User:Gagliol

My thinkpad

IBM ThinkPad: X31 (2673-CBU)

Currently running: Kubuntu 5.10 (Breezy)

Installation issues

I first installed Kubuntu 5.10 (Breezy). I wanted to keep Windoze, just in case I needed it (but I never use it ;) ), and keep the hidden protected area, and be able to reach it at startup, just in case I sell the laptop back at some point. My problem was that:

• GRUB has to be installed either in the MBR or in the first partition
• Windoze would only work being on the first partition (AFAIK)
• Putting GRUB in the MBR would overwrite the original setup/recovery tools (AFAIK - Note: if you do this, and later manage to start Windoze, it will rewrite the MBR anyway)

My solution (DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK):

• Create a new primary partition for Windoze, at the end of the disk, before the rescue partition. Copy windoze there.
• Modify windows boot.ini:

$ diff /windows/boot.ini /windows/boot.ini~

3c3
< default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
---
> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
5c5
< multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
---
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

• Set root partition to (hd0,1) for Windoze in GRUB menu. See also here.

My current partition table according to fdisk:

Disk /dev/hda: 36.8 GB, 36825459200 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4477 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/hda1   *           1           6       48163+  83  Linux
/dev/hda2            3651        4477     6642877+   b  W95 FAT32
/dev/hda3               7         249     1951897+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/hda4             250        3650    27318532+   5  Extended
/dev/hda5             250        3650    27318501   83  Linux

Partition table entries are not in disk order

Post-install configuration

• (I think I) modified interfaces to enable hotplugging the ethernet cable

Configuration files

• xorg.conf
• interfaces
• GRUB's menu.lst
• Windoze boot.ini

Current issues and open questions

• How can I switch Fn and Ctrl keys? (I guess I can't)

• Enable scrolling and keep functionality of mouse 2 button. For the moment I'm using button 2 to scroll, and emulating 2=1+3 to paste. See the "InputDevice" section in my xorg.conf

• Wireless

• FnF7 does not work

• Hissing sound when on batteries

• Untested:
  • Irda
  • modem
  • IEEE 1394
  • Parallel port