iB::Topic::IBM 240 Laptop DSL install

	Damn Small Linux :: Damn Small Linux Board The DSL Forums

» Welcome Guest
[ Log In :: Register ]

Damn Small Linux Board » Damn Small Linux » HD Install » IBM 240 Laptop DSL install

		Mini-ITX Boards Sale, Fanless BareBones Mini-ITX, Bootable 1G DSL USBs, 533MHz Fanless PC <-- SALE $200 each!
		Get The Official Damn Small Linux Book. DSL Market , Great VPS hosting provided by Tektonic

Pages: (2) </ [1] 2 >/

[ Track this topic :: Email this topic :: Print this topic ]

Topic: IBM 240 Laptop DSL install, Trouble w/ display

< Next Oldest | Next Newest >

TheClap

Group: Members
Posts: 5
Joined: Aug. 2005

Posted: Aug. 09 2005,19:57

I bought an old IBM 240 w/ a 3 gig hdd in it. It is the smallest laptop that IBM ever made, so I figured that the smallest linux ever might be fitting. I can install it no problem, but I can't install it w/ the hdd in the 240. The hdd has to be taken out and put into another IBM computer b/c I don't have any of the original drives that went w/ the pc. It has no floppy or cd, it's that tiny. I have been able to install DSL and have it work on the 240 by installing it through an IBM R40. The problem is that when the pc boots up in the 240 it goes into 1024 resolution, and the highest res supported by the 240 is 800X600. This creates a problem, looks good, but I can't see everything. I have tried the xsetup.sh and it does give me the option to change the res. When the resolution is changed the colors on the screen are all psychadelic and crazy no matter what color setting the machine is one. So wrong res and good color, or right res and horrible color..............?

not a very good option. maybe a driver problem, but I have no way to tell b/c this verion of linux is seemingly different from the others I've had. HELP
TheClap......

cbagger01

Group: Members
Posts: 4264
Joined: Oct. 2003

Posted: Aug. 09 2005,22:43

Try editing your bootloader config file and make sure that your "vga="
statement reads like this:

vga=788

and then save and reactivate your bootloader.

Then run xsetup again and choose "xfbdev" as your x server and you should be in business.

TheClap

Group: Members
Posts: 5
Joined: Aug. 2005

Posted: Aug. 11 2005,12:28

That works. I'm up and running now. I tried it a few ways to make sure. If one boots the live cd in 800X600 Xfbdev, DSL will actually install itself to the Hdd in that mode. That's a lot easier b/c it's kind of hard to see when you're changing it in 'trippin on shrooms mode.'
Thanx
l8r

ke4nt1

Group: Members
Posts: 2329
Joined: Oct. 2003

Posted: Aug. 13 2005,05:49

I have three IBM 240's.. Each has 192MB ram.
They work great with DSL.

Everything works out-of-the-box,
when you know how to run it.

Using vga=788 in grub, or selecting fb800x600 at boottime,
and choosing the xfbdev video server in xsetup works great.

I use the frugal install on all of mine,
with persistant home and opt dirs ..
I much prefer this to the HDInstall for this laptop.

Two of mine are celeron 300's, one is a celeron 400.
Using toram at boottime makes these laptops real performers,
and the persistancy keeps everything intact without
creating a large backup to deal with.

My backups contain files like /etc/apt/sources.list,
and only a few from /home and /opt for "just-in-case" issues.
( like the xserverrc, set for my USBmouse and such )

"Give frugal a chance"

73
ke4nt

Texican

Group: Members
Posts: 3
Joined: Aug. 2005

Posted: Aug. 13 2005,16:56

Quote (ke4nt1 @ Aug. 13 2005,01:49)

"Give frugal a chance"

I've tried both frugal install options (grub and lilo). Both give me errors at bootup. The only errors I get with the HD install is when I try to install myDSL extensions. It tells me that I'm not a dsl user or some such thing (even after logging in).

BTW, this is my upteenth distro that I've tried on my laptop (gatway solo 2500, PII celeron 333Mhz, 96MB ram, 4 GB hd). So far, it's the fastest non-KDE distro I've installed. Damnsmalllinux is also a damnnicelinux.

--------------
Pat, the noob

5 replies since Aug. 09 2005,19:57

< Next Oldest | Next Newest >

[ Track this topic :: Email this topic :: Print this topic ]

Pages: (2) </ [1] 2 >/

Damn Small Linux Board » Damn Small Linux » HD Install » IBM 240 Laptop DSL install