resize NTFS and installs on Laptops

[RedMap]

Hello, I'm looking for a laptop as compatible as possible with linux. I expect it to have WinXP pre-loaded (as you can't get one without). Min 512MB, 60GB HD, WLAN or WLAN compatible card.

So which recent distros load well on laptops and can resize the NTFS partition from the install without losing WinXP (I want to keep it just in case a couple of things don't work).

Also, what laptop & distro are you using (with the above minimum specs), if you have had no or very few probs.

Thanks for all your help.

[XiaoKJ]

Originally posted by RedMap
Hello, I'm looking for a laptop as compatible as possible with linux. I expect it to have WinXP pre-loaded (as you can't get one without). Min 512MB, 60GB HD, WLAN or WLAN compatible card.

Not really... you can get them if you go order online or get a linux distributor or something...

So which recent distros load well on laptops and can resize the NTFS partition from the install without losing WinXP (I want to keep it just in case a couple of things don't work).

all that includes the 2.6 kernel, esp the bigger distros...

Also, what laptop & distro are you using (with the above minimum specs), if you have had no or very few probs.

Thanks for all your help.

I am not using a laptop, but if you are going to, do not try gentoo on it -- the laptop might burn out! :D

Nah... try *ANY* distro of choice, and I _LOVE_ GENTOO!!! :D

[rbrimhall]

I'm using a Dell Inspiron 8500 with 759 MB, 40 GB harddrive but this is easily replaced (so was the RAM), and currently an orinoco gold pcmcia card I got off ebay for $30... I just ordered a mini-pci dell truemobile 1150 card though and this is supposed to be compatible with linux (and will hopefully use a little less juice from my battery) from ebay for, once again, $30... I'm using Fedora Core 2 but have run Slackware 9.1, Mepis, Suse 9.0 and 9.1, Debian Sarge (with 2.6 kernel), Red Hat 9, FC 1 and all have worked (but all also required a bit of work like setting up modelines for my not so common 1680x1050 resolution)... I'd go here and check out what others have documented about their laptop and linux... the i8500 pages helped me a great deal (like providing me with the exotic modeline mentioned above:) )

http://www.linux-laptop.net/

I think If I were in a position to get another laptop I would go for a used IBM Thinkpad T-30 and bump up the RAM... that's just me though... older hardware and linux play a lot nicer than brand new hardware and linux...

[RedMap]

Thanks for that.

So FC2 or Suse 9.1 can resize NTFS on install, and then should work ok with laptops...? Hope so.

lupin_the_3rd, would the pcmcia card be recognized on install, a simple driver install, or did you need some playing around? Would like a built in ethernet to work straight off and hopefully a 802.11 card to work ok with not too much trouble.

Thanks for the link, lots of info there. Need to get a laptop soon to run simulations (binary UNIX code) while over at uni in Japan for a few months. So looking for a quick solution. I'll just pick up a laptop that someone found to work well with a lunux distro and off I go with no trouble :)

I'd be grateful for other peoples experience too. Thanks!

[cybertron]

See my sig for my laptop's stats. It's a little older than you're looking for, but I don't think any of the hardware was difficult to set up. Overall it's working pretty smoothly.

For the wireless, you might try searching the forum to at least get an idea of what cards people have had trouble with.

[rbrimhall]

FC2 doesn't resize NTFS... but a CD-distro like Mepis or Knoppix can...

As for the pcmcia card, FC2 recognized it at installation but configured it as an ethernet connection rather than wireless... I'd just wait and run the network config wizard later... also, there are some issues with FC2 and dual booting that you may want to look into before going ahead with it... I love FC2 but I don't dual boot... I'd definately go for a couple of years old model laptop if your willing b/c there will be more docs on it from other users and more hardware support from the kernel...

[Uranus]

I have a Dell Inspiron 5100 but if I had to buy another one I'd probably go for an IBM and rather Athlon (Intel PIV now). It wasn't hard to get working, except I don't think my PCMCIA works yet (never needed to use it though). I still want to get my video output to work though - I could use it as a dvd-player :D.
I'm using Source Mage, but I think it would be a hard first-distro so to say. For the resizing, see if you can lay a hand on a copy of "Partition Magic" - it should be able to do just about everything you want.
Have fun with linux.
Sam

[RedMap]

cheers.

