Hi.

Dell Inspiron 8000 with ATI Mobility M4 graphics!
Iam a tester who want to be a user of linux and I have chosen Ubuntu
to be my distro at the moment.

Since this is an very old laptop I first thought linux would just work
on it and then I thought that maybe it is easier to find newer laptops
that work since manufacturers nowadays put more effort into making
linux work on Dell machines.

Anyway I've tried to get Ubuntu up and running on my Dell Inspiron
8000 machine.
Sadly to say both Ubuntu 8.04 and 8.10 have problems\bugs with the Ati
Mobility M4 discrete graphics cards and the touchpad isn't working
either. I've filed a bug in launchpad and we're trying to see if there
is a coresponding bug in the X.org bugzilla\tracker but no exact match
have been decided upon.

If anyone knows of this problem and how to solv it or wants to help
fix\triage the bug you can find it here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/247771

There are ATI RPM packages on the Dell support site but if those are
in ubuntu or not I don't know. The corrupted screen can be mittigated
by connecting an external display though this only brings a correct
picture on the internal laptop display and doesn't recognize the
external display witch in my case is an Samsung Syncmaster 213T.

Iam glad for all the hlep I can get since this is stopping me from
migrating to linux!

Thansk for YOUR help!

I will be out of the office starting  08/11/2008 and will not return until
17/11/2008.

I will respond to your message when I return.

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My wife's Dell will not detect the battery anymore, not even the Bios, but it
runs fine off the battery.  Dell support says the circuitry inside the
battery is bad and we need to buy a new battery since it is over 2 years old.

I think you just need a new battery.

On Friday 05 September 2008 2:28:39 am Alwin Gupta wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Though this is not directly related to linux, but still appreciate
> suggestions.
>
> My 1.4yrs old latitude laptop battery suddenly stopped working yesterday.
> It was working fine uptil now and was giving good backup. Now, the laptop
> is not working on battery at all and on pulling off the adaptor supply it
> immediately goes off. In the bios setup, in battery info section for
> primary battery it says "the system cannot communicate with this battery"
> (I do not have any secondary battery installed), and in battery status, it
> shows this battery 97% charges and status as charging. The charge status
> LED on the back of the battery shows all five green when adaptor is
> connected, and none without the adaptor.
>
> What could be the reason? It is the battery which has gone bad or something
> on the board?
>
> Thanks,
> Alwin
>
>
>       Unlimited freedom, unlimited storage. Get it now, on
> http://help.yahoo.com/l/in/yahoo/mail/yahoomail/tools/tools-08.html/

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On 09/05/2008 03:28 AM Alwin Gupta wrote:
>
>
> Hello,
>
> Though this is not directly related to linux, but still appreciate
> suggestions.
>
> My 1.4yrs old latitude laptop battery suddenly stopped working
> yesterday. It was working fine uptil now and was giving good backup.
> Now, the laptop is not working on battery at all and on pulling off the
> adaptor supply it immediately goes off. In the bios setup, in battery
> info section for primary battery it says "the system cannot communicate
> with this battery" (I do not have any secondary battery installed), and
> in battery status, it shows this battery 97% charges and status as
> charging. The charge status LED on the back of the battery shows all
> five green when adaptor is connected, and none without the adaptor.
>
> What could be the reason? It is the battery which has gone bad or
> something on the board?
>
> Thanks,
> Alwin
>

Yeah, it does seem like something on the motherboard is bad.  I had the
same problem with my i600m years ago-- right after the warrantee period
was over-- and the motherboard had to be replaced.  Since then it's been
fine.


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Hello,

Though this is not directly related to linux, but still appreciate suggestions.

My 1.4yrs old latitude laptop battery suddenly stopped working yesterday. It was
working fine uptil now and was giving good backup. Now, the laptop is not
working on battery at all and on pulling off the adaptor supply it immediately
goes off. In the bios setup, in battery info section for primary battery it says
"the system cannot communicate with this battery" (I do not have any secondary
battery installed), and in battery status, it shows this battery 97% charges and
status as charging. The charge status LED on the back of the battery shows all
five green when adaptor is connected, and none without the adaptor.

