HP Compaq nc4400 - ArchWiki

# HP Compaq nc4400

I wanted a small and fast laptop that's capable of running Linux. My choice was a HP Compaq nc4400. This HP and the Lenovo Thinkpad have a lot in common, for example they both sport a pointing stick and both lack an optical (cd/dvd) drive. My goal was to leave the pre-installed WinXP on the laptop and install Arch from an usb stick since I do not own an USB cd/dvd drive.

## System specifications

HP Compaq nc4400 - Centrino Duo

- Intel Core 2 Duo T5600, 2x1.83GHz (Speedstep, 667MHz FSB, 2MB L3) (VT support can be enabled in the BIOS)
- Mobile Intel 945GM Express Chipset (ICH7 Family)
- 2x512MB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
- 80GB 2.5" 5400rpm Fujitsu-Siemens SATA HDD
- 12" 1024x768 TFT
- Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 945GM
- Intel HDA audio
- 56K Fax/Modem
- Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet (BCM5753M)
- 3xUSB2.0, one giving a full ampere of power
- Intel 3945ABG
- Bluetooth (Broadcom)
- TI SD/MMC Memory Card reader
- Fingerprint reader (AuthenTec)
- Infineon TPM and Smartcard reader
- IRdA
- VGA and Svideo for an external monitor/television
- 52W - 4698mAh battery (4-5h)
- Synaptics Touchpad and a pointing stick!
- One cardbus slot
- 65W adapter
- Ambient Light Sensor

lshwd output:

- 00:00.0 Class 0600: Intel Corp.|Mobile Memory Controller Hub (intel-agp)
- 00:02.0 Class 0300: Intel Corp.|Mobile Integrated Graphics Controller (i810)
- 00:02.1 Class 0380: Intel Corp.|Mobile Integrated Graphics Controller (vesa)
- 00:1b.0 Class 0403: Intel Corp.|I/O Controller Hub High Definition Audio (snd-hda-intel)
- 00:1c.0 Class 0604: Intel Corp.|I/O Controller Hub PCI Express Port 1 (unknown)
- 00:1c.1 Class 0604: Intel Corp.|I/O Controller Hub PCI Express Port 2 (unknown)
- 00:1d.0 Class 0c03: Intel Corp.|I/O Controller Hub UHCI USB #1 (unknown)
- 00:1d.1 Class 0c03: Intel Corp.|I/O Controller Hub UHCI USB #2 (unknown)
- 00:1d.2 Class 0c03: Intel Corp.|I/O Controller Hub UHCI USB #3 (unknown)
- 00:1d.3 Class 0c03: Intel Corp.|I/O Controller Hub UHCI USB #4 (unknown)
- 00:1d.7 Class 0c03: Intel Corp.|I/O Controller Hub EHCI USB (unknown)
- 00:1e.0 Class 0604: Intel Corp.|82801 Hub Interface to PCI Bridge (hw_random)
- 00:1f.0 Class 0601: Intel Corp.|Mobile I/O Controller Hub LPC (i8xx_tco)
- 00:1f.1 Class 0101: Intel Corp.|I/O Controller Hub PATA (piix)
- 00:1f.2 Class 0106: Intel Corp.|Mobile I/O Controller Hub SATA cc=AHCI (ahci)
- 02:06.0 Class 0607: Texas Instruments|PCIxx12 CardBus Controller (yenta_socket)
- 02:06.2 Class 0180: Texas Instruments|5-in-1 Multimedia Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO/xD) (unknown)
- 02:06.3 Class 0805: Texas Instruments|5-in-1 Multimedia Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO/xD) (unknown)
- 02:06.4 Class 0780: Texas Instruments|5-in-1 Multimedia Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO/xD) (unknown)
- 08:00.0 Class 0200: Broadcom Corp.|NetXtreme BCM5753M Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express (tg3)
- 10:00.0 Class 0280: Intel Corporation|PRO/Wireless 3945ABG (ipw3945)
- ---:--- Mouse: Generic PS/2 Wheel Mouse [/dev/psaux] (msintellips/2)

## What works/what does not

Pretty much everything needed works when you tweak. This wiki is an excellent source of infomation. :) On windows the network controller (nextreme) can be "safely removed" to save power. I think you can do the same in linux with "rmmod tg3".

For the right console display size I set vga=792 (1024x768x16M@60Hz) as a kernel boot parameter.

There's hardware mute and volume up/down buttons. They work but odly every time I reboot it's always back to mute. More like a feature than a bug.

The `Fn+brighter/dimmer` display buttons and the Ambient Light Sensor work software independent.

In my understanding, the TPM doesn't show anywhere even tho there's a kernel module for the infineon TPM. I haven't tried to make it work and probably won't even try. I believe the Irda and modem work as expected, haven't tested.

I haven't tried to use an external monitor/TV, I expect making those work is just matter of confing.

The ICH7 family sports a hpet multimedia timer that saves power. Kernel boot parameter hpet=force just in case.

Bluetooth works (kdebluetooth, but probably also gnome-bluetooth).

CPU frequency scaling works. (cpufrequtils with the p4_clockmod module).

## Xorg configuration

The i810 driver works for graphics. xf86-video-intel package is needed.

Use Touchpad_Synaptics to tune the touthpad.

## Wifi

The wireless card requires the iwlegacy kernel module. See Wireless network configuration#iwlegacy

## SD/MMC memory card reader

This works with the tifm driver.

    modprobe tifm_core
    modprobe tifm_7xx1
    modprobe tifm_sd

Or you can enable them at boot from a file in `/etc/modules.d/`.

## HDD failing sensors

See the S.M.A.R.T. howto. This line in `/etc/smartd.conf` does the job for me (Tkjacobsen):

    /dev/sda -a -d sat -m root@localhost

### ToDo

- The fingerprint reader is via USB, haven't looked into that yet either.

## See also

Gentoo wiki

Category:

- HP