[NTLUG:Discuss] Linux on an HPZE4400

[Tom Adelstein]

arb at rtsi.com wrote:
> *This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate(tm) Pro*
> Greetings
>    I want to thank everyone for the help in getting RH 9.0 running on 
> the laptop.  I thought I would pass along some helpful information for 
> anyone else thinking about doing the same.
> 
> 1. To preserve the "original" load on the laptop I found that the 
> commercial products such as Partition manager, Partition magic etc. 
> while a bit expensive for a one time use ($50 - $80). will save you many 
> hours of grief.  Even after defragmenting the NTFS drive I could not 
> shrink the partition due to files located near the end of the partition. 
>  Partition Manager handled moving the files and shrinking the partition.
> 
> 2. Disable Legacy USB support or use USB / PS2 keyboard and mouse for 
> the initial load.   RH 9.0 would not run with the laptop when booted 
> from the CD. However it ran fine once installed.  This turned out to be 
> an issue with Legacy USB enabled in the BIOS.
> 
> 3. PCMCIA support is extremely iffy.  I had to disable this to get the 
> install to fully boot.  I have not resolved this issue completely.
> 
> 4. The install configuration of the XFree86 did not work.  The 
> configurator could not figure out what type of display I had, and my 
> guess was incorrect.  I ended up using "XFree86 -configure" to generate 
> a XF86Config.new file to replace the one generated by the install.  The 
> "settings" display incorrect information but the screen works great.  I 
> am running 1152x864x16bit ( I think) even thought the settings say 
> 800x600x256 colors.
> 
>   I am still playing with some of the settings and setup but I now have 
> a functional dual boot laptop.  (RH 9.0 and WXP Pro).
> 
> For those who may have missed this info:
> Laptop HP ZE4400 BTO (Build to order)
> 20 GB hard drive
> DVD/CD-RW
> 256MB memory
> ATI Radeon UI display adapter
> 15" SXGA 1152x864 native resolution
> 56k Modem
> 10/100 Lan
> 3.5" floppy installed
> Athlon XP 2400+  ( checks out at 1.8ghz)
> WXP Pro original install with a bunch of Windows apps ( most have been 
> removed)
> 
> 
> I hope this information is helpful to someone else, it has been a 
> learning experience for me.
> 
> Allan R. Batteiger
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> https://ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss

Allan,

No disrespect or criticism intended at all. I am pleased that you got RH 
9 running on your Laptop. I saw a lot of posts about your situation.

For anyone intending to use Linux with a Laptop, sometimes you'll have 
no pain at all.

http://www.linux-laptop.net/ has comprehensive information on laptops 
and Palmtops.

If someone intends to purchase a new Laptop, you might consider a visit 
to their website before you buy.

Also, since HP ZE4400 isn't listed, you can add an entry there to help 
others.

Congratulations on getting the system to work. I can just imagine the 
emotional roll coaster.