What could be the reason? It is the battery which has gone bad or something on
the board?

Thanks,
Alwin


       Unlimited freedom, unlimited storage. Get it now, on
http://help.yahoo.com/l/in/yahoo/mail/yahoomail/tools/tools-08.html/

I've been through this with Dell before. Batteries are only covered
under the warranty for the first year or the extent of the warranty
(which ever comes first). I can see why they stand by that
considering batteries are consumables. Think of it like brakes and
tires on your car. ;)

3nj0iZ!

--- In linux-dell-laptops@yahoogroups.com, "Alexander Toresson"
<alexander.toresson@...> wrote:
>
> I got a fresh battery for my old laptop thanks to that :)
> The old one was malfunctioning anyway, going down to 10 minutes of
running time.
>
> // Alexander
>
> On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 11:40 PM, uteck <theuteck@...> wrote:
> > My wife's' Latitude has the same problem, and I bought the 3 year
warranty
> > that is still covering it, but not the battery.  And here I
thought we were
> > lucky last year when the exploding battery's were going on and
hers was not
> > among the affected models.  AT least we would have gotten a new
battery last
> > year if it was.
> >
> > On Tuesday 12 August 2008 03:20:09 Jack wrote:
> >> I bought a new  Dell 9200 with the most expensive warranty that
was
> >> available 4 year warranty .
> >> Sure was lucky with that, LCD was replaced 2 times,wi-fi boards
> >> replaced twice, system shipped to depot repair, battery charger
replaced
> >> once. Now the battery lights are blinking orange and green even
when
> >> shut down and bur charger plugged in.  Pressing battery button on
> >> battery only lights 3 of 5 lights. Without charger plugged in,
running
> >> time is about 25 minutes! Have not been able to get to Dell
> >> service by phone. Do you think that the battery is covered???
> >>
> >> Montyw4700
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------------------
> > Please post your X config files in the group links or database
> > To unsubscribe, email: linux-dell-laptops-
unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > FAQ: http://www.whacked.net/ldl/faqYahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

I got a fresh battery for my old laptop thanks to that :)
The old one was malfunctioning anyway, going down to 10 minutes of running time.

// Alexander

On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 11:40 PM, uteck <theuteck@...> wrote:
> My wife's' Latitude has the same problem, and I bought the 3 year warranty
> that is still covering it, but not the battery.  And here I thought we were
> lucky last year when the exploding battery's were going on and hers was not
> among the affected models.  AT least we would have gotten a new battery last
> year if it was.
>
> On Tuesday 12 August 2008 03:20:09 Jack wrote:
>> I bought a new  Dell 9200 with the most expensive warranty that was
>> available 4 year warranty .
>> Sure was lucky with that, LCD was replaced 2 times,wi-fi boards
>> replaced twice, system shipped to depot repair, battery charger replaced
>> once. Now the battery lights are blinking orange and green even when
>> shut down and bur charger plugged in.  Pressing battery button on
>> battery only lights 3 of 5 lights. Without charger plugged in, running
>> time is about 25 minutes! Have not been able to get to Dell
>> service by phone. Do you think that the battery is covered???
>>
>> Montyw4700
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> Please post your X config files in the group links or database
> To unsubscribe, email: linux-dell-laptops-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> FAQ: http://www.whacked.net/ldl/faqYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

My wife's' Latitude has the same problem, and I bought the 3 year warranty
that is still covering it, but not the battery.  And here I thought we were
lucky last year when the exploding battery's were going on and hers was not
among the affected models.  AT least we would have gotten a new battery last
year if it was.

On Tuesday 12 August 2008 03:20:09 Jack wrote:
> I bought a new  Dell 9200 with the most expensive warranty that was
> available 4 year warranty .
> Sure was lucky with that, LCD was replaced 2 times,wi-fi boards
> replaced twice, system shipped to depot repair, battery charger replaced
> once. Now the battery lights are blinking orange and green even when
> shut down and bur charger plugged in.  Pressing battery button on
> battery only lights 3 of 5 lights. Without charger plugged in, running
> time is about 25 minutes! Have not been able to get to Dell
> service by phone. Do you think that the battery is covered???
>
> Montyw4700

I will be out of the office starting  26/07/2008 and will not return until
25/08/2008.

