Anyone get Fedora Core running on their ASUS laptop?

So I'm trying to dual boot with Linux. I installed Kubuntu, which then freezes during boot while loading the "hotplugging" module. I figured I would try FC4, which not only doesn't get the framebuffer working properly, but the initial boot for the install exits in a kernel panic.

Does ASUS just hate me, or has anyone had success with installing Linux? Specifically on a z63a?

 

hi i have linux (ubuntu) in my v6v and never had problems with it.
I have all configured like wireless and stuff. it was very easy to install. Try it. Some fokes i met, have fedora core 4 and they have some problems. But u can try it too if u want.
thx

 

Yes, I installed FC4 on my z63a. I never experienced a kernel crash, but I also quickly installed the latest 2.6.14 FC4 kernel update before really doing anything. (You'll want that for the updated intel wireless networking driver). For X11, you'll need to install the i915 patch, and configure it with your lcd's native resolution: 1280x768. Then you'll need to hack your xorg.conf to contain this resolution and reference the intel driver instead of the default one. I could go on&on but most of this is more fully detailed elsewhere already (starting with linux-laptop.net)

 

yeah... I read some articles.

actually, the kernel panic is when the install itself is booting. I can't even get Fedora to install.

I was actually able to get Kubuntu installed, so I'm gonna work through working the kinks out of that instead.

 

Doesn't happen for me. Good chance I could help, but not without a lot more details. May be an issue with the choices you made during the install dialogue.
On an acer sonoma laptop, I did see this sort of behavior, and the fix was to disable the ethernet driver so that the system wouldn't lock up trying to initialize it during the install. I believe the root problem there was a bad DSDT table in the acpi section of the bios from acer.

 

Tested Ubuntu 5.04 LiveCD on my w3v without problems, running fine, but no-way with last distro 5.10... hangs during LiveCD install

 

yeah... I did manage to get Ubuntu 5.10 installed, but you have to set a different runlevel by hitting Alt+Sys Rq+E during boot because there's apparently an issue between hotplugging and the ALSA drivers. If you chmod -x hotplugging in /etc/init.d you can boot normally.

However, I never seemed to get the proper resolution, despite fiddling with 915resolution and editing the xorg.conf. I've decided to say screw it.

As for fedora core. This kernel panic happens after the initial screen after POST when you have the CD inserted. you type linux and hit enter. I've tried a few options like setting ACPI and framebuffer off, but nothing worked.

 

I'm having exactly the same problem booting for FC4 install. kernel panic during the boot process (after the linux boot screen).
have you figured out a solution?

 

I found a voodoo magic solution discussed on fedora forum:
http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=59051&page=2&pp=15
and filed as a bug in redhat's bugzilla:
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=159026

basically, at the boot prompt, first type "mediacheck". that will print a small one line error. then type "linux mediacheck" and all is right with the world!

UG

 

i found a voodoo magic workaround discussed on fedoraforums:
http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=59051&page=2&pp=15
and filed in redhat's bugzilla:
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=159026

basically, at the boot prompt, type "mediacheck". this will result in a small error message. then type "linux mediacheck" and all is right with the world!

UG

 

I can vouch for FC4 on my W3V. DO what UnleGranpaw has said. I dualbooted my system two days ago. After, two hours of investigating why there was a Kernel Panic. I just stumbled on a forum with that same solution. It should work and if it doesn't some people have used "linux=acpi off" and turning off ACPI in the Bios to get it to work. Otherwise, the typing in "mediacheck", then "linux mediacheck" should work. Not sure why you need the first mediacheck, I never tested it not typing it. It was weird with mine though, the first time I booted it up with the boot CD, it booted up fine no troubles, then I did a media test for the CD and it failed, so I had to restart and create a new boot CD and then I got into that problem. ATI has crappy support for Linux drivers.

 

I've gotten Ubuntu 5.10 running on my z63a. Here are the steps I took:
Install from CD
On boot, his Alt-Sys Req-E to get past hotplug issue
Add this line to /etc/hotplug/blacklist
>snd-hda-intel
Installed 915Resolution
Added 915Resolution lines to /etc/init.d/bootmisc.sh
Also added lines for automatically starting wireless to bootmisc. Here are the 3 lines (total) added to that file (make sure to change the resolution settings according to your notebook)

Code:

/sbin/modprobe ipw2200
/sbin/ipup eth1
/usr/sbin/915resolution 58 1280 768

Updated to the latest 686 kernel
>sudo apt-get install linux-686
Recompiled latest ALSA drivers (I used the latest release candidate)
Added GNOME Alsa mixer to my panel, since whenever I boot the speakers are muted.
Once you get the ALSA drivers working fine, you can go back to /etc/hotplug/blacklist and comment out the line you added

After that, everything works great. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, and I can *try* to help (I'm not a linux guru by any means)