Gateway Solo 2500 Frugal Installation
Forum: DSL Tips and Tricks
Topic: Gateway Solo 2500 Frugal Installation
started by: starcannon
Posted by starcannon on Jan. 10 2006,04:00
Edit:
1/26/06 Updated This Post to fix the 0x370 in use PnP complaint at boot time, now works without complaint.
1/26/06 Also added directions on how to get XFree86 running on this laptop.
Setup your BIOS
F2 at boot to enter bios:
>Advanced-->Integrated Peripherals:
>On-board stereo sound [Enabled]
my working settings are:
I/O Adress: [280H-28FH]
MPU-401 I/O Adress: [330H-333H]
INterrupt: [IRQ5]
DMA Channel: [DMA CH0]
WAVE 2 DMA: [DMA CH1]
Joystick: [Enabled]
Boot from DSL linux CD
>dsl 2 vga=788
>cfdisk
>hda1 bootable primary 60mb
>hda5 logical all but 518mb of your hdd
>hda6 logical 518mb
when formatting your boot and persistent home, opt partitions if you would like ext3 filesystem then BEFORE you run the frugal_install.sh then issue these commands. Later when asked if you'd like to format the install partition y or upgrade n? Choose N
>mke2fs -j /dev/hda1 remove the -j if you would like standard ext2 fs
>mke2fs -j /dev/hda5 (or whatever your persistent partition is called)
>mkeswap /dev/hda6 (or whatever your swap partition is called)
>swapon /dev/hda6 (or whatever your swap partition is called)
< Frugal Install >
Following these directions and being sure to make opt and home persistent on hda5 or wherever you put your persistent partition and making sure your swap partition is on the edge of the drive some people put it at hda1 do as you see fit as long as you have one its all bout the same.
< Frugal Install How To PDF >
Setup your Xserver
xsetup.sh will likely run on your first boot, if it does not, then reboot with CD
>dsl vga=788 xsetup
>xfbdev xserver
>USB mouse? y/n if <No> then IMPS/2 mouse <Yes>
>us <Ok>
Setup Xfree86
At the desktop click on myDSL then click on System scroll down to the bottom of the list and click on XFree86.dsl.info and then Download
then
click on System scroll down to the bottom of the list and click on xf86config.dsl.info and then Download
Now Jump back out and Read My post in this Thread with XFree86 as my Xserver MUCH smoother! at the top of the page and then read the follow up post in this thread with Saving and Booting Your XFree86 Settings at the top of the page.
Setup your Sound
At the Desktop click the Emelfm icon.
>navigate to /mnt/hda5/opt
>select bootlocal.sh <R>click-->User-->View in Beaver
>add this to your bootlocal.sh:
sudo modprobe opl3sa2 isapnp=0 multiple=0 io=0x370 mpu_io=0x330 mss_io=0x530 irq=5 dma=0 dma2=1
>save
>exit
Now either run the modprobe line from a terminal as SU or reboot the system, sound and video display should now be working.
Notes and Requests
If i missed anything let me know and I'll gladly append anything that seems needful. This is not a comprehensive setup only what worked for me and even then its only a very base install. You may have wifi cards, modems, nic's, or various other add on pieces, as of this writing I have found no way to get zoom video working under any linux distro, if anyone has or knows of a resource please link it up as I'd love to get that going on there as well, I do own the KingMax ZV Card. And share any success stories that this post lead you to.
Enjoy.
Starcannon aka Rob
Posted by xaccrocheur on Jan. 15 2006,00:27
Looking good Did you managed to < save > your settings ? I'm thinking about the >dsl vga=788 xsetup
>xfbdev xserver
>USB mouse? y/n if <No> then IMPS/2 mouse <Yes>
(and then KB layout)
Is there a way to avoid to configure those at each boot ? This kinda ruin the whole install thing
Posted by starcannon on Jan. 15 2006,20:49
Yes saved settings by making sure to choosein my case hda5 as my backup partition. The frugal_install.sh script will ask you where you would like your backups to go, just tell it the same partition as you told it for your persistent home and opt.After first boot without the CD you may get xsetup screen, make the choices then once in to the desktop be sure to Rclick, System, Backup/Restore, make sure appropriate partition is in the txt box then click "backup" button on the window.
