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Asus W5A (last update october 14th 2007)

Installing Gentoo Linux 2005


Contents:


1. Hardware description (Asus W5660AUP):

Device Status Note
1.72 GHz Pentium-M CPU Works Speedstep works
12.1 Wide Screen LCD Works Use 915resolution to change a mode to 1280x768
60GB 4200RPM UDMA 100 HDD with 8MB cache Device Fault It needed an fsck per reboot so I replaced it with a new 120GB HD
512MB di RAM Works
MATSHITAUJ DVD-RW Dual Layer with 2MB cache Device Fault It does not burn DVD anymore... why?
Intel Corp. PRO/Wireless 2200BG Works Module also included in kernel, since version 2.6.16
RealTek RTL-8139 Works The module 8139too recognizes and handle well the chip
Internal 56K Modem Works It is a Connexant chip. You can download the driver from here.
Bluetooth Works Kernel patch needed (download here)
Intel Corp. Mobile 915GM Express Graphics Controller Works Everything works: see video section
Intel High Definition Audio Works Drivers now included in the kernel tree
ALi Corp. USB 2 WebCam Does Not Work No drivers available (check here and here)
FireWire: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C552 IEEE 1394 Controller Works Thanks to Robert Emil Berge (I still not tested it)
CardBus bridge: Ricoh Co Ltd RL5c476 II (rev b3) Unknown Waiting for important updates in 2.6.17 kernel
Ricoh Co Ltd R5C592 Memory Stick Bus Host Adapter Unknown Soon I'll test new driver (thanks to Robert Emil Berge)

2. Base installation of Gentoo 2005.1

Download and follow the Gentoo Handbook that you can find here.
If you want to use the network install with a Wireless LAN Internet Connection, you need to follow these steps:

  • Boot with Wireless LAN switch off.
  • You need to turn on the network adapter by software:

    Code 1: Switch on Wireless Adapter during the installation

    # modprobe asus_acpi
    # echo 1 > /proc/acpi/asus/wled

In /etc/make.conf I suggest for CFLAGS -O2 -march=pentium-m -pipe.
I firmly disencourage to do not use -O3 expecially for who has only 512 MB of ram (as me) because it let gcc build executables too big then, when you use an haevy environment like KDE, ram becomes early full.

Remember to include, while configuring your kernel, acpi4asus (hotkeys support), and the right video and audio drivers.

Code 2: Kernel 2.6.14+ configuration notes

Power Management Options (ACPI, APM) --->
  ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) Support --->
    <*> Asus/Medion Laptop Extras
Device Drivers --->
  Character Devices --->
    <*> /dev/agpgart (AGP Support)
    <*>   Intel 440LX/BX/GX, I8xx and E7x05 chipset support
    < > Direct Rendering Manager (...)
    <*>   Intel 830M, 845G, 852GM, 855GM, 865G (i915 driver) --->
    <*>     i915 driver 
  Sound --->
    <*> Sound Card Support
          Advanced Linux Sound Architecture --->
            PCI devices --->
    <M>       Intel HD Audio

Note that you must compile the sound card driver as module if you want to use the alsa boot init-scripts.

Warning: If you want to use the Wireless connectivity after the reboot you have to remeber to emerge the Wireless Adapter modules before:

# emerge ipw2200

NOTE: If an error about old ieee80211 headers occur follow the instructions printed by emerge to proceed.

NOTE: ipw2200 support is now included also in the stable kernel, you can use those driver instead.

3. Setup degli altri componenti:

Once rebooted, we can handle the remaining devices.

3.2. Video Device (a bit outdated)
First of all we need to install xorg 7.0 because it supply us new i810 driver that support dri with i915. You can find an useful guide that can help you here: Xorg 7.0 Migrating Guide
Before installing Xorg 7.0 your /etc/make.conf may look like this (fbdev included only for testing and fallbacks, once things runs well you can remove it and recompile)

Now we will install updated drm kernel modules:

Code 3: DRM modules install

# ACCEPT_KEYWORDS=~x86 emerge x11-drm
At the end of the installation process we can directly insert the modules into the kernel but remember to add them to the kernel-2.6 autoload list:

Code 4: Inserting modules

# modprobe i915
Then you can configure and run X!
Here you can see my xorg.conf.

nihil84

Versione ITALIANA

oct 14th 07: Partially update the general section. Sorry but I have no long time to mantain these pages.

feb 16th 06: Finally, also DRI and XVideo works!

gen 13th 06: No skilled translator found, then I translated this page (from italian) by me, but I am not skilled.
Then if you find any error mail me, please.

oct 20th 05: A WebCAM driver may be ready in a short time, then check periodically the links listed in the table.

aug 28th 05: The page is incomplete and under construction, if you have more information, mail me:
nihil84@libero.it

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Copyleft 1984 Paolo Bernini. Questions, Comments, Corrections? Email nihil84@libero.it.