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Dell Latitude D430
Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux with the Dell Latitude D430 laptop.
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 | Dell Latitude D430 |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo U7700 1.33GHz |
| Screen | 12.1” WXGA Widescreen |
| RAM | 2GB |
| HDD | 80GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 |
| Network | Ethernet, Intel 4965AGN 802.11abgn |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| HDD | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Yes | |
| Sound | Yes | |
| Ethernet | Yes | |
| Wireless | Yes | |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | Not Tested |
Notes
Wireless
There are several wireless controllers available for the Latitude D430, the Intel 4965, Intel 3945, Dell Wireless 1390 and Dell Wireless 1490. The Dell wireless controllers are based on the Broadcom chipset which are not well supported under Linux. The Intel based ones work much better.
Summary
There are no issues with the Dell Latitude D430 if you have an Intel based wireless controller.
Testimonial
Distribution: Mandriva One 2010
Desktop:GNOME
Version: 2.28.0
Video: Intel 945GM Express Chipset
Modem: HD D330 MDC v.92
Wireless: Dell wifi 1390 WLAN (BCM4311)
NIC: Broadcom Netxtreme gigabit (BCM5752)
Smartcard: O2Micro Smartcard Reader
Mandriva installs on the system with very few problems. The wifi is supported and is able to run after activation under the “Configure Your Computer” tab. The O2Mirco Smartcard Reader is a different story. Linuxnet [http://www.linuxnet.com] makes a compatiable driver through their Movement for the Use of Smartcards in a Linux Environment (MUSCLE). GNA! [http://gna.org/projects/o2scr] also makes a compatiable driver.
As of Novemeber 7, 2009 there are a few bugs in the Mandriva distro that cause a few problems. The problems seem to be centered around the web browsers Firefox and Epiphany. Firefox will display a message indicating npviewer.bin has crashed. Epiphany will freeze and the user will have to Force Quit the application. An easy fix is to migrate to the SeaMonkey browser which is based on the Mozilla Firefox open-source code.
Updated Distro to KDE instead. Firefox problems no longer an issue. Did not attempt Ephipany.
Discussion
nope, ubuntu is slow atm, will try mandriva now, but if i could recomend a distro it would be slackware or debian. not that i have a thing for anything will go through all of the distro's that i need to to find what i need.
Ubuntu 12.04 works like a charm on the latit. d430
My father bought me this laptop in 2009. It rocked then. florarie
Jolicloud OS 1.2 and Linux Mint 12 “Lisa” on DELL Latitude D430, wireless card Dell 1490 (Broadcom) not working. Thoughts?
Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron
wireless does not work with the Dell 1390 controller
Machine configuration and look is good. long time usage of this machine is bad just because of heatup. otherwise machine good