I will respond to your message when I return.

> time is about 25 minutes! Have not been able to get to Dell
> service by phone. Do you think that the battery is covered???

battery warranty is 1 years (in italy) ... last spring, after only 13 months i
tried contact dell support but reply was "you need "buy" a new battery".
best and cheapest way was a non official battery with ebay.

--
bye, fAu
latitude d820

Jack a écrit :
>
>
> I bought a new Dell 9200 with the most expensive warranty that was
> available 4 year warranty .
> Sure was lucky with that, LCD was replaced 2 times,wi-fi boards
> replaced twice, system shipped to depot repair, battery charger replaced
> once. Now the battery lights are blinking orange and green even when
> shut down and bur charger plugged in. Pressing battery button on
> battery only lights 3 of 5 lights. Without charger plugged in, running
> time is about 25 minutes! Have not been able to get to Dell
> service by phone. Do you think that the battery is covered???

I do not think, you probably have to buy a new one :-(

Alex.

>
> Montyw4700
>
>


--
http://www.univ-orleans.fr/lifo/Members/tessier/
tel: +33 (0)238494670

I bought a new  Dell 9200 with the most expensive warranty that was
available 4 year warranty .
Sure was lucky with that, LCD was replaced 2 times,wi-fi boards
replaced twice, system shipped to depot repair, battery charger replaced
once. Now the battery lights are blinking orange and green even when
shut down and bur charger plugged in.  Pressing battery button on
battery only lights 3 of 5 lights. Without charger plugged in, running
time is about 25 minutes! Have not been able to get to Dell
service by phone. Do you think that the battery is covered???

Montyw4700

I've set the BIOS option.  What do I need to do to actually wake it up with a
USB input? I'd like to be able to plug it into my power supply + KVM in my
office and have it wake up without opening the lid.

I have the NVIDIA Xorg driver setup for TwinView with a CustomEDID option so it
always probes my desktop LCD regardless of where X gets started for the first
time.  When I go home I open the lid, run xrandr -s 0 to move to the builtin
display and close the case to suspend it.  When I get back to work I open the
lid and run xrandr -s 1 to move to the big screen and close the lid.

Being able to skip the lid opening and closing part would be nice.

BIOS version A07, Centos 5.1 (allegedly RHEL5.1) with kernel 2.6.25, and the
169.12 NVIDIA driver.

On Fri, 11 Jul 2008 at 2117 -0000, quantumnight wrote:
>   Hi, I have some files with the extension ".cbs", their icon looks
>   like a film strip, and the titles are songs. I can't find a proper
>   program to open or play the files. Anyone know what to do with the
>   files--other than trash them?--Douglas
>

Here's what I found at <http://filext.com/file-extension/CBS>.
Appears to be a Windows program for burning CDs.  Explains why the
files are song titles.  Running 'apt-cache search cbs' came up blank.

ProgramID    FileType  AppName  EXEFile
cdburner.Document  Acoustica MP3 Acoustica MP3 cdburner.exe
		    CD Burner Song List  CD Burner

Ryan
--
     A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
     Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
     A: Top-posting.
     Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet and in e-mail?

Hi, I have some files with the extension ".cbs", their icon looks like
a film strip, and the titles are songs. I can't find a proper program
to open or play the files. Anyone know what to do with the
files--other than trash them?--Douglas

Learn new techniques & concepts. Stanford Computer Security Program

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Online-Data-Entry Jobs

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Any thoughts on this?  OpenSuSE 11 recognizes that I have a wireless
adapter.. and recognizes the type.. but can't connect to any wireless
access point I try using.  OpenSuSE 10 had the same issue - tho on
that one I never took the time to try to resolve it.

Any ideas?

