[gentoo-user] Gentoo Installation on Dell Inspiron Laptop

Hi all,

I'm having a problem. I had Gentoo installed on my laptop. I hadn't
updated in in some time, so attempted to do that. I kept getting an
error message - something about glibc and compatibility. I couldn't
resolve it, so decided to start from scratch - no big problem, since I
like doing stuff like this.

So, I did a Stage 3 install, like I've done on this laptop twice before.
I used the same use flags in my make.conf as I always do. I got to the
point where I chroot'd and started the kernel compile. The compile
starts and then, the laptop shuts off on me. On initial start with the
Stage 3 install CD, I started using 'gentoo dopcmcia nolvm2 agpgart
acpi=on', but I also tried without the acpi=on parameter.

The very first time I installed Gentoo on the laptop, the laptop was
overheating on builds until I configured power management. However,
this was after the initial installation when I was actually booted into
my system. On the initial kernel compile in the chroot'd environment, I
had no problem on the first two installs.

In the situation that I am now describing, when the laptop shuts down on
the kernel build in the chroot'd environment, the laptop isn't any
hotter than when it is running normally.

I don't know if it makes any difference, but I did not use nptl or
nptlonly in my use flags, so I don't know if that has anything to do
with it. The kernel that I am trying to compile is the latest genkernel
that is in the stable tree.

Anyway, I hope this is understandable. Any ideas or suggestions?

Regards,

Colleen.
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Registered Linux User #411143 with the Linux Counter, http://counter.li.org
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On Sat, 2007-03-31 at 08:49 -0400, Colleen Beamer wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm having a problem.
[snip]
> and then, the laptop shuts off on me.

It does sound like an overheating thing, as already mentioned,
especially since you had overheating problems before.

Can you confirm that _all_ fans are working? I thought I only had 2
fans, but there are actually 3, so watch out for hidden ones! Also, you
could use the dell kernel module (i8k) to force your fans to full speed
and see if that helps. Finally on the heating side, try taking it apart
(if you're happy with that - you break it you keep the pieces and
cleaning out all the dust / dirt from the fins.

Another possibility is your memory - maybe its going flaky? This is a
common compile problem that gives varied results (lockups, panics,
halts, etc). Try different ram if you have it, or only half your ram at
a time if you have 2 sticks. You could also try the memtest bootable
cd.

HTH!
--
Iain Buchanan <iaindb at netspace dot net dot au>

One small step for man, one giant stumble for mankind.

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