Linux on Laptops

Sponsored by LinuxCertified Inc.
Home | New | Models | Components | Discussion | Submit        

Installing Fedora 5 on Toshiba Satellite A135-S2246

Last updated: Saturday August 18, 2007

General Hardware Specifications of S2246:

Hardware Components
Status under Linux
Notes
Processor: 32 bit Intel Celeron M 430(1.73GHz) Works No special procedure required during installation.
Display: 15.4" WXGA Works No special procedure required during installation.
Video: ATI Radeon Xpress 200M Integrated Works No special procedure required during installation.
Memory: 512MB DDR2 Works Initial background processes grab most of the 512MB of memory. I recommend splurging on a $40 1GB memory chip. See my comments below: additional features #1.
Hard Drive: 80 GB 5400rpm SATA Works No special procedure required during installation
Ethernet: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10) Works No special procedure required.
Wireless card: Atheros Communications, Inc. Unknown device 001c (rev 01) Works This Atheros card is well supported under Fedora. See additional features #2 below for instructions.
Modem: Internal 56k Haven't tried
PCMCIA mobile broadband: Sprint's Pantech PX-500 mobile broadband card Works Easy to do. Set it up just like a modem using ATDT. See additional features #3 and additional features #4 below for instructions.
Optical drive: DVD/CD-RW Combo Works No special procedure required during installation
Li-Ion (6 cell, 4000mAh) Works I don't think this is a typical problem but my computer sometimes will not start. No power, no lights, nothing. This happens when the battery slightly works its way out. Just pull it out and put it back in to get the power back.
Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc Unknown device 437b (rev 01) Works No special procedure required.

This laptop is operating under Kernel version 2.6.18-1.2257.fc5

Setting up additional features for Fedora 5
  1. Memory Upgrade
    2.  Max upgrade is 2GB. I bought two new PQI 1GB 200-Pin DDR2 667 memory cards and tried to swap them after installing FC5. There was a hardware detection problem when both were in, but worked fine when the original 512MB memory card was in either the primary or secondary slot. Strange. I just settled for 1.5GB memory. Works quite well!

  2. Atheros 802.11 Wireless Card
    3.  Wireless can be brought up in a jiffy through "yum install madwifi". However you must first ensure that you have ATrpms repository added to your repo database and have imported their public key. If not do the following:

    $ vim /etc/yum.repos.d/atrpms.repo

     ADD THESE LINES AND SAVE:
    [atrpms]
    name=ATrpms for Fedora Core $releasever stable
    baseurl=http://apt.atrpms.net/fedora/$releasever/en/$basearch/at-stable
    enabled=1
    gpgcheck=1

     THEN:
    $ rpm --import http://atrpms.net/RPM-GPG-KEY.atrpms

     AND LAST:
    $ yum install madwifi

  3. Mobile Broadband Wireless Card via PCMCIA Slot
    4.  It is easy to get the Sprint broadband wireless card working, but be forewarned that you must maintain a Windows OS with your wireless card software. Not only must you must first initiate the card on a Windows machine, but you may need periodic software updates to your card that are apparently only accomplished using their Windows program. If your card suddenly stops working one day, see my notes on this issue below. You will also have to steal some of the card's giblets OR you could just copy copy those giblets that I've posted below.

    Create this file: /etc/ppp/peers/sprint

    1. Add this content to it:

    connect "/usr/bin/wvdial --remotename sprint --chat 'sprint'"

     2. Create this file: /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-sprint

    # Please read /usr/share/doc/initscripts-*/sysconfig.txt
    # for the documentation of these parameters.
    ONBOOT=no
    USERCTL=yes
    PEERDNS=yes
    TYPE=Modem
    DEVICE=ppp0
    BOOTPROTO=dialup
    AC=off
    BSDCOMP=off
    VJCCOMP=off
    CCP=off
    PC=off
    VJ=off
    LINESPEED=460800
    MODEMPORT=/dev/ttyACM0
    PROVIDER=sprint
    DEFROUTE=yes
    PERSIST=no
    PAPNAME=
    WVDIALSECT=sprint
    MODEMNAME=Modem0
    DEMAND=no

  4. Solution for "NO CARRIER" error for Sprint Pantech PX-500 mobile broadband card
    5.

    Suddenly one day my Sprint card stopped working. The following error was logged in /var/log/messages:

    Aug 15 09:33:45 godthab wvdial[3846]: Sending: ATDT#777
    Aug 15 09:33:45 godthab wvdial[3846]: Waiting for carrier.
    Aug 15 09:33:45 godthab wvdial[3846]: ATDT#777
    Aug 15 09:33:45 godthab wvdial[3846]: NO CARRIER
    Aug 15 09:33:45 godthab wvdial[3846]: No Carrier! Trying again.

    You will find that your Sprint card periodically requires an update. I've got 2 cards and they both stopped working reporting the no carrier error. The problem was fixed for the first card when I plugged back into a Windows XP machine, brought up the Sprint program, chose "Device Info & Diagnostics" from the menu, and selected the botton in the lower-left corner of the window (can't remember its name but it's in the very lower left corner and is apparently present only when connection protocol fails and an update is necessary). This put the necessary connection protocol data on the Sprint card and the problem was fixed. When I stuck the second broken card in it connected immediately when I hit the "GO" button to connect. I presume this is because it updated the card software automatically once the first card was fixed.

Contact Information

Cheap Laptop Rugged Laptop Case Gaming Laptop Lenovo Linux Laptop
Linux on Laptops is copyright © linux-on-laptops.com
Privacy Statement  Contact us at linuxonlaptops (at) gmail.com
  Advertise on linux-on-laptops.com

No Warranties: This information is provided "as is" without any warranty, condition, or representation of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to, any warranty respecting non-infringement, and the implied warranties of conditions of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. All logos or trademarks on this site are the property of their respective owner. In no event shall linux-laptop.net, linux-on-laptops.com, or any directors, trustees, associates, or employees thereof be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential or other damages howsoever caused whether arising in contract, tort, or otherwise, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of the information contained on this web site.