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Installation instructions for the ThinkPad 600

2007-02-03T18:51:20Z

Dark Savant0: /* ThinkPad 600E */

Specific installation notes for the ThinkPad {{600}}, {{600D}}, {{600E}} and {{600X}}.

==General Notes==
===Installation media===
The 600 series ThinkPads have a bootable CDROM drive, therefore the installation can be done by booting from an installation CD created by burning an ISO image. The BIOS should be set up to boot from CD before booting from the harddrive.

===Power Management===
For [[Power Management]] you can choose from APM or ACPI. Support for either system should be compiled in the kernel. According to [[How to make APM work]], APM is the suggested system for the 600E. In fact, the 600E came pre-installed with [[:Category:Windows|Windows]] and APM as power management system. However, the 600E is ACPI ready, as is stated on the IBM support website:

''"The ThinkPad 600E is ACPI ready. ACPI is not installed, but the system hardware supports ACPI. While ACPI shows a great deal of promise for the future, numerous problems affect the operation of ACPI on ThinkPad and other notebook systems. Therefore, the system comes with Windows 98 running in APM mode."''

[[Ibm-acpi]] supports the 600E as of version 0.11. Read [[How to make use of Power Management features]] for more information.

The 600E does not have a Phoenix NoteBIOS, therefore utilities like [[Tphdisk]] and [http://www.procyon.com/~pda/lphdisk/ lphdisk] can not be used to create a hibernation file for the [[Hibernation mode]]. It is suggested to use the DOS utility PS2.EXE.

===Internal modem===
The {{600E}} has a [[MWave_MDSP3780]] modem. The option CONFIG_MWAVE (under PCMCIA character devices) should be compiled in the kernel or as a loadable module.

===Sound===
The sound chip on the {{600E}} is a [[CS4239]]. On this Thinkpad model, the [[CS4610]] driver does not work, but the ISA interface ([http://www.alsa-project.org ALSA] driver: snd-cs4236) works quite well, if you get the chip configured and enabled. There are two ways to do that:
* Disable fast boot in the BIOS setup, and set up resources using the ps2 tool supplied with your thinkpad. These resource settings have to be passed to the module. See for example the WLUG link supplied below. Also, use the ps2 utility to make sure both audio and midi are enabled on your Thinkpad by using {{cmd|ps2 ? audio|>}} and {{cmd|ps2 ? midi|>}}. To enable, use {{cmd|ps2 audio enable|>}} and {{cmd|ps2 midi enable|>}}. It is also best to avoid any hardware detection utilities (e.g. discover and hotplug) to load the CS46xx driver.
* Use the PNPBIOS or ACPI-PnP implementation and a userspace setup script for automatic configuration like [[Script for configuring the CS4239 sound chip in PnP mode|this one]].

==Distro specific Instructions==
*{{Install|SUSE| Professional 9|600E}}
*{{Install|Xandros||600X}}
*{{Install|Fedora| Core 3|600X}}
*{{Install|Debian| Sarge (3.1)|600X}}

==External Sources==
===ThinkPad 600===
*[http://home.earthlink.net/~jmernstb/linux/tp600linux.html Mandrake 10.1 on a ThinkPad 600]
*[http://it.geocities.com/ircopit/linux.htm SUSE 7.2 on a ThinkPad 600]
*[http://koivunen.info/?q=node/41 Ubuntu 5.10 on a ThinkPad 600]
*[http://linuxonlaptop.de.vu/ SUSE 8.2 and Kanotix on a ThinkPad 600]
*[http://www.geocities.com/cnarph.rm/ibm600.html Fedora Core 3 on a ThinkPad 600]
*[http://www.krumeich.de/linux-on-tp600.html Alexander Krumeichs Red Hat 7.1 on a ThinkPad 600 page]
*[http://www.levien.com/tp600.html Raph Leviens Red Hat on a ThinkPad 600 page]
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20030801190608/http://www.linux-services.net/sites/thinkpad-600_1.html Bernard Reissbergs Linux on a ThinkPad 600 page]
*[http://juhani.exdecfinland.org/~jaakonaho/openbsd.html OpenBSD on a ThinkPad 600]
*[http://ploticus.sourceforge.net/stevepages/thinkpad.html Steve Grubbs Red Hat 7.3 on a ThinkPad 600 page]
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20040616014026/www.csse.monash.edu.au/~greg/linux.html Greg Watsons Linux on ThinkPad 600 page]
*[http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~jcl/linux/thinkpad_600.html John Langfords Linux on a ThinkPad 600 page]

