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Dell Inspiron Mini 9 [Linux Laptop Wiki]

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Dell Inspiron Mini 9

Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux with the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 laptop.
This guide is intended to provide you details on how well this laptop works with Linux and which modules
you need to configure. For details on how to actually install and configure the required modules have a look
at our guides section for distribution specific instructions.
This page is just for discussing using Linux on the Dell Inspiron Mini 9. For a general discussion about this
laptop you can visit the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 page on LapWik [http://www.lapwik.com/dell_inspiron_mini_9].

Editing This Page

If you would like to edit this page please first view our Editing Guidelines.

Specifications
For full specifications see the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 specifications page
[http://www.lapspecs.com/wiki/dell+inspiron+mini+9].
Name

Dell Inspiron Mini 9 (a.k.a. Inspiron 910)

Processor

Intel Atom 1.6 GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512 KB cache

Screen

8.9 WSVGA Widescreen

RAM

512 MB or 1 GB DDR2 533 MHz

HDD

8 or 16 GB SSD

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HDD

Dell Inspiron Mini 9 [Linux Laptop Wiki]

8 or 16 GB SSD

Optical Drive None

C ard Reader SD, Memory Stick (Pro), MMC
Graphics

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 945GME

Network

Realtek Ethernet, Broadcom WLAN 802.11b/g, Bluetooth

C amera

0.3 or 1.3 MP

Battery

32 Wh (4 cell) (see notes)

Specifications based on european models, US models with more configuration options

Linux Compatibility
Device

Compatibility

Comments

Processor Yes
Screen

Yes

Brightness control keys (Fn-9/0) are hardware keys - hassle-free

HDD

Yes

Graphics

Yes

Kernel module: i915, X.org module: intel; See notes.

Sound

Yes

Kernel module: snd-hda-intel. Maybe you need to specify model=dell as parameter

Ethernet

Yes

Kernel module: r8169

Wireless

Yes

C urrently the proprietary wl driver by Broadcom works best (see notes). b43 kernel
module doesn't seem to work (yet). Ndiswrapper + Windows driver is also an option.
1)

Bluetooth Yes

Tested with openSUSE 11.1, works

USB

Yes

Booting from USB devices causes trouble here

C ard
Reader

Yes (MMC , other

parts not tested)

Kernel module: sdhci, MMC Boot not available right now (Bios disabled)

C amera

Yes (1.3 MP model,

0.3 MP model not
Kernel module: uvcvideo
tested)

Special
keys

Yes

2)

Standby, Wireless, Battery status, Mute, Vol. up, Vol. down emit normal keycodes and can
thus be bound to scripts etc. Brightness keys are handled in hardware. Internal/External
monitor key not tested.

Notes
Graphics
The X.org Intel driver is currently (version 2.5.0, 2008-11-06) broken. The screen flickers in random
intervals and sometimes goes dark (while X is still running). The log contains error messages like (EE)
intel(0): underrun on pipe B!. Adding
Option

"FramebufferCompression" "False"

to the Device section in xorg.conf helps.

With the Xorg/kde4 from openSUSE 11.1 the backlight changes intensity randomly every few seconds
(powerdevil?). KDE3 or GTK-based DE's work like a charm. The sollution is to upgrade the Systembios to
A004 (was A001 here), or in short-term, change the backlight-control mode with xrandr output
LVDS set BACKLIGHT_CONTROL nativein your ~/.xinitrc

Wireless
The proprietary 'wl' driver is not (and will never be) part of the mainline kernel. Check your distribution's
repository if you can find it there, otherwise you can use my self-explaining shell script
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[http://p173.de/f/build_and_install_broadcom_wl.sh] which will apply a patch from Ubuntu, build and install

the module.

Battery
A test on how long the netbook runs on battery under normal netbook use is available here [http://patricknagel.net/blog/archives/84].

