Installing Fedora Core 3 on Gateway 7422GX or Gateway 7426GX

By Eduard Kleyn

Last updated: 08/12/05

General Hardware Specifications of Gateway 7422GX:

This laptop is operating under Kernel version kernel-2.6.10-1.770_FC3 and KDE 3.3.2

System Files:

• lspci

• lsmod

• xorg.conf

• xmodmap-common

• sources.list (for apt)

• cpuspeed.conf

• harddisks

Installation:

Installing FC3 was not challenging on this very well engineered laptop. You may choose to install FC3 32bit or 64bit. Both of them will be running flawlessly except I chose to install 32bit because apt gets confused with duplicated packages on 64bit platform (duplicate packages are required because of 64bit compatibility, and apt errors out and just doesn't work properly. (To my knowledge apt team is working on this very known issue and updates should come up soon.)

Network Setup:

Built-in wi-fi is not supported on FC 3. You will either need to download, compile and setup NdisWrapper or simply pay one-time fee and obtain much easier solution via linuxant. I ended up using linuxant permanent license solution because it was a little bit easier from the maintenance stand point.

After you'll be done with either setup you will need to setup network. Issue this commands to get a nice GUI interface that will allow you to customize your network setup any way you wish (login or su – to root and type: neat for GUI or neat-tui for CLI). Well, seems like we are almost done with our wi-fi setup. Now let's setup secondary, or for some people primary Ethernet interface. NIC is supported and doesn't require any compilation or some custom setup. Simply, go back to “neat” interface and setup your NIC there as eth0 or eth1.

Modem Setup:

Setting up modem was not a difficult task. Even though, it is a soft modem and I used linuxant Conexant HSF soft-modem driver that is free but limited to 14.4Kbs transfer speed. If you want full 56Kbs speed then pay one-time fee for permanent license with future updates.

Setting up X.org with wide-screen support:

x.org supports ATI 9550 video cards without a problem. Although, for 3D support you'll need to either download apt and then get fglrx tools and compiled module for your kernel, or jump through hoops and download ATI proprietary driver and compile it. In both ways you'll need some knowledge of X and know how to edit xorg.conf file and work with it. I have included my xorg.conf file as a sample for your viewing pleasure.

Special Keys setup:

Configuring special keys should not be difficult if you will run xmodmap-common script during x.org startup. After you install xmodmap-common script, go to Control Center in KDE > Regional & Accessibility > Keyboard Shortcuts and configure special keys to your liking.

Configuring volume keys is a little bit different. You will need to go to Control Center in KDE > KHotKeys and create keyboard shortcut > command/URL. For the command to increase volume use “amixer set Master 1+ > /dev/null” Also, don't forget to create another shortcut to decrease volume. Follow the same instructions but use different command “amixer set Master 1- > /dev/null”

ACPI setup:

Now let's get ACPI to work. First enable acpid service. Login as root and type “service acpid start” then “chkconfig –level 2345 acpid on” Also, make sure that you copy my cpuspeed.conf to /etc/ and type “service cpuspeed start” and “chkconfig –level 2345 cpuspeed on”

If you have followed my instructions, then you should be able to see your ACPI data in /proc/acpi/ and see how cpuspeed service adjusts (and saves your battery) to the machine load. Just look into /proc/cpuinfo during idle times and full loads, CPU speed will vary from 802MHz to 2200MHz.

NOTE: All of the ACPI functions will work except for suspend and hibernate. Please let me know if you find a way to make those functions work.

lm_sensors setup:

Don't even try to configure lm_sensors on this laptop. There are no sensor chips, so you can't get any readings on temperature, voltage or fan speeds. The only temperature info I could get out of this laptop is hard drive temperature. Download and install hddtemp if you wish to have some information about your hard drive temperature. If you have installed apt, then simply download the package using apt. I have provided my list of apt repositories for Fedora Core 3.

Contact Information:

• e-mail address: mneddy AT kleyn DOT net

Links:

• LinuxAnt

• NdisWrapper

• rage3d (Forum/Linux Section)

• ATI Linux Drivers

• apt or download rpm from freshrpms.net

• Gateway

• Greg's eMachines M6805 page (very similar marchitecture)

• Linux on Laptops

• TuxMobil

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