This is a compatibility guide to running Linux with the HP 550 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.
For full specifications see the HP 550 specifications page.
| Name | HP 550 |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo or Intel Celeron |
| Screen | 15.4” WXGA Widescreen |
| RAM | 512MB to 4GB |
| HDD | 120GB to 250GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 |
| Network | Ethernet, Intel 802.11abgn, Intel 802.11abg, Broadcom 802.11abgn, Broadcom 802.11bg, Bluetooth |
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
| Processor | OK | |
| Screen | OK | |
| HDD | OK | |
| Optical Drive | OK | |
| Graphics | OK | Hardware accel also works |
| Sound | OK | tested with alsa |
| Ethernet | OK | |
| Wireless | OK* | * Works out of the box with Intel 802.11abgn, Broadcom 802.11abgn will work after installation of the driver package |
| Bluetooth | OK | |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | OK | |
| ExpressCard Slot | Not Tested | |
| SD/MMC Reader | OK | |
| VGA Out | OK* | Works, but may flicker heavily while on AC power! |
You can enter any specific notes with running Linux on the HP 550 here.
You can enter a summary of how well the HP 550 works with Linux here.
If you are looking to purchase a HP laptop you can visit
HP's laptops page.

Alternatively, to purchase a laptop with Linux pre-installed you can visit
Dell's Ubuntu website.

Have you installed Linux on this laptop? If so how about leaving a comment about your success in the discussion section below.
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Discussion
i need to know how to
power savemy laptop , the problem is that when i plug in the monitor becomes relatively dark , but when i'm running on batteries the monitor goes brighter…. i hope u understand…thxUbuntu 8.10 works great except the audio. I've notices that windows xp driver plays much better the song (i'd to try that cos i wasn't agreeing with the audio card performance (in ubuntu) and i had to state that using windows to see if it was a driver problem. And it was. Any solution?
Thanks, regards.
How to install freedos software in hp laptop when i switch on it
where do i get the linux drivers for HP Laptop 550 series
This notebook works flawlessly with Debian Linux 5.0 (Lenny). Excellent!
Full support out of the box for compiz-fusion, full IntelWireless function-
ality too. I have the Intel 4965AG, listed as (Kedron) model and the Intel
82562GT wired ethernet adapter.
Note: Initial install I opted to install only the kernel modules that
the installer found relevant to this hardware. This left me with no working
wifi. I had to do a manual install of the intel wifi drivers to get things
going. So, on reinstall, specifying to install ALL kernel modules, every-
thing worked. Not sure about bluetooth or vga-out as of yet. Sound: Alsa works
flawlessly! Not sure on any others.
Can you get me some links to useful tutorials or something regarding the manual install of wifi drivers on lenny. I have tried a lot of things, but nothing worked. Thank you
This laptop works quite surprisingly out of the box with (K)Ubuntu 8.10 All goes automatically installed. Wireless works great. SD-reader also. Surely this is a recommended Linux laptop!
There are obviously at least two variants of this notebook, one with an intel-based wifi and bluetooth and another one with a broadcom-based wifi and bluetooth. I have the broadcom variant. I managed to make the wifi work using the “wl” module (see http://jomcode.com/fadhil/?p=59), however, I can't get the bluetooth to work at all. Do any of you have the broadcom variant of this notebook and if so, did you manage to make bluetooth work? How? Thank you very much.
hi
I want know the HP with 320 hard drive and 4 G RAM..what it cost??
soon
how do you make blue tooth work on 550 ph laptop. on the menu it has a bluetooth thing and when i click on it, it says it cant find any devices but mu phone was next to it and the bluetooth on my phone was on. its soo anoying.
please help
thanks
hi shaidia i have the same problem with my laplop too if you found out how get the blue tooth working would you please let me know as i am having troble, thanks
HI have you found out how to get the bluetooth working yet i am akso having problems
Hi,
I am probably answering too late,
To make bluetooth work, you must download its driver from the web site of hp, then it will work
Made a typo… I'm using ubuntu 8.04.1.
The type I bought is the FU410EA. Except for the broadcom wifi, it works with ubuntu 4.01 out of the box. The wifi can easily be set up by downloading and installing the b43-fwcutter (hope i made no spelling mistake) package. Also, there seems to be a minor (but quite irritating) issue with the lid hardware. It seems, that if you close the lid in some not appropriate manner (dunno what is considered not appropriate…) then the OS freezes, and you have to force a shutdown with the power button and reboot the whole system. I don't know if this is a problem with the hardware or the os. Since i only istalled ubuntu because my fedora DVD was scrached, i will test it with fedora once i have a suitable installer. I'll keep you updated with fedora and dreamlinux as soon as possible.
Don't know if anybody has noticed but HP claim they will ship this with Red Flag Linux, although I see no options to request it.
http://h41306.www4.hp.com/itemDetails?SID=cdb3ce314e143e3e625698ea8b4aacf2333:1508&sku=FU409EA#key_features
http://www.redflag-linux.com/eindex.html
My wireless card doesn't work at all on Ubuntu 8.10, at least not out of the box. Right now I'm trying to make it detect it but it's not an easy job. Not for my at least. Everything else works just fine.
HP 550 with OpenSuse 11.0 part 2 … use Ubuntu 8.10 instead, it works great
Unfortunately I spoke too soon and this laptop has some issues with OpenSuse 11.0
which are actually entirely distribution specific e.g. power management simply does not work properly , unable to suspend to RAM or hibernate or whatever it is called , only suspend to disk works , however the whole pm is broken on OpenSuse 11.0 as it also locks/freezes the machine when e.g. lid is closed and nothing will get it back except removing the power source (battery/charger). Don't use OpenSuse with this laptop unless you're ready and willing to sort their (OpenSuse distribution) broken power management system and a lot of buggy software. Use Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid instead , everything just works(not tested VGA out and modem) out of the box , wireless/ wired network , power mangement works better than in MS, it suspends,hibernates, powersaves, the whole thing is just perfect. I can repeat enough everything works! After being with SuSE since version 6.3 its a kind of disappointment to see such a great distribution loosing a plot with such trivial issues. The Ubuntu rules supreme here, ” IT JUST WORKS” and no headaches.
Here are the specs of this particular machine:
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T5470 (1.6 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 2 MB L2 cache) , 1GB DDR2 RAM, Intel wired and wireles adapters (haven't tested the modem), Intel graphics Mobile Intel® GME965 Express, DVD+/-RW SuperMulti with Double Layer e.tc.
HP 550 with OpenSuSE 11.0
This notebook works out of the box with Linux extremely well, the only problem is the usual “suspend to RAM” not working as yet , rest of the power management works reasonably well , everything else works brilliantly , WIFI and Ethernet,
SD card slot , haven't tested VGA out yet ( no suitable monitor) very good cheap laptop so don't expect miracles however for the money its better than any netbook out there. Testing continues however as I only have this laptop for 2 days but so far it has exceeded my expectations. Tested it with Ububtu 8.10 live cd and it too works well.
Also noticed one downside, worth mentioning. The power connector is next to the VGA connector, so trying to use an external display while on AC power is not recommended, because the display will flicker and jump around… I have a SyncMaster 940N and the picture doesn't look to healthy wile on AC. Note, that on battery, it's crystal clear.
Cheers!