Debian GNU/Linux on a Lenovo (IBM) x61 tablet (x61t) (model number 7764CTO)

In progress...

These notes assume some prior knowledge of Debian. However, I've spelled things out more than a Debian expert would need.

Please know that these notes were compiled after the fact. It is likely that i omitted or misremembered some steps. If you find any such mistakes or omissions, please lemme know so that i can correct this page.

Summary: what works

Works

• Debian GNU/Linux kernel version 2.6.22
• External monitor (Dell 20 inch, via VGA connector)
• Tablet
• Reading CD-ROMs (using the drive in the ultrabay)
• USB (tried a USB keyboard and mouse)
• Wired ethernet
• Wireless card
• Sleep (suspend-to-ram)
• Hibernate (suspend-to-disk)
• ACPI battey life indication
• Sound

Partially working

• Hotkeys

Haven't tried but heard it will work

• DVD burning
• Touchscreen (in version .7.8 of linuxwacom)
• CPU frequency scaling

Haven't tried and don't know

• Fingerprint reader
• "Mobile Broadband" (i.e. internet via mobile phone network)
• SD card
• PC card
• Intel turbo memory
• Bluetooth
• Active hard drive protection

Hardware

Please see hardwareDetails for lspci output, etc.

How to get various things working

Debian install

I installed Debian 4 amd64 from CD (via the ultrabase), and over the network (via the ethnic connection), without a hitch.

I figured that I won't be using Windows Vista much, so I gave it 21 gB. I deleted the first partition (the thinkvantage recovery partition), which was about 5.5 gigs, and made a swap partition of the same size in its place. This left about 68 gB for my ext3 GNU/Linux partition.

I made recovery disks (I forgot if I did "rescue" or "recovery"; it made 7 CDs which I'm told will be able to restore my system to the factory configuration if I ever need to) before deleting the recovery partition.

After the initial install, I upgraded to kernel version 2.6.22, and then rebooted.

Basic XWindows configuration

apt-get install xorg xserver-xorg-input-all xserver-xorg-input-evtouch xserver-xorg-video-all xserver-xorg-video-intelligence xbase-clients

Actually, though, i think that only xorg, xserver-xorg-video-intel, xbase-clients (for xrandr), and xserver-xorg-input-all were necessary.

I installed most of those from Debian Unstable. The versions I have are:

Rumor has it that linuxwacom 0.7.8 can do the touchscreen ("multitouch"). I haven't tried it yet though.

Here is my /etc/X11/Xorg.conf file. It is configured to be able to use both the internal screen and also a 1600x1200 external monitor. xrandr will be used to switch between the internal and external displays.

Sometimes XWindow crashes (totally freezes up) and I think it's the video driver. It happens whenever I try to run Second Life. It also happens when I