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linux problem with 855GM chipset (fixed)

J

JOHNGALT99

Senior member
"fixed see my last post" I am having a problem installing linux on a dell d400, the problem from what i read is that there is a video memory issue during install

becuase of the intel integrated graphics, has any one gotten linux on a dell d400?

if so could you give me a step by step guide , i am very new to linux

thanks

of i beleve this is a problem with all distros
 
This is my problem

"It appears that some 855GM-based laptops only pre-allocate 1MB of video
memory, and don't provide any BIOS configuration options for increasing
this. Although the XFree86 driver will allocate more (if the correct
agpgart kernel support is present), the mechanism used to inform the
video BIOS of the additional allocation doesn't seem to be implemented
on these laptops. This results in the video BIOS refusing to program
video modes that require more than 1MB (actually 832KB)."

I just found this but do not know how to implement it would i install with out a gui and put this in a command line? :

1. Get 855patch from 'http://www.chzsoft.com.ar/855patch.tar.gz'. Unzip, untar, and make file.

2. Copy the execuatable file '855patch' to '/usr/bin'. It doesn't have to be the directory but that's what I did anyway.

3. On the command, type 'echo "/usr/bin/855patch 8192" >> /etc/rc.d/rc.local'. This adds the line to 'rc.local', and let you pre-allocate 8M of video memory.

also http://www.chzsoft.com.ar/855patch.c

 
Originally posted by: JOHNGALT99
I have no floppy with my d400, if i burmed the file to cd, what would the command look like to install it
Click to expand...

If the distro doesn't automatically mount the cdrom:
mount /dev/hdc0 /mnt Of course replace teh hdc0 with the proper device.
cd /mnt
cp * ~/
cd

Then use the files in your home directory.
 
I have a laptop with the same chipset... and I wish I didn't. Definately getting apple next time.



The 855GM dinamicly assigns memory to the video card depending on your needs.

I never heard of it preventing a install before so I am a bit confused.

If the distro your using 4.3.0 + you have agp support (you should by default) it has a nice enough driver that it should be able to dynamicly assign memory to itself on the fly.

You shouldn't have to mess around with the 855patch program. That's to fix the problem with the older drivers. If your using Fedora or a newest version of Mandrake it shouldn't be a issue. The only distro that has this problem anymore is Debian.

Also you may have a option in your BIOS to manually assign it memory. Give it like 32 or 64 megs and you'll be fine.
 
jsut tried installing fedora core one , after sucessful install i get can not start xserver error , going through differnt drivers now trying to get it to work , tryed intel 810 and 855, it detects mine as 852 but that doesnt work either
 
I had a similar problem on my laptop (look at sig for model). Same onboard video chipset. I used redhat9 on my laptop, it detected everything automaitcally in the install, including video, only problem I had was that I was stuck in 800x600 mode. I was able to get it working in 1024x768 (the max allowed on my laptop).
To do this, I hate to say this, I have no earthly idea how I managed it. Here is what I did: I dl'd the latest video drivers for linux in rpm form from intel. Installed them. Started X, changed the setting in the XF86Config file. Restarted X, no luck, was 800x600. I then dl'd the tar'd file from intel for the drivers, untar'd it, followed instructions, tried X again, still no luck. Then I uninstalled the tar'd files and the rpm. I tried X again now. Redhat9 uses gnome by default, and at this point, gnome got stuck on its startup screen. So Alt+Ctrl+Backspace, put "exec startkde" in my .xinitrc file in my home folder (that starts kde as my X desktop) and Voila!! I had 1024x768. Yeah, that's what I did. (Driver being used was the i810 that comes with the distro)
I myself searched extensively on the web, and seemed alot of ppl were stuck with 800x600 in linux, some solved it with patches, some used a distro that worked for their laptop model, some used drivers that were being sold by a linux vendor. Anyways, sorry I wasn't of anymore help. But search the web using "855gm laptop" and maybe your model of the laptop. You might find a solution.
 
That's what I have, too.

My laptop says I should get a max of 1024x768 at 16bits of color. I can do 800x600 in both 24bit(32bit in window's terms) and 16bit, but no 1024x768.


The problem is that their is no proper support for these cards from the manufacturers.

I don't know if it's Intel's fault or Gateway's (or in your case dell's) fault for not providing proper support for their customers that wish to run linux.


but, here, check this out. This website was set up by Dell engineers that want to get better Linux support for their products. This is semi-unofficial, so don't expect miracles, but these guys would be most likely to know how to resolve any serious technical issues with your laptop. They have a mailing list you can subscribe to.

Maybe they can help you. If you get any answers tell me about it. I want to know.

Oh. BTW, the X configuration file is /etc/X11/XF86Config-4. Any gui tools you use simply edits this file. You can safely edit it yourself if you want using a regular text editor.

Look at "man XF86Config" command to see what each section does. The actual driver name is "i810" and that covers your video card.

Also check out here. This is (I am pretty sure) the place to get unofficial help from Redhat and Fedora people. You laptop isn't uncommon and it is likely that someone their will be able to give you specific advice on what to do

here is the future site for Fedora/Redhat specific help.
 
i'll have to gives those a try and see if it works, i also have a dell true moble 1300 b/g internal wireless card

are there linux drivers for it? i think it is a rebaged oronico but not sure
 
Originally posted by: JOHNGALT99
i'll have to gives those a try and see if it works, i also have a dell true moble 1300 b/g internal wireless card

are there linux drivers for it? i think it is a rebaged oronico but not sure
Click to expand...

802.11b? If so, and it is an oronico, then probably. 802.11g support is pretty crappy because of companies not releasing specs...
 
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Originally posted by: JOHNGALT99
i'll have to gives those a try and see if it works, i also have a dell true moble 1300 b/g internal wireless card

are there linux drivers for it? i think it is a rebaged oronico but not sure
Click to expand...

802.11b? If so, and it is an oronico, then probably. 802.11g support is pretty crappy because of companies not releasing specs...
Click to expand...

Yep. Most 802.11b is decently supported, but the naming stuff is confusing. Bunch of different names for the same stuff and same names for different stuff.

This page from HP has a good overview of what to look for and what is supported.


If you want a higher speed 802.11g card, check anything using the prism chipset. Intersil is a company that produces (ed?) these cards and they were smart enough to produce GPL'd linux drivers for these cards, which makes them very good choices for anybody who wants to run linux using them. Info here and here

 
Here is how i got 1024x768 at 16bits of color to work

after much trouble i found this package

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df/filter_results.asp?strOSs=39&strTypes=DRV,ARC&ProductID=865&OSFullName=Linux*&submit=Go!

it is the new intell driver for 855gm chipset , install then change driver to intel 810 select res and color , log out and log back in

fixed on mine , i am now using fedora core 1 , now onto the wireless card

Even though fedora is friendly , easy not simple, i am learning lot

and starting to like linux
 
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