Linux on a T40p and T42p

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m4martin · #1 Post by **m4martin** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:14 pm

Has anybody installed Linux on the above machines and got all the drivers to work??

I tried Suse v9.0 (i think ?) some years ago on my T40p, and could not get the wireless to communicate, so had no internet access.

I am a complete beginner with Linux, and was completely lost as to what to do. Also, I do not know which version of Linux is easy for a novice user............any recommendations anyone?

I believe there was project to make a Linux install disc for all thinkpads, did it ever get done, and could i get a copy to try??

Thanks

Martin

PipeHitter · #2 Post by **PipeHitter** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:54 pm

I would suggest Ubuntu if you are wanting an easy distro to start off with. Great community support and the entire distro is very polished and refined. You may find that the majority of your device issues will work straight out of the box.

I would be very suprised if you could not get your wireless card working at this time.

Take a look at www.thinkwiki.org/

The above site focuses primarily on thinkpads with linux.

Good luck!

ThinkPad · #3 Post by **ThinkPad** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 11:57 am

I use Ubuntu on my T 42p it picks up the wireless driver automatically

lophiomys · #4 Post by **lophiomys** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 3:33 pm

Kubuntu 7.10 running fast and smooth on my T42p's.
Only installing the ATI 3D graphic driver via Envy caused some troubles, which where easily overcome...

whizkid · #5 Post by **whizkid** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:21 pm

As an owner of many ThinkPads over the years, and big-time Fedora fan, I recommend Ubuntu.

Ubuntu has a larger community, is a little more stable, and isn't so uptight about including non-free software, which makes it easier to use some laptop hardware.

m4martin · #6 Post by **m4martin** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 6:27 pm

Thanks Everyone,

I guess that is a conclusive reply, if 3 people all recommend Ubuntu, then i would be a foll to disagree.

At the time I installed Suse, it was on the T40p, and could not get the wireless to work, nor have any idea, how to join a windows based network. Nothing has changed there !!

So the next question is are there different versions of Ubuntu, and if so, which should i go for, and where would i get it?

Is there a good linux tutorial on Ubuntu that i could see on a windows platform?

I guess it's a silly question at this point, but what does the term "Distro" mean? It only seems to be mentioned by Linux users?

Thanks again,
Martin

aaa · #7 Post by **aaa** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:12 pm

distro=distribution. As, SuSE is one distribution, Ubuntu is another.

So you're on Ubuntu now and it's not working? It is supposed to work right away, like in this pic:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/82208340@N00/1496799892/

Latest version is the one to get, if you haven't gotten it already.

#8 Post by **carbon_unit** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:55 pm

There are different desktop environments such as Gnome, KDE and XFCE. They are each a little different in how they look and feel. The only way to see which one you like is to try each one for yourself. The nice thing about most modern Linux distro's is that they are live cd's. Meaning you get the ISO, burn it to a CD with something like ISOrecorder and then reboot your Thinkpad making sure it boots to the cd. It will run Linux and you can see if you like it. It will run a little slow since it is cd based instead of hard drive based but you will get the feel for it. Once you find the one you like you simply click the "Install" icon on the desktop to install it.
Get them here:
http://www.ubuntu.com/
http://www.kubuntu.org/
http://www.xubuntu.org/

whizkid · #9 Post by **whizkid** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 10:30 pm

Those three flavors are all available, but plain Ubuntu is by far the most popular, and it uses the Gnome Desktop, which is a collection of software that runs... your... desktop. :) Things like settings and such.

Fedora also uses Gnome by default, and probably other distributions as well. Power Linux users can find it rather limiting and less powerful than KDE, and XFCE (used in Xubuntu) is even less powerful and meant for leaner systems or purposely less powerful but also faster needs.

You can install regular Ubuntu and then also have KDE and XFCE available to you at any time, so I suggest you start with regular Ubuntu and go from there.

Go to www.ubuntu.com and follow the instructions there.

#10 Post by **Harryc** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:15 am

I had OpenSUSE 10.3 working very well (including wireless) on my old T42p (and now on my T61p). Just thought I'd raise my hand to say that Ubuntu is not the only distro that is Thinkpad friendly

If you like KDE, OpenSUSE's version of it is miles above Kubuntu's.

K0LO · #11 Post by **K0LO** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 8:36 am

Harry:

I've been using Kubuntu for a couple of years on my ThinkPad with pretty good results. Could you give a few examples of why you think OpenSuse has a better KDE implementation than Kubuntu? Just curious.

#12 Post by **Harryc** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 9:08 am

Autoupdater, 1-Click Install, easy repository management (couple of clicks to add a repository), easy software & system administration, beautiful GUI seamlessly integrated into all KDE screens, artwork looks very polished, stability, out-of-the-box MP3 support, latest compiz fusion, you will almost never need to use the command line to setup something, etc.

