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Newer page: version 2 Last edited on Friday, October 29, 2004 4:29:31 am by StuartYeates
Older page: version 1 Last edited on Friday, June 7, 2002 1:07:45 am by perry Revert
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-Linux on Sony VAIO mini-HOWTO  
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-!!!Linux on Sony VAIO mini-HOWTO  
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-!!Hideki Saito hideki@chatlink.comv1.1, 16 September 1998  
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-''This document explains installation of Linux on Sony VAIO computers.''  
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-!!1. Introduction  
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-*1.1 Notes  
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-*1.2 Notes about different systems  
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-*1.3 Update History  
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-*1.4 Disclaimer  
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-*1.5 What this document all about?  
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-  
-  
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-!!2. Hardware compatibilities issue  
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-*2.1 Hardware that not compatible with Linux  
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-*2.2 Partially compatible hardwares  
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-!!3. How to install Linux?  
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-!!4. After all...  
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-!!5. Little Legal notes  
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-!!6. Special thanks  
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-!!1. Introduction  
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-!!1.1 Notes  
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-This document first appeared in "Hideki Saito's Homepage" at  
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-http://ryoohki.anime.net/~hideki/  
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-.  
-This version of HOWTO is rewritten for updated information. HTML version  
-is found in http://ryoohki.anime.net/ hideki/VAIO+Linux.html. You may  
-distribute this document freely. When you publish it, please drop me a  
-note; I just want know how this documents are used :)  
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-!!1.2 Notes about different systems  
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-I've recently received some mail stating that some of contents in this  
-document is incorrect. It is because some reason, hardware installed on  
-more recent systems are slightly different than older systems. I will  
-start covering those information. But since of course, I don't have every  
-system in here, I would like to ask Sony VAIO owners to tell me more  
-information about it. This would help me a lot if you can put [[VAIO  
-Information ] in the beginning of the subject, so I can take extra  
-attention to it. Also, please include model number of the system. If it is  
-notebook, please include that information in a content, or in a subject. I  
-would like to apologize to ones that got confused by this document.  
-(Addition: 12/29/98)  
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-!!1.3 Update History  
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-12/29/98 Added several updates  
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-!!1.4 Disclaimer  
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-  
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-Also most of procedures in this document is tested, I will  
-take no responsibilities for any problem caused by using any information  
-in this document. As like in GPL, please try anything in your own risk. I  
-am not native English writer, and you will find many mistakes in this  
-document. Please excuse me on those. Any corrections and clarifications  
-are welcome; please send those to hideki@chatlink.com.  
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-!!1.5 What this document all about?  
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-  
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-In this HOWTO, I will go over how to use Linux under Sony VAIO  
-computers. The VAIO computers are great, but was not very friendly to  
-Linux. But this isn't mean that you cannot use it, actually you can!  
-Throughout this document, I will assume that you own either PCV 70 or 90.  
-Since almost all VAIO models are similar in their architecture (although  
-newer ones have larger disks, updated video card, more RAM, etc), many of  
-contents in this document should apply to all VAIO models.  
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-!!2. Hardware compatibilities issue  
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-!!2.1 Hardware that not compatible with Linux  
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-Most of hardwares installed in the system are compatible under  
-Linux. However there are exceptions of modem, USB Port and MPEG decoder.  
-Please be aware that you cannot use modem, which should be problem for  
-some of you. Modems installed in the VAIO is called DSVD modem, which is  
-the variant of the "Winmodem."  
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-(Addition: 12/28/98)  
-Newer model seems to have normal modem instead of Winmodem.  
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-!!2.2 Partially compatible hardwares  
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-The soundcard and the Video card installed are partially compatible.  
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-!Soundcard  
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-Soundcard is compatible under Linux with supports of Microsoft Sound  
-System + Sound Blaster, if you want to use MIDI under Linux, you need to  
-compromise your sound input capabilities. For this case, cancel out the  
-Sound Blaster. If you need MIDI, and sound input, you may want consider  
-buying OSS/Linux, which you can use all of its capabilities under Linux.  
-The soundcard equipped with the VAIO is Yamaha OPL3SA, and OSS/Linux has  
-full support to it. It seems like that the wavetable synthesis mentioned  
-in the specification is really the soft synthesizer, so you are not  
-missing hardware capabilities on it. As the time I am writing this, there  
-is the OSS/Free 3.8, which supports  
-this soundcard under Yamaha OPL3-SA1 audio controller. Please note that  
-this is not initially installed on 2..x. You will need to download from  
-OSS site. 2.1.x comes with updated version of OSS/Free, but I haven't  
-tested compatibility with it. If you see that it is working with this  
-soundcard, please let me know.  
-  
-  
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-!Video Card  
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-Videocard is partially supported under Linux. You will have no  
-problem  
-using it under Linux console mode. If you wish to use it under X Window,  
-get 3.3.1 or later XFree86, which has support to ATI Rage. Other  
-commercial X Window system should support this, too. However, 3D  
-acceleration of this video card will not work under Linux, as there is no  
-driver for this. (Update 12/29/98) For model number 505, ALSA drivers on  
-XFree86 V3.3.3 or later is compatible.  
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-!!3. How to install Linux?  
-  
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-Installing Linux on the system will not be big problem. However,  
-you  
-need to aware that initially, there are one non-DOS partition on the  
-system. I have no idea what that partition is. It is 400MB partition,  
-and it is visible by running fdisk. I simply deleted this partition to  
-allocate it for Linux. And I don't have any problem, so probably it must  
-be something to do with software installation. (Update 12/29/98) This  
-400MB partition is only on older models, it really supporsed to be another  
-400MB DOS partition, but Sony made mistake on it. Please refer to other  
-instruction for general installation of Linux. The VAIO has nice support  
-that you can boot directly from CD-ROM, if CD-ROM is bootable. Since the BIOS  
-supports it, it is what you can use in some distribution. This is nice,  
-because you can perform floppyless installation. Particularly, Redhat  
-could boot from CD-ROM. Other distribution like SUSE also claims that it  
-can boot from CD-ROM. But as I have not checked those yet, I cannot be  
-sure on that. If that this way of booting does not work with yours, try  
-checking boot option in the BIOS. Kernel configuration shouldn't be big  
-problem except for the part to setup soundcard. But as I covered that  
-issue earlier, I will not talk about it in this section. The VAIO  
-computer is equipped with APM BIOS, or Advanced Power Management BIOS, I  
-personally don't recommend that you enable support to it under Linux. I  
-had problem when I enabled it. (Update 12/29/98) I have received report  
-that with 505, CD-ROM install is difficult and network install is much  
-easier.  
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-!!4. After all...  
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-Everything went well? I hope it did. Now your Sony VAIO computer  
-is one of the best Linux workstation. If you have any problem, I may have  
-answer to your questions. Please just send those to hideki@chatlink.com  
-anytime. I will try to answer those as soon as possible.  
-  
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-!!5. Little Legal notes  
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-VAIO is the trademark of Sony.  
-All other trademark appeared in this documents are belonged to their  
-respective holders.  
-The copyright of this document is reserved by Hideki Saito.  
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-!!6. Special thanks  
-  
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-I would like to thank to following people, not in any particular order:  
-Daniel Nunes. If you feel that your name should be on this section, please  
-let me know by mail . (recentlly I lost big portion of my mail spool by  
-accident, so it maybe the case)  
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+Describe [HowToVAIOLinux ] here