Certified Computer Experts (602)412-3273

MSI S270 or the MS-1013 On Fedora Core 5 i386

This is a quick note until I can pretty the instructions up.

Loading Linux on the MSI S270 or MS-1013 (just a name)

This laptop is recommended for linux in my opinion. There are a couple qirks about it but if you take care of that, you should be ok.

First Off.. This is a 32 bit/I386 install.. Why? I needed programs and codecs only available in I386. The benefit of a 64 bit system did not outweight the need for certain programs/features (FOR ME!).

What Works:

Video - Works great with OpenGL Support
Wireless Card - Works great with NDISWRAPPER
Bluetooth - Works
Audio - Works natively with Fedora Core 5
Firewire - Works Natively
Hotkeys - After configured - supported
Ethernet - Of course, it's Linux

What does not work:

Modem - Not worth testing.
Memory Card reader. Unfortunately as of the writing of this FAQ, the Ricoh card is unsupported. If I get an update.. I'll let you all know

INSTALLATION

Install Fedora Core 5 I386 with the default settings. If you type 'linux noapic reboot=b' on the initial screen, this kernel option will be added to the install. This is needed to prevent timing problems. If you already installed it, no worry, just vi /etc/grub.conf and add the noapic to the kernel line. I added the reboot=b option because every once in a while the laptop would hang on reboot and this fixes that problem.

Turn off or put SELINUX under permissive. It has a problem with the fglrx driver and blocks the load on 64 bit systems and maybe with the 32 bit systems. I don't know enough about SELINUX to prevent the problem so I just disabled it for now.

Once running, log into root and run the following command:
/sbin/chkconfig cpuspeed off

Why did I turn off CPUSPEED. Basically every time the cpu would switch from 800 mhz to 1.6, it would cause the screen to flash. Although I lose the power savings of CPUSpeed, the need for a stable system seemed better. :)

Install the Livna Repos for the ATI Drivers and the NDISWRAPPER drivers.

rpm -ivh http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-5.rpm

Run update to get the kernel completely up to day.
yum -y update

Reboot
/sbin/init 6

Install ATI and Ndiswrapper drivers
yum -y install ndiswrapper kmod-fglrx

Reboot
/sbin/init 6

Run system-config-display to configure the driver.

Set the monitor to LCD -> 1280X800
Set the Driver --> fglrx
Set the Resolution to --> 1280X800

Save
Reboot (I know.. some of you geeks out there are saying.. REBOOT?!? Linux!?!.. For ease I say reboot I know you can go to runlevel 3 then 5.... :) lol )

Then you need to identifify your wireless card.

you can run the following
/sbin/lspci

look for something that has Wireless in the description
Then type in the following command, substituting 2:09 with the number of your card

lspci -ns 2:09

Then you go to the following website and search for your 8 digit number, separated by a :

I have the B/G/bluetooth card which uses this driver.
Once downloaded, go into the folder for WinXP

run:
ndiswrapper -i neti2220.inf

then:
ndiswrapper -m

I don't know why but the alias does not go into the modprobe.conf correctly so type the following command:
echo 'alias wlan0 ndiswrapper' >> /etc/modprobe.conf

Run '/sbin/chkconfig NetworkManager on' to turn on the Network manager which makes WPA encryption set up a BREEEZE.

Reboot and you are good to go :) Just use the NetworkManger to set up your WPA Wireless network if you have one.

As always, let me know if you need help support@expertofficepc.com