linux mint on a T60

[vilasman]

I got the iso cd done ok. I tried to install it and it goes through all it's motions but at the end I get a screen full of things that i tried to do but couldn't.
Is easier to install linux on a computer that dosent have all of the thinkpad customizations?

[Harryc]

Try installing in compatibility mode. Above and beyond that you're going to have to be much more descriptive as far as your statement "I get a screen full of things that i tried to do but couldn't". What exactly was on this screen full of things, and what exactly did you try? Forget about Thinkpad customizations, whatever that means. Were you able to boot a Mint Live CD?

[vilasman]

Well, one time I got a screen that was full of the little boxes that get displayed when your computer can't display the font.
Another time I think there were various things that it was trying to initialize but couldn't.

So I took the same linux mint boot/live iso CD that a downloaded from the linux mint website and stuck it into a desktop. I think everything installed... I get a linux desktop. I see computer, mint home, install linux in the upper left corner, menu and 3 other boxes in the lower left and the date and some other stuff in the lower right...
my mouse will move my cursor but clicking stuff doesn't do anything. I get no response... could it be a bad disk?

[Harryc]

What model T60 do you have? There is a (7) digit alpha numeric machine type/model number on the bottom of the machine.e.g. 2007-3CU. Did you try installing in compatibility mode?

[kiwipad]

@ vilasman

From the description of the desktop "install", that's not installed, it's just booted the Live CD ("install Linux" icon) and even that isn't working.

If the Live CD fails to load on 2 separate machines then go back and check you have the correct iso for your machine architecture (assuming mint offers >1), then check the the iso's md5 (or whatever checksum mint provides) to make sure the download is ok, and if both those are ok, then try burning a new CD (always used to be good advice to burn at a slow speed as well as making sure you are using decent quality CDs).

A lot of Linux distros also offer the menu choice of installation media check at the initial boot menu. Both openSusue 11.2 & Fedora12 install just fine on my T60 so you shouldn't have any Thinkpad-specific problems at least in terms of getting a working system (you will probably need to tweak a few settings but then you would on a lot of other platforms).

IG

[vilasman]

thank you... not sure how to use the check sum thing... any hints

I will probably try installing another version of linux as well as re burning the iso

[kiwipad]

Had a quick look at the Mint site & the md5 hash is listed on the main download page.

Lots of tools for reading and comparing hash values, seems to be a new one every week (even MS has one ! ). I have one called winmd5sum on this machine/OS - obviously a windows graphical tool ! MD5 Checker is the first cnet sourced tool that Google finds. Whichever tool (gui or command line), you direct it to the file you want to check, it calculates the hash value of the actual file, then you compare the calculated value against the publishers "should-be" value; if they match the file is good, if not the file is broken so don't waste time burning a CD/DVD or trying to install.

Never used Mint but it seems to be well reviewed and a quick scan at the website & the forums seem positive enough.

As it sounds like this might be your first Linux install, you are aware of the partitioning requirements and the possibility of e.g. keeping a Windows install as well as your new Linux...and the risk that if you get it wrong you may lose your Win install and maybe any data?

Apologies if you know all this !

Good Luck !

IG

[at both ends]

I have a similar problem to the OP, namely that Mint 8 will not work for me on either an R51 or a T60 (and yes, the checksum is good and I tried compatibility mode). My backup plan was putting the ubuntu 9.10 iso onto a pendrive, which works without problems on all my Thinkpads.

[kiwipad]

Oh well, haven't tried a new distro in a while so I'll give Mint a whirl (mint whirl - some confectionary ??) - won't be before Thursday.

Just out of interest, assume that both of you are talking v8.0 and 32-bit ?

IG

[frankausmtank]

This might not be a huge help, but the mint 8 live cd (32 bit) boots up fine on my ati t60,
with sound, native resolution and flawless wifi (intel 3945) support out of the box.

[kiwipad]

This might not be a huge help, but the mint 8 live cd (32 bit) boots up fine on my ati t60,
with sound, native resolution and flawless wifi (intel 3945) support out of the box.

That might well be a huge help ! Individual experience is what makes the forum work. I was surprised to see two postings on failed installs because all I've read about Mint suggested it should be fine on a T60 (ok, maybe minor grfx issues, some TP-speciic hotkey functions needing tweaking, etc) - more so as I've just seen NorwayPad's thread on Mint on a T30.

There are so many subtle differences across the distros I have used, I was interested to see if it was just some Mint-specific "gotcha" that was catching people out.

IG

[kiwipad]

Just downloaded the Mint 8 iso & used unetbootin to create a bootable usb stick. Two attempts at writing a CD failed verification ! Now that may be just my burner palying up (I'll confirm that later on another machine).

Booted the T60 from the stick & the Live environment loads fine. Graphics at native resolution, wireless networking ok, audio ok. Even quickly switched on some of the compiz silliness & that works too.

And it looks quite pretty ! All green, very openSuse like

I'll install it properly & check it out some more & post back later (tomorrow more likely) but I would suggest "the T60" isn't the issue for either of you.

IG

edit: forgot to mention the User Guide looks really well written too - shows you how and explains why !

[kiwipad]

Well, I take it all back ! No, not really, but I can't get the thing to install on the T60 after all. Three attempts from the USB stick all failed at 94% with an installer crash; maybe the USB approach is the problem; take the opportunity to check out the broken/dirty CD burner by attempting to burn the iso to CD on another machine, which passes verification (may be looking for a replacement optical drive for the T42...), but returns the same installer error at the same point.

Very odd and while there are a couple of "similar" installer bugs reported, not similar enough.

Will try a couple of things over the w/eand report back. I'm now determined to get Mint on the T60. Well I have said I've been bored with Suse working so well...

[BruisedQuasar]

Downloaded Linux Mint 9 (Isadora) mainstream release iso. Installed it to 4GB USB stick with unetbootin (windows). Linux Mint live "CD" booted with no problems and everything ran fine, no tweaking, no settings needed. I used Mint from the USB stick to auto partition & install Linux Mint to my HDD, again no problems.

I have a T60 T2400 dual core, 250GB 7200 HDD, Fingerprint security, Bluetooth, Firewire (all turned off). Mint auto identified and connected to my Comcast high speed cable broadband. USB ports work, Keyboard works, CDRW\DVD works, Card Bus & PCMCIA works, even standby works (much better than it does with Win Vista Ultimate with Lenovo drivers. I can close top for standby & open top for auto reactivate --all automatic from Linux Mint 9, which also auto identified my 1400 X 1050 15" display & my USB cordless mouse.

I had the same result with a T-23 & with a Dell GX60 Desktop PC

--Bruised