Darkelve Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Troubleshooting your (Linux) Hardware I. When buying hardware: a ) avoid *very* old and *very* new hardware if you can b ) check if the product description mentions anything about Linux support c ) check the hardware compatibility database of your distribution before you buy it. Every major Linux distro has one. You can find Mandriva's database here: www.mandriva.com/en/hardware d ) Check for experiences of other people that have this hardware; ask around on forums and search Google's 'Linux pages': www.google.com/linux * Appendix A: lists of support hardware for Linux1 - General lists: www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/Hardware-HOWTO www.linuxhardware.net/ Linuxcompatible Compatibility Database (scroll down for Search function) LinuxQuestions HW Compatibility List Leenooks Incompatibility list 2 - Wireless devices: www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tourrilhes/Linux * Other cards that arent listed - through Ndiswrapper ndiswrapper.sf.net * List of known working ndiswrapper cards ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/joomla/index.php?/component/option,com_openwiki/Itemid,33/id,list 3 - Scanners: www.sane-project.org 4 - (ALSA) audio: www.alsa-project.org/ 5 - USB: www.qbik.ch/usb/devices/ www.linux-usb.org/devices.html 6 - Printers: www.linux-foundation.org/en/OpenPrinting 7 - Linux on Laptops www.linux-on-laptops.com/ * Appendix B: hardware forums 1 - Nvidia's Linux forums: www.nvnews.net II. Before installing your Operating System Before you actually install your operating system, you can get a feel for how well your hardware works with a LiveCD of that distribution. To list a few: LiveCD - Based on---------------------- Mandriva One - Mandriva PCLinuxOs - Mandriva Mepis - Debian Knoppix - Debian LinspireLive - Debian Ubuntu LiveCD - Debian SuSe LiveCD - SuSe Slax - Slackware Note that even if something does not appear to work, with some effort, you usually *can* get it to work. Even if you cannot, you will have learned more about your system and about computers. In the worst case, you can buy other hardware that *is* compatible if you do not mind doing so. III. Hardware problems a ) Check if all cables, plugs and other components are in the right position an the right state (on/off, 0/1, volume of your speakers loud enough, ...) b ) Make a list with hardware that does and that does not work. Number them according to priority (for you). c ) Start with troubleshooting the problem with the highest priority, then work your way down. E.g. it is not really important your sound does not work when you can hardly read the fonts on your screen. d ) Check if the hardware device works in another operating system. E.g. if you dual-boot, you could check if it works in Windows or MacOSx; you could also check if it works with a liveCD (see point II. at the top of this post) based on the same or on another distribution. Also do: 1 - check if the product description mentions something about Linux support 2 - check the hardware compatibility database of your distribution. You can find Mandriva's database here: www.mandriva.com/en/hardware Advanced users might want to check out these articles: 1 - Linux hardware stability guide, Part 1: www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/library/l-hw1 2 - Linux hardware stability guide, Part 2: www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/library/l-hw2.html e ) determine your problem: write down any feedback you see. What happens; what do you see? Is this a persistent problem or a random one? If it seems random, does it occur in certain circumstances (e.g. "my screen always freezes when I start program X"). Try to run your program in a console (e.g. Konsole for KDE, Xterm for other Window Managers like IceWM), as you will often get useful feedback on the command line. One of the most common problems with non-functional hardware is that you do not have the correct driver installed. Check the product description of the hardware you bought (manual or online), check the hardware database of your distribution (see point d) for this) and search for information on the internet (see point f) and point g) for this). f ) Check for experiences of other people that have this piece of hardware; ask around on forums and search Google's 'Linux pages': http://www.google.com/linux ; look at their proposed solutions. Use the search button of this forum. g ) with the information you have now, try to solve your problem. If you do not understand, now is the time to ask around on forums, irc and chat, mailing lists, ... 1 - You might want to read Eric Raymond's article "How to ask questions the smart way": www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html 2 - be persistent. Do not give up. Consider it a chance to learn something. 3 - do not rush. if you still feel uncomfortable using Linux, or a command line (sometimes you will have to use it to help solve your problems), take your time to get comfortable with your Linux system. h ) In the event you really *cannot* get something to work, you can buy other hardware that *is* compatible if you do not mind doing so. [Links updated 28 November 2007] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkelve Posted October 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Please post your comments on this article, so it can be improved. Darkelve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aRTee Posted October 27, 2004 Report Share Posted October 27, 2004 (edited) Some extra links: for scanners: http://www.mostang.com/sane/sane-supported-devices.html for printers: http://www.linuxprinting.org for (ALSA) audio: http://www.alsa-project.org for all kinds of usb devices: http://www.qbik.ch/usb/devices/ A very important thing that often gets overlooked, or at least, that usually doesn't get the attention that it deserves is this: you get to vote with