Installing Fedora Core 5 on Dell 600m

Last updated: 7/25/2006

General Hardware Specifications of Dell 600m:

Hardware Components	Status under Linux	Notes
Pentium M 1.8 GHZ	Works	No special procedure required during installation.
Dell 1400x1050 Laptop Display	Works	No special procedure required during installation.
ATI Radeo R250 Video Card	Works	No special procedure required during installation. Go to System -> Administration -> Display to configure resolution.
Integrated Network Card	Works	No special procedure required during installation
Internal 56k Modem	Unknown, I haven't tried it yet
CD-ROM Drive	Works	No special procedure required during installation
Intel IPW2200 B/G Wireless network adaptor	Works with minor configuration	1. Download the firmware 2. Install firmware 3. Reboot computer (See below)
Battery	Works	No special procedure required during installation
Sound Card	Works	No special procedure required. Go to System->Preferences->Volume Control to adjust volume settings

This laptop is operating under Kernel version 2.6.15-1.2054_FC5

Basic Installation of Fedora Core 5

Installing - Download the iso images and burn them, you can check out other resources for how to burn iso images (you may want to look at other laptop models and lots of them have instructions on how to burn iso images. This person seems to have a good FAQ here and a good place to start for burning. After you have the discs burned put disc 1 in and go! No problems installing at ALL.

Setting up additional features for Fedora Core 5

Configuring Intel Wireless Card

By default the wireless card does not come configured. Here are the steps to go through to get your card to work.

Get the firmware from http://ipw2200.sourceforge.net/firmware.php. I downloaded the version 2.4 firmware. (Note: I notice before I used the 2.2 version and had great success with it under Fedora 4, if you have any trouble you may try getting the 2.2 version and doing the same stuff, I tried the 3.0 and it didn't work). Start your terminal by going to Applications -> System Tools -> Terminal.

[rob@localhost Desktop]$ tar -xvzf ipw2200-fw-2.4.gz
LICENSE
ipw-2.4-boot.fw
ipw-2.4-bss.fw
ipw-2.4-bss_ucode.fw
ipw-2.4-ibss.fw
ipw-2.4-ibss_ucode.fw
ipw-2.4-sniffer.fw
ipw-2.4-sniffer_ucode.fw
[rob@localhost Desktop]$ su
Password:
[root@localhost Desktop]# mv *.fw /lib/firmware/
[root@localhost Desktop]# /sbin/modprobe -r ipw2200
[root@localhost Desktop]# /sbin/modprobe ipw2200
[root@localhost Desktop]# reboot

2. I copied the below from here and it worked for me!

"Now you need to store the information for your wireless connection:

Goto System -> Administration -> Network
Click New
Choose Wireless connection and click Forward
Select your wireless card - if the only option in this window is 'Other Wireless Card', your card is not detected proberly, and you must cancel and figure out what is wrong. If you see your wireless card, select it and click Forward
In the Mode field choose Auto
In Network name (SSID) select Specified and write the ESSID
Channel, Transmit rate and Key must reflect the information you have about your accesspoint from the scan list. Remember to ad 0x in front of the key, if it's in hexadecimal notation.
Press Forward and make any changes needed for network settings. Chances are that you don't need to change anything.
Press Forward and then Apply
Select your newly created connection in the list, and press Edit. Put a checkmark in
Activate device when computer starts
Allow all users to enable and disable the device
... then click OK
Save your settings by choosing File -> Save

You should now be able to connect by selecting the wireless connection in the list, and press Activate"

Ok, so that is what I did to get my wireless working. If you have any problems you may try that link I suggested earlier.

Contact Information (Optional)

My email address: (junk at viostorm.com)