User:Piccobello

My thinkpad

IBM ThinkPad X31 (2673-CBU), bought used.

Currently running: Kubuntu 5.10 (Breezy).

TODO	add missing info

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. At least that's what I thought at the time but it's probably wrong, see here. Anyway, I wanted to keep Linux in front, as I plan to remove windoze completely, and the first part of the disk should be faster.
• Windows 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 Windows, it will rewrite the MBR anyway)

My solution (DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK):

• Create a new primary partition for Windows, at the end of the disk, before the rescue partition. Copy windows 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 Windows 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

NOTE!

My windows partition is a FAT32. This is because, after restoring it, AND BEFORE ever starting it, I renamed the file <windows-dir>/system32/convert.exe. I found this info somewhere on the net, see for example here: after install/restore, Windows filesystem is actually FAT32, and it's converted to NTFS only at the first run. This is useful as FAT is better supported by Linux.

Post-install configuration

• (I think I) modified interfaces to enable hotplugging the ethernet cable. Which is wrong anyway. I also had to add lines to dhcp on both the wireless (eth0, see below) and the ethernet (eth1).

• I enabled Fn + F5 creating file /etc/modprobe.d/ibm_acpi.modprobe with the following line:

options ibm_acpi hotkey=enable,0xff9f

• Modified my GRUB menu.lst. The Fn + F5 stopped working.. Finally I found out why looking at /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.12/Documentation/networking/README.ipw2100 in section rf_kill, and modified /etc/acpi/wireless.sh accordingly, see here. All this should revert to normal without passing options to ipw2100.

Configuration files

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

Current issues

• How can I switch Fn and Ctrl keys? (I guess I can't as Fn combinations are interpreted by the BIOS)

• 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:NOT A PROBLEM (see below) At the moment I can do:

# iwconfig eth0 essid <name> key <key>

and it seems to work fine, but no tx power:

# iwconfig

eth0      IEEE 802.11b  ESSID:"rightname"  Nickname:"ipw2100"
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.462 GHz  Access Point: 00:0F:34:D5:90:E0
          Bit Rate=11 Mb/s   Tx-Power:off
          Retry min limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Encryption key:XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XX   Security mode:open
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=100/100  Signal level=-58 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:184   Missed beacon:0

but

# iwconfig eth0 txpower on

Error for wireless request "Set Tx Power" (8B26) :
 SET failed on device eth0 ; Invalid argument.

UPDATE: apparently this is not a problem! I'm using it right now, and I still see TxPower:off so it's just not related.. I'd like to make KWirelessManager aware of this, it still shows it as disabled even though it gives me the correct speed, but as it's working it's not really a problem.. One thing: I added it to my /etc/network/interfaces file and ifup'd it manually

• FnF7 does not work

• Hissing sound when on batteries. This is only audible in a very silent room, where a plug is normally available anyway, so I guess I will keep it like this..

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