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3.1. General Installation

I am not sure whether the following information applies only to the 100 MHz model or to both, so please read on. On the 100 MHz model, for some obscure (to me) reasons, at least some versions of the Linux kernel will panic the first time it enters the processor idle routine if the usage of the 'hlt' instruction is enabled, and the machine is set up to run at full speed (generally when powered by mains with default CMOS settings). Generally, this occurs even before the Linux boot completes, despite the fact that the 'hlt' instruction test done during the very early stages of Linux boot does succeed.

This does not happen if the machine is set to medium or low speed using one of the CMOS setup programs, or with default settings when the machine is battery-powered. This problem does not seem to be specific to the TravelMate, since a comment in the Linux source files suggests that using the 'hlt' instruction "can cause problems on some old 386 and some 486DX4" (quoting from memory).

A simple workaround is to add a "no-hlt" option to the LILO boot command line, and later add it to the /etc/lilo.conf file like in the following entry :

# Linux standard bootable partition config begins
image = /vmlinuz
  root = /dev/hda2
  label = Linux
  read-only # Non-UMSDOS filesystems should be mounted read-only for checking
  append = "no-hlt"
# Linux standard bootable partition config ends

Of course, the value for "image", "root" and "label" will probably vary for you.

The processor will now use a busy loop while idle. The drawback of this setting is that it defeats a major component of the APM power management, and you will experience greatly reduced battery life.

For example, if you want to load Linux using the standard ramdisk-based procedure, you will then have to type:

ramdisk no-hlt

when the Slackware boot disk prompts you. This "no-hlt" option has to be added to whatever configuration label you choose at this time.

When the Slackware setup program prompts you for additional options to be put on the LILO boot command line, the users of 100 Mhz machine will want to specify that "no-hlt" option. This will generate a lilo.conf entry that includes the "append" line as seen above.

On the 75 MHz models, the "no-hlt" option was required as well to solve a different problem: the 1.2.8 kernel would frequently panic while attempting to mount a floppy disk.

The built-in trackpoint mouse is a PS/2 type mouse. I did not need to include the support for the Chips & Technology 82C710 mouse port chip that is offered and whose description refers to the TravelMate. I assume that this used to be a requirement for older models. Furthermore, there may also be a conflict with the C&T 82C710 mouse port driver and the sound driver needed for sound on the TM4000M (see section 4.2).


HTML document last updated 18 February 1999