before install Linux, is needed to think about what Linux distribution we will install. Personally, my interest is a lot of software included, but actualized, and an easy installation procedure. All distros have this features today.
I have used Linux for some time and I know the main distros, but there is one that I like a lot but I haven't probed enough: SuSE Linux.
SuSE has several good features: it's distributed on DVD (very comfortable, no changing CD-ROMS during installing programs) and an excellent support to ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture). In fact, SuSE is a sponsor of the ALSA project. I am a amateur musician, so I need that the sound programs runs well.
Having tested the laptop with the SuSE Live Eval CD, I purchased the full version (SuSE Linux Professional 9.0). It costs about 90 € in Madrid, Spain.
Launching
The first problem was that the computer launched from the DVD correctly and loaded the installation program well, but, in the packages selection section, there was an message like "medium not found".
I've found the solution in SuSE support pages solución: when using CDRW/DVD units, like the laptop one, it's mandatory to specify that the hdc drive uses ide-scsi emulation.
Solution: in the very first screen, we select "Installation" and we add as init parameter (text entry on the bottom of the screen) hdc=ide-scsi
Done this, one pop-up dialog warns us about the CD (CDROM not found) and the installation program goes to "Manual installation". Choose Kernel modules (hardware driver) then SCSI from the menu then select the ide-scsi module. Press the back button to return to the Linuxrc main menu and select Installation/Boot -> Start Installation/Update -> CDROM
The installation program continues normally, installing the selected packages and setting up and configuring the system.
By default, SuSE uses ReiserFS as file system. I changed this to ext2 in order to use Explore2fs from Windows partition.
X-Window problems
When YaST arrives at the graphics card configuration, it's possible have problems. The installation programs tried to configure the graphics card and freezed the screen. I had to reboot the machine and restart the installation :-(
At the same point, it's very important to especify in the installation program NOT to configure the graphics card. The configuration keeps the current values and all runs fine.
Configuring the modem
As we said before, the modem is an winmodem, that is, a modem without some circuits that are emulated by software in the Microsoft Windows operating system. A lot of this modems are allready suported in Linux, and this modem, fortunatelly, is one of this.
SuSE includes a package called smartlink-softmodem that is well suited for our modem. Executin the "script" /usr/sbin/smartlink-softmodem-config we well have a new device (/dev/ttySL0). We need to link this device to /dev/modem:
# ln -s /dev/ttySL0 /dev/modem
Done this step, we can use the modem with our prefered connection program. (Kinternet and wvdial run fine).
The combo CDRW/DVD unit
We need to be sure that the combo unit is treatea with ide-scsi emulation. We cannot watch DVD movies in our DVD unit. Why?. Legal issues about patents. The algorithm needed to decofify DVD movies is patented, and the main corporations that are distribuying Linux distros doesn't include this kind of patented software. The Xine program included in SuSE Linux is affected by this and shows a message with a page that explain all this problems better than me -- I remember that I am not an English spoken ;-)
The combo unit runs fine reading data DVDs. As CD writer is reconigzed without problems by the usual recording software (KB3 or CDBakeowen).
Additional settings
I need make some corrections to ensure that all is running properly.
- Init modules
I wroted before that we need ide-scsi emulation for the combo unit. In the LILO configuration file, /etc/lilo.conf, we have to write in the append section: hdc=ide-scsi. The installation program done this correctly.
But, by some reason, in the init the ide-scsi module wasn't loaded, neither the usb-storage, that I need to use my digital camera and my USB pendrive. The slamrmo module, needed by the winmodem must be loaded too.
So I edited some files to ensure that this modules were loaded at the init. In the /etc/sysconfig/kernel file there is a line that especify what modules are loaded at init. I edited this line and I leave this line like that:
MODULES_LOADED_ON_BOOT="ide-scsi usb-storage slamrmo" - External USB mouse:
I have an USB mouse that I use simultaneously with the touchpad. I edited the /etc/X11/XF86Config file and added a new device:
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "USB Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection
In the "ServerLayout" section I added some lines:
InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "USB Mouse" "SendCoreEvents" - The systems hangs sometimes:
In the beggining, with the fresh Linux installation I had a lot of hangs.
Maybe I am wrong, but I suspected that the pcmcia service was the guilty.
In the "Runlevel editor" module of YaST, I deactivated this service, and the hangs desappeared.
Conclusion and pending issues
Screenshot Running SuSE Linux. Click to enlarge.I have to check all the power management stuff (suspending, hibernating, etc.). In the new 2.6 linux kernel there are a lot of improvements in this features. I will test it some day...
I haven't configured the quick launch keys in the top of the keyboard because I don't use them. I am sure that this keys can be used and setted up. (Read an article about the Acer Aspire 1300 at http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/).
Conclusion: I purchased this laptop without thinking on use it with Linux. I am positively impressed. A cheap and low-ended laptop, with cheap components and designed to be used with Windows runs very well with Linux. I haven't tested other distros, but I am sure that it runs fine equally.
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