--- Tobi <listaccount@...> wrote:

> > Dell claims to sell a Linux version of the 1420
> which
>
>
> I'm not interested in an Inspiron - it hast to be
> "business-class"
> notebook - that's the Latitude at the moment (I
> think Vostro and XPS only
> come with glossy WSXGA+ displays.).

It's a personal example and caution that having Dell
install Linux won't avoid problems.

I've had three Linux laptops (Linux Certified, Dell
Latitude 630, Dell Inpiron 1420) in the last five
years.  Only the Linux Certified box worked without a
lot of tinkering.

If your time is worth money you want to buy from a
vendor that will deal with the headaches even if you
get the Dell (at least one of the Linux laptop vendors
sells a couple Latitude models).

Lots of people who don't do that have all sorts of
problems.  Just do a web search.

http://www.linux.com/?module=comments&func=display&cid=1190412


If Dell guaranteed a specific hardware configuration
went with a given SKU we wouldn't have these problems,
but they don't.

--- Tobi <listaccount@...> wrote:

> Drew Eckhardt wrote:
>
> >> I'm going to buy a Latitude D830 soon,
>
> > You don't want to buy a "linux" laptop except from
> a
> > company like Linux Certified which has worked out
> the
> > driver and configuration issues.
>
>
> I generally don't see a problem in running Linux on
> a Latitude D830. All
> components are known to work with Linux. I'm just
> not sure, which graphics
> card is better.

Some version of all the hardware are known to work
with some version of Linux.

You might install some solid version of Linux other
people know to work (say RHEL 5.1) and find that
version 2 of the wireless chip is being used instead
of version 1, that all of the binary drivers don't
work, and that the backport of the iwl driver won't
compile with the redhat kernel.  So you build a stock
Linux 2.6.25 kernel with recent drivers that does work
but breaks suspend because some acpi controls have
moved from /proc to /sys unless you enable backwards
compatability options.  hald won't tell you what it's
doing, so unless you strace it or read through the
source you're not going to get that working.

You might find that the BIOS has been upgraded from
version 4 to 7 which in turn causes vbe tool to hang
on suspends.  Reading the Nvidia documentation you'll
find that vbetool shouldn't be used.  Since no one
writes documentation any more you'll have to dig
around and find that the files controlling that live
in /usr/lib/pm-utils.

Etc.

Trying to get Linux on a laptop is a potential
headache even if other people have successfully used
that model+Linux version together, and (unfortunately)
paying Dell to deal with the problem does not work.

tzaphod wrote:
> Hi!
>
> I'm going to buy a Latitude D830 soon, but haven't decided yet, what
> graphics card to choose. For a T9300 I can select between a NVidia NVS
> 140M or an on-board Intel GMX X3100.
>
> Which of these graphics cards causes less trouble on Linux? Will the
> GMA X3100 have enough performance for Beryl / Compiz and 3D
> applications like Blender? I also need to run some more or less
> complex WPF applications in a VirtualBox VM with XP or Server 2008.
>
> What about support of external monitors? Am I restricted in the
> resolution of the external monitor somehow?
>
> Anything else I should be aware of, when intending to run Linux on the
> D830?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tobias
>

I had this laptop at my last job.  Be sure to fine tune your order when
you buy this.  It will run Linux VERY well as long as you pick the right
components.  Specifically make sure you get it with the Intel wireless
and not the Dell wireless controller.

As for graphics I always go with Nvidia.  The few times I have been
stuck with anything else has been a disappointment to say the least.
All the purists be damned as I want something that works.  I had mine
set to run 1600x1080 on both internal and external displays.  It worked
VERY well.  I think you can now run multiple resolutions now with twinview.

Charlie

Tessier Alexandre wrote:

> Note that Quadro NVS 140M is supported by the nvidia driver:
> http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/169.12/README/appendix-a.html

Thanks!

So it seems the NVS 140M at least is uncritical. NVidia sadly just does
not have OpenSource drivers like Intel or ATI. Because of this and the
lower power consumption, I would prefer the on-board GMA X3100, but
only if I can be sure, it works fine on Linux and supports dual head with
my external 19" screen.

Tobias

Tobi a écrit :
> I generally don't see a problem in running Linux on a Latitude D830. All
> components are known to work with Linux.

