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Acer Aspire 1640
Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux with the Acer Aspire 1640 laptop. Thanks to Babis for providing this report.
This guide is intended to provide you details on how well this laptop works with Linux and which modules you need to configure. For details on how to actually install and configure the required modules have a look at our guides section for distribution specific instructions.
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Specifications
| Name | Acer Aspire 1640 |
| Processor | Intel Pentium-M 740v 1.73Ghz |
| Screen | 15.4” WXGA |
| RAM | 2GB |
| HDD | 80GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 |
| Network | 10/100 Ethernet, Intel 3945 802.11g Wireless |
| Other | 3 x USB2.0 |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Yes | |
| Sound | Yes | Use snd-hda-intel |
| Ethernet | Yes | |
| Wireless | Yes | Use the ipw2200 module |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| PCMCIA | Not Tested |
Notes
As a newby in the Linux world I am delighted to submit my laptop as one that worked without any problem with Ubuntu 8.04. The only extra configuration needed was for the screen resolution which solved quite easy following instructions provided by the site.
I also use an external hard disk, a Seagate model FreeAgent 320GB with no problem.
The default native resolution of this notebook is 1280×800 but due to the way the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 functions this resolution may not be usable right away. You may like to follow our Configuring the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 & 950 guide for an installation guide.
For audio to work properly you will need to use kernel version 2.6.16 or greater or install the latest ALSA modules.
Summary
The Acer Aspire 1640 works well with an up to date Linux distribution. There were no problems getting it working.
Discussion
If you need a pc with some good performance under linux this is great. The only bad thing I have to point is that bluethoot 2.0 is not working for a dongle that works well under XP.
Also the built in bluethoot doesn't work at all but for the rest is a great machine
Im having a somewhat similar problem - despite having tried installing various drivers i cannot get my wireless working or even detected by ubuntu, although when i use lspci the device shows up, even when i used the free download wireless.sh on this site it was detected, but no obvious way to utilise the hardware in ubuntu 8.10
ive even tried another wlan card, but the same issue - was wondering if it could be a kill switch button issue - you know the one on the front of the laptop - but nothing happens when i press it - any help would be appreciated
I have installed debian etch on my Acer Aspire 1640 and cannot for the life of me get the wireless lan working. I have tried to make the ieee80221 driver on it, but for some reason its looking for a rule file in /lib/modules/2.6.18-6-686/build which is empty……… therefore i cannot install the firmware or the driver for ipw2200
I am flat out of ideas. and unfortunately so, this is the only thing right now that is bothering me about this distro.
ANY news would be helpful.