Hey, I just got this laptop, a Compaq 900z, because it was on sale at the local store. However, every attempt to install Linux fails in some way. Mandrake 8.1 fails because of hard drive, w/ the following error :

check_for_bad_disks : Can't even read! (I/O error)

From which i cannot move on. I can't get the Redhat 7.3 ISO to be read, so thats out. The Mandrake 9.0 boots, but exits w/ the following error :

Configuring PCMCIA : Kernel panic

Finally realizing that all these versions had a 2.4.x version of the kernel, so I tried some older versions. SuSE 6.0 and Redhat 6.0 both detect the HD, and install fine, but SuSE won't recognize the floppy drive or the DVD-ROM, and Redhat isn't able to write LILO to a boot disk. Both of those froze on X configuration, probably due to the Radeon U1 / Compaq Laptop screen. I'm pissed off, cause i got the laptop for primarily Linux, and I'm stuck w/ Windows XP Home .

According to a mailing list (can't remember which one, Alan Cox was on it, ) the problem is due to the 2.4.x series of drivers, but the 2.5.49 kernel is OK with it. Anyone know how i can get a distro w/ that kernel? Or can anyone help me w/ the install? Really really need linux!

First, a good place to start is here:

http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/compaq.html

Second, while getting info on my new Dell Inspiron 8200 I thought I saw some info on your laptop in Google searches. You might want to try both sources.

Thanks for the help, but the linux laptop site has nothing on the Compaq 900 series. The only usable source of info i've found has been a mailing list, which says that it is a kernel issue because of Compaq's new chipset for AMD systems.

Google search only turns up the above mailing list and ads to buy a new Compaq laptop

The people on the mailing list mention that kernel 2.5.49 seems to have fixed this bug. Does anyone know how to install Linux w/ this kernel? Making a cd w/ the files, etc.

There is a Mandrake 8.2 installation guide for the Compaq Presario 904:
http://david.aragao.name/laptop/intro.shtml

Hi !

Has one as said I have a very rude installation guide for Presario 904EA - http://david.aragao.name/laptop

The mailling list you were speaking about is:
http://videl.ics.hawaii.edu/pipermail/linuxpresario900/

There people are trying to get the laptop 100% compatible with linux. But I'm running mdk9.0 with VESA driver for X server, network card is fine,etc,etc. on Presario 904EA, already !!

There is a spanish installation guide also for presario 905 at:
http://www.mobilix.org/mylaptops.html

oh, and http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/compaq.html doesn't have to have 900 series to be helpfull. I installed my laptop using information from presario 700 series from there.

Finally take a look at groups.google.com and not to www.google.com and you will find more information and less adds.

Regards,

David

Type 'linux pci=off' at the lilo boot prompt when you are installing.
That did the trick for me. The installation goes smoothly from there on. Choose VESA driver generic and generic panel for display.
However, and here's the trick part, the installation would not boot up for me, and get stuck up at "Kernel panic, Unable to Continue."
With help from another mailing list contacts, I tried the following option at bootup (type 'a' while highlighting linux option in Grub which allows you to pass kernel options)
'noisapnp nousb pci=conf2'
That lets me boot up the machine without pcmcia or usb support and is rather slow too due to 5mbps transfer rate from the hdd.
Hope to get this resolved, but for now, you have a working linux install.

Hope that works.