On 3/20/09, Daryl Styrk <darylst...@gmail.com> wrote: > tech lists wrote: >> Has anyone successfully installed & used Debian on either this >> (P-7805u) or the simiilar 7811 Gateway laptops? I'm having trouble >> finding any success stories on Google ( or this mailing list, or the >> debian-laptop mailing list, or linux laptops website) for these >> laptops or any Gateway FX laptops (or even Gateway laptops in general) >> for any linux distro. The laptop has been out since the middle of >> last year with the only change coming at the end of last year with a >> slight downgrade on the screen resolution. Surely someone's tried >> linux on this laptop in the last 9 months? >> >> If anyone is using this laptop with Debian or any linux flavor, is >> there a known procedure for updating the bios (if/when necessary) >> without either booting into Vista or without a Windows partition at >> all? >> >> Thanks, >> >> Laura >> >> > > I curious what problems you are running into on the install? I've > installed Debian etch and lenny to a few different makes of laptops now > and really haven't run into anything that can't be worked around. > Lenovo, Toshiba, HP, Sony, Mac, and an old Gateway. By now I would > think just about everything should work. > > Daryl > --
Before spending over $1000 on this laptop I'm just trying to confirm that linux (hopefully debian) works with it. I've been concerned about the ability to upgrade the bios because of the number of times I've had to update the bios on a Toshiba and I would have had to reinstall Vista if I had decided to overwrite the partitions, luckily I kept Vista in a dual boot config so I haven't had an issue updating the bios other than the requirement to boot into windows. You used to be able to boot up a floppy to update the bios on some brands but I've been seeing some support sites where the only procedure is to boot into windows to update the bios. I can't find any info on Gateway's support site for any non-Windows alternate procedure of updating the bios for any of their laptops, including downloading and reading their user/reference manuals. You also can boot from a cd/dvd/usb to update the bios on some laptop brands but I can't find any info on whether this is possible for Gateway laptops. I have successfully used (typing this now) Etch on a Toshiba and Etch/Sarge/Woody/Potato on desktops so I have a little knowledge on installation issues on both desktops and at least Toshiba for laptops. While trying to find info on the bios issue for the Gateway laptop, I've found unanswered posts from others about getting Linux working on this laptop, from problems with the driver/firmware for the hard drive, the DVD drive, the network card (wired, which is what I need), unanswered for wireless, some trick to get the laptop to boot into Ubuntu for the first time by using a Vista full version disk in the DVD drive and letting the boot selection time out then boot into ubuntu for the first time, another post about requiring a DVD or CD to be in the drive for every boot into ubuntu or for the dvd door to be opened, otherwise ubuntu won't boot (and perhaps I'm assuming too much but the same problem may exist with Debian if it's a firmware issue... The bios update procedure is really, really important to me as I don't want to touch Vista if possible because I don't know anything about it and it would be a major problem if I had to reinstall it, accidentally damaged one of it's partitions, or had to use it to get tech support/warranty service if something went wrong with the hardware. Last Windows I've used was 3.11/95sr2/98SE. I'm finished with Windows. Just trying to protect my money for an expensive purchase. Thanks again, Laura -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
