Installation of SuSE Linux on Old Notebooks

Support knowledgebase (pcmcia_install_kernel2.4.x)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: Versions since 7.1
Kernel: Versions since 2.4.0
pcmcia

Symptom

You want to install SuSE Linux on an old notebook (Medion, Sony VAIO PCG-FX109x, Lifetec, Gericom, Aldi...) with the CardBus Bridge TI1131, TI1320, e.g. on a Lifetec LT9888. After booting from the 1st CD and starting the installation routine with YaST2, the installation hangs during the hardware detection:
...
Starting Hardware Detection
Searching for infofile
When you switch to console 4 with CTRL+ALT+F4, the following message is recurrently displayed:
...
hdb: lost interrupt
hdb: lost interrupt
...
In addition, the hard disk LED is permanently on.

SuSE Linux 7.1 or newer versions can be affected if the Kernel 2.4 has been selected. After booting with the Kernel 2.4, the mouse may no longer work or the boot process hangs with the above-described symptoms when PCMCIA is started.

Cause

The BIOS does not assign any IRQ to the CardBus Brigde. The BIOS settings do not include any selectable option to allocate IRQs (for example, PnP OS = No, Non PnP OS = yes or similar). The Kernel 2.4 assigns IRQ 14 or 12 to the PCMCIA module i82365 and thus, this module blocks the IDE devices or the mouse.

Solution

Remark: Some notebooks (e.g. Sony Vaio) require instead the parameter ide2=0x180,0x386 to be able to use the CD drive.
Keywords: MEDION, GERICOM, LIFETEC, ALDI, PCMCIA, SONY, NOTEBOOK, LOSTINTERRUPT, KERNELPARAMETER, MOUSE

Categories: Installation , Hardware

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SDB-pcmcia_install_kernel2.4.x, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 18. Jul 2001
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 17. Jun 2003 by mwalter (sdb_gen 1.40.0)