====== HP-Compaq 6710B ======
===== Introduction =====
This is a guide to running Linux with the HP-Compaq 6710B laptop. The 6710B is a mid to high end laptop but without a overblown pricetag.

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 [[Installation Guide|our guides]] section for distribution specific instructions.
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===== Specifications =====
For full specifications see the [[http://www.lapspecs.com/wiki/hp-compaq+6710b|HP-Compaq 6710B specifications page]].

| Name|HP-Compaq 6710B|
| Processor|Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2GHz|
| Screen|14.1" WXGA|
| RAM|1GB|
| HDD|120GB|
| Optical Drive|DVD+-RW|
| Graphics|Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100|
| 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| |
| HDD|Yes| |
| Optical Drive|Yes| |
| Graphics|Yes|See notes below|
| Sound|Yes| |
| Ethernet|Yes| |
| Wireless|Yes|Use the [[http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net|ipw3945]] module; also make sure "LAN/WLAN switching is turned off in the BIOS settings|
| Bluetooth|Yes|RFKILL=Y in kernel, follow any guide then|
| 56K Modem|Not Tested| |
| USB|Yes| |
| Firewire|Yes| |
| Card Reader|Yes|Can be problematic to get running, see http://mmc.drzeus.cx/wiki/Controllers/Ricoh?highlight=%28ricoh%29|
| PCMCIA|Not Tested| |
===== Notes =====
Due to ACPI issues with older kernel versions, it is recommended you use a Linux distribution which includes kernel version 2.6.21 or higher, such as Fedora 7, with the HP 6710B.

Installing Ubuntu Feisty using the LiveCD will likely result in the error:

/bin/sh: can't access tty; job control turned off

At prompt the enter: 'modprobe piix' and then 'exit'  (no quotes) to continue the boot. However afterwards you will likely have problems with the graphics driver.

The Intel driver in all current Linux distributions is too old to properly support the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100. It does not allow you to set the proper screen resolution. You will need to update the Intel driver for your distribution before the correct screen resolution can be used. You can download the driver [[http://xorg.freedesktop.org//releases/individual/driver/xf86-video-intel-2.1.1.tar.bz2|here]]. I will write up a guide on installing this driver in the next few days. ([[http://blaise.ca/blog/2007/07/01/ubuntu-704-feisty-fawn-with-an-hp-compaq-6710b/|Here]] is a guide on how to install the driver on Ubuntu 7.04)

Wireless LAN won't work if a network cable is attached to the laptop at the same time if "LAN/WLAN switching" is enabled in the BIOS settings.If the setting is enabled you will see that an ipw3945 device was detected and configured but there will be no ifconfig or iwconfig entries for the device. Pretty confusing when doing a network install using the wired network card and then trying to get the WLAN interface working, so better disable this setting during installation at least. 
===== Summary =====
The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 is the main issue with running Linux on the HP-Compaq 6710B. All other features work well and up coming Ubuntu Linux distribution should solve the screen problem with the 6710B.