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Acer Aspire 9412ZWSMi
Windows Vista Home Premium
Mandriva Linux Free 2007 Spring

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I bought a laptop. I got it to dualboot without having the Vista installation CDs. My report follows.

I have both Linux and Windows installed in dutch, so I may be off with some translations. If I am, please let me know.

First this
The choices
The hardware (overview)
The preparations

Making backups
Partitioning

Installing Linux
Finishing

Boot menu
Data partition
Graphic server ('X')
Color depth
Wireless
Modem
Extra keys
Camera
Card reader

First this

No warranty.
Own risk.

Author: Rob la Lau <rob[at]nerdstock.org>

The choices

Acer Aspire 9412ZWSMi (= 9410 series), because
- the large display (17")
- the builtin camera
- it was on sale
dualboot, because
- I prefer to work with Linux
- I develop websites, and need to test those in Internet Explorer
Windows Vista, because
- it was pre-installed (XP would have been fine with me)
Mandriva Linux, because
- I think it's the most user friendly Linux distribution (for the desktop)

The hardware

part	type	works	notes
processor	Intel Pentium dual-core processor T2060 (1.60 GHz, 533 MHz FSB, 1 MB L2 cache)	+
memory	1 GB DDR2 533 MHz	+
hard disk	80 GB Hitachi HTS541680J9SA00 ATA	+
dvd	Optiarc DVD RW AD-7530A ATA	+
display	17" WXGA+ Acer CrystalBrite LCD	+	--> click <--
display adapter	Mobile Intel 945GM Express		--> click <--
sound	Intel High Definition Audio	+
card reader	Texas Instruments 5-in-1 Multimedia Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO/xD)	+	--> click <--
camera	Acer OrbiCam 1.3/0,31 megapixel (manufacturer: Bison ?)	?	--> click <--
LAN	Realtek RTL8168/8111 Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC	+
WLAN	Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG	+	--> click <--
modem	Agere Systems HDA modem	+	--> click <--
PCMCIA	Texas Instruments PCIxx12 Cardbus Controller	?	didn't get to this yet
mouse	Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad	+
extra keys	?	+	--> click <--

The preparations

Windows Vista is pre-installed on the laptop. You don't get the installation CDs, however.
In stead there is a hidden partition that holds the images, and a program is included that allows one to create and restore backups (Acer eRecovery).

Create backups

Start eRecovery and go to the tab named 'Burn disk'. Click on 'Create disk with factory settings'. A backup is now created with your laptop's factory settings (1 DVD). You probably won't need it, but it won't hurt to have it (you may wish to sell the laptop some day).

Now, install all programs you wish to use under Windows. Also think of Firefox and Thunderbird extensions, and the like.
Configure your system exactly the way you like it (email accounts, desktop background, etc., etc.). Next throw away all downloads you don't need anymore, and empty your recycle bin.
Start eRecovery again, and go to tab 'Burn disk'. Now click 'Backup disk with current system settings'. This will probably take about 2 DVDs.
You will need these, so don't skip this step!

Now download the Linux distribution of your choice (in my case Mandriva Free 2007 Spring), and burn it to CDs or DVD.
Also download Knoppix. This is a Linux distribution that runs from CD, and does not need to be installed on you hard disk. Burn this to CD as well.

Partitioning

The disk must now be repartitioned to create space for Linux.

To do this, you boot with the Knoppix CD in the DVD player. The laptop will now boot from the CD (if it doesn't, adjust your BIOS settings).
If Knoppix has finished booting, go to System -> QTParted in the menu. QTParted is a program that allows one to resize partitions.
The second partition in the list is the partition that's called C: under Windows. Resize it to about 20 GB (well, for me that was OK, if you installed a lot of applications, you may need more space). In the space you've just created, directly after the resized C:, you create a new partition of 5 GB.
Save your changes, get out of Knoppix, and reboot the computer (without a CD in the drive).