Summary
1)
2)

Konsole Tools at least, KDE Tools messed up a bit

Only V4L2 Apps works with the uvc driver (Skype, Cheese), BUT only the yuv format, no mjpeg supported
by the cam

Discussion
Daniel M., 2012/09/15 20:55
I'm running Ubuntu 12.04 on my Dell Mini 9 and the screen resolution is wrong: the aspect ratio is
incorrect. When I go into systems/display there are no other options. I tried using a post about xrandr in
the terminal but I don't know the right name for my display: it is not VGA or VGA1. Does someone
have instructions for changing the display to the right aspect ratio on the Mini 9?
thanks,
Daniel
Barnendu Goswami, 2010/01/12 01:10
Kubuntu 9.10 (with updates via wired LAN)
Everything working fine, except initially no Broadcom wireless.
I tried the self explaining script initially without luckthen followed the Broadcom driver instructions more
closely (in their readme) (from http://www.broadcom.com/support/802.11/linux_sta.php
[http://www.broadcom.com/support/802.11/linux_sta.php]). In particular, pay attention to the blacklist,
rmmod and insmod instructions. Don't forget to perform everything as root (sudo for Ubuntu and it's
variants users). Then, re-ran the script from the console (for newbies, running the script from command
line - you need to specify path properly, or script won't execute)try:
sudo ./build_and_install_broadcom_wl.s
Once done; the network manager picked up the device within a second. I yanked the wired LAN, and
configured the wireless for my AP, and wqas surfing moments later (5 mins later I'm typing this!)
My extreme thanks to linlap. :D
Dude, 2009/12/05 13:27
I tried lots of different Linux distros with my Mini 9. I always go back to the Dell factory Ubuntu 8.0.4
LTS version. It's the only version that works well with Wireless and Skype. Skype is even available for
download in the repository. Other versions of Linux have problems with audio when I install Skype.
Donn Gabrielson, 2009/09/01 00:52
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I tried the self-explaining shell script to install the wireless driver. It failed becasue there was no build
directory under /lib/modules/2.6.24-24-lpia/. I was hoping this would correct the auto-start of the
wireless at boot (my wireless connection no longer connects after I did a software update and the drive
is enabled but indicates not used)
minianer, 2009/09/01 08:12
The script would only work, if the correct kernel is installed. I think the lpia-architecture is only
available with the special dell-ubuntu for the mini, so any other version or distribution needs some
adjustments to that path (maybe more?).
Some distros also have user-repositories with non-free stuff, like packman for opensuse, where you
maybe can find it as a complete package.
cher1122, 2009/07/10 05:02
new to linux I just bought Dell mini 9 with ubuntu start. I tried to connect to external monitor I went to
preference
display preference
Minitor:HP 22
on
I won't be able to save the set up.
I tried Fn+F8 (Won't work)
But, when i restart the notebook it works.
Please help
Ron, 2009/06/25 02:00
I've just found that the Mini 9 won't take a Memory Stick Pro Duo without an adapter. It definitely won't
fit or work without the adapter and if you do stick it into the slot, you'll need tweezers or something
similar to pull it out.
Billy , 2009/06/01 17:10
I run Kubuntu 9.04 on my Dell Mini 9 (64GB SSD/2GB RAM). Boots in about 10 seconds and runs great. I
did have to do my first software update via my wired LAN to load the right driver for the mini internal
WLAN card.
Doc, 2009/04/21 16:17
Fedora 10 (gnome) is running fine, no screen flickering but lshw is reporting for display controler
(945GME) this device hasn't been claimed and glxgears is giving about 700 fps, while glxgears in MS
Windows reported about 1000 fps. Does any one have succesfully compiled and installed the linux
drivers with the Intel Embedded Graphics Drivers (IEGD) Configuration Editor?
Ryan, 2009/04/10 03:31
1)

i dont know if you have to run your shel script as root(or how to do that either ) but i cant get it to run
on debian 5.00 lenny
other than that everything works great on the mini.
1)

new to linux

Thoradin, 2009/02/04 09:44

The flickering backlight was solved for me with a biosupgrade (A001 to A004)
Al, 2009/02/04 03:51
No problems with xubuntu, install was normal, I experienced no screen flicker, and have yet to. MMC
works right out of the box. Mine does not have bluetooth or a webcam, so I can't speak to that. Wifi
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works fine with the xubuntu default install as well.

Bluetooth, 2008/12/23 22:52
Bluetooth is working with opensuse 11.1. But most of the kde tools are damaged in the release and did
not show up the adapter.

hcitool devshould show up the device on the console. My working combination is the obex-server
from gnome and the obex-send tool from kde3. browsing the phone not tested, but only a matter of
working tools I guess.
Thoraedin, 2008/12/21 03:09
I just installed opensuse 11.1 on the dell 910, but even with the given option, the screen (backlight)
flickers randomly. Is there any new solution for the intel gma950? could find anything on the xorg
mailinglist
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