Difference between revisions of "Installing Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) on a ThinkPad T61"

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(Took out the bit about having to kill gdm on the initial install -- I think I just didn't wait long enough.)
(Removed documentaiton things that just work. Amended font documentation for hi-res screens.)
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== Video ==
 
== Video ==
  
'''Intel:''' Intel video works out of the box.
+
'''Nvidia''' accelerated 3D support is not installed by default.  To install 3D support click System->Administration->Restricted Drivers Manager
 
 
'''Nvidia:''' Works out of the box without accelerated 3D support.  To install 3D support click System->Administration->Restricted Drivers Manager
 
  
 
== Audio ==
 
== Audio ==
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==Wireless==
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== Modem ==
 
 
All of the standard T61 wireless options -- Atheros, Intel 3945, and Intel 4965 -- work.
 
 
 
  
==Modem==
 
 
The modem works with the Linuxant drivers available at http://www.linuxant.com
 
The modem works with the Linuxant drivers available at http://www.linuxant.com
  
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== Suspend/Hibernate ==
 
== Suspend/Hibernate ==
  
'''Hibernate''' appears to work fine.
+
'''Hibernate''' appears to work fine, but when resuming from a '''suspend''' the backlight doesn't come back on, making it nearly impossible to see anything on the screen. Unless you're can read a non-backlit screen, don't suspend... (See "Bugs" section below for possible fixes.)
 +
 
 +
==== Fonts on High-Res Screens ====
 +
 
 +
On high-res screens (e.g. 15" 1680x1050), the default fonts are too big. You can fix this by:
 +
 
 +
# Open System->Preferences->Appearance
 +
# Select the "Fonts" tab
 +
# Click the "Details" button (lower right)
 +
# Adjust the Resolution down until fonts look how you like them
 +
# Make sure you have Subpixel (LCD) Smoothing enabled
 +
# Close the Details window and adjust the Application, Document, Desktop, etc fonts as desired.
  
'''Suspend''' works, but when it resumes the backlight is off making it nearly impossible to see anything on the screen. See "Bugs" section below for links and possible fixes.
 
  
 
== Bugs ==
 
== Bugs ==
 
==== Font Issues on High-Res Screens ====
 
On high-res screens (15" 1680x1050), the default fonts are too big, and they all go bold above 8 or 9px (the exact number depends on the font). You can easily see this by running gnome-specimen and gradually stepping up the font size. At some point (usually around 8-9px) the font will turn bold.
 
[https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg-server/+bug/118745 Launchpad bug report].
 
  
 
==== Brightness ====  
 
==== Brightness ====  
  
The brightness controls (Fn-Home, Fn-End) don't seem to work reliably, and the brightness dialog box occasionally will pop up at random and cause the screen to start flickering. Messing around with the brightness controls (Fn-Home, Fn-End), or sometimes simply moving the mouse, will cause it to stop. [https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-power-manager/+bug/123854 Launchpad bug report].
+
The brightness controls (Fn-Home, Fn-End) don't seem to work reliably (if at all), and the brightness dialog box occasionally will pop up at random or "stick" on the screen, occasionally causing the screen to flicker. Messing around with the brightness controls (Fn-Home, Fn-End) or moving the cursor around the screen will usually make the dialog to go away and the flickering stop. [https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-power-manager/+bug/123854 Launchpad bug report].
  
 
With the Nvidia card to increase/decrease brightness hit Ctrl+Alt+F1 to drop to a virtual console, change the brightness and hit Ctrl-Alt-F7 to return to Gnome.  This can be done without affecting running applications.
 
With the Nvidia card to increase/decrease brightness hit Ctrl+Alt+F1 to drop to a virtual console, change the brightness and hit Ctrl-Alt-F7 to return to Gnome.  This can be done without affecting running applications.

Revision as of 06:03, 24 August 2007

Video

Nvidia accelerated 3D support is not installed by default. To install 3D support click System->Administration->Restricted Drivers Manager

Audio

Audio does not work out of the box. You need to download and compile ALSA from CVS

Also look at Ubuntu Launchpad bug# 122560 for the relevant patches to apply over Alsa driver 1.0.14 if you do not want to use the CVS version.


Modem

The modem works with the Linuxant drivers available at http://www.linuxant.com


Fingerprint Reader

The reader works with ThinkFinger. Instructions.


Trackpad scrolling

Trackpad scrolling works out of the box in the standard thinkpad way: Slide your finger up and down the very right edge of the trackpad.

To enable using the middle mouse button to scroll add the following in your Trackpoint InputDevice section in /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf:

   Option    "EmulateWheel"          "true"
   Option    "EmulateWheelTimeOut"   "200"
   Option    "EmulateWheelButton"    "2"


Suspend/Hibernate

Hibernate appears to work fine, but when resuming from a suspend the backlight doesn't come back on, making it nearly impossible to see anything on the screen. Unless you're can read a non-backlit screen, don't suspend... (See "Bugs" section below for possible fixes.)

Fonts on High-Res Screens

On high-res screens (e.g. 15" 1680x1050), the default fonts are too big. You can fix this by:

  1. Open System->Preferences->Appearance
  2. Select the "Fonts" tab
  3. Click the "Details" button (lower right)
  4. Adjust the Resolution down until fonts look how you like them
  5. Make sure you have Subpixel (LCD) Smoothing enabled
  6. Close the Details window and adjust the Application, Document, Desktop, etc fonts as desired.


Bugs

Brightness

The brightness controls (Fn-Home, Fn-End) don't seem to work reliably (if at all), and the brightness dialog box occasionally will pop up at random or "stick" on the screen, occasionally causing the screen to flicker. Messing around with the brightness controls (Fn-Home, Fn-End) or moving the cursor around the screen will usually make the dialog to go away and the flickering stop. Launchpad bug report.

With the Nvidia card to increase/decrease brightness hit Ctrl+Alt+F1 to drop to a virtual console, change the brightness and hit Ctrl-Alt-F7 to return to Gnome. This can be done without affecting running applications.

Audio

Audio does not work out of the box. Launchpad bug report.

Suspend

The backlight does not come back on after resuming from suspend. See this Ubuntu forum thread for possible fixes and the Launchpad bug report.

T61