plight of the i810 driver

Question

I have an Inspiron 2600 which I'm trying to get Linux running on. I started off with Fedora Core3 text 2, and X didn't work at all. No matter what resolution I set X would die, saying there was no BIOS mode for it. So I tried Suse 9.1, same thing. Finally I randomly find a post on some linux forum saying you have to stay at BIOS revision A08 or less. What on earth could Dell have done to completely break this chip in BIOS version A09 and higher? I had A11 installed, and tried A10 and A09 before getting back to A08, which does work. Of course, I had to do it with floppies, as the Windows BIOS updater won't install old BIOS revisions.

The ultimate shame of it is that Intel has a driver for this card released in June of 2004 which might actually support dual-head. (I haven't been able to compile it on Fedora or Suse, but still, it's out there).

I remember calling Dell phone support about this on a C400 2 years ago. The phone tech actually gave me Michael Dell's email address, to which I sent a professional complaint and received a call from his staff within hours. You would think that this sort of thing would encourage them to at least not remove Linux compatibility. Who would be interested in starting a p.e.t.i.t.i.o.n (note, this board considers that word to be profane) to try and get Dell to give us a proper BIOS for this chipset? We're not asking for official support for Linux-based OS installs, just a BIOS that is consistent with Intel's. I mean, Intel's motherboards and reference design allow for setting the memory on these chipsets, so Dell is actually taking the time to intentionally remove this functionality despite numerous posts like this asking for it.

Agent Orange · Answer

I will sign any pe tition you like but it won't do you any good. We're *still* not even close to being a large enough market for dell to devote the kind of resources required. They write a BIOS - it works with windows. That's it.

Windows doesn't use the BIOS for it's video modes (the problem you had) so it won't be fixed. Nor does windows (I think) use the bios DSDT table for ACPI things, so that won't be fixed either. It's just not going to happen - a simple business decision. The only way to change it is to vote with your feet! Don't buy their hardware. Go to HP or someone who'll sell you a linux-compatible (or installed) laptop.

For a more concrete fix, can you post the error message you get in your /var/log/XFree86.0.log file (if you're using xfree86). If you're using the X.Org server (haven't a clue what redhat does), then it'll be in /var/log/X{somethingorother}. That will tell you the problem. I suspect it's just hte typical not-enough-preallocated-memory i810 problem, which is easily fixed with the 855patch by christian zietz. google will reveal all...

cheers
PS - I also just discovered that pet ition is apparently a rude word. This sort of behavious from dell is reprehensible!

jgeorgeson · Answer

I don't remember the exact text of the error and after reverting to BIOS A08 it works. But it was along the lines of "no BIOS mode for your settings ..... no screen found ..... fatal io exception 104 ..... session ended unexpectedly." The order of those statements may be incorrect.

I'll have to think about starting a pe tition. You're probably right, but one can still hope.

Agent Orange · Answer

ahhh, the irony. I posted on the forum feedback board complaining about the censorship of the P-word - I think this is really a very poor attitude. I got a few responses, some helpful, some not. I was formulating a coherent argument against this sort of behaviour...and just found that the whole thread has been deleted (read "censored") due to a TOS violation.

*shrug* I'm voting with my feet. good luck with your linux crusade. I just won't buy another dell.

jgeorgeson · Answer

I think I'm going to join you. Especially since HP sells a laptop with Linux pre-installed, and IBM's thinkpads are so well regarded for their linux compatibility.

Basset9078 · Answer

While, I have been able to get Linux version to work pretty well on Dell. It does seem easier to get the HP. I am planning on getting that for Christmas. Let me know what you all think about the HP when you get it.

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plight of the i810 driver

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