GNU/Linux Desktop Survival Guide by Graham Williams
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Dell Inspiron 6400 (Ganesha)

Ganesha is a Notebook with 1GB of memory, a 100GB hard disk, a DVD$\pm$RW Dual Layer burner, a 15.4'' screen, and a wireless card. The machine came with MS/Windows XP installed so the machine was set up for dual boot (now part of the Debian GNU/Linux install options).

A default install using the Sarge 3.1r2 Debian GNU/Linux Installer, booting from a DVD+RW was performed (18 April 2005). The DVD image was obtained using jigdo-file (see Section 3.7.2).

Working: Dual Core 1.83GHz CPU, 1680x1050 resolution with Intel 945GM (i810), Broadcom Ethernet (b44), Intell 3945 Wireless (ipw3945), USB, CD/DVD, Flash Card Reader (sdhci), sound (snd-hda-intel).

Not working: Suspend, hibernate.

Not tested: Modem.

Issues: (see Troubleshooting below for resolution):

• The hard disk is recognised as /dev/hda5 in the installed kernel (2.6.8) and as /dev/sda5 in the upgraded kernel (2.6.16).
• The vesa video driver was chosen by default, but i810 should be used and 915resolution is used to get 1680x1050 (wide 8:5) resolution.
• Wireless with a kernel version later that 2.6.17 worked out of the box. With a kernel version less than 2.6.17 you need to install the Intel ipw3945 driver, but once installed it works nicely. The network-manager package, under at least kernel version 2.6.18, can handle WPA-PSK and connects no problem.
• After moving to kernel 2.6.16 the CD/DVD stopped being found since the libata module was claiming the device, but failing to recognise it, and a later led-generic module load could not then claim it. The ATAPI option had to be enabled for the kernel and then the drive started being recognised. Apparently fixed in 2.6.17

Subsections

• Ganesha Specifications
• Ganesha Install Log
  • 29 Apr 2006
  
  
• Troubleshooting
  • Kenrnel hda to sda
  • XOrg
  • Wireless
  • Power Management
  • SATA CD/DVD
  • USB
  • External Beamer
  • Sound
  • Flash Card Reader
  • Software Suspend
  • CPU Temperature
  • Lid
  • TV Out S-Video
  • Keeping the Machine Quiet