Compaq Presario 2500

[Michael Weaver]

Has anyone actually loaded Linux of any distribution on this laptop ? I am interested in buying this laptop for running Linux but I am very concerned about it being supportable especially after reading all the problems with the Radeon Ati chip set posted here

[Bruce Copeland]

I don't have one, but I strongly encourage you to call HP and find out exactly what the video adapter system is. If it's an ATI Radeon IGP 320M, I would avoid it. If it's a Radeon IGP 340M, you can probably live with the VESA framebuffer driver for a while (as long as you don't expect to do VERY fast graphics under Linux). If it's anything newer, I would avoid it like the plague until you hear a positive testimonial. I currently have an HP ze4100 with an IGP 340M. I'm mostly satisfied with it.

Also check out any modem that might come with. If you're going to use the modem, make sure it's a linmodem.

Bruce

[Michael Weaver]

Thanks, I sent a request to HP for specs but have not got a reply yet. I did specifically mention the video was a critical component. I keep seeing mention of Ati Radeon Mobility 7500 on some laptops, does this match some of the numbers(320, 340) you mentioned ? Obviously I know little about video. I just need reasonable non heavy graphics performance from X to do Java based server development.

[Bruce Copeland]

The Radeon 7500 and 7800 are basically fully supported under Linux/XFree86. Newer things like the Radeon IGP 320M and 340M that are more iffy. You might want to look at what I have to say on my site

http://www.cybersym.com/pages/linux-ze4100.html

about ATI Radeon XFree86 Graphics and notebook purchase agreements.

Bruce

[Jesus_22]

i've installed mandrake 9.0 in this notebook without problems.

i've also tried knoppix 3.0, and also without problems.

i wonder why this linux distros runs properly in the notebook but when i try windows' OS only windows xp works.

also notice that when i try windows xp (not the home release that comes with the notebook) the ati video card is not recognised by the system (set a default vga display that show 1024x768 resolution), and when i look for the drivers at the ati's page, they take me back to the compaq page.

[ezrael]

Hi everyone. I installed on this notebook Red Hat 9, also I tried Debian Woody and Mandrake 9.1. Red Hat and Mandrake have problem loading the ohci 1394 driver (firewire port): they simply hang at startup. I solved this in RH by doing:
1. Start system by the rescue mode, passing "linux nofirewire" as boot argument
1. erase the IEEE1394 line in modules.conf
2 chkconfig kudzu off (turn off kudzu, avoiding system hanging at startup, when firewire is detected)

For Presario video drivers you should see www.compaq.com I found a good driver for XP.

ezrael

[Alejandro Barrios]

Hello... I have a very big problem. I have just bought a new laptop Compaq Presario 2525EA, because of the some good comments.
I tried to install linux RedHat 9 on it, but the keyboard just disables right after the kernel loading, so that no key works. I cant even accept or reject the question "Do you have a driver disk?". I tried to solve it in different ways, updating the bios to the latest version, connecting an external keyboard, or using the "linux nofirewire" parameter because the kernel loads this module right before the mentioned question. Nothing seems to work, and the only option I have is to power off the laptop just because no key works. I still dont know how could you install linux on it.. Even the Compaq online support doesnt have any idea on how to solve this problem. Does anybody there have any ideas? Im starting to hate Compaq.... :-(

[oisystem]

Hi all,
I just bought Compaq Presario 2135, Celeron 1.6G, and already tested with RedHat 9. Many features seem ok, such X Window (1024x768, 65536 colors), Touchpad Mouse, Sound, but not yet tested with Firewire and Infrared. Don't have such devices :)
I also had the same problem with Alejandro Barrios. RedHat 9 installation, the keyboard disabled after kernel finish loading, I also entered several parameters to the boot prompt to disable somethings, but not work. Fortunately, I accidentally pressed some key while the kerbel booting, and after the loading finish, I can now use keyboard, and can continue the installation process. I don't know why, but it works!
So try to press some key while the kernel booting message appear on the screen, cheers!
PS. If someone know why this problem occur, and why just press any key can solve this.

[Bruce Copeland]

There is a longstanding problem with the keyboard timing out on different Compaq notebook models. What you describe, sounds very similar. You should take a look at the mouse_uf utility. Source and a binary are available at http://www.brokedown.net/~squash2/n600c.html. That might take care of the problem.

Bruce

[Fly_2]

I have a Compaq Presario 2516EA and have installed Redhat 9 successfully. It works fine. The problem with the keyboard during installation is easy to fix: when the linux cd is booted type "linux nousb".

[Fly_2]

I've made a simple web page about installing RedHat 9 on a Compaq Presario 2500 (2516EA). It specially talks about the acpi installation issue.

http://pwp.netcabo.pt/fly_/2516ea.html

[Steven M. Payeur]

I put RH9.0 onto a 2500 with a Radeon IGP 345M with no problem. Monitor: generic laptop 1400x1050. It even did a graphical install in that mode.

I'm curious as to whether anyone has figured out a way to extend the display to use both the laptop's display and an external monitor. ATI's WinXP drivers do this nicely.

[Brad_79]

I'm a Linux newbie and I'm currently trying to install Slackware 9.0 (2.4.20 kernel)on my 2566AP laptop.

The distro came with a magazine and it booted up fine and installed okay.

Managed to work out how to upgrade the kernel to 2.4.22 (it came with ANOTHER computer magazine), however I discovered that Slackware didn't create a /usr/src/linux directory and it took me ages to find out that I needed to create a symbolic link.

Haven't been able to get sound working yet, I keep getting the "/dev/dep not found" error when I start up KDE. KDE seems to work fine, glide-pad worked straight up. The default video/graphics work fine as well, but I'll probably be trying to install the Radeon driver as soon as I get a chance.

[Brad_79]

...I forgot to mention that it's also running as a dual boot Windows XP and Slackware, using lilo in the MBR.

[Steve_368]

I installed Mandrake Linux 9.2 on it just fine. There was the lockup when it detected the firewire, but attempting again with the option

linux noauto

got me through the install fine.

One problem I'm having with mine is that the processor is only running at 1.6 GHz when it should be 2.3 both in Windows and in Linux, which is the speed it is supposed to run at in power-saving mode. I'm not sure if it is a coincidence that it is happening in both OSes or if it is actually a hardware problem with my laptop. I'm in touch with Compaq tech support about it.

[Steve_368]

I should add that my sound works fine with the trident driver, but it initially did not work right after install, I had to configure it in Mandrake Control center afterwards. I also have to make sure that acpi=ht is in the append options in lilo or it will only boot successfully every fifth boot or so.

[Dustin_29]

I have been trying to install Lycoris on my 2500 but I have been haveing trouble with the graphics,,when linux loads you cant see anything but blurry stuff. Trying to reinstall with the option of non compatiable vga to see if that helps