===ThinkPad 600D===

===ThinkPad 600E===
*[http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-4BP6Q6.html?selectarea=SUPPORT&brand=root IBMs Guide to installing RedHat 6.0 on a ThinkPad 600E]
*[http://svr-www.eng.cam.ac.uk/~ajr/TP600Debian.html Debian on a ThinkPad 600E]
*[http://www.geocities.com/jleviaguirre1/linuxlaptop/ JosÃ© Luis Leviaguirres Red Hat 7.3 on a ThinkPad 600E page]
*[http://condor.depaul.edu/~jkristof/debian-tp600e.html John Kristoffs Debian on a ThinkPad 600E page]
*[http://www.blog.savant.be/linux/ubuntu-610-edgy-on-a-thinkpad-600e-2645-57u/15/ Jose Gonzalez's Ubuntu 6.10 on a Thinkpad 600e page]
*[http://linux-laptop.net/hosted/thinkpad600e-fc4.html Norman Lippincott Jr's Fedora Core 4 on a ThinkPad 600E page]
*[http://pepper.linuxfocus.org/~guido/gentoo-tp600e/ Guido Sochers Gentoo on a ThinkPad 600E page]
*[http://www.mainsheet.org/thinkpad600e/ Ben Brillats Linux on a ThinkPad 600E page]
*[http://www.enderak.com/linux/thinkpad600/ Red Hat 7.3 on a ThinkPad 600/600E]
*[http://www.geocities.com/netmasta10bt/tp600e.html Red Hat 7.3 on a ThinkPad 600E]
*[http://www.physics.wustl.edu/~alford/thinkpad.html Marc Alfords Linux on a ThinkPad 600E page]
*[http://www.linux.com/article.pl?sid=04/03/30/1932230 Bryce Burgess' ThinkPad 600E article on Linux.com]
*[http://seedsforchange.org.uk/vcs/600e Mandrake 9.2 on a ThinkPad 600E]
*[http://tuxmobil.org/ibm_tp600.html FreeBSD on a ThinkPad 600E]
*[http://www.windclimber.net/linux/tp600e.pcgi IrDA and Serial configuration on a ThinkPad 600E]
*[http://home.comcast.net/~jyavner/TP600E/ Jonathan Yavners Linux on a ThinkPad 600E page]
*[http://ken.bantoft.org/docs/linux/600e/ Ken Bantofts Slackware 6.1 on a ThinkPad 600E page]
*[http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/IBM_Thinkpad_600E_%282645-CBH%29 ArchLinux on a ThinkPad 600E]
*[http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/answers/Hardware/Sound_on_the_Thinkpad_600E Sound on the ThinkPad 600E]
*[http://www.ibmlaptop.8k.com/ SUSE 9.0 on a ThinkPad 600E]
*[http://www.wlug.org.nz/ThinkpadNotes WLUG ThinkPad Notes (has info about sound)]

