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Dell XPS M1530
Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux with the Dell XPS M1530 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.
This page is just for discussing using Linux on the Dell XPS M1530. For a general discussion about this laptop you can visit the Dell XPS M1530 page on LapWik.
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Specifications
For full specifications see the Dell XPS M1530 specifications page.
| Name | Dell XPS M1530 |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 2.0GHz |
| Screen | 15.4” WXGA Widescreen |
| RAM | 2GB |
| HDD | 250GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT |
| Network | Ethernet, Intel 3945 802.11abg |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| HDD | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Yes | |
| Sound | Yes | |
| Ethernet | Yes | |
| Wireless | Yes | |
| Bluetooth | Yes | |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | Not Tested | |
| Card Reader | Yes | |
| ExpressCard Slot | Yes | |
| Camera | Yes |
Notes
The Geforce 8600M requires the use of the proprietary NVIDIA driver to function. Most Linux distributions do not include this driver so you will likely need to install it manually.
For many Linux distributions you will not get sound until you install the latest ALSA modules (at least version 1.0.16rc2). Ubuntu 7.10 does not have this problem.
You will need at least kernel 2.6.22 for this laptop. Older kernels will have issues with the wired and wireless network.
When after installing Mandriva 2009 it is necessary to add the kernel option i8042.nomux=1 to get the mousepad working.
Summary
Ubuntu 7.10 is probably the best choice for the Dell XPS M1530 as it includes the fixed ALSA modules as well as the proprietary nvidia module. However other distribution will work just fine after you manually install these two items.
Discussion
installed the desktop version of 9.2 everything works except the express card
You say the express card works fine can you explain how you tested it ?
Dell XPS… Well i had graphic card prblem for 64 bit hardy heron….
After installin pkg2 driver of linux for 64 bit it still cannot detect the driver…
Don't know what to do?
Can anybody of you suggest me something??
I installed Fedora 10 x86_64.
Instead of intel Wifi I have “Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g (rev 01)”. Which works after installing kmod-wl.
Card reader works. Webcam to. Finger reader too with thinkfinger.
lm-sensors detects Core0|1, GPU, temps.
After an advice from a sysadmin, I installed Fedora 10 and got much better hardware support. I installed the 64 bit version, too!
I made only three updates: (1) used the NVidia driver (NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-180.22-pkg2.run) to get compiz to work, (2) used the latest rpm for the Broadcom wifi driver (http://www.cenolan.com/2008/11/rpm-install-broadcom-wireless-sta-driver-fedora/), and (3) used the alpha version of the Adobe Flash 64-bit linux plugin version.
I think the camera works since I see the blue “on” light when it boots, but I haven't tested it. Sound works, but I haven't tested the mic. Headset jacks work well.
I am using Debian(Testing) and my wifi does not work. I've messed around trying to figure it out and tried everything I knew from the previous ubuntu installs that I have. No luck so far. Do you know where to get the drivers for debian instead of Fedora?
I installed Centos 5.2, which has the 2.6.18 kernel. An earlier comment recommended using 2.6.22 kernel to avoid some of the hardware problems, and I can attest that the 2.6.18 kernel indeed had much hardware problems, which I had to resolve one by one (touchpad, wired/wireless hardware, sound, Compiz with the NVidia card).
I also read elsewhere that Centos 5.3 has better hardware support over 5.2. Not sure which kernel version is in Centos 5.3.
Hi Ramsey,
It is really good to know that someone did install Centos 5.2 and also did resolve the issues with the network devices (Wired/Wireless). Would you please give a guideline for it? I am kind of in a loss about how to configure the network interfaces in Centos 5.2? Please help!!
Best regards,
Sarwar.
cam works
My camera works well without any configuration.
Experience
Under Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron:
I have used the webcam under skype and it works fine. The inbuilt microphone also works after it has been configured. Look here for more details
http://jesperdj.pbwiki.com/Ubuntu-on-the-Dell-XPS-M1530
Also the sound is a bit quiet which can be fixed by right clicking volume>properties and then maximising the one on the left.
I have had some trouble with wireless on my XPS which is happening at the moment.
mic
Well i'm the contradiction of this page
got my dell xps m1530, just like the specification and i tried Fedora 9 with not much success
had trouble with the touchpad, fixed
sound not working, fixed
microfone not working, pending
and the rest i still have to test it out
Integrated Mobile Broadband
Does anyone have any idea whether the integrated mobile broadband works with Linux?
Works great, just writing this reply from fedora 9…I actually installed Fedora and Vista…and worked fine…