I'll be wary of FC2 then with the boot issue. Not too fussed about the distro as long as I can simply install parallel to Windows (NTFS resize), and it sets up everything or almost everything automatically.
So... Knoppix &/or MEPIS can resize NTFS and stick itself on the HD?

The advice seems to be a Dell Inspiron or an IBM so far... :)

There's just so much information at http://www.linux-laptop.net/ that I wouldn't know where to start. Just need to pick a laptop that other people have easily working and off I go! :) Really appreciate your help!

lupin_the_3rd - so FC2 wasn't the first distro you stuck on the laptop - what did you use to resize NTFS?

[Uranus]

QT-Parted is on Knoppix and resizes NTFS (http://qtparted.sourceforge.net/features.en.html)
You can indeed do a hard-drive install of Knoppix - have a look at this:
http://www.freenet.org.nz/misc/knoppix-install.html
HTH
Sam

[rbrimhall]

Mepis Live CD recently... initially I used Partition Magic 8 when I first got the laptop... then, I wiped Linux completely b/c I was spending too much time on it instead of my schoolwork:D So, the second time around after graduation I used a Mepis Livecd and qtparted to resize...

[av8or]

I believe you can resize NTFS partitions with SUSE 9.x. Don't take me at my word on that though.

As for wireless network cards, make sure you don't get one with a Broadcom card. There's NO support for these cards in Linux, unless you buy the driverloader from linuxant.

[RedMap]

thanks for that and the links too - Hope I can get to test a Knoppix boot before I buy then do a NTFS resize and install from it.

Thanks a bundle!

[mdwatts]

Moved to the Mobile Computing forum since your question is on Linux compatible laptops and such.

[rdeschene2]

Wireless card: I'm using a Netgear WAG511 (dual band) and I'm very happy with its performance. I did have to pay for the driver though, but it was well worth it -- works like a charm.

For a laptop, I am using a Dell Latitude C600 which is an older model, however, I like the Latitude design because they have been using the same layout for some time now so replacement batteries can be had for a reasonable price ($100), and the old (e.g.) floppy drives or CD drives from older units can be used in newer ones. It can also take two batteries, which lasts at least 8 hours (spreadsheets, word processing, web surfing). There availability of 2 PCMCIA slots and a mini-PCI card gives it good flexibility too.

http://web.ripnet.com/~rdeschen/Dell_Latitude_C600_-_SuSE_8_1.html

I'd verify all these features are still true before proceeding.

There are some really nice units that comewith Linux pre-installed:
http://linuxcertified.com/linux-laptop-lc2000.html
http://www.sub300.com/

[rpassmore]

Originally posted by av8or
I believe you can resize NTFS partitions with SUSE 9.x. Don't take me at my word on that though.

As for wireless network cards, make sure you don't get one with a Broadcom card. There's NO support for these cards in Linux, unless you buy the driverloader from linuxant.

to resize my NTFS partition, I used suse's liveCD, worked like a charm.

and for my broadcom wireless card, I used ndiswrapper. it works, sort of :P

but I know it's just a user-error, as I can get to the router, heck I can even do administration on it...just haven't figured out how to get through the dang gateway....but I'm totally new to linux so I'm pretty darn sure it's not the card's fault..but my own.

manually configuring lan's on linux seems to be quite a curve for linux-noobs...from my experience and observations of other noobs. We're too used to the windows lan config UI...which in all honesty, is well done. I'm sure though that one day, possibly soon, linux will exceed there also :)

[Monster_Ride_Op]

I've got SUSE 9.1 working great on my laptop. Everything worked after the install exept for my wireless card and some acpi features. The wireless was fixed easily by installing the latest madwifi drivers. I also got the fnfx program to take care of those acpi features such as screen brightness. The only thing that does not work is my TV out. But it won't work in windows either so I don't even worry about it.