User:Piccobello
Revision as of 14:48, 28 November 2006 by Piccobello (Talk | contribs) (→Current issues: after Dapper upgrade)
Contents
My thinkpad
IBM ThinkPad X31 (2673-CBU), bought used.
Currently running: Kubuntu 6.06 (Dapper).
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
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.
- I thought the built in wireless did not work, but in fact it does
- I had an hissing sound when on batteries. I found out it's actually related to screen brightness, see here.
Dapper upgrade
All went fine.
- This bug does not seem to present itself, and CPU scaling is still working fine.
- With xorg version 7.0 I managed to enable scrolling and keep functionality of mouse 2 button. See also How to configure the TrackPoint.
- Hybernation is now working. With Breezy, the system used to crash and reboot after resume.
- With ibm-acpi ver. 0.8-2 I can now use the experimental settings, adding option experimental=1 to /etc/modprobe.d/ibm_acpi.modprobe.
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)
- FnF7 does not work
Still untested
- Irda
- modem
- IEEE 1394
- Parallel port
