Install Slackware 12.2 on a Thinkpad T400

This guide is based on Slackware 12.2 using the stock kernel 2.6.27.7 starting from a Windows Vista installation.

Installation

• Before beginning, I suggest creating a set of Rescue and Recovery disks just in case something accidentally happens during the installation process. Also, I suggest creating a set of Vista recovery disks.

• There are no extra procedures to install Slackware 12.2 to the T400. The installation process goes smoothly. There are many guides on how to install Slackware so please use them if you're having troubles.

• Note If you have switchable graphics, make sure to toggle the setting in the BIOS to use either your Internal or Discrete card. See Switchable Graphics

• If you choose to install LILO to the MBR, the Vista recovery disk will allow you to revert back to the windows boot loader if you ever choose to do so. Instructions can be found here.

Initial Setup

There are many guides to get you started with Slackware. I suggest Dugan's guide.

Console Resolution

The console resolution options given in the Slackware setup are mostly incorrect. To fix this, edit /etc/lilo.conf and replace the existing vga=XXX with one of the below numbers, then re-run lilo.

Modes:

	640×480	768x480	800×600	960×600	1024×768	1280×800	1440×900
256 color palette	769	864	771	867	773	870	873
16-bit (5:6:5)	785	865	788	868	791	871	874
32-bit (8:8:8)	786	866	789	869	792	872	875*

*Doesn't work, screen is distorted and unusable. Other 32-bit resolutions are ok.

To verify the setting run dmesg | grep vesafb:

vesafb: framebuffer at 0xe0000000, mapped to 0xf8880000, using 5062k, total 7616k
vesafb: mode is 1440x900x16, linelength=2880, pages=1
vesafb: scrolling: redraw
vesafb: Truecolor: size=0:5:6:5, shift=0:11:5:0

Xorg - Video Settings

The following settings should be used for the Monitor and Device sections in /etc/X11/xorg.conf. This is a base configuration. If you have external displays, projectors, etc. you will have to look elsewhere to learn how to set these up.

Note As of now I use the Intel video card with linux. I have not found many resources discussing the Radeon Mobility HD 3470 card that is also found on the T400. If you want to use this card instead of the Intel card, then you may want to consult the Unofficial ATI Linux Driver Wiki and the fglrx driver guide.

# **********************************************************************
# Monitor section
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of monitor sections may be present

Section "Monitor"

    Identifier  "T400 LCD TFT"
    DisplaySize 380 238
    HorizSync   31.5 - 50.0
    VertRefresh 49-61

EndSection


# **********************************************************************
# Graphics device section
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of graphics device sections may be present

Section "Device"
    Identifier  "Intel"
    Driver      "intel"
EndSection


# **********************************************************************
# Screen sections
# **********************************************************************

Section "Screen"
    Identifier  "T400 Internal LCD"
    Device      "Intel"
    Monitor     "T400 LCD TFT"
    DefaultDepth 24

    Subsection "Display"
        Depth       24
        Modes       "1440x900"
        ViewPort    0 0
    EndSubsection

EndSection

X Resolution

Given the size (14.1") and resolution (1440x900) the correct dpi is 120.4.

This dpi setting generally makes things look larger than they should. To fix this, edit /usr/bin/startx and change defaultserverargs="" to defaultserverargs="-dpi 96"

To verify the setting run xdpyinfo | grep resolution

resolution: 96x96 dots per inch

Advanced Trackpad and Trackpoint Scrolling

The default settings don't utilize the trackpad's advanced functions (vertical/horizontal scrolling, etc) in X and the trackpoint scrolling does not work.

Trackpad:

Comment out the options line in /etc/modprobe.d/psmouse/ to recognize the trackpad as a SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad instead of a PS/2 Synaptics TouchPad in /proc/bus/input/devices.

Currently there is no available pre-compiled package for the Synaptics TouchPad driver for Slackware 12.2. However the 12.1 SlackBuild functions properly. The Synaptics TouchPad driver is available at SlackBuilds.org.

Trackpoint + Trackpad: Modify the InputDevices section of your /etc/X11/xorg.conf as below:

# **********************************************************************
# Input devices
# **********************************************************************

# **********************************************************************
# Core keyboard's InputDevice section
# **********************************************************************

Section "InputDevice"

    Identifier	"T400kbd"
    Driver	"kbd"

    Option "AutoRepeat" "500 30"
    Option "XkbRules"	"xorg"
    Option "XkbModel"	"thinkpad60"
    #Option "XkbLayout"	"us_intl"

EndSection


# **********************************************************************
# Core Pointer's InputDevice section
# **********************************************************************

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier  "Synaptics Touchpad"
	Driver      "synaptics"
	Option	    "SendCoreEvents"	        "true"
	Option      "Device"			"/dev/psaux"
	Option      "Protocol"			"auto-dev"
	Option	    "HorizEdgeScroll"	        "0"
	Option      "LeftEdge"			"1700"
	Option      "RightEdge"			"5300"
	Option      "TopEdge"			"1700"
	Option      "BottomEdge"		"4200"
	Option      "FingerLow"			"25"
	Option      "FingerHigh"		"30"
	Option      "MaxTapTime"		"180"
	Option      "MaxTapMove"		"220"
	Option      "VertScrollDelta"	        "100"
	Option      "HorizScrollDelta"	        "100"
	Option      "MinSpeed"			"0.09"
	Option      "MaxSpeed"			"0.18"
	Option	    "AccelFactor"		"0.0015"
	Option	    "SHMConfig"			"on"
	Option	    "TapButton1"		"1"
	Option	    "TapButton2"		"2"
	Option	    "TapButton3"		"3"    
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier  "UltraNav Trackpoint"
	Driver      "mouse"
	Option      "CorePointer1"
	Option      "Device"              "/dev/input/mice"
	Option      "Protocol"            "ImPS/2"
	Option      "Emulate3Buttons"     "on"
	Option	    "Emulate3Timeout"	  "50" 	Option      "EmulateWheel"        "on"
	Option      "EmulateWheelTimeOut" "200"
	Option      "EmulateWheelButton"  "2"
	Option      "YAxisMapping"        "4 5"
	Option      "XAxisMapping"        "6 7"
	Option      "ZAxisMapping"        "4 5"
EndSection

Xorg Server Layout

If you have used the above settings in your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file, then make sure that your Server Layout calls the proper identifiers:

# **********************************************************************
# ServerLayout sections.
# **********************************************************************

Section "ServerLayout"

    Identifier  "T400"

    Screen "T400 Internal LCD"

    InputDevice "UltraNav Trackpoint" "CorePointer"
   #InputDevice "Synaptics" "CorePointer"
    InputDevice "T400kbd" "CoreKeyboard"

EndSection

Section "DRI"
    Mode 0666
EndSection

Enabling Fn + F# Keys

Follow Cherife Li's guide. These add some basic functionality to the keys. For more advanced functionality you will have to create your own scripts.

In order for the X commands to function properly you will need to add:

xhost +local:root

To your windows manager startup file. For fluxbox this file is /home/user/.fluxbox/startup. I don't use KDE, but for KDE you would find its startup file and add the same line.

CPU Frequency Scaling

Functions properly. Install cpufreqd and cpufrequtils.

For information on how to use these tools, consult How to make use of Dynamic Frequency Scaling and How to configure cpufreqd.

Problems/Issues

• Suspend-to-RAM and Sleep - Won't restore, screen remains blank. Problems_with_ACPI_suspend-to-ram lists all sorts of woes.

Boot Hot Keys

• F1 = BIOS
• F11 = Boot recovery partition
• F12 = Select boot device