Revision history

Revision 1.5	2009-05-01	Add notes about wireless card
Revision 1.4	2008-05-01	Add HowTo update de BIOS under Linux Updated the nVidia driver version
Revision 1.3	2007-09-17	Add multimedia keys information
Revision 1.2	2007-07-22	Add video information (Use LCD panel and external monitor)
Revision 1.1	2007-07-02	Add modem DVD drive Bluetooth information
Revision 1.0	2007-04-30	Initial publication

This document describes how to install and configure the GNU/Linux CentOS 5.0 on a Dell XPS M1710 Laptop

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Specifications:

Hardware information reported by lspci command

dvdrom notes
If you like to make your DVD drive burn faster.

Edit the /etc/modprobe.conf file and append the next line

options libata atapi_enabled=1

and edit the /etc/grub.conf file, at finel of the kernel line (vmlinuz)

combined_mode=libata

If your work was successful, your CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive will no longer be accesible through /dev/hdc, but /dev/scd0.


Wireless notes
If you install a previous version of CentOS 5.3 then make procedure ipw3945, otherwise follow to the iwl3945 procedure

ipw3945 procedure

You need download the firmware and driver from Intel support page, or sourceforge page, or the DAG RPM (ipw3945-firmware, ipw3945-kmod, ipw3945d) or SRPM (ipw3945-firmware, ipw3945-kmod, ipw3945d). Note: if you are using the .tar.gz or SRPM file, you need install the kernel-devel package. If you are using the .tar.gz file, then you make: uncompress or unpack the ipw3945-linux-1.2.0.tar.gz file copy the firmware (ipw3945-ucode-1.14.2/ipw3945.ucode) into /lib/firmware directory compile the source of ipw3945-1.2.0 cd ipw3945-1.2.0 make make install copy ipw3945d-1.7.22/x86/ipw3945d into /sbin directory Load the driver ./load To verify the sucessfull loaded driver, execute "dmesg | grep ipw" and you get the next result ipw3945: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945 Network Connection driver for Linux, 1.2.0dmpr ipw3945: Copyright(c) 2003-2006 Intel Corporation ipw3945: Detected Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection ipw3945: Detected geography ABG (11 802.11bg channels, 13 802.11a channels) If you like to load the driver at startup yo need add the next lines in the /etc/modprobe.conf file. alias eth1 ipw3945 install ipw3945 /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install ipw3945 associate=1; sleep 0.5 ; /sbin/ipw3945d --quiet remove ipw3945 /sbin/ipw3945d --kill ;/sbin/modprobe -r --ignore-remove ipw3945 and add the next line in the /etc/rc.local file /sbin/ipw3945d --quiet

iwl3945 procedure

You only need download the firmware iwl3945-firmware in RPM-file or tar-file. If you are using the .tar.gz file, then you make: uncompress or unpack the iwl3945-linux-1.2.0.tar.gz file copy the firmware (iwlwifi-3945*.ucode) into /lib/firmware directory Reload the kernel module iwl3945 To verify the sucessfull loaded driver, execute "dmesg | grep iwl" and you get the next result iwl3945: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG/BG Network Connection driver for Linux, 1.2.26ks iwl3945: Copyright(c) 2003-2008 Intel Corporation iwl3945: Detected Intel Wireless WiFi Link 3945ABG iwl3945: Tunable channels: 11 802.11bg, 13 802.11a channels phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'iwl-3945-rs' If you like to load the driver at startup yo need add the next lines in the /etc/modprobe.conf file. alias wlan0 iwl3945

Video
The Video driver (in CentOS distribution) work without problems, but if you like a 3D efects, run video some fast, or you like to use LCD panel and external monitor simultaneous, you need download the nVidia driver for Linux. Note: You need install the kernel-devel package.
To install the nVidia driver you need boot the laptop without X-Windows enviroment, and execute NVIDIA-Linux-x86-169.12-pkg1.run. If you like to modify the X-configuration fie by handle read this file. I change the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file,  I put only the add/modified sections.

