More Test Results Installing Different Linux/BSD Distributions on a Panasonic CF-28 ToughBook
Below is my updated list of Linux and BSD distributions that I have tried installing on a CF-28 Toughbook. It seems as if the Intel video problems at boot that a few distros had have been fixed in more recent versions so this makes more distros easier to try out without having to use workarounds.
| Linux Distro | Default Install Works | Date Install Attempted | Notes |
| Linux Mint Elyssa FluxBox | Yes | November 2008 | |
| BrowserLinux | Yes | July 2009 | Puppy Based Distro with Firefox 3.5. LiveCD and install works OK. Native support for OGG audio files and media players like Mplayer and VLC can be added with .pet files. |
| Arch Linux | Yes | March 2009 | Install went Ok – have to follow online guide as setup is not as easy as some others. Works great once everything is setup and is fast enough on this older laptop to be quite useable. |
| PCLINUXOS 2009.2 | Yes* | June 2009 | * Default Livecd boot does not come up properly so to install you must choose Vesa from boot menu noscsi and then after install change xorg to Intel driver |
| Linux Mint 6 XFCE | Yes | November 2008 | Install was quite slow with 256MB but went OK. Runs a little slow with 256MB of RAM. Seems to have graphics glitches once in a while. |
| LighthousePup | Yes | November 2008 | Puppy Derivative |
| Puppy Linux | Yes | November 2008 | Live CD and Installer works OK |
| TinyMe 2008.1 | Yes* | December 2008 | Install time: 10 minutes. *must choose VESA modem from bootup menu but install does work. Very minimal install – no Internet browser or media players installed |
| Debian Lenny Testing RC1 Network Install ISO | Yes | December 2008 | Install Time: 2 hours. Install went OK |
| SimplyMepis 8.0 B6 | Yes | December 2008 | Install worked great. One of the few distros that asks what Intel driver you want to use on install |
| AntiX Mepis 8.0 | Yes | January 2009 | Install was fast and worked great |
| sidux 2008-4 KDE | Yes | December 2008 | Installs OK. Screen goes blank at times when you close application windows, KDE runs kind slow on this PC, screen has weird glitchy blocks on top edges |
| sidux 2008-4 Xfce | Yes | Dec 28/08 | Install time: 17 minutes. Atheros ath5k driver seems to hang up after a few minutes of use |
| Sidux 2009-02 | No | June 2009 | Install started but failed to copy all files |
| Zenwalk | Yes | Dec 27/08 | Install time: 15 minutes. Did not setup my Intel video card correclty, had to add i810 to xorg config, seems a little buggy, wireless seems slow, hangs up at times |
| PC-BSD 7.02 | Yes | December 2008 | Install time: 45 minutes. Install stalls for a a couple minutes when copying files from CD Installed but buggy when booting |
| Vector Linux 6.0 RC1 | No | November 2008 | Just boots to a distorted mostly blank screen |
| Linux Mint 6 RC1 | No | November 2008 | Just boots to a blank screen |
| Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex 8.10 Alternative ISO Install | No | November 2008 | Install takes about 45 minutes, seems to stall out for about 15-20 minutes at 6% on the “Select and install Software” part of the install (known bug) but install will continue. After reboot, login screen comes up but desktop screen never comes up properly after login |
| Opensuse 11.1 RC1 | No | December 2008 | Install CD just boots to distorted desktop |
| Fedora 10 | No | November 2008 | Just boots to a black screen with mouse cursor |
| Slax 6.0.9 | No | December 2008 | Hangs immediately at boot after ISOLINUX message appears on screen |
Excellent list! This has saved me loads of time!
I’m relatively weak in linux – is there a distro you could recommend? All I really need is 1) quick 2) usb key support and 3) a txt editor.
I’m attempting to write the next great american novel!
Comment by Jess — August 12, 2009 @ 7:51 pm
I have been able to get Ubuntu 8.10 installed on a CF-28 1000MHz 13″ by tweaking the xorg.conf file:
Section “Device”
Identifier “Configured Video Device”
Option “HWCursor” “false”
Option “SWCursor” “true”
Option “MigrationHeuristic” “greedy”
EndSection
Section “Monitor”
Identifier “Configured Monitor”
EndSection
Section “Screen”
Identifier “Default Screen”
Monitor “Configured Monitor”
Device “Configured Video Device”
EndSection
Now if I could just figure out how to get the touchscreen properly configured…
Comment by Will W. — August 12, 2009 @ 10:11 pm
For Fedora, when it boots to just a blank screen on the LiveCD just wait a few minutes and the desktop will usually boot up. This worked for Fedora 9 anyway. I don’t understand why it takes so long but it does eventually boot up.
Comment by byrd740 — September 17, 2009 @ 2:08 am