Hewlett-Packard nx9420 [Linux Laptop Wiki]

Introduction

This is a guide to running Linux with the Hewlett-Packard nx9420 laptop, model EX763PA.

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.

Specifications

Name	Hewlett-Packard nx9420
Processor	Intel Core Duo T2500 2.0Ghz
Screen	17”
RAM	1024MB
HDD	100GB
Optical Drive	DVD+-RW
Graphics	256MB ATI Mobility Radeon x1600
Network	10/100/1000 Ethernet, Intel 3945 802.11g Wireless, Bluetooth
Other	4 x USB2.0, 1 x Firewire

Linux Compatibility

Device	Compatibility	Comments
Processor	Yes
Screen	Yes
Optical Drive	Yes
Graphics	Yes
Sound	Yes
Ethernet	Yes
Wireless	Yes	Use ipw3945 or iwlwifi (better; since Kernel 2.6.21) driver
Bluetooth	Not Tested
56K Modem	Not Tested
USB	Yes
Firewire	Not Tested
PCMCIA	Not Tested

Notes

On some older version of the kernel the audio will only work though the headphone jack, not the inbuilt speakers. You will need to run a kernel with version 2.6.16 or greater for audio to work properly.

Currently the open source radeon module included with X.org does not support the ATI Mobility Radeon x1600. However you can get this working using the proprietary ATI module.

For best results you should use a Linux distribution with kernel 2.6.16 or greater, such as Fedora Core 5 or Ubuntu Linux 6.06, with the nx9420.

Summary

Apart from the audio problem and if you don't mind using the propietary ATI module then the Hewlett-Packard nx9420 works well under Linux.

Discussion

Johan, 2013/09/19 07:34

Hi, can see this is an old guide?

But just installed Ubuntu 12.04 and the fans a running at 100% all the time.. Why?

else it works just fine!

Martin, 2011/08/04 11:57

I can´t get the HP docking station to work with the X1600 ATI graphics card. I´m using the open source ATI driver.

I have not looked into it so it might be a configuration issue

erwin, 2011/01/20 15:03

With ubuntu 10.10, works fine out of the box

Chris, 2010/11/22 00:38

56k Modem works with kppp

Hristov, 2008/08/24 04:10

With Ubuntu 8.04 the sound is working just fine.

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Hewlett-Packard nx9420