===ThinkPad 600X===
*[http://panopticon.csustan.edu/thood/tp600lnx.htm Thomas Hood's Debian on a ThinkPad 600X page]
*[http://web.qx.net/jonatha/thinkpad.html Jonathan Edwards Red Hat 6.1 on a Thinkpad 600X page]
*[http://www.io.com/~manoj/linux-tp600x/ Manoj Kasichainulas Red Hat 6.1/6.2 on a ThinkPad 600X page]
*[http://www.samiam.org/linux/600x.html Sam Tremholmes Fedora Core 3 on a ThinkPad 600X page]
*[http://www.xnfo.de/ibm/slackware_on_tp600x.html Slackware 9.1 on a ThinkPad 600X]
*[http://www.cs.unc.edu/~glotzer/thinkpad.html John Glotzers Red Hat 6.2 on a ThinkPad 600X page]
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20040203012751/http://www.csun.edu/ws/cgu/linux-tp600x.htm Wayne Smith' Red Hat 7.1 on a ThinkPad 600X page]
*[http://de.geocities.com/verflixt64/Texte/novellsuse93ibm600x.html SUSE 9.3 on a ThinkPad 600X]

Buyers Guide

2007-02-02T01:51:47Z

Dark Savant0: /* Long-time Weaknesses of certain models */

{| width="100%"
|style="vertical-align:top;padding-right:20px;width:10px;white-space:nowrap;" | __TOC__
|style="vertical-align:top" |
This page is dedicated to hints about buying used or new ThinkPad models. You can find notes about typical weaknesses of used ThinkPads here and other things you should care about when choosing a ThinkPad and where to buy it.
|}
==Build it yourself and save money==
Lenovo offers more flexibility than any other major manufacturer of laptop computers, at least that I know of. Their "configure-to-order" (CTO) offerings let you build the computer you want, without paying for anything you don't want. The basic CTO includes the mainboard and CPU, but no RAM, disk, mini-PCI cards, software, or other add-ons. You can even get a laptop in a CTO configuration.

I built my {{X32}} notebook with 1GB RAM, 60GB 5400RPM hard drive, USB DVD-ROM CD-RW drive, and 802.11a/b/g mini-PCI for a grand total of US$1,206, including tax and shipping.

Start with the complete list of [https://www-03.ibm.com/lenovo/shop/personalpages/public/public/products/dsp_product_list.cfm products]. Look for items that end with "CTO" or "Custom." Choose the chassis you want. Then add whatever [http://www-132.ibm.com/content/home/store_IBMPublicUSA/en_US/Upgrades.html upgrades] you need that only Lenovo offers (such as WiFi). Fill in the rest of the components from other, less expensive vendors.

Update: you cant do this nowadays. They will not sell you a CTO barebone. At least you cant do it online. You might have to 'con' a sales agent.

Response to update: I did not need to con anyone. I just ordered the CTO chassis and the parts I needed from their website. I placed the order on August 18, 2005 and received all the shipments by August 26, 2005.

Comment from visitor: [https://www-03.ibm.com/lenovo/shop/personalpages/public/public/products/dsp_feature_product.cfm?display=main&cat_id=24 Try this page]. You can at least get a Z60 with the titanium cover in a more stripped down model than is otherwise available.

Special prices: You can get a laptop from Lenovo for special price if you are a student, alumni, researcher
or something like. You need to go to education -> computers for home -> students (or such), and
now click on "My Account" to create a new account. Perhaps there is another way, but you must end up with a student
account. Then you get around 5% off the web price.

You can also buy a Lenovo thinkpad pre-configured with Linux from [http://www.linuxcertified.com/linux-laptop-lctp60.html here]

