Linux on old laptop - still trying...

[Ben Scott]

On 6/5/06, Tech Writer <TechWtr at handspun.com> wrote:
> I started up the Ubunu install, but it got caught up at:
>   ACPI: Unable to locate RSDP
>
> If I did my googling right, that means ...

  Yah.  In short, ACPI isn't there or is really broken.  This is not unusual.

  What is ACPI, you ask?  It's a way for the OS to interface with
machine feature like resource configuration and power management.
Prior to ACPI, we had to deal with buggy BIOSes, broken
implementations of APM, and manufacturer-specific quirks.  With ACPI,
we have to deal with buggy BIOSes, broken implementations of ACPI,
manufacturer-specific quirks, and a bloated management framework.  I'm
told this is progress.

> I found some reference to turning this off via a kernel parameter ...

  Yes.  I think the syntax is "acpi=off".

> ... but since I'm not yet installed, I can't figure out how to do that.

  When the CD first boots (within the first few seconds), is should
give you some kind of message about how to get more information, and
tell you to press [ENTER] to boot if you don't care.  You care.  There
should be an option to append kernel command line options.  This might
mean typing something like:

     linux acpi=off

but the details are specific to each distribution and release.

-- Ben