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INSTALLING DEBIAN GNU LINUX ON NOTEBOOK ACER EXTENSA 5620
by Francesco Palmisano

This is a tutorial for the installation of a Linux distro on notebook Acer Extensa 5620

Distribution: GNU/Debian Linux 4.0 (version: Sid)
Architecture: 32 bit
Installation modality: by the net with NetInstall CD
Kernel version: 2.6.26
Notebook: Acer Extensa 5620

Main features:

Intel Core 2 Duo T5550
2 GB RAM memory
250 GB hard disk
WiFi: Intel 3945 ABG
Graphic chip: Intel X3100
Monitor: 15,4" WXGA

What you need:

A CD or DVD of your preferred Linux distro, in our case download and "burn" a CD of a Debian/testing image.
The last kernel version, downloadable from www.kernel.org.

Let's begin:

Install your Linux distro as usual and parted the hard drive like:

2 Gb Linux swap space
the rest of the space as you prefer (for example 124Gb to windows 124Gb for Linux)

Netinstall Debian users can have a graphic installation giving the command installgui at the prompt.
During the installation select end install your favorite windows manager (KDE or Gnome or other).
Complete the installation and upgrade the system:
for Debian's user modify (use a text editor) in the file /etc/apt/sources.lst the word lenny o testing with Sid end add non-free e contrib repository.

there is, in the download section o this web site, a sources.list file (one for 32 bit and an other for 64 bit) ready to use.
So this is the result:

deb http://ftp.it.debian.org/debian/ sid main contrib non-free
deb-src http://ftp.it.debian.org/debian/ sid main contrib non-free
deb http://www.debian-multimedia.org sid main
deb http://security.debian.org/ lenny/updates main

(yes, in the last line it's write lenny! it's NOT an error)

Save the file and,as root, give the commands:

apt-get update
apt-get dist-upgrade

Now you had upgrade to Debian/Sid from Debian/Lenny!

Reboot your notebook.

IMPORTANT: All operations need to be root, using commands su or sudo.

WIRELESS DRIVER:

From kernel 2.6.24 networks device Intel 3945 e 4965 are supported by the linux kernel, so you only need to install the firmware.
With your package manager (for example synaptic) install:

firmware-iwlwifi

Install also:

acipi-support
acpitool
firmware-iwlwifi (firmware per il WiFi)
kmilo (for Kde)
laptop-detect
laptop-mode-tools
pcmciautils
powertop
cpufrequtils
libcpufreq0
kde-guidance-powermanager (or powersaved)
powersaved (or cpufreqd)
kpowersave (for Kde)
spicctrl

VIDEO DRIVER:

The graphic chipset Intel X3100 is completely supportet by linux kernel, only controll to have installed the package:

xserver-xorg-video-intel

KERNEL:

Copy the downloaded kernel pack into /usr/src/ and untar it; go inside the kernel directory and give command:

make xconfig (graphic mode)

or

make config (textual mode)

Configure and compile your kernel:

make-kpkg clean
make-kpkg --initrd --append-to-version -Vaio -rev 1 kernel_image

Then install the package:

dpgk -i (package name)

If you don't know how to configure the kernel, download this .config file made by me for kernel 2.6.33 (NEW!!)optimized for Acer Extensa 5620.
Put the .config file into /usr/src/Linux-2.6.33/ (your kernel directory).

Or, if you want, i've created ready kernel (for FZ notebook) in Debian package version:

1) vers. 2.6.26.5
2) vers. 2.6.34.1 NEW!!
3) vers. 2.6.37.2 with KMS support [config file] NEW!!

IMPORTANT:

With KMS you have to change 2 files:

    A) /etc/initramfs-tools/modules

             Add:

             # Enable Kernel Modesetting
         intel_agp
         drm
             i915 modeset=1

    B) /etc/modprobe.d/i915-kms.conf

             Add:

             options i915 modeset=1

      C) /boot/grub/grub.conf (GRUB2)

            Add (i.e. in front of vga=792)

             video=i915:modeset=1

with the command:

dpgk -i (package name)

In the Grub (or Lilo) menu, there are now two kernel images: the old one and the new one.

AUDIO DRIVER:

To use audio device you need to install packages:

alsa-base
alsa-oss
alsa-tools
alsa-tools-gui

acer5620-2

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