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2417
August 14th, 2007 01:00
Inspiron 530N Freedos version - major Linux problems NO Ethernet!
Mepis 6.5 does not recognize the Ethernet adapter on my new Inspiron 530N. I purchased the version that came with Freedos disks, because I knew that I wanted to use Mepis, rather than Ubuntu. The Freedos version had processor options that the Ubuntu version did not, and I thought that if Dell tested the systems with Ubuntu, that they should work with Mepis. Unfortunately, there have been problems.
The machine was only the second (sufficiently powerful) machine that I tried which failed to boot the default Mepis 6.5 live image. I tried other live CDs, and they all failed to boot, with the same continuous looping error. Finally, even though I didn't think that it was applicable, I tried the option for the JMicron IDE driver. It worked - both live and installed. Does anyone know if the Dell Inspiron 530N actually uses this controller, or was it just a lucky break that the configuration in this boot menu option on Mepis worked?
However, the ethernet connection is not recognized. The logs show that there is an unknown intel LAN card, but no driver is loaded. On line, I found that other users of the Windows version with similar problems stated that Windows identifies the card as an intel 82562V-2 card. The log outputs from their systems, under Linux, were the same as mine. Is this the correct card for the Freedos version? The documentation that came with the system was not very detailed.
I downloaded a file (linux-backports-modules_2.6.20-16.tar.gz) for this problem with the Ubuntu version of the 530N on the support page. I tried to follow the instructions in Mepis, since it's Ubuntu based. However, it didn't like the kernel that's used in Mepis 6.5. Does anyone know how this functionality can be backported to the Mepis 6.5 kernel? Note that I cannot do a live apt-get as I cannot access the internet. I have to be able to download files elsewhere, and then make the changes locally on my new system. I downloaded Kubuntu, and may have to install it (if it will even install, given my problems with most other distributions), and try the backport file under Kubuntu, but I'd rather use Mepis.
This is very frustrating, as one of the reasons that I purchased the system was that I assumed that the hardware would be Linux compatible. So far it's the least Linux friendly machine on which I've tried live distributions - Mepis usually "just works", out of the box it recognizes video adapters, wireless cards and hardware that is usually difficult under Linux. On the 530N I've had problems with the IDE controller (as only Mepis 6.5, with special options booted - PCLINUX OS, Sabayon, Mepis 3.2, and an older Knoppix all failed), I still cannot get the ethernet adapter to work, the sound doesn't work, and the 3D desktop doesn't work (and it DOES work on the Optiplex GX620 that I am now using at work, which supposedly has the same, or a similar, Intel graphics chip set to the 530N - my experience at work with the live CD was one of the reasons why I decided to make the purchase).
A little less important. Is the Conexant modem in the 530N the same as the one in the laptop? Will the laptop driver work for it? I cannot understand why Dell would put a WinModem in a no OS computer.
The machine was only the second (sufficiently powerful) machine that I tried which failed to boot the default Mepis 6.5 live image. I tried other live CDs, and they all failed to boot, with the same continuous looping error. Finally, even though I didn't think that it was applicable, I tried the option for the JMicron IDE driver. It worked - both live and installed. Does anyone know if the Dell Inspiron 530N actually uses this controller, or was it just a lucky break that the configuration in this boot menu option on Mepis worked?
However, the ethernet connection is not recognized. The logs show that there is an unknown intel LAN card, but no driver is loaded. On line, I found that other users of the Windows version with similar problems stated that Windows identifies the card as an intel 82562V-2 card. The log outputs from their systems, under Linux, were the same as mine. Is this the correct card for the Freedos version? The documentation that came with the system was not very detailed.
I downloaded a file (linux-backports-modules_2.6.20-16.tar.gz) for this problem with the Ubuntu version of the 530N on the support page. I tried to follow the instructions in Mepis, since it's Ubuntu based. However, it didn't like the kernel that's used in Mepis 6.5. Does anyone know how this functionality can be backported to the Mepis 6.5 kernel? Note that I cannot do a live apt-get as I cannot access the internet. I have to be able to download files elsewhere, and then make the changes locally on my new system. I downloaded Kubuntu, and may have to install it (if it will even install, given my problems with most other distributions), and try the backport file under Kubuntu, but I'd rather use Mepis.
This is very frustrating, as one of the reasons that I purchased the system was that I assumed that the hardware would be Linux compatible. So far it's the least Linux friendly machine on which I've tried live distributions - Mepis usually "just works", out of the box it recognizes video adapters, wireless cards and hardware that is usually difficult under Linux. On the 530N I've had problems with the IDE controller (as only Mepis 6.5, with special options booted - PCLINUX OS, Sabayon, Mepis 3.2, and an older Knoppix all failed), I still cannot get the ethernet adapter to work, the sound doesn't work, and the 3D desktop doesn't work (and it DOES work on the Optiplex GX620 that I am now using at work, which supposedly has the same, or a similar, Intel graphics chip set to the 530N - my experience at work with the live CD was one of the reasons why I decided to make the purchase).
A little less important. Is the Conexant modem in the 530N the same as the one in the laptop? Will the laptop driver work for it? I cannot understand why Dell would put a WinModem in a no OS computer.
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ByCo
40 Posts
0
August 14th, 2007 23:00
The package that you downloaded looks like it is for the 2.6.20 Linux kernel, MEPIS 6.5 uses the older, more stable 2.6.15 kernel.
FrustratedAbout
2 Posts
0
August 16th, 2007 22:00
I will probably try Kubuntu, to see if the patch works in it. However, I really do prefer Mepis.
Does anyone know how to get sound to work? Does it work in Ubuntu? I cannot get sound from the headphone jack in the front, or from the "audio out" in the back.
Is there any way to find out exactly what hardware is in the Inspiron? The documentation that came with the system was rather sparse, and this makes it very difficult to try to solve problems. This is especially frustrating, because I bought the Dell specifically to avoid these problems. I wanted a complete system that played nice with Linux, and I didn't want to spend time tracking down drivers, and modifying the system. So far, it is the worst system I've tried with Linux. I would have been better off building a system from parts. I didn't do that because it's been a while since I did, and hardware has changed a lot - I thought that I could save time by getting a complete system - I was very wrong.