HP-Compaq Presario CQ50Z

This is a guide to running Linux with the HP-Compaq Presario CQ50Z 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 HP-Compaq Presario CQ50Z. For a general discussion about this laptop you can visit the HP-Compaq Presario CQ50Z page on LapWik.

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Works out of the box on Opensuse 11.1

At the moment, most Linux distributions do not support the NVIDIA Geforce 8200M as standard so you will need to install the proprietary NVIDIA modules. Instructions for doing this are available in the guides section of this site.

With Opensuse 11.1, wifi worked out of the box after copying the ifcfg-ath0 file to /etc/sysconfig/network and adapting the -ath0 suffix with that of the system-assigned one (in my case: -wlan0)

Avoid: Madwifi

simple fix that always works:
goto yast⇒sound
delete graphic card configuration (don't worry, it doesn't delete the card)
setup a new one selecting auto install
ta-dah.

use alsamixer command or alsamixer -c 0 to access volume control at driver level

Avoid: Pulseaudio (stick with Alsa)

The HP-Compaq Presario CQ50Z, under Opensuse 11.1/Gnome has a very few issues and none that can't be worked around using alternate programs. Here is a list of my prefered applications:
nautilus
xine
vlc
cheese
evolution
monsoon
opera
exaile
tracker (replace beagle with this)
virtualbox
openoffice
metamorphose
deskbar applet

have fun.

Dave@Meyer.LA