Your computer will probably hang in the boot screen. If it does, put your backup DVD in the player (the one with all the settings applied, not the one with the factory settings), and reboot the computer. At boot eRecovery will ask you whether you want to restore the backup, en you say 'Sure'. The backup will then be restored to the 'new', resized C: partition.

When Windows has booted, open Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer) and find the new partition you have just created (probably F:, 5 GB). Format it as NTFS.
Then find your D: partition, right click the directory System Volume Information, and select Properties. Go to tab Security, and add yourself to the list of users that have full access to this directory.
Now, copy the entire contents of D: to F:.

Reboot into Knoppix, open QTParted, and remove the last partition in the list (the one labelled ACERDATA).
Reboot into Windows.

In Windows you right click on Computer (in Explorer or on your desktop) and select Manage. Select Disk management, right click F: and select Change drive letter. Change the drive letter to D: and the name to ACERDATA. (If you want to do it right, you can reset the access right for System Volume Information to SYSTEM.)

You're done with Windows now.
You have 3 partitions: the hidden partition you haven't touched, a 20 GB partition for Windows, and a 5 GB ACERDATA partition (of which I'm not even sure you need it).

Installing Linux

Now Linux can be installed. That's easy.

Select Custom partitioning. Create a 4 GB swap partition (this laptop supports 4 GB RAM maximum), and a 10 GB root partition (ext3). Create a vfat partition in the space that's left (Linux and Windows can both write to vfat partitions, so you can share your data partition).

Select the packages you want installed, and start the installation.

Finishing

There are a few things you need to do after the installation.

With all menu options I use below, I assume you use KDE. If you don't, you may have to search a little harder.

Boot menu

There is 3 times windows in your boot menu; one for each Windows partition. windows1 is the correct one (this is the second Windows partition, so C:). Adjust your Grub configuration through menu -> System -> Configuration -> Configure your computer -> Boot -> Startup options.

Data partition

Format your data partition as fat32 in Windows (right click -> Format).

Graphic server ('X')

If you select Set graphic server in the configuration screen, the computer suggests you install driver 915resolution (menu -> System -> Configuration -> Configure your computer -> Hardware -> Set graphic server). Click 'OK'.

Color depth

After installation your X server is set to 16-bits colors. Make it 24-bits (menu -> System -> Configuration -> Configure your computer -> Hardware -> Change resolution); it looks prettier.

Wireless

The driver for the wireless card isn't installed yet. It's called ipw3945 (menu -> System -> Configuration -> Packages -> Install software). Don't forget to add it to /etc/modprobe.preload.

Modem

The driver for the modem also isn't installed yet. It's called slmodem (menu -> System -> Configuration -> Packages -> Install software).
Once installed, initialise the modem with slmodemd -c NETHERLANDS --alsa hw:0,6 (type slmodemd --countrylist for a list of countries). Then use KPPP (or some other PPP software) to use the modem.
slmodemd must be running to use the modem, so it might be a good idea to save a script with the mentioned line as ~/.kde/env/slmodemd.sh, and another script with the line killall slmodemd as ~/.kde/shutdown/slmodemd.sh so things happen automatically on login and logout.

Because I will probably never use the modem, I stopped when I saw KPPP could communicate with the modem. Chances are my modem doesn't work after all; I haven't actually tested it.

Extra keys

This was quite some work...
Read below for the short version, or go to this page for the whole story.

Install lineakd, lineakd-plugins-default, lineakd-plugins-kde, lineakd-plugins-xosd.

Copy these lines to /etc/rc.d/rc.local:

setkeycodes e025 138	# Fn + F1
setkeycodes e026 202	# Fn + F2
setkeycodes e027 203	# Fn + F3
setkeycodes e029 238	# Fn + F5
setkeycodes e033 219	# euro sign
setkeycodes e034 239	# dollar sign
setkeycodes e055 218	# wireless
setkeycodes e058 237	# bluetooth
setkeycodes e073 149	# 'P'
setkeycodes e074 148	# 'e'

Copy these lines to /etc/lineakkb.def:

