Installing Debian Lenny on a ThinkPad T60
Debian Lenny on a T60 6371-6NU
You might also want to check out Debian Etch on a Thinkpad T60 HowTo and Installing_Debian_Lenny_on_a_ThinkPad_T61.
In case you can't decode the Thinkpad model number above, here are the specs (I've left out modem, infrared, cardbus since I haven't ever used them):
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo (Merom) 1.83GHz |
| Graphics Adaptor | Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 |
| Display | 15.4" TFT display with 1200x800 resolution (widescreen) |
| RAM | 1 GB PC2-5300 (upgraded to 2GB) |
| Harddisk | 120GB 5400 RPM Hitatchi HTS54161 |
| Audio | AD1981HD HD Audio 1.0 controller |
| Ethernet | 82573L Gigabit Ethernet Controller |
| Optical | LG-Hitatchi HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4083N Dual Layer DVD+/-RW |
| Wireless | Atheros AR5418 |
| Biometric | STMicroelectronics Fingerprint Reader |
I'm going to do everything in Linux (i.e. assume that you already have a running linux version running somewhere else).
Installation
- First of all, get the "businesscard" cd image for amd64 if you want to run 64 bit or i386 if you want 32 bit. Note however that going 64 bit no longer means you have to forgoe proprietary software like flash or java. See this article on the "debian adminstration" blog. If you do however go 64 bit you won't be able to use proprietary 32 bit modules in your kernel. Most notably, ndiswrapper won't work with 32-bit windows drivers.
- Burn the cd image to a cd with the command
cdrecord -v debian-testing-amd64-businesscard.iso
You may find that you need to add dev=/dev/cdrom (or whatever your burning device is) to the above command. - Now stick in the newly burned disc and reboot. You'll need to have the laptop plugged in via ethernet for this since the business card image has pretty much just the installer itself and relies on the internet to download the latest base system. As such, there may be a couple places where you wonder if it's hanging when in fact it is just downloading the system. Be patient and it will all work out. Follow the instructions and when it gets to asking you what software to install select nothing (we'll do that manually later). If however you want to be more comprehensive than streamlined, you should go with the "Desktop", "Laptop", and "Standard System" software classes.
The First Boot
You should boot up to a commandline login prompt (X-Windows hasn't been installed yet). Log in as root. It's now time to install the packages necessary to get things running. You'll find that thanks to the business card installation, you have an up to date system (i.e., aptitude update&& aptitude dist-upgrade won't find any packages needing upgrade. to be continued . . .
