Installing Linux on my HP NC6120

I installed xubuntu on my notebook by doing a minimal server install from the ubuntu server iso, and then doing apt-get install xubuntu-desktop.

VERY IMPORTANT: Enable speedstep by compiling a custom kernel with intel’s speedstep driver as a module, set the default frequency governer to “userspace” and use the “powernowd” daemon. If speedstep is not enabled, your laptop will overheat and may get damaged.

Enable the blue ipw2200 wireless LED:
Create file /etc/modprobe.d/ipw2200 or /etc/modules.d/ipw2200 depending on your distro.
Insert into file: options ipw2200 led=1

The following script will mute sound and turn on the orange LED:
#!/bin/bash
amixer set Master toggle
amixer set 'External Amplifier' toggle
exit 0


Here is a general guide on mapping the NC6120’s hotkeys for linux:
http://psichron.za.net/guides/nc6120keys.html
Interestingly, I found a link to my guide on the french ubuntu forums here: http://forum.ubuntu-fr.org/viewtopic.php?pid=153919 .Got to love the French.

The modem works with the sl-modem package which must be installed seperately or through apt. I’m not sure how I got this installed because installation instructions are incomplete, but it does work.

Here is my linux kernel 2.6.20 configuration nc6120.
To build, I use: make-kpkg --initrd --append-to-version=-custom kernel_image modules_image
Alternatively, kernel version 2.6.15 config. Firewire and Infrared is disabled. custom-2.6.15.config

Here is a screenshot of my XFCE (4.3) desktop with translucency and shadows enabled: XFCE desktop screenshot(100Kb)