[ACER-ASP9410]
    # Contributed by Rob la Lau <rob[at]nerdstock.org>
    # Documented at http://nerdstock.org/acer_vista_mandriva
    # Tested on an Acer Aspire 9412ZWSMi

    brandname = "Acer"
    modelname = "Aspire 9410 series"

    [KEYS]
        ScrollLock      = 78
        AudioPrev       = 144
        PButton         = 151   # scancode e073 - Linux keycode 149
        AudioNext       = 153
        EButton         = 159   # scancode e074 - Linux keycode 148
        Mute            = 160
        Play|Pause      = 162
        Stop            = 164
        Setup           = 171   # scancode e026 - Linux keycode 202
        PowerMan        = 172   # scancode e027 - Linux keycode 203
        VolumeDown      = 174
        VolumeUp        = 176
        WWW             = 178
        Wireless        = 194   # scancode e055 - Linux keycode 218
        EuroSign        = 195   # scancode e033 - Linux keycode 219
        Mail            = 236
        Bluetooth       = 242   # scancode e058 - Linux keycode 237
        Display         = 243   # scancode e029 - Linux keycode 238
        DollarSign      = 244   # scancode e034 - Linux keycode 239
        Help            = 245   # scancode e025 - Linux keycode 138
    [END KEYS]
[END ACER-ASP9410]

Save this file as ~/.lineak/lineakd.conf (change /home/rob to your own home directory):

CdromDevice = /dev/dvd
Display_align = center
Display_color = 0aff00
Display_font = -adobe-helvetica-bold-r-normal-*-*-240-*-*-p-*-*-*
Display_hoffset = 0
Display_plugin = xosd
Display_pos = bottom
Display_soffset = 1
Display_timeout = 3
Display_voffset = 50
KeyboardType = ACER-ASP9410
MixerDevice = /dev/mixer
RAWCommands =
Screensaver =
conffilename = /home/rob/.lineak/lineakd.conf
keystate_capslock =
keystate_numlock =
keystate_scrolllock =

AudioNext = EAK_MEDIADETECT(NEXT)
AudioPrev = EAK_MEDIADETECT(PREVIOUS)
Bluetooth =
DollarSign = EAK_SENDKEYS(shift+4)
EuroSign = EAK_SENDKEYS(mod2+5)
Help = /usr/bin/khelpcenter
ScrollLock =
Mail = KMAIL_COMPOSE
Mute = EAK_MUTE
Play|Pause = EAK_MEDIADETECT(PLAYPAUSE)
PowerMan =
Setup =
Stop = EAK_MEDIADETECT(STOP)
EButton =
PButton = /usr/bin/klineakconfig
Display =
VolumeDown = EAK_VOLDOWN
VolumeUp = EAK_VOLUP
WWW = KONQUEROR
Wireless =

Create a symlink in ~/.kde/Autostart:

ln -s /usr/bin/lineakd ~/.kde/Autostart/lineakd

Save this mini script as ~/.kde/shutdown/lineakd.sh:

# ~/.kde/shutdown/lineakd.sh

# exit lineakd
lineakd -x

And

reboot

Read the whole story at this page.

Camera

I see the camera listed as a supported device at the Linux UVC site (Acer OrbiCam; device-id 5986:0100). I guess the camera will be supported by Mandriva when a new kernel RPM is released (for ease of maintenance I only want to install RPMs on this laptop).

Card reader

The card reader is an easy one:

modprobe tifm_sd

After this, when you put an SD card into the card reader a window will popup asking you what you want to do: open in a new window, import the photos, etc.
To have this kernel module load at boot time, add this line to /etc/modprobe.preload:

tifm_sd

Yes, it's that simple...

Note: there will be no more updates for this page, because I installed FreeBSD.

Responses are welcomed: rob[at]nerdstock.org	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/nl/deed.en
Permission is hereby granted to Acer Inc. (the manufacturer of my laptop) to copy, distribute and display this documentation, as well as to make derivative works, provided that name ('Rob la Lau'), email ('rob[at]nerdstock.org') and website ('http://nerdstock.org/acer_vista_mandriva') of the author are mentioned in those works as being the original source.