Note that backups are generally automatic at shutdown or reboot and restores are generally automatic at bootup.
Hope that was helpful.
Rob
Posted by starcannon on Jan. 25 2006,18:53
XFree86 as my Xserver MUCH smoother!###############################
## Edit: Now has correct Font Paths ##
## listed in this posts example config ##
## file below ##
###############################
If your running one of these old Gateway Solo 2500 lappy's you've likely noticed that the defualt Tiny K Drive X Server that ships with DSL has left you wanting, fear not! This File is deprecated so if you need the default stuff in there just run the XFree86 Configurator myDSL package and use this post as reference.
My XF86Config File that works with a USB mouse on a Gateway Solo 2500
| Code Sample |
# File generated by xf86config. # XF86Config-4 Gateway Solo 2500 w/USB Mouse under Damn Small Linux 1.5 # ********************************************************************** # Module section -- this section is used to specify # which dynamically loadable modules to load. # ********************************************************************** # Section "Module" Load "dbe" # Double buffer extension SubSection "extmod" Option "omit xfree86-dga" # don't initialise the DGA extension EndSubSection Load "type1" Load "speedo" # Load "freetype" # Load "xtt" # This loads the GLX module # Load "glx" # This loads the DRI module # Load "dri" EndSection # ********************************************************************** # Files section. This allows default font and rgb paths to be set # ********************************************************************** Section "Files" RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb" FontPath "unix/:7100" # local font server # if the local font server has problems, we can fall back on these FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc" FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic" #FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled" FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled" FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1" FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/CID" FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo" #FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi" FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi" # The module search path. The default path is shown here. # ModulePath "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules" EndSection # ********************************************************************** # Server flags section. # ********************************************************************** Section "ServerFlags" # Removed this defualt section for ease of posting to forums EndSection # ********************************************************************** # Input devices # ********************************************************************** # ********************************************************************** # Core keyboard's InputDevice section # ********************************************************************** Section "InputDevice" Identifier "Keyboard1" Driver "Keyboard" Option "AutoRepeat" "500 30" Option "XkbRules" "xfree86" Option "XkbModel" "pc101" Option "XkbLayout" "us" EndSection # ********************************************************************** # Core Pointer's InputDevice section # ********************************************************************** Section "InputDevice" # Identifier and driver Identifier "Mouse1" Driver "mouse" Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2" Option "Device" "/dev/mouse" Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5" EndSection # ********************************************************************** # Monitor section # ********************************************************************** # Any number of monitor sections may be present Section "Monitor" Identifier "My Monitor" # NOTE: THE VALUES HERE WORK FOR MY LAPTOP FACTORY DISPLAY. # REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'SUSER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS. HorizSync 31.5-48.5 # NOTE: THE VALUES HERE WORK FOR MY LAPTOP FACTORY DISPLAY. # REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'SUSER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS. VertRefresh 60-70 EndSection # ********************************************************************** # Graphics device section # ********************************************************************** Section "Device" Identifier "Standard VGA" VendorName "Unknown" BoardName "Unknown" Driver "vga" EndSection # Device configured by xf86config: Section "Device" Identifier "** NeoMagic (generic) [neomagic]" Driver "neomagic" #VideoRam 2048 # Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate EndSection # ********************************************************************** # Screen sections # ********************************************************************** Section "Screen" Identifier "Screen 1" Device "** NeoMagic (generic) [neomagic]" Monitor "My Monitor" DefaultDepth 16 Subsection "Display" Depth 8 Modes "800x600" "800x600" "800x600" ViewPort 0 0 EndSubsection Subsection "Display" Depth 16 Modes "800x600" "800x600" "800x600" ViewPort 0 0 EndSubsection Subsection "Display" Depth 24 Modes "800x600" "800x600" "800x600" ViewPort 0 0 EndSubsection EndSection # ********************************************************************** # ServerLayout sections. # ********************************************************************** Section "ServerLayout" Identifier "Simple Layout" Screen "Screen 1" InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer" InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard" EndSection # Section "DRI" # Mode 0666 # EndSection |
Posted by starcannon on Jan. 25 2006,18:54
Sorry bout that "flood" something happened when I "previewed my post" and not sure how i ended up posting a very large post more than once. I've editted this "extra" post down to what you are reading now. 
