Will it run Linux?

[Collins Richey]

On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 17:18:01 -0500
Jerry McBride <mcbrides9 at comcast.net> wrote:

> On Thursday 11 March 2004 11:44 am, Alma J Wetzker wrote:
> > Klaus-Peter Schrage wrote:
> > > David A. Bandel wrote:
> > >> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> > >> Hash: SHA1
> > >>
> > >> Folks,
> > >>
> > >> I have a chance to pick up a couple of laptops cheap, but
> > >wondered if> anyone here has run them with Linux (and if so, what
> > >you think):> Toshiba 4600 Satellite Pro
> > >> Toshiba 4260
> > >
> > > If you are able to give them a trial before buying, the best
> > > will-they-run-linux-test I know is a Knoppix CD.
> > > Klaus
> >
> > That only works if you can boot from the CD.  I have some old
> > laptops that don't.  They are a true pain to install.
> >
> >   
> 
> I still have three old Toshiba Satellite laptops that I take care
> of... No internal cdrom, but they do have pcmcia slots and accept
> pcmcia IDE cdroms drives. Linux WILL install on these, you just have
> to make sure the drivers are available before you begin the install.
> The easiest way... setup a booting dos partition that can access the
> cdrom, then run the dos install script that most distributions have...
> Open Linux 2.4.0 and 3.1.0 were a dream to install on these laptops.
> 
> Gentoo may be a good option also, but do the LOW hardware resources...
> you better check for existing, compatible binaries first.
> 

Don't know about the older laptops, but the HP ze4630us I bought for my
daughter to take to college, works fine with gentoo.  I use knoppix to
pare down the WinXP partition (ntfsresize) which worked like a charm,
then ran a gentoo Stage 2 install putting up a 2.6 kernel, which also
worked without a hitch.  I haven't screwed around with sound yet, but
knoppix was able to talk through the sound card.  The only real problem
was getting the specs for the screen.  I emerged the ATI radeon
drivers, copied the specs from another user, and voila instant xfce4.

My experimentation will have to take back seat.  I've rigged up a
through the wall ethernet cable for the living room, so now my daughter
is hot and heavy into working witn WinXP and watching TV.  The unit has
built in wireless, but I don't have a wireless router, so I'll have to
head off to a Cyber Cafe of some sort to check it out.

Enjoy,

-- 
Collins Richey - Denver area
gentoo testing 2.6.3-rc2 nptl udev