Dell Latitude D400
Created by: Bill Giannikos,Last modification on Wed 15 of Aug, 2007 [06:05 UTC]by Bill Giannikos
This guide is intended to provide you details on how well this laptop works with Linux and which drivers you need to configure. For details on how to actually install and configure the required drivers have a look at our guides section for distribution specific instructions.
Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux with the Dell Latitude D400 laptop. This is a small laptop but still has some good internals. Unfortunately the Dell 1450 makes Linux compatibility for the Latitude D400 on the poor side.Editing This Page
View our Editing GuidelinesSpecifications
| Name | Dell Latitude D400 | |
| Processor | Intel Pentium-M 1.8GHz | |
| Screen | 12.1" XGA | |
| RAM | 512MB | |
| HDD | 80GB | |
| Optical Drive | External DVD-ROM/CD-RW | |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 | |
| Network | 10/100/1000 Ethernet, Dell 1450 802.11g Wireless | |
| Other | 1 x USB2.0, 1 x Firewire | |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| HDD | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Yes | Use the i810 driver |
| Sound | Yes | Use the snd-intel8x0 driver |
| Ethernet | Yes | |
| Wireless | Partial | |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | Not Tested | |
| PCMCIA | Not Tested | |
Notes
This Dell 1450 wireless card in the Latitude D400 does not have any native drivers for Linux so you will need to use the ndiswrapper driver. For instuction in using ndiswrapper, you can view our Configuring the ndiswrapper driver guide. The windows driver to use with ndiswrapper can be found on the Dell website.Some models of the Latitude D400 include the Intel 2100 wireless card. For this card you can use the ipw2100 driver. This card will make configuring wireless on the D400 much easier than the Dell 1450 card.
Related Resources
Preparing your laptop for LinuxConfiguring the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 & 950
Configuring the ndiswrapper driver for wireless controllers without native Linux drivers
Increasing battery life
Summary
If you have the Dell Latitude D400 with the Dell 1450 wireless card then configuration of the laptop with Linux can be tricky. However if you have the Intel 2100 then configuration is much easier.Have you installed Linux on this laptop? If so how about leaving a comment about your success in the comments section below.
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