Hello
I wrote this page to help other people to make their Linux work on Sony Vaio
I think most of this information can be helpful for users of all FX (and some R505) notebooks
If anybody has additional information about FX series, please email me. I'll update this site
I'm sorry I usually don't answer fast to questions about Sony, Linux, etc. I just haven't very much time. Moreover, I don't own this Sony Vaio anymore
So in case of problems the best solution is to search the Linux-Sony archives, and if it doesn't help, post the question to Linux-sony mailing list and 'Cc:' it to me
There are a lot of kind people much more expirienced than I, so for sure somebody can help you faster
I'll try to answer all emails, but as I said, it can take a (longer) while
This is version 1.29 of this file, last updated at Jan 1, 2005. (ChangeLog)
Original location of this page is httpjuljas.net/linux/vaiofx240/
Table of Contents
Summary table of hardware
Other informations
Related resources
Other Vaios that are somehow similar to FX240
More detailed informations (on selected hardware)
Recently I added 256 MB of RAM to the system. It cost me about $50 (in Poland), and I'm very happy with it. The system runs much faster now, because can cache most of hard disk access (which is not very fast comparing to recent desktop drives). I strongly reccomend that. 1024x768
text-mode: details
XWindows 4.0.0 and newer
PAL/NTSC TV out
It's to switch to TV-out yet PS/2 compatible
(worth to use Emulate3Buttons feature of XFree)
I'm using very nice USB -- double PS/2 connector, so I can attach 'normal' keyboard and mouse to the laptop. 24x CDROM, 8x CD-R, 4x CD-RW, 8x DVD
cdrecord works good, for cdrdao see notes, for both use ide-scsi driver
Firmware: 1.08 don't know, but probably , because there are Linux drivers, just haven't tested Without patch USB on my machine work. Notify my if I did something wrong. known also as i.LINK on Sony systems , with ACPI patch, or with -ac patch for 2.4 kernel, or with 2.5 kernel
you use software mixer like aumix
you use spicctrl program for controlling LCD brightness
program your sony keys! - they won't work without it
Connectors
right side (photo) : CD-ROM, FDD (can be replaced with second battery)
Linux on Laptops home (and Sony there)
-- laptopkernel is a patchset for the linux kernel containing several useful patches for laptop-users. It contains acpi, software suspend, supermount and some hardware compatibility patches. Linux Kernel for laptops -- laptopkernel is a patchset for the linux kernel containing several useful patches for laptop-users. It contains acpi, software suspend, supermount and some hardware compatibility patches
NEW! Very good detailed description of FX220 by David Levitan
Some other Vaios has similar problems as FX240. Some patches/solutions can be sucessfully used on them
This is list of informations I got from other people about their laptops
By default 80x25 textmode window is "small". It just doesn't fill area of the screen
It look like this:
Black is 14" screen area, andis area used to display 80x25 text
You can try to change textmode (with VGATextMode), but I didn't get any satisfactory results
There is no option in CMOS for this
Similar problem is with graphics mode. Only supported resolution is 1024x768. If you pick up lower, you got the same resolution, but in smaller window
You may want to see Intel(R) 810 and 815 Framebuffer Driver project page. I didn't tested yet
Antonino Daplas/Ken Mano utility i810switch to switch between LCD & VGA
Intel's technical specification for i810 chipset. (PDF, 2.9MB)
I didn't test the DVD player, but Gordon Runkle has reported that it works in his FX220. This is pretty the same machine. He is using Ogle player to watch DVD
You can change region for DVD only 5 times (probably from Windows only?)
To make cdrecord work - you must use ide-scsi driver
To make cdrdao (v1.1.5) work - use ide-scsi and add following line to: /usr/local/share/cdrdao/drivers
untar kernel source
and compile kernel & install it as usual
NEW Detailed step by step instruction of patching RedHat (RPM) kernel by fliptop
NEW Patching ACPI will fix the USB IRQ problem also
Don't know how to compile/patch/install or what is it the kernel, -ac patch, etc.?
Search the kernelnewbies.org and The Linux Kernel HOWTO..
You have to use kernel with recent version of ACPI driver. This can be:
2.4 kernel with (2.4.21-rc1-ac3 or later)
2.4 kernel with standalone ACPI patch to 2.4 kernel
(eg. 2.4.21-rc2 with acpi-20030512 patch) It's very recommended to use recent ACPI, as it can solve USB problems, may control speed (and thus power consumption) of processor, and speed of system fan (otherwise system may overheat)
With ACPI you can:
Know if the computer is on ac-power ( )
Control the processor (some info, speed, etc. ) ( )
In recent kernelsis partially supported. But I had some problems with keyboard after wake up
See in Documentation of kernel
None There is no suport for turning off LCD when console blanks
You may want to download sonypid daemon (to be able to listen for Fn key shortcuts), and spicctrl program (which controls brightness of LCD screen). You may want to see my whole directory (kernel 2.4.21-rc6-ac1). It's static/off-line of course ;)
You have to use kernel with recent version of ACPI driver. This can be:It'srecommended to use recent ACPI, as it can solve USB problems, may control speed (and thus power consumption) of processor, and speed of system fan (otherwise system may overheat).With ACPI you can:You may want to see my wholedirectory (kernel 2.4.21-rc6-ac1). It's static/off-line of course ;) Don't know how to compile/patch/install or what is it the kernel, -ac patch, etc.?
Search the kernelnewbies.org and The Linux Kernel HOWTO..
You can copy and publish any part of above page. Mention of the source (httpjuljas.net/linux/vaiofx240/) would be nice (but is not obligatory)
Jan SÅupski, email:
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