X40 Jolicloud Wifi, Bluetooth & Sound Problems/Errors/Fault!

[jonbad1000]

I am dual running both Windows 7 and the latest (i.e. downloaded only last night) Jolicloud 1.1 OS.
Jolicloud I have to say looks really nice and after the initial setup (incredibly fast, especially considering the appallingly slow 1.8" drive in the X40) you're asked to restart the computer to finish the installation. In doing this, all went smoothly and fine until the very first screen of Jolicloud which prompts you to be connected to the internet as after all, it is supposed to be an "online OS" (or one which relies on services available online). So, enter the first issue.

Wireless network connection.
Put simply, it won't connect to a network. Jolicloud doesn't really seem to have the familiar "search for available wireless networks" as we are all used to seeing in every incarnation of windows, so entering in the name for my SSID (which I cannot get wrong as it's all lower case and very simple: minstrel) this had no effect and it was as though it wasn't evern trying to connect before saying, cannot connect.

So, undeterred I thought I'd have a go at connecting my mobile phone via bluetooth to the laptop and then try and use the 3G internet via bluetooth connectivity that I use between my Nokia and windows. To my absolute surprise and delight (esp. considering it's Linux based) it was all quite simple and straightforward and I was connected within a minute, which allowed me to progress through the rest of the installation of Jolicloud and install a couple of apps, check my emails, familiarise myself with Jolicloud.

Then came more problems.

Having done all the above, I put the computer to sleep using Joliclouds sleep button, nice and fast, responsive. Went for something to eat... blah blah blah. Turned the computer on again and tried to reconnect to the same 3G over bluetooth connection. Well, it didnt connect and hasn't ever since, even though I've tried everything humanly possible (apart from getting into Linux kernel coding and drivers) to fix it. I've restarted both machines, undone any pairing between devices, deleted any saved connection types of mobile broadband internet, checked the phone's settings haven't changed. Checked I can still go online on the phone using the same 3G dialing etc.
Basically it worked once, and now doesn't want to.

After that, a minor issue as I don't really mind all that much, is that the X40 sound isn't working at all. The microphone seems to work as when in a sound options screen about it, if I click my fingers next to it, it moves the tell-tale bar showing that it's working. So that part of things works fine. The output speaker sound however... well there isn't any at all! Further to that, none of the IBM own sound buttons work, but I don't mind that, just so long as the speakers work and volume can be controlled by the Jolicloud native volume slider.

Possibly relevant information:
EVERYTHING works in Windows 7 (some hardware using XP & Vista Drivers, namely the graphics and wifi) - so it's not a problem with the actual hardware.
The IBM X40 model is: 2382 and is stock except for added ram and added genuine IBM bluetooth modem/modem card.

I think that's about all the info I have, so if anybody has any bright ideas, they'd be very very welcome! I think the IBM thinkpads are fantastic machines and there's no reason at all to go out and buy a brand new netbook when the X40 does everything they can (ok, except modern HDMI playing netbooks) and has a bigger screen too. Especially when running things like Jolicloud which even make it fast and able to keep up with the modern netbooks.

Any chance of some linux loving coders making these old Thinkpads work with new software? What is surprising to me is that I managed to get it working with Windows 7 ultimate very easily with only a small amount of playing around with drivers needed. I fear that getting the above few items to work with Jolicloud will entail a bit of coding in the Linux Kernel, which I have forgotten everything about! Would be really nice if Jolicloud/other could add some Thinkpad apps to make them all up to scratch with the OS, although having said that I wouldn't be able to download them anyway as cannot get online with my Joliclouded X40!

[ThinkRob]

I have no experience with Jolicloud -- but I can report that of the two X40s I've had, both have been supported flawlessly by Ubuntu 9.04 and later, Debian 5.0 and later, and Fedora 10 and later. In other words: Linux itself can support all the hardware perfectly. A given distribution, on the other hand, might have bugs. My advice: try using a standard "desktop" distribution and see if your problems persist.

[jonbad1000]

Thank you for the reply, very insteresting to read as haven't tried to run any other Linux distributions on the X40 other than the Jolicloud install. If there was a front end that resembled Jolicloud (e.g. like you get on the cheapest Acer netbooks etc.) that'd be perfect. Some people might think I'm mad in just wanting a simple interface, but I only use the X40 for browsing the web and checking emails, facebook, which is why Jolicloud appealed in the first place plus it's super speedy
Am happy to try a different Linux (would almost certainly go for Ubuntu in which case) but is there any such front end that is similar to Jolicloud that anybody can suggest? Am not set on Jolicloud, just saw it in an article on Engadget or similar site so thought I'd give it a go and came up with the problems above. It does look nice though!

