Newbie: T60 switcher from XP to Fedora - What to worry?

[spt60]

Ok I plan to switch to Fedora Core 6.
Mine: T60 - Core Duo - Intel GMA 950, Intel Wireless 3945abg.
Which hardware/ what should I worry about after the install? Any hacky/tweaky usually needed for it to work properly? (or which does not work after the "automatic" install that needs to be done manually?)

Will ThinkVantage sw and hotkeys be useless?

Thanks

[whizkid]

See www.thinkwiki.org's page: http://thinkwiki.org/wiki/Installing_Fe ... inkPad_T60

I haven't seen anyone get the Intel video working in 3D, but it should be possible. Sign up on the Linux-ThinkPad mailing list too.

If you have the WWAN adapter, that may be trouble. I haven't tried to get mine to work, since $80/month for a data plan isn't worthwhile right now.

FC6 will (almost certainly) install the wrong kernel. You can use an alternate install disc or just fix it. Fedora has instructions.

My ThinkVantage button works before boot. I dual-boot with XP Pro (mostly to check hardware). The Intel wireless requires some action, but it's all on that page.

I'm a long-time Red Hat and Fedora user.

Welcome!

[spt60]

Wow thanks... I've installed FC4,5,6 on my Dell desktop and haven't had been this much challenged as on laptop. This can be a good experience. I'll give it a try after I backed things up.

Using VMWare does work fine and way easier to install/remove, and the wireless did not work (as expected? ).

May I ask in short what makes it so difficult to install FC on a thinkpad? Would it be easier on a Dell laptop? And what do you mean "wrong kernel"?

Thanks again

[whizkid]

kernel: There's a bug in the installer, so if you just hit enter at the prompt, it will install the i586 kernel instead of i686, but it will install all the packages for i686. When you try to update, or install other software, it gets very confused.

type "linux i686" (or maybe just 686) at the prompt, and you should be fine.

Most of what makes it difficult is that it's still a pretty new machine. The video chip is very new and has no open source driver. The wireless card doesn't have an open-source driver, and Fedora only includes open-source software, so you have to get them from third parties.

I doubt it would be easier on a new Dell, but I've never tried.

But if you follow the instructions I linked to, you'll be up and running in short order.

[spt60]

kernel: There's a bug in the installer, so if you just hit enter at the prompt, it will install the i586 kernel instead of i686, but it will install all the packages for i686. When you try to update, or install other software, it gets very confused.

type "linux i686" (or maybe just 686) at the prompt, and you should be fine.

Most of what makes it difficult is that it's still a pretty new machine. The video chip is very new and has no open source driver. The wireless card doesn't have an open-source driver, and Fedora only includes open-source software, so you have to get them from third parties.

I doubt it would be easier on a new Dell, but I've never tried.

But if you follow the instructions I linked to, you'll be up and running in short order.

Thank you