Laptops :: How does the Detection System work?

Hi,

I tried DSL on my laptop (An acer 1693 WLMI) and it worked fine. I was very suprised because x-windows worked.

I wasn't expecting this because I have installed Debian on my system and x-windows doesn't work there - I need to rebuild my kernel with an-ATI driver.. or something (yeah, yeah I know, I don't hold out much hope either. By the time I work out how to do this, it will probably be installed in the new kernal by default).

DSL installed a VESA driver of some sort, so I would like to know how DSL does this. If it is a generic Linux program then perhaps I can use it to set up my video card in Debian.

Thanks in advance.

Red

original here.