do I need APIC on old laptop?

[Martin Maney]

On Sat, Oct 09, 2004 at 10:40:34PM +0200, Kjell Eriksson wrote:
> Hi, only way to install Ubuntu (sounder cd#9) on my Dell Inspiron 8000 
> is by using "noapic nolapic" as bootparameters.
> Otherwise it seems working ok.

Ditto, although post-install at least I seem only to need nolapic. 
Does that work for you?  If not, we might help narrow down the source
of this by comparing these laptops and their setup.  For example, mine
had no problem installing and running without these until I upgraded
the BIOS this morning.  A10 good, A23 bad, which isn't very specific.

> in dmesg there is some mention of problem with pciehp and shpchp, but 
> googling tell me it's nothing to care about.

Right.  Hotplug stuff you haven't got.  It's a cosmetic bug.

> Do I really need APIC on my old laptop P3-cpu or is it more important 
> for smp and P4 ?

Right, it's unnecessary for single CPU, at least in this chipset.

> Seems Dell bioses are broken regarding APIC

All BIOSes are broken, one way or another.  :-/

> If I try to install debian netinstall daily build 20/9 there is no 
> problem, but newer build same problem as Ubuntu, install freeze!

Sure.  Ubuntu is the only OS on the schizophrenic Inspiron that croaked
with A23.  Windows ME wanted to [re]install the LCD, while both Woody
and Libranet, both with 2.4 kernels, just continued to work.

-- 
the warfare on the cutting edge of any science draws attention
away from the huge uncontested background, the dull metal heft
of the axe that gives the cutting edge its power.  -- Dennett