[Tasurinchi]

Try the netbook edition of Ubuntu if you want a simple interface. I have run several distros in my X40 as well and never had any problem. My friend is using Linux Mint 9 in the X40 now and he doesn't complain of any issue till today.

[jonbad1000]

Thanks for the idea about Ubuntu Netbook - looks great on the website. Have just installed it, but lo and behold, problems!!!
First up, wifi card still not working - just as was the case with Jolicloud. Whereas Jolicloud didn't offer any explanation though, Ubuntu says "(firmware missing)" next to the Wireless Networks drop down. So, no idea why that might be if other people are finding their X40's absolutely fine with Ubuntu.
Next problem is the actual UI for the netbook, Unity (I think it's called?) Came up with an immediate error when logging on for the first time, saying, "No required driver detected for unity". Did a quick google search for this and found there are lots of posts about it, and appears as though it's caused by the lack of 3D graphics support by the G-card or similar reason.
And lastly, sound not working - so all in all, it actually looks like all the things not working in Jolicloud are the very same as those not working in Ubuntu. Annoying but not too surprising. Hate to say it, but this kind of thing would be the reason I hated Linux all these years! If it was a windows machine I'd be able to hack and fix it with old drivers or w.h.y. but I just don't know Linux well enough to get involved with it unless it's a simple case of installing some missing driver files, but as far as I can tell it's not all too helpful about letting me do this. So, looks like I'll be sticking with the Windows 7 install unless someone can help me out here. Nothing wrong with the Windows 7 install at all, everything works, it's just a little slow on the old 1.8" IDE HDD.

[Tasurinchi]

Thanks for the idea about Ubuntu Netbook

Looks like it was not a great idea at the end

[ThinkRob]

I have no idea what's wrong with Ubuntu's GPU support. I don't use any fancy 3D UIs on my X40, so I've never found the GPU lacking. It seems like you tried to use the most recent version of Ubuntu which ships with Unity (a 3D-enabled UI). I wouldn't bother. Just install 10.04 (the long-term stable version) and you'll be fine.

As far as wireless goes: did you try installing the necessary firmware? If not, head to the System menu and look for (IIRC) the "Hardware Drivers" application. It should guide you through the rest.

[Tasurinchi]

First up, wifi card still not working

As far as wireless goes: did you try installing the necessary firmware?

I tested Ubuntu 9.10 and 10.04 in my X40 and never had to do anything special to get it working. Do you have any special wireless card installed?

[emeraldgirl08]

It's not possible that OP would have a Broadcom card in there??? I had tried using a Broadcom card in my old T30 w/Linux and it would not work for anything!

Here is a list of cards that Ubuntu supports Ubuntu Wireless Support.

Good luck

[Tasurinchi]

It's not possible that OP would have a Broadcom card in there???

I'm afraid is possible that some TP exotic card is there...

wifi card still not working

Have you tried installing with the X40 connected with a LAN cable (to the router, repeater or whatever you are using)? It may then find the correct drivers...

[ThinkRob]

I tested Ubuntu 9.10 and 10.04 in my X40 and never had to do anything special to get it working. Do you have any special wireless card installed?

Same here, which is why I must say: I'm rather perplexed. I've had full "out of the box" hardware support with Fedora 11-13, Debian 5.0, Debian 6.0, Ubuntu 9.0.4, Ubuntu 9.10, Ubuntu 10.04, and RHEL 6.

[jonbad1000]

Yep, it's a boradcom card in the X40 I have. I found several linux forum posts via a google search and mentions (back in 2007 and other previous years) about Broadcom cards not being supported by Ubuntu due to licencing issues? Whatever the case, I couldn't fathom the frankly illegible instructions about trying to install "ndiswrapper" - no matter what I did it kept saying, package not found in the kernel after entering the commands as prompted, and having tried both downloading ndiswrapper and putting it into various directories plus putting an Ubuntu cd in the disk drive. Anyway the crunch of it was I got fed up and bored lol. I'm sure it's quite possible to get it working, but Linux is cleverer than me!!!

Sound wise, I did find one post that said the sound didn't work on their X40 either, but they weren't much help in providing a solution as the post was from a few years ago and simply said that the newer version of the Linux OS they were using did support it so they no longer had and issues.