Posted by Red04Bull on Jan. 25 2006,19:11
hey starcannonhow did you get XFree86 to load after reboot in frugal install
Posted by starcannon on Jan. 26 2006,04:42
Saving and Booting Your XFree86 Settings | Quote (Red04Bull @ Jan. 25 2006,14:11) |
| hey starcannon how did you get XFree86 to load after reboot in frugal install |
| Code Sample |
>cd /etc/X11 >chmod ./XF86Config 777 >cd /ramdisk/home/dsl >beaver ./.filetool.lst |
once you have your XF86Config file just the way you like it, it is reccomended that you tighten up the permissions to 555 to keep accidents from happening.
add the following line
/etc/X11/XF86Config
save, and close beaver
| Code Sample |
>beaver ./.xserverrc |
replace the line in this file with the following
exec /usr/X11R6/bin/XFree86 -nolisten tcp
save, and close beaver
Be sure to run backup and if all went as I remember doing it you should be ready for a reboot
Now assuming I forgot nothing you should be able to make Xfree86 work each and every boot under frugal install, of course being sure you have a good configuration file.
I'll help as much as I can keep in mind i'm still a noob to though.
Rob
Posted by Red04Bull on Jan. 26 2006,04:45
thanks ill give that a try
Posted by starcannon on Jan. 26 2006,09:37
My Desktop
Rob
Posted by Red04Bull on Jan. 29 2006,22:22
sorry about the slow response but it worked and thanks a lot
Posted by doobit on Mar. 28 2006,21:26
I luv that desktop
Posted by MrBear37 on Aug. 14 2006,14:47
Hey Rob I recently aquired a Gateway Solo laptop for my daughter to use. I was very thankful to find your post. I have a few questions..
I do the HD installs instead of the frugal installs. Can you tell me have you done a HD install and if these settings in a HD install will work ?
Also.. I would like to know what wireless card you are using ?
Lastly, I have the Kingmax XD card you spoke of.. but it did not have a "dongle" or at least it has a slot I was not aware of the use for.
THank you for posting the results of your testing.. it is greatly appreciated !
Thanks !
Mark
Posted by starcannon on Sep. 05 2006,16:47
| Quote (MrBear37 @ Aug. 14 2006,10:47) |
| Hey Rob I recently aquired a Gateway Solo laptop for my daughter to use. I was very thankful to find your post. I have a few questions.. I do the HD installs instead of the frugal installs. Can you tell me have you done a HD install and if these settings in a HD install will work ? Also.. I would like to know what wireless card you are using ? Lastly, I have the Kingmax XD card you spoke of.. but it did not have a "dongle" or at least it has a slot I was not aware of the use for. THank you for posting the results of your testing.. it is greatly appreciated ! Thanks ! Mark |
Yes a HDD install will work, though in my opinion your limiting your dsl experience with a hd install, its well worth the very small learning curve to do frugal, this way when new dsl versions come out, you are simply updating a disk image in its own partition and you get to keep all your old settings and programs and other modifications that you have made.
sorry for slow response time, i only checked back on this post to grab a link i had left here.
Posted by MrBear37 on Sep. 08 2006,11:13
Hey Rob ( et al )I had a freaky experience with the Gateway Solo. That is for some reason that I was not able to fathom.. the Wireless card I was using ( D-Link I forget what model. I am at work at the moment)... would run painfully slow.. its like the system had a choke hold on the connection.
I tried different cards.. which were recognized etc.. but with the same bottleneck... I reloaded Win-shaft on it.. and it ran fine. so I am thinking there is some resource in there that it was having issues with..
Did you have this issue ?
Mark