Linux on the Compaq Armada M700

Linux on the Compaq Armada 7750MT Here is how I got Linux (RedHat 6.1) running on a Compaq Armada 7750MT. I gleaned much useful information from the Linux on Laptops page

The following describes what I did. I was successful, but I guarantee nothing, and accept no liability for lost data, damaged hardware or any other untoward happening in your life. If your toaster blows up as result of installing Linux onto your laptop then that's your look out!

BackupYou did backup anything you want to keep, didn't you?

Make a RH boot floppy?

You can set the BIOS to boot directly from the CD so you don't need to do this. (Get to the BIOS by pressing F10 while there is a flashing cursor in the top-right corner during a boot.) In fact i you made a floppy and then tried to boot from it the install would fail as i would not find the CD ('cos the floppy is in the bay where the CD goes!)

Squeezing Windows

I didn't bother doing this as didn't want to keep any windows stuff on the machine. However, here is a mini-howt telling you how to do it

dosutils/fips20

fips.exe

restorrb.exe

errors.txt

Turn off Windows virtual memory.

  My Computer -> Control Panel -> System -> Performance -> Virtual Memor
              -> Let Me specify ..
  then Disable virtual memory ..

Defrag disk

  Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System tools -> Disk Defragmente

Reboot into DOS.

Use FIPS to shrink the Windows partition.
You now may want to reboot to Windows to restore virtual memory before you forget.

Do the InstallReboot direct from the CD. I made new partitions but the default ones will work just as well. Just be careful tha you don't delete the Compaq Diagnostics partition.

128M swap
the rest is home

Tuesday July 11, 2000 13:08 -0000