I think i got my screen working right (maybe not the higher resolution, didn't try beyond 1024x768 yet. modem, NIC and wifi card don't work though. bummer huh. see my other posts for details if you wonder.

 

i'm considering asking for a refund to another laptop because i don't get linux working on this one (especially the wifi card's problems)... but what laptop works *perfectly?*

Yes, it is indeed possible to install linux on a inspiron 5100, but it is a little tricky.

The installation procedure for debian 3.x installation is as follows :

First, you must aquire a full install CD (because you can't make a floppy and/or netinstallation) and install debian.

Second, get the both the kernel source and headers and compile a new kernel (as normally done) and the get and compile the network drivers (search the net for broadcom 440x linux drivers) and then reboot.

Third, in order to get X you need at least XFree 4.3 (someone keeps packages on http at people.debian.org so you can use apt).

The touchpad has linux drivers supported by the manufactor, but since I use an USB mouse instead of the touchpad I haven't enabled the touchpad in linux ....

Good luck, it isn't impossible, but it isn't easy either ...

I've got it working with SUSe 8.2 ..... everything works great except for APM (Power management) and modem....... still working on the APM stuff .... putting off on the modem since I don't need it..........

I installed SuSE 8.2 too and it's possible to run modem: just download the newest hsf drivers from linuxant.com (RMPs) and update SuSE's version. Everything is automaticaly. Maybe you will have some troubles with modem options in wvdial.conf and /etc/ppp/options, but it's possible.

Can anybody simply say us whether is possible or not activate APM or ACPI? Maybe it will be possible with next version of BIOS and in 2.5 kernels?

NL.

it seems if you are willing to do a bit of work it may be possible:

http://cabibbo.physics.wm.edu/~bryan/computer/inspiron5100.html

particularly the part about http://acpi.sourceforge.net and the ACPI patches.

I personally have not tried this, I just found the info. So I

 

it seems if you are willing to do a bit of work it may be possible:

http://cabibbo.physics.wm.edu/~bryan/computer/inspiron5100.html

particularly the part about http://acpi.sourceforge.net and the ACPI patches.

I personally have not tried this, I just found the info. So

 

It works!!! Thank you, Longkm; Bryan made excellent and detailed explanation so it wasn't hard work at all.

Now I have battery monitor etc etc etc. Only proccessor-status is not supported, but maybe I'm wrong. Let other owners of Dell Inspiron 5100 try Bryan's method and post something about results?

But the core of his solution is using official patches from http://acpi.sourceforge.net against "raw" kernels from ftp.kernel.org. If you try them against SuSE's (like mine), RH's or any other slightly modified kernel, then don't work - you will not be able to recompile your kernel. Of course, I would like original kernel from my distribution for lot of reasons.

Does anybody know how to apply acpi patches against RH, SuSE.... etc kernels?

NL

Anyone got their headphone jack working in Linux? My headphone jack does not seem to work..... I'm using Suse 8.2

Well, now I have kernel-2.4.20.SuSE recompiled and working. Just follow steps on http://cabibbo.physics.wm.edu/~bryan/computer/inspiron5100.html, without acpi-patching kernel and using dsdt.patch fromthat site with one line modified, as follows. Now, I have ACPI correctly loaded during boottime and battery monitor, but still no fan, processor performance management and C3 power state. Is it possible in this moment? My Dell is still slightly warmer than in Windows and fan is always on.

--- drivers/acpi/osl.c
+++ drivers/acpi/osl.c
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@
static OSD_HANDLER acpi_irq_handler = NULL;
static void *acpi_irq_context = NULL;

+extern unsigned char AmlCode[];

acpi_status
acpi_os_initialize(void)
@@ -221,7 +222,10 @@
if (!existing_table || !new_table)
return AE_BAD_PARAMETER;

- *new_table = NULL;
+ if (strncmp(existing_table->signature, "DSDT", 4) == 0)
+ *new_table = (struct acpi_table_header*)AmlCode;
+ else
+ *new_table = NULL;
return AE_OK;
}

If sound is working, you can get the headphones to work. Try running alsamixer and put the Headphone setting up to 5 or 10%.

 

Matt

Thanks Matt!!! It works great now!!!!!!!!!

Just want to note that w/ kernel 2.4.22 and the new bios A22, there's no need to apply any acpi patch or using the dsdt patch etc. It just work out of the plain kernel.

Battery status works / thermal works . Acpid able to tell all the events like power button/suspend pushed, closing lid also shut the backlight of the screen. so far everything seems to be good. I also have an article on running Debian on the 5100. check @ http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/t/x/txn131/linux/Inspiron5100.html

Nikkola

I installed Suse 8.2 too on my Dell Inspiron 5100. I have found on http://acpi.sourceforge.net/dsdt/view.php?id=63 that you have got acpi to work. I have tried to dsdt.patch but I got error when I make bzImage or kernel panic. Could you help me and send description and maybe your .config. I newbie in Linux but it is verry intresting to get it to work. My e-mail:
miroslaw.holubek@tomra.no

head over my page at http://halong.dyndns.org/crypto/computer/linux/i5100/index.html , there you'll find details description on how to set up acpi and my .config . Gluck