K0LO · #13 Post by **K0LO** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 11:08 am

Thank you. Most of those features have made it into the 7.10 release of Kubuntu (except for mp3 support out of the box), but I'll have to take a look at OpenSuse sometime to compare.

m4martin · #14 Post by **m4martin** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 7:12 pm

Hi all,

I went to the ubuntu website to download the ubuntu and kbuntu iso files, which worked ok.

I also tried to download the DVD version of Kbuntu as it can be run from the DVD to trial the program. Unfortunately it was a 4.3GB download, which on my connection took 11 hours. All was seemingly good until my Kasperssky Internet Security decided the DVD file was a threat, and deleted it!!

So, i'll have another try!

I get the feeling that Ubuntu is meant to appeal more to the domestic user, and Suse is more professional or experienced user. I am probably wrong, on that, but i still wonder which has the easiest learning curve for someone that does not like command line computing, and is used to a windows environment.

I also have concerns about what applications i can install. Is it possible to use AutoCAD Inventor, or other windows based apps. I understand there are emulators for windows, but do they work, and work at a good speed, i.e without consuming all the system resources??

It seems the obvious choice is to dual boot on my T42p, but i am worried about using the bootloader, as i failed to remove it last time. I think it may corrupt the hidden partition for the thinkpad Access IBM restore files??

Thanks

Martin

#15 Post by **carbon_unit** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 8:01 pm

As far as running windows apps in linux goes. You can install Virtualbox which is in the software repositories for Ubuntu flavored distros. It allows you to create a "Virtual Computer" onto which you can install Windows. Then you start the virtual machine and you have a window with Windows running in it. You can install and run your Windows apps in there. It seems to run very well on my T60 and R61. I have Windows 2000 and Windows XP installed in virtual machines. I don't know how well you will like it on your T40P? Only you will know if it is good enough or not.
I never had any problem with the Linux bootloader working with the recovery partition but others have. Maybe I am just lucky.

K0LO · #16 Post by **K0LO** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 8:11 pm

Martin:

There is a Live CD available for Kubuntu that will take significatly less time to download:

UK download mirror

pibach · #17 Post by **pibach** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:27 am

I prefer Xubuntu since it has the IconBox (a bit MacOS feeling) the wicd WLAN manager with no anoying password request, transparency effects without Compiz fusion (and therefor better battery runtime and is faster allover). It has all the widgets as Ubuntu, just faster and a bit nicer in screen layout. And all the XFCE specific apps (mousepad, Thunar,...). Seems to be overall more professional. Integrates perfectly with Epiphany Browser and Claws Mail. And finally no problems to rotate screen using xrandr (I have the x61 tablet).

PipeHitter · #18 Post by **PipeHitter** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 11:59 am

m4martin wrote:Hi all,

....snip....

I get the feeling that Ubuntu is meant to appeal more to the domestic user, and Suse is more professional or experienced user. I am probably wrong, on that, but i still wonder which has the easiest learning curve for someone that does not like command line computing, and is used to a windows environment.

I would again say that Ubuntu is one of the best choices and often recommended for new Linux users. openSUSE would be more practical for an experienced user.

m4martin wrote: I also have concerns about what applications i can install. Is it possible to use AutoCAD Inventor, or other windows based apps. I understand there are emulators for windows, but do they work, and work at a good speed, i.e without consuming all the system resources??

As carbon_unit suggested you could run a virtual environment to load your needed MS Windows apps, but there will be a performance penalty. Another option, is wine, but your results may vary depending on what dependencies your Windows app needs. I have used it with great results.

m4martin wrote: It seems the obvious choice is to dual boot on my T42p, but i am worried about using the bootloader, as i failed to remove it last time. I think it may corrupt the hidden partition for the thinkpad Access IBM restore files??

I'm dual booting my T42 now, and have borked the bootloader several times trying different distros and such. If you choose to return to Windows you can restore the MBR with the Windows install cd (using the fixboot and fixmbr commands in the recovery console), or you can likewise repair grub/lilo with a linux live cd. The Rescue and Recovery partition can co-exist with linux handling the MBR, but it does get a little more tricky. Check out this link for more information. Personally, I stuck my original hd on a shelf and installed a 100gb for the purpose of dual-booting. But even if I didn't, I'm not sure I see the benefit of keeping the R+R partition. Either make your recovery disks before you wipe it so you could restore to OEM if you wanted, or after you install Windows make an image for backup purposes. Either way you are covered in the event of data loss/disaster.

Linux on a T40p and T42p

Linux on a T40p and T42p

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