Install Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon on a T61p

Introduction

This document outlines configuring Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) on your Thinkpad T61p. Most items will work out of the box and a base install will provide you with an almost completely working system. Due to the modular nature of the T61 there are many different configuration, please read carefully and only make the changes specific to your system.

Feel free to update this Wiki with your information however please ask questions on the Talk page.

Installation Notes

• The Live CD will boot in safe graphics mode. However, the splash screen does not work 64-bit users and perhaps 32-bit users as well. Be patient the system will boot, even though the screen is black.
• The Alternate install CD is required due to graphics problems on the standard CD.

• fix no x session on first reboot after install

On lenovo t61p thinkpad with nVidia Corporation Quadro FX 570M graphics card the installer fails to create a usable xorg.conf file and the system reboots into an unusable black screen as x refuses to start. This is caused by theinstaller selecting the nv driver, which does not support this card.

To fix this, you have to reboot into rescue mode and hand-edit xorg.conf to use vesa driver until the restricted nvidia driver is enabled.

Steps:

1. Choose Recovery Mode from the Grub boot menu.
2. Edit the xorg.conf file: # nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf
3. Scroll down until you see this section and replace nv with vesa on the driver line: Section "Device" Identifier "nVidia Corporation G80 [Quadro FX 570M]" Driver "nv" BusID "PCI:1:0:0" EndSection
4. Hit CtrlX to exit, Y then Enter to save.
5. Reboot: # reboot

You should now get the GUI login, but all of the accelerated graphics eye candy will be disabled until you have updated the nvidia drivers as per the Display/Video Section.

If you have a Ubuntu 7.10 DVD, you could use the same to first launch a live CD version of Ubuntu. When the live CD boots up it asks for the installation of restricted nVidia drivers (internet connection required). Once the restricted drivers are installed. Use the "Install" option from the live CD session to start the installation of Ubuntu.

Display/Video

The nv driver does not support the Nvidia 570M card at all. To enable accelerated 3D support click System->Administration->Restricted Drivers Manager. It will allow you to download and install an updated set of nvidia drivers.

NOTE!

If the Restricted Drivers Manager fails to install the driver you can use the Envy tool from: http://albertomilone.com/nvidia_scripts1.html. This tool is unsupported and the only supported method of installing the Nvidia drivers is via Synaptics and the Restricted Drivers Manager

Brightness

source: Installing Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) on a ThinkPad T61

Nvidia Quadro N140 and 570M:

The brightness controls do not work, however you can switch to a virtual terminal (ctrl+alt+F1) increase or decrease the brightness and then switch back to X (ctrl+alt+F7) without disrupting the running applications. In a few rare cases switching back to X (ctrl+alt+7) may freeze your computer with a black screen so save any open documents before switching out.

When using the vesa driver the brightness controls do work. So this problem seems to be related to the nvidia driver.

Update: Note that as of version 169.04 of the Nvidia driver brightness controls do work normally (with my 570M at least).

Audio

• fix sound buttons:

source: Installing Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn) on a ThinkPad T61

the volume control hotkeys are configured to control microphone volume out of the box.

fix: If you're using Gnome, from the System menu, click Preferences -> Sound, and in the Default Mixer Tracks field, choose PCM.

• fix volume control applet:

the volume control applet is configured to control microphone volume out of the box.

fix: If you're using Gnome, right-click the applet > preferences > Select the device and track to control

• • do not change device (s/b HDA Intel)
  • change track from Microphone to PCM

Network/Internet

Some users report that IPv6 has large negative impact on internet connection speed (wired and wireless) on Ubuntu 7.10. If you are experiencing this, the following steps will allow you to disable IPv6 and restore your connection speed.

NOTE!

There is a workaround to improve connectivity for Firefox. On the Firefox address bar type about:config and look for network.dns.disableIPv6 and change its value to true.

Type the following in the terminal $ sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/aliases. The system may ask you to provide the Super User password. Once the file is opened, search for the following string, alias net-pf-10 ipv6. Comment this line by prefixing a #. Now add a new line just below the commented line, alias net-pf-10 off.

Now, save the file and restart Ubuntu.

Reference: Youtube video. How-To: Fix a Slow Internet Connection in Ubuntu 7.10.

Suspend with Nvidia Binary Driver

• Fix suspend with Nvidia binary drivers:

Follow the directions on the Ubuntu wiki. Nvidia Binary Driver Suspend