Section "ServerLayout"     Identifier     "Layout0"     Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0     Screen      1  "Screen1" RightOf "Screen0"     InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"     InputDevice    "Synaptics" "CorePointer" EndSection Section "Files"     RgbPath         "/usr/lib/X11/rgb"     FontPath        "unix/:7100" EndSection Section "Module"     Load           "dbe"     Load           "extmod"     Load           "type1"     Load           "freetype"     Load           "glx" EndSection Section "ServerFlags"     Option         "Xinerama" "0" EndSection Section "Monitor"     # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid     Identifier     "Monitor0"     VendorName     "Dell"     ModelName      "1920x1200 Laptop Display Panel"     HorizSync       30.0 - 75.0     VertRefresh     60.0     Option         "DPMS" EndSection Section "Monitor"     # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid     Identifier     "Monitor1"     VendorName     "Unknown"     ModelName      "Default Monitor"     HorizSync       25.0 - 100.0     VertRefresh     56.0 - 120.0     Option         "DPMS" EndSection Section "Device"     Identifier     "Videocard0"     Driver         "nvidia"     VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"     BoardName      "GeForce Go 7900 GS"     BusID          "PCI:1:0:0"     Screen          0 EndSection Section "Device"     Identifier     "Videocard1"     Driver         "nvidia"     VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"     BoardName      "GeForce Go 7900 GS"     BusID          "PCI:1:0:0"     Screen          1 EndSection Section "Screen"     Identifier     "Screen0"     Device         "Videocard0"     Monitor        "Monitor0"     DefaultDepth    24     Option         "metamodes" "DFP: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"     SubSection     "Display"         Depth       24         Modes      "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1600x1200" "1600x1024" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"     EndSubSection EndSection Section "Screen"     Identifier     "Screen1"     Device         "Videocard1"     Monitor        "Monitor1"     DefaultDepth    24     Option         "metamodes" "CRT: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"     SubSection     "Display"         Depth       24         Modes      "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"     EndSubSection EndSection

This configuration permit you to use two simultaneus and independient monitor (separete X screen), the laptop is a screen0 and the external monitor is a screen1.


Audio
The audio sound work perfect, but may be you hear a beep (it’s damn loud by default) and yo like to turn off, then remove or rename the speaker module (/lib/modules/`uname -r`/kernel/drivers/input/misc/pcspkr.ko)


Modem
Yo need download the Conexant driver from Linuxant home page (hsfmodem). Note: if you are using the .tar.gz or SRPM file, you need install the kernel-devel package.

If you are using the .tar.gz file, you meke:

1. uncompress and unpack the hsfmodem-X.XX.XX.XXfull.tar.gz file
2. compile and install driver
   
1. cd hsfmodem-X.XX.XX.XXfull
2. make install
3. reboot
4. run hsfconfig to configure the driver modem
   
5. reboot
   

To verify the sucessfull loaded driver, execute "dmesg | grep HSF" and you get the next result

ttySHSF0 at MMIO 0x0 (irq = 1) is a Conexant HSF softmodem (HDA-14f12bfa:14f100c3-1)

Bluetooth notes
It's posible when you run the "hcitool scan" yue get the messages "Inquery failed: Conection time out". You only need reset the bluetooth device. I recommended put the next line in the "/etc/rc.d/rc.local" file. See also this forum post.

hciconfig hci0 reset

Multimedia Keys
The multimedia keys have the next keycodes.

Action Keycode Function Name Volume mute 160 XF86AudioMute Volume down 174 XF86AudioLowerVolume Volume up 176 XF86AudioRaiseVolume Play/pause 162 XF86AudioPlay Previous track 144 XF86AudioPrev Next track 153 XF86AudioNext Stop 164 XF86AudioStop

Add the next lines in the /etc/X11/Xmodmap file

!  Multimedia keys. keycode 160 = XF86AudioMute keycode 174 = XF86AudioLowerVolume keycode 176 = XF86AudioRaiseVolume keycode 162 = XF86AudioPlay keycode 144 = XF86AudioPrev keycode 153 = XF86AudioNext keycode 164 = XF86AudioStop

You could configure the multimedia keys using the Keyboard Shortcuts from Prefernce menu or run gnome-keybinding-properties whichever suits your fancy. Go to the Sound category in the Actions column is expanded, then click on the desired action. The entry in the Shortcut column will change to "New accelerator...." Press the desired key for the binding, and the shortcut is made.

Action Shortcut Volume mute XF86AudioMute

Or add the next line in the ~/.gconf/apps/gnome_settings_daemon/keybindings/%gconf.xml file

<?xml version="1.0"?> <gconf>         <entry name="volume_up" mtime="1190054305" type="string">                 <stringvalue>XF86AudioRaiseVolume</stringvalue>         </entry>         <entry name="volume_down" mtime="1190054303" type="string">                 <stringvalue>XF86AudioLowerVolume</stringvalue>         </entry>         <entry name="volume_mute" mtime="1190054292" type="string">                 <stringvalue>XF86AudioMute</stringvalue>         </entry> </gconf>

Updated BIOS
For update the flash BIOS under GNU/Linux Operating System, follow the next steps.

1. Download the latest BIOS version, i.e. A07MXG61.EXE (Dell XPS M1710 download page)
2. Verify or install the syslinux package (come with CentOS)
   
3. Install the biosdisk package (mirror)
4. Create the floppy image from BIOS file, move the image file to /boot directory and copy /usr/lib/syslinux/memdisk file to /boot directory
   
1. biosdisk mkimage A07MXG61.EXE
2. mv /tmp/A07MXG61.img /boot
3. cp /usr/lib/syslinux/memdisk /boot
   
5. Add the next line to /etc/grub.conf file
   

   title BIOS Flash A07         kernel /boot/memdisk         initrd /boot/A07MXG61.img

6. Reboot and select "BIOS Flash A07"
1. Don't turn off the computer in this process

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