Installing Gentoo on a ThinkPad 770E

2006-09-16T02:30:50Z

Psion: /* Partitioning */

This is the {{Gentoo}} installation guide for the linux ThinkPad 770E. This is not meant to replace the gentoo handbook, but rather, as a guide to help fine tune certain options. Please refer to the gentoo handbook, gentoo docs/wiki and the gentoo forums for more help.

==Partitioning==
Until linux supports ibm thinkpad controls like ps2.exe, it is recommended you keep a small bootable partition (10-100MB for a DOS partition). You will need this if you want to change or find out irq, mem address, and dma settings.

It is possible to run some of the big-box distros without much error, such as Mandriva. You might not have to use the DOS partition here.

==Kernel configuration==
For '''PCMCIA''' support you have to load the ''yenta_socket'' module and change the configuration file <tt>/etc/conf.d/pcmcia</tt> (replace <tt>PCIC=i82365</tt> with <tt>PCIC=yenta_socket</tt>).

For '''Frame Buffers''' support, do '''NOT''' load any frame buffer drivers besides vesafb. Do NOT even load vesafb-tng. Even though the video card is a trident card, the tridentfb does not work. It will produce a flickery screen. All you want to do is compile vesafb into your kernel or as a module, then add vga=791 to your boot line. Do not even bother with video=mtrr or any other options. VGA=791 is all you need for 1024x768 frame buffers support.

==Sound support==
'''FIX'''

I have since been able to get sound working on my 770E, but I had to use the OSS drivers. The procedure I used was to boot into a windows partition and use IBM's ps2.exe utility to determine irq, port, and dma information. After I got this information, I had to reinitialize the hardware from the BIOS before the sound would work in linux. (Hold F1 while booting to get to the BIOS menu) After the reinitialization, I modprobed:

modprobe cs4232 io=0x530 irq=5 dma=1 dma2=0 mpuio=0x330 mpuirq=9

I believe these are the factory default settings. Please insert your settings from the ps2.exe reading. If modprobe completed with no errors, try playing a sound and it should work.

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All 770's should get sound using the ALSA snd_cs4232 module, although they have a cs4610 chip. Similar to [[Problem with broken sound on ThinkPad 600]]. Try
modprobe snd-cs4232 port=0x530 cport=0x538 fm_port=0x388 irq=5 dma1=1 dma2=0

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I tried using those parameters on a 770E and I get a "no such device" error when modprobe'ing. If anyone finds the right parameters for Alsa, please insert it here.

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2005-07-11

I found out, that most problems occure while playing around with the cs4232 drivers. The Chipset ist the cs4237B, which is supported by the ALSA snd-cs4236 driver. This is how it works:

( Update 2006-01-10: This is for 2.6.12 kernels prior to r10 !)

1. Build a Kernel using soundcore support only! NO additional drivers! (If you have such a kernel, proceed to 3.
2. install kernel and boot it
3. be sure to have USE="alsa oss" in your /etc/make.conf
4. add "ALSA_CARDS="cs4236" to your /etc/make.conf
5. emerge alsa-driver alsa-oss alsa-utils
Continue with Part 3 below!

( Update 2006-01-10: This is for 2.6.12 kernels r10 and higher !)
1. Build a kernel with:
Device Drivers --->
Sound --->
<M> Sound card support
Open Sound System --->
< > Open Sound System (DEPRECATED)
Advanced Linux Sound Architecture --->
<M> Advanced Linux Sound Architecture
<M> Sequencer support
<M> OSS Mixer API
<M> OSS PCM (digital audio) API
ISA devices --->
<M> Cirrus Logic cs4327B+
2. emerge alsa-oss alsa-utils
3. run "alsaconf" and let it probe everything!
4. if your /etc/modules.d/alsa has the following lines:
(...)
alias snd-card-0 snd-cs4236
alias sound-slot-0 snd-cs4236
options snd-cs4236 port=0x530 cport=0x538 isapnp=0 dma1=5 dma2=3 irq=15
( dma1, dma2 and irq may vary! )
(...)
everything is cool. You can use "rc-update add alsasound boot" to enable sound during booting, and it should work.

See also [http://dag.wieers.com/howto/thinkpad/770/ DAG: Linux on 770]

==Power management==

You had BETTER install acpi first thing. From my tests, the fans in the 770E will '''NOT''' turn on by itself, even if it reaches 90 degrees celsius. I believe the 770E's cooling system is completely software controlled through acpi. To turn on the fan(s), modprobe acpi, and type:
echo 0 > /proc/acpi/fan/FN00/state

I don't actually know how many fans are in there, but I know that when I did not turn on the fans manually, acpi -V showed readings as hot as 93 degrees Celsius when compiling and CPU intensive operations. I ended up writing a cron script to run every minute and check if the temperature is over a certain point. I do not know what's a safe temperature, so I set it low at 45 degrees celsius.

==X11 configuration==
Follow the Gentoo Xorg howto. It should work from there.

[[Category:770E]]

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Installing Gentoo on a ThinkPad 770E