== Special deals for certain customer groups ==
IBM makes huge discounts to students and teachers:
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" style="text-align:left;"
! country !! shops & target groups
|-
| Austria ||
* [http://www.studentline.at/ Studentline.at] (students, university staff, pupils and teachers)
* [http://www.notebook4u.at/ notebook4u.at] (students, university staff, pupils and teachers)
* [http://www.abax.at/academic/ ABAX] (students, university staff, pupils and teachers)
* [http://www.bostelmann.com/ Computer Bostelmann] (students, university staff, pupils and teachers)
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| France ||
*[http://www.ibm.com/easyaccess/education IBM education homepage]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Germany ||
*[http://www.lapstars.de lapstars.de] (students, university staff, pupils and teachers)
*[http://www.ok1.de ok1] (students, university staff, pupils and teachers)
*[http://www.campusrabatt.de/index.php ADD Datensysteme: CampusRabatt] (students, university staff, pupils and teachers)
*[http://www.pro-com.org pro-com Datensysteme]:
**[http://www.pro-com.org/b2b pro-com b2b] (businesses)
**[http://www.nofost.de/ NOFOST] (students & university staff)
**[http://www.no4ed.de/ NOFOED] (pupils & teachers)
**[http://www.nofoch.de/ NOFOCH] (clinics and medical institutions and their staff)
**[http://www.pro-com.org/lf pro-com luf] (universities, schools & other educational and research institutes)
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Switzerland ||
*[http://www.rabais-etudiant.ch/ Rabais-Etudiant] (students, teachers, schools)
*[http://www.studentenrabatt.ch/ Studentenrabatt] (students, teachers, schools)
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| United States ||
* [http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/education/ Education] (K-12 and Higher Education)
* [http://www.dealmine.com/search_by_product.php?s=thinkpad Comparison shop] at DealMine.com to find Thinkpad and membership discounts [http://www.dealmine.com/deals_from/Union_Plus/23 AFL-CIO/AFT] matched up at various stores

|}

== Buying FRUs ==

You can buy single components, called, FRU (Field Replacement Unit), directly from Lenovo.

* US orders: https://www-132.ibm.com/content/home/store_IBMPublicUSA/en_US/parts/parts_r.html
* Other countries: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-50278&sitestyle=lenovo

To find the right FRU, you can look up your model's part lists here:
* [http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=TPAD-FRU Service parts list index - ThinkPad General]

== Buying on eBay ==
* Many sellers do not know exactly what they have. Get the full 7-digit machine type if at all possible. Compare it to the specifications in the *book.pdf series: twbook.pdf, tabook.pdf, tawbook.pdf, etc, to determine actual screen size, original CPU speed, original hard disk, etc.
* You can try getting the serial number as well to check the warranty status at IBMs support pages.
* Check completed auctions carefully to determine going prices for comparable machines.
* Be aware if any port covers are missing. If they are, see if any current auctions are running to check availability.
* If the unit doesn't come with a hard drive, know whether it has the caddy and cover. Make sure that the three passwords are NOT set or that you know the right passwords before you install your hard drive! If you don't: A password can be set into your hard disk automatically, making it a brick - useful for door stopping only!
* Anything with a PIII or later most likely came with a Windows Certificate of Authenticity. Find out whether the listed machine does. Even if you don't want it, it may help resale value when you '''sell''' the machine.
* Read the feedback of the seller on items he has sold, especially electronics, computers and laptops. If meangranny is suddenly selling T43's after three years of lace, stay away.
* If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. There's a reason no one else is bidding on it.

==Long-time Weaknesses of certain models==
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
! Model !! Issues
|-
| {{390X}} || *models with 15" display are said to have weak display cables that tend to break.
|-
| {{600X}} || Battery problems.
|-
||{{A20p}} || *Base cover corner are prone to crack, root cause stiff display hinges
|-
||{{A31}} || Several reports of [[Problem with garbled screen]] independent on Operating System
|-
| {{A30}}, {{A30p}}, {{A31}}, {{A31p}} || *seem to have a mechanical design that can cause the motherboard to break. At least there are a significant number of reports of broken motherboards on these models.
|-
| {{T30}} || *had a problem with memory sockets detaching from the system board. IBM replaced these free of charge even after warranties expired.
|-
| {{T20}} || Many models have a problem of gradually dying. Attempting to turn on will only cause a blinking light, and many attempts must be made in order to start the machine. Eventually, the machine is no longer bootable. Cause by faulty onboard transistors building up energy.
|}

Installing Ubuntu 6.10 on a ThinkPad 600E

2007-02-02T01:45:09Z

Dark Savant0: Creation of Page

==External Sources==
*[http://www.blog.savant.be/linux/ubuntu-610-edgy-on-a-thinkpad-600e-2645-57u/15/ Ubuntu 6.10 on the Thinkpad 600E]

[[Category:Ubuntu]] [[Category:600E]]