I've not tried plugging the laptop in with the LAN, although that did occur to me to try that and see if Ubuntu could fix itself with regard to the wireless drivers. That said, as someone else stated - it appears that Jolicloud is based on Ubuntu and did not support the wifi either, and that WAS connected and updated to the internet via bluetooth and my mobile phone (the one time it worked).

On that last note about the bluetooth and 3g internet over the mobile phone, I did manage to get it working one more time. There was no apparent reason for it to start working again, I hadn't done anything other than simply try again, but it decided it was going to play and worked another one time... and never again since lol!

Lastly, I was specifically interested in having a nice clean simple interface such as is provided by jolicloud or Ubuntu Netbook edition so don't really want to install an oridinary version of Ubuntu as there'd be little point (other than speed of OS) as I already have Windows 7 installed on it which works perfectly and with all hardware running fine.

On a final note about the wifi card, it is a Broadcom BCM94318MPG (opening the laptop up and looking at the chip sticker on it).

[butchgibson]

"I've been testing Jolicloud using the live cd on various systems. Each system gives me the same experience. I was able to create an account and even customize my desktop, and then login and access that desktop from multiple machines (about 6 different makes, models, manufacturers, including but not limited to HP, Compaq, Dell, eMachine, etc.). After successfully accessing using the live cd, I've installed Jolicloud to the hard drive. Different methods at different times. Sometimes accessing the live cd and my existing account and trying to use the prompt from my desktop to install or installing from the bootup menu without running in demo mode first. Each time I've gotten to the login prompt but Jolicloud displays a message that I must be connected before being able to login. I haven't made any hardware changes and I'm hard wired connected to the internet that allows me to browse and install applications when running in demo mode. I've connected, disconnected, disabled, re-enabled, and still no network connection after hard drive installation."

[RealBlackStuff]

I would suggest to swap that Broadcom card for an IBM/Lenovo approved version of Intel 2200BG, such as:
http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-T40-X40-R50-Int ... 0478066894

Or look for specific Linux drivers for that BCM card, which is widely used by Dell and its ilk.

[ParatoOptimal]

For what it's worth, I've read of Ubuntu, Fedora and Debian running fine on an X31.

[Tasurinchi]

Slightly off topic. I got a second X40 and installed Linux Mint 10 on it. Works without any issue! It's even pretty fast considering that I put a 60GB stock drive on it.

[bpmcclure]

Yep, it's a boradcom card in the X40 I have. I found several linux forum posts via a google search and mentions (back in 2007 and other previous years) about Broadcom cards not being supported by Ubuntu due to licencing issues? Whatever the case, I couldn't fathom the frankly illegible instructions about trying to install "ndiswrapper" - no matter what I did it kept saying, package not found in the kernel after entering the commands as prompted, and having tried both downloading ndiswrapper and putting it into various directories plus putting an Ubuntu cd in the disk drive. Anyway the crunch of it was I got fed up and bored lol. I'm sure it's quite possible to get it working, but Linux is cleverer than me!!!

Sound wise, I did find one post that said the sound didn't work on their X40 either, but they weren't much help in providing a solution as the post was from a few years ago and simply said that the newer version of the Linux OS they were using did support it so they no longer had and issues.

I've not tried plugging the laptop in with the LAN, although that did occur to me to try that and see if Ubuntu could fix itself with regard to the wireless drivers. That said, as someone else stated - it appears that Jolicloud is based on Ubuntu and did not support the wifi either, and that WAS connected and updated to the internet via bluetooth and my mobile phone (the one time it worked).

On that last note about the bluetooth and 3g internet over the mobile phone, I did manage to get it working one more time. There was no apparent reason for it to start working again, I hadn't done anything other than simply try again, but it decided it was going to play and worked another one time... and never again since lol!

Lastly, I was specifically interested in having a nice clean simple interface such as is provided by jolicloud or Ubuntu Netbook edition so don't really want to install an oridinary version of Ubuntu as there'd be little point (other than speed of OS) as I already have Windows 7 installed on it which works perfectly and with all hardware running fine.

On a final note about the wifi card, it is a Broadcom BCM94318MPG (opening the laptop up and looking at the chip sticker on it).

Interested in how you got the bluetooth to work in Windows 7. I have it running on my 2371, but bluetooth is evading me. Enough of everything else works well, but bluetooth would be the icing on the cake.