Laptop seemingly randomly shuts it self off...

[Killerah]

Total Linux n00b here with a Compaq Presario 2100 with a win xp/ knoppix 3.5 DVD dual boot set up. And while Windows works just fine, Linux will shut itself off from time to time, and while this is livable, it's extremely annoying. Not only because I lose whatever I was doing, but also because I have to go through that disk checker at startup evertime that happens. So, I was thinking maybe it's overheating? It doesn't seem much hotter than it gets in windows though, but that's what I was thinking would cause it to do that. I have ACPI disabled because I need it to be to get it to boot up (but I have absolutely no clue what ACPI does). Could you guys help me out?
Thanks
-Nate

[OErjan]

try restarting acpi when fully booted. that might help

[Killerah]

How? Like I said, I don't have a clue what I'm doing in linux.

[ghaze]

I have a presario 2100us.
With the 3.6 livecd ,from the boot prompt
knoppix26 nolapic noscsi <enter>
ls /proc/acpi
acpi -V
with older versions try
knoppix nolapic pci=noacpi noscsi
pcmcia is broken with the second method but at east your laptop
doesn't shutdown.
Local apic is broken in these laptops.When I build a kernel,I leave out
support for local apic and apm.
The pcmcia problem I fix with a custom /etc/pcmcia/config.opts
I use the noscsi option because scsi probing breaks my nic.With the noscsi
option the nic works fine.
On a hard drive install,add or edit your append line in /etc/lilo.conf
If you use grub,you can add these options with the e option.
Hit escape when you see grub.e to edit b to boot

append="acpi=on nolapic" #for 2.6 kernel
append="acpi=on nolapic pci=noacpi" #for 2.4 kernel

save the file and run "lilo -v" to rewrite your bootloader.Notice any error messages.

Have Fun and buy another laptop.I've got a toshiba now and I'm much
happier.The presario works,but you'll know linux by the time you get it
configured properly.OTOH,that might be a good thing.

[Killerah]

Hey! It worked! I left my laptop on for a good 3 hours without having it shut down! Thanks a ton for your help! now if I could only get my wireless working...

[ghaze]

So get it working(wireless).Mine has a built-in broadcom.Works with ndiswrapper.

[Killerah]

As I hinted at before, I'm not exactly a pro at Linux yet. Either way, I'm gonna look into it more before whining to you guys again . Thanks a ton for your help

[ghaze]

Good attitude.
There are lots of posts on this forum about ndiswrapper.
If you need more help,post.
Have Fun

[grant_vallance]

As I hinted at before, I'm not exactly a pro at Linux yet. Either way, I'm gonna look into it more before whining to you guys again . Thanks a ton for your help

A suggestion ... Go look at the Wireless forum. There is a sticky post that might prove useful: Success with Knoppix 3.6 and Wireless Networking that tells you about a success with getting wireless up-and-running written by a complete novice for novices.

I.e. Me

There are also a few other posts of successes and the trials of getting things to work which may also be of some help.

And if you get stuck, I like to help. Its the one thing I know something about -- I want to build up a little credit before asking some questions of my own.

Cheers,

Grant D. Vallance

[Killerah]

OK, I have done some messing around with my wireless, and now I can officially say I'm stuck. I followed these instuctions because I tried yours but I have knoppix 3.5 DVD edition installed and I don't have that handy little configuration thingy (at least not that I can see), if you know how to run that config thing with a command that might work. Anyway, my problem is, when I do that "modprobe ndiswrapper" thing it says "FATAL: Module ndiswrapper is not found." I have searched the internet alot, and will continue after posting this, but so far I am getting nothing helpful.

Thanks