Linux on the Compaq Armada e500s

Page started 16th April, 2001. Latest update: 23rd November, 2003.

• 21 October 2003Red Hat 9.0 installed no problems, inc. wireless pcmcia. This is a very easy install, masses of games. My only complaint is the laptop became very noisy about a year ago, it was returned under warranty but Compaq refused to accept this complaint and claims noise is within acceptable bounds. This is frankly ridiculous, as it makes a noise like a lawnmower. Mind you this seems to be a fault with many laptops after about 12 months :-(

Latest update: 11th July, 2002.

What's New?

• 11th July, 2002 Suse 8.0 installed no problems, inc.ADSL, but can't figure how to set up network.

What can go wrong?

I cannot take any reponsibility for problems you may have.

What's Here?

Specification

The manuals and specification for this machine is here. Mine has a celeron 650 with 128Mb, DVD and 13.3"tft.

I used suse because frank steiner has created a great Linux page on the Compaq Armada e500s with suse 6.4. Oh yes, and it comes on a DVD.

if you have a different laptop check linux-laptop, a rather useful page.

My XF86Config may get X Windows started on your e500. it is here. It is configured to run a serial intuos wacom tablet, and a logitech optical cordless trackball wheel.

More information on setting up wacom is here.

Xfree information on configuring XF86Config. XFree86 >version 4.1 supports the wacom tablet as well as mousewheel.

It will probably be worthwhile copying the system map created into its correct place.

ADSL

• new usb-adsl howto and hints if you are a BTopenworld subscriber in the UK. I couldn't get the suse howto to work for me, it is based on the verrept kernel drivers deprecated versions. if you have used the older ones, please re-install linux, I wasted many hours trying not to.

Sound

See Kernel, you need to write CONFIG_SOUND_MAESTRO=m in the kernel configuration file.

after booting type (as root): modprobe maestro in a terminal.

Learning Difficulties.

Configuring your Window Manager.

You can run KDE, and I do, for some emergency tidying up.

Icewm has a much smaller size and I recommend it.

You will need a Desktop and a menu, mine are designed for people with learning Difficulties.

Desktop:

This has links to Xkill, floppy, autostart and trash as well as the same items as menu.

Ksmiletris is far and away the most popular, it allows for an enormous range of ability.

menu:

You should be able to understand this...

prog rxvt xterm rxvt -bg black -cr green -fg white -C -fn 9x15 -sl 500

prog fte fte fte


separator

menu Work folder {
    prog PAINT xpaint xpaint
    prog WORD kedit kedit
}

separator

menu Games folder {
    prog SMILE ksmiletris ksmiletris
    prog PACMAN kpacman kpacman
    prog CARDS kpat kpat
    prog TRON ktron ktron
}

innitab is configured not to run x on startup.

each users homepage has the following two files also in /etc/skel

copy the files and add a line or two to each.

.bashrc =

startx

.xinitrc =

kfm &
icewm

one client only wanted to use a single program, and another has great problems maintaining interest. for these clients it is worth opening their workspace with their chosen program running. save a blank page 350x200 as /root/popped

.xinitrc =

xpaint -popped popped  &
icewm

KDM has a great photo sign-in capability, the need for a password can be disabled:

Edit /etc/shadow deleting everything between the first and second colons for each client.

eg: sam::11128:0:99999:7:-1:-1:1075506364 sam will not need a password.