supmu

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.

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!