your dollar (euro, franc, whatever). Please vote for the companies that do support Linux. This is the only way to improve Linux hardware support. So, whenever you are shopping for a device, check which vendors have most (and / or the most recent ones) of their devices supported under Linux. Check on the websites that work on drivers for those types of devices (see links above) and see if they recommend certain brands. Those developers have firsthand experience with the companies support, willingness to provide information to be able to code drivers, etc. If you buy devices of 'Linux friendly' companies, and enough others do so, it pays off for them to be (or become) 'Linux friendly'. Edited October 27, 2004 by aRTee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkelve Posted October 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 Thank you aRTee Edit: I added those links into the main post. I realize now I should've done that right away. Anyway, they are there now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkelve Posted February 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2005 - Added Ubuntu's LiveCD to the list of Live CD's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepse Posted February 21, 2005 Report Share Posted February 21, 2005 I think it is an extremely good topic. In fact I wish Eric Raymonds article could be something like a READ THIS BEFORE YOU ASK ANYTHING BEFORE GOING ANYWHERE ELSE on the list. I am not trying to offend anyone with the large type on that statement, just that is how I think it should be seen when someone is looking for help; you know like "start here first". Later. Pepse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iphitus Posted February 21, 2005 Report Share Posted February 21, 2005 Here are some more links for hte wireless page. heres the proper homepage for the wireless link already -- that one you have only has pre/early 802.11 cards. Main page has current and more complete list. http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tourrilhes/Linux/ Other cards that arent listed - through Ndiswrapper http://ndiswrapper.sf.net/ list of known working ndiswrapper cards http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/phpwiki...c4fb52ef70c54ad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aioshin Posted February 21, 2005 Report Share Posted February 21, 2005 (edited) Linux USB Device Driver Support http://www.linux-usb.org/devices.html Linux on Laptop http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/ Edited February 21, 2005 by aioshin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkelve Posted February 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2005 I think it is an extremely good topic. In fact I wish Eric Raymonds article could be something like a READ THIS BEFORE YOU ASK ANYTHING BEFORE GOING ANYWHERE ELSE on the list. I am not trying to offend anyone with the large type on that statement, just that is how I think it should be seen when someone is looking for help; you know like "start here first". Thanks Pepse! Here are some more links for hte wireless page. heres the proper homepage for the wireless link already -- that one you have only has pre/early 802.11 cards. Main page has current and more complete list. http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tourrilhes/Linux/ Other cards that arent listed - through Ndiswrapper http://ndiswrapper.sf.net/ list of known working ndiswrapper cards http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/phpwiki...c4fb52ef70c54ad - Okay, I replaced the Jean Tourrilhes one and added the ndiswrapper links. Thanks! Linux USB Device Driver Supporthttp://www.linux-usb.org/devices.html Linux on Laptop http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/ Thanks for the links Aoshin! They're now added! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AcuraRBKG6 Posted December 30, 2005 Report Share Posted December 30, 2005 I think users should also avoid ATI video cards, as the drivers for them are not particularly good with Linux in general (at least on a laptop, anyway).. I did hear that nVIDIA cards are extremely compatible with Linux, however. -C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knoba Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 Latest Mandriva Hardware compatibility list; http://wwwnew.mandriva.com/en/hardware/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zibi1981 Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 I think users should also avoid ATI video cards, as the drivers for them are not particularly good with Linux in general (at least on a laptop, anyway).. I did hear that nVIDIA cards are extremely compatible with Linux, however. -C Not only on laptops. I simply can't get my Sapphire's Radeon X800Pro to work properly with the latest ATI drivers. Still no 3D acceleration :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinynorman Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 I've replaced the dead links in Darkelve's original post. However www.linuxhardware.net is inaccessible because of a missing index file - does anyone know if this is temporary or has the resource moved? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IcoBgr Posted April 24, 2008 Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 Latest Mandriva Hardware compatibility list; http://wwwnew.mandriva.com/en/hardware/ The page do not work. I select to search but when I press Search button a blank page appears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinynorman Posted April 24, 2008 Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 The page do not work. I select to search but when I press Search button a blank page appears. That was a temporary address while the site was reorganised. The new address is www.mandriva.com/en/hardware/. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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