Installing Ubuntu on a ThinkPad X21

2007-09-27T22:29:15Z

Ashex: Added in summary of how I install Ubuntu 7.04. Will be adding in info on installing 7.10

Because the {{X21}} does not have room for a CDROM, one must plug it into the dock to perform a CD based install.

Using the Live CD for any of the {{Ubuntu}} versions listed above, I was able to get the Live CD to boot, but installing {{Ubuntu}} to the Harddrive would hang during loading of the usb-storage module. Looking at the logs, I received the famed "Maybe the USB cable is bad?" error message.

Using the Alternate CD, was able to install. At the installer's boot screen, F6 and enter a boot parameter of "debian-installer/probe/usb=false" (don't use quotes). Once you're in the text mode installation and have hit your first set of questions, press {{key|Alt}}{{key|F2}} to enter the BusyBox console, then find and delete (rm) "usb-storage.ko" from {{path|/lib/modules/2.6.*/}} Then {{key|Alt}}{{key|F1}} to return to the install, and answer questions as normal. The install process should work fine from here on out, and booting into your fresh installation should go without a hitch.

Saturday, May 26, 2007

I used the {{Ubuntu 7.04}} CD. I booted the live CD and clicked the install icon on the Gnome Desktop. It installed without problem. I have 256 meg Ram.

June 7, 2007

The Motorola WN825G WiFi cardbus card works. I use ndiswrapper with the Windows driver from Motorola and wifi-radar to connect to encrypted wifi.
To get the card working :
1) Boot Ubuntu
2) Log in into the user account
3) Insert the card : the green led ligts
4) run wifi-radar

September 25, 2007

My X21 does not have a cd drive, connected a cd-rom drive via usb (used a standard IDE external cage). Booted off the Ubuntu disc without any problems, and began installation. Due to the speed of the laptop, installation took significantly longer then usual.

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Installing Ubuntu on a ThinkPad X21