HP dv2000t with xb3000 Notebook Expansion Base(Wireless keyboard and Mouse included) running Slackware 11.0
Linux on HP DV2000T
November, 2006
For comments or questions email to cjresurreccion@gmail.com
Hardware Specifications:
Intel(R)
Core(TM) Duo processor T2050 (1.60 GHz)
14.1" WXGA BrightView
Widescreen (1280x800)
128MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7200
HP
IMPRINT Finish + Microphone + Webcam
1.0GB DDR2 SDRAM
(2x512MB)
80 GB 5400 RPM
Super Multi 8X DVD+/-R/RW w/Double
Layer Support
Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network w/Bluetooth
6
Cell Lithium Ion Battery
HP Mobile Remote Control
Linux Distributions:
|
Ubuntu 6.06 LTS (Default Installation) |
|
|
Processor |
OK |
|
Display |
OK |
|
Video Card |
OK, but needs NVIDIA Linux Driver to support 3D Acceleration. Instructions to install the Nvidia Driver via apt-get are on: http://doc.gwos.org/index.php/Latest_Nvidia_Breezy. Or you can download the Linux Nvidia Driver binary installer from http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.html |
|
Microphone |
Detected but not working. |
|
Webcam |
Not Detected |
|
Memory |
OK |
|
Hard Disk |
OK. If you plan to keep the preinstalled WinXP and the HP Recovery Partitions use the gparted that comes with Ubuntu during installation to shrink the WinXP partition (/dev/sda1) to free space for Linux. After I shrunk /dev/sda1, I made a logical partition on the freed space as /dev/sda5 (for the swap file) and /dev/sda6 (for the root directory) and /dev/sda7 (for the home directory). Leave /dev/sda2 and /dev/sda3 alone. They are the recovery partitions. Also, if you use LILO or GRUB as your bootloader, pressing the F11 key on bootup will not enter the notebook into recovery mode. Nor will you be able to use the HP Quickplay feature which lets you watch a DVD/VCD or play an audio CD without booting to WinXP. |
|
CD/DVD Writer |
OK |
|
Ethernet Card |
OK |
|
Wireless Ethernet Card |
OK |
|
Sound Card and Speakers |
OK |
|
Remote Control |
Not Working |
|
Quick Play Buttons and Volume Control |
Not Working |
|
Slackware 11.0 (Default Installation) |
|
|
Processor |
OK |
|
Display |
X Window System will not start unless the NVIDIA Linux Driver is installed. But after installing the driver, everything is OK. |
|
Video Card |
|
|
Microphone |
Detected but not working. |
|
Webcam |
Not Detected |
|
Memory |
OK |
|
Hard Disk |
When booting from CD1 of the Slackware installer, enter sata.i on the boot prompt to enable SATA hard disk support. To partition the hard disk enter the following command on the console: cfdisk /dev/sda. This will tell cfdisk to access the SATA hard disk. If you enter cfdisk /dev/hda or cfdisk alone you will not be able to format the disk. During kernel installation phase of the installer, select the sata.i kernel. If you plan to keep the preinstalled WinXP and the HP Recovery Partitions boot a Knoppix live-cd (or any live-CD distro with gparted) and use gparted to shrink the WinXP partition (/dev/sda1) to free space for Linux. After I shrunk /dev/sda1, I made a logical partition on the freed space as /dev/sda5 (for the swap file) and /dev/sda6 (for the root directory) and /dev/sda7 (for the home directory). Leave /dev/sda2 and /dev/sda3 alone. They are the recovery partitions. Also, if you use LILO or GRUB as your bootloader, pressing the F11 key on bootup will not enter the notebook into recovery mode. Nor will you be able to use the HP Quickplay feature which lets you watch a DVD/VCD or play an audio CD without booting to WinXP. |
|
CD/DVD Writer |
OK |
|
Ethernet Card |
Not detected by default. If you have installed the 2.6.17.13 (either uniprocessor or smp) , fix this by commenting (putting a '#' before the line) the line e100 in the file /etc/hotplug/blacklist and restart. The e100 module is blacklisted by default in Slackware 11.0. If you're using the default 2.4 kernel. Do the same as above but you have to manually build the driver from the source code and install it. The sources are at Or you can manually search for it at the driver download section of the Intel website. Search for “Intel PRO/100 VE Desktop Adapter” Installation intructions are here: http://www.intel.com/support/network/adapter/1000/LINUX/e100.htm |
|
Wireless Ethernet Card |
Not detected by default. You need to upgrade to Kernel 2.6.13 or higher (It's a requirement for the Intel 3894ABG Linux Driver). Slackware packages for Kernel 2.6.17.13 (both for single processors and dual core CPU's) are available in CD2 of the Slackware installer inside the extra/ directory. I installed only the single processor 2.6.17.13 Kernel even though my dv2000t has a dual-core CPU. The packages were installed in the following order: # installpkg linux-kernel-generic-2.6.17.13....tgz # installpkg linux-kernel-modules-2.6.17.13....tgz # installpkg linux-kernel-sources-2.6.17.13....tgz Software download and installation instructions for the Intel 3894ABG Linux Driver at: http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net/ However, when using the wireless ethernet card, I experienced frequent lock-ups and I had to shutdown the notebook pc by pressing the power button for about 5-10 seconds. |
|
Sound Card and Speakers |
Detect the sound card by: # alsaconf ..and follow the on-screen instructions. To set the mixer volumes: # alsamixer ...press ESC to exit. To save the mixer volumes: # alsactl store |
|
Remote Control |
Not Working |
|
Quick Play Buttons and Volume Control |
Not Working |
Additional Notes:
I bought the HP xb3000 Notebook Expansion Base and it comes with a wireless (RF, not infrared) keyboard and mouse, 6 USB ports,etc. But its main highlight are the Altec Lansing speakers which offer superb sound quality, though it needs a little more bass. The HP xb3000 Notebook Expansion Base's wireless mouse and keyboard work in both Slackware and Ubuntu Linux. However, the very nice speakers don't. Sound output comes from the notebook speakers. But I swear that when I first tried it the speakers worked. But after I wiped my hard disk clean, restored the system using the recovery DVDs, and reinstalled Slackware the speakers don't work anymore. Even when using Ubuntu.
HP
dv2000t with xb3000 Notebook Expansion Base(Wireless keyboard and
Mouse included) running Slackware 11.0
The
notebook connects to the expansion base via a single cable.The cable
carries ethernet signals, audio, video and power connections.
The
rear of the expansion base showing from left to right: Power cord, 4
USB ports (the other 2 USB ports are on the right side of the unit if
facing it), component video ports(red,blue,green), S-Video port,
Composite video port, SPDIF port, External Monitor (VGA) port, RJ-45
port.
HP
dv2000t running Slackware 11.0 and showing Nvidia X Server Settings
application.