I have a latitude C800, a latitude C840 and a XPS M1330 and I only use
linux (mandriva and ubuntu). Everything works.

> What about running an external 19" monitor with 1280 x 1024 and the
> notebook with 1680 x 1050?
>
> I'm not sure, but I think I've read somewhere the GMA is limited to
> 2048x2048, so the above combination wouldn't work.
> Can anyone confirm this?

I have 1280x800 on the laptop and 1600x1200 on the external monitor.

Note that Quadro NVS 140M is supported by the nvidia driver:
http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/169.12/README/appendix-a.html

Alex.

>
> Tobias
>
>


--
http://www.univ-orleans.fr/lifo/Members/tessier/
tel: +33 (0)238494670

tzaphod a écrit :
>
>
> Hi!
>
> I'm going to buy a Latitude D830 soon, but haven't decided yet, what
> graphics card to choose. For a T9300 I can select between a NVidia NVS
> 140M or an on-board Intel GMX X3100.

I don't know this nvidia card. You should check that it is supported by
the nvidia driver.
I only buy laptops with nvidia geforce graphics card (actually GeForce
8400M GS) because nvidia provides a very good driver (with a
configuration tool: nvidia-settings) and everything works perfectly.

> Which of these graphics cards causes less trouble on Linux? Will the
> GMA X3100 have enough performance for Beryl / Compiz and 3D

no problem with nvidia cards

> applications like Blender? I also need to run some more or less
> complex WPF applications in a VirtualBox VM with XP or Server 2008.

graphics applications are very slow when using vmware.

> What about support of external monitors? Am I restricted in the
> resolution of the external monitor somehow?

no problem with nvidia cards

> Anything else I should be aware of, when intending to run Linux on the
> D830?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tobias
>
>


--
http://www.univ-orleans.fr/lifo/Members/tessier/
tel: +33 (0)238494670

Drew Eckhardt wrote:

>> I'm going to buy a Latitude D830 soon,

> You don't want to buy a "linux" laptop except from a
> company like Linux Certified which has worked out the
> driver and configuration issues.


I generally don't see a problem in running Linux on a Latitude D830. All
components are known to work with Linux. I'm just not sure, which graphics
card is better.


> Dell claims to sell a Linux version of the 1420 which


I'm not interested in an Inspiron - it hast to be "business-class"
notebook - that's the Latitude at the moment (I think Vostro and XPS only
come with glossy WSXGA+ displays.).

What about running an external 19" monitor with 1280 x 1024 and the
notebook with 1680 x 1050?

I'm not sure, but I think I've read somewhere the GMA is limited to
2048x2048, so the above combination wouldn't work.
Can anyone confirm this?


Tobias

--- tzaphod <listaccount@...> wrote:

> Hi!
>
> I'm going to buy a Latitude D830 soon,

You don't want to buy a "linux" laptop except from a
company like Linux Certified which has worked out the
driver and configuration issues.

Dell claims to sell a Linux version of the 1420 which
I made the mistake of buying.  It was 32 bit only (not
biarch), the wireless driver had over 30% packet loss,
it went into infinite loops when coming back from
suspend, etc.

While all these things can be solved you don't want to
loose a few days doing it.

> What about support of external monitors? Am I
> restricted in the
> resolution of the external monitor somehow?

You can configure the NVIDIA driver to support
1920x1200 external and move your desktop between
internal and external monitors with xrandr.

Hi!

I'm going to buy a Latitude D830 soon, but haven't decided yet, what
graphics card to choose. For a T9300 I can select between a NVidia NVS
140M or an on-board Intel GMX X3100.

Which of these graphics cards causes less trouble on Linux? Will the
GMA X3100 have enough performance for Beryl / Compiz and 3D
applications like Blender? I also need to run some more or less
complex WPF applications in a VirtualBox VM with XP or Server 2008.

What about support of external monitors? Am I restricted in the
resolution of the external monitor somehow?

Anything else I should be aware of, when intending to run Linux on the
D830?

Thanks,

Tobias