> > Timothy A. Holmes <tholmes <at> mcaschool.net> writes: > > > > Here's a random list of ideas that may ease the pain of conversion. > > > > > > 1. backup the existing system > > > > > > 2. Run lspci -vv, lshw, and discover to document the hardware > > > under ubuntu before beginnning the conversion. USBview can be valuable > > > is you have usb devices. > > > > > > 3. Save the.config file for building a kernel or the existing kernel > > > under ubuntu > > > > > > 4. Save the hdparm settings on the existing drive, as well as the > > > /etc/fstab > > > and xorg or xfree configuration files. In fact a second backup of > > /etc/ > > > and any other valuable config files is a good idea. > > > > > > 5. Boot the laptop with the most recent liveCD (gentoo) and see what > > works > > > and > > > what does not work. > > > > > > 6. Research all hardware device driver issues before making the > > > commitment. > > > > > > 7. Save a 'dmesg' log file. > > > hth, > > > > > > James
[Timothy A. Holmes] > > [Timothy A. Holmes] > > > > James -- thanks so much for your help and ideas -- they all sound like > > excellent suggestions -- I will comment on each one below > > > > 1. Thankfully -- I am actually going to be installing on a totally new > > hdd, so the backup issue is not really there, the drives will become > > interchangeable, and once the linux one is fully working, the original > > one will be reformatted as a windows drive for the rare case that the > > box would need it > > Well the first thing is to keep your replies, inline, so we can follow > the discussion. > > > > 2. Those sound good -- ive never messed with them, I'm assuming that all > > of them have appropriate man pages? > > > They are very easy to use > > I'm not familiar with ubuntu, but first find the package, install it > in each case and then: > > lspci -vv > lspci.results > > lshw > lshw.results > > discover > discover.results > > dmesg > dmesg.results.date > > putting them on a floppy for example: > mcopy lspci a: > mcopy lshw.results a: > mcopy discover.results > mcopy dmesg.results.date a: > > > 3. On this one - the kernel is the default one packaged with Ubuntu, I > > have done updates out of synaptic, but have not configured it at all. I > > don't know how to get a config file for it -- can you point me to a > > reference, or give me some instructions > > Not familiar with ubuntu. uname -r should give the kernel version > then download sources (ask a ubuntu person for details) > > cd /usr/src > ln -sf /usr/src/[ubuntu-kernel-source /usr/src/linux > cd /usr/src/linux > make meuconfig (hopefully, it'll pick up your default > options from the existing kernel) > > (save menuconfig without making changes) > > make > > then copy the /usr/src/linux/.config file to the floppy > (it should look like roughly like this: > > <snip> > # > # Automatically generated make config: don't edit > # Linux kernel version: 2.6.12-gentoo-r9 > # Sat Sep 3 07:37:47 2005 > # > CONFIG_X86=y > CONFIG_MMU=y > CONFIG_UID16=y > CONFIG_GENERIC_ISA_DMA=y > CONFIG_GENERIC_IOMAP=y > > # > # Code maturity level options > # > CONFIG_EXPERIMENTAL=y > CONFIG_CLEAN_COMPILE=y > CONFIG_LOCK_KERNEL=y > CONFIG_INIT_ENV_ARG_LIMIT=32 > <snip> > > after you build a kernel for the gentoo system, you can see > what options(trickery) the ubuntu masters used to create their > disk. Note. You may have to add steps to this, it's just an outline. > > > > > 4. sounds good -- again thankfully -- it's a drive swap rather than an > > overwrite > > > > 5. Definatly will do > > > > 6. Also sounds good > > > > 7. How do I do this??? > > on ubuntu > > dmesg > dmesg.ubuntu.date > mcopy dmesg.ubuntu.date a: > > > > > Thanks again to you and all who have commented, Please keep those > > comments coming -- im loving this > > good luck, and with gentoo it's all about learning and enjoying > the journey...... all things are possible, in time. > > I John 4:8,9 > James [Timothy A. Holmes] James -thanks a bunch -- this project is defiantly a go, it is a question of timing -- if we get a snow day tomorrow (im praying we do) I will begin working tomorrow -- I just discovered that the new hdd that I have for it (originally ordered for a different laptop) is basically identical to the one that is in the box, it's a bit faster (5400 rpm vs 4300) but otherwise identical, so that is one hurdle cleared. If we don't get the snow day, I will start on it after Christmas break starts Thanks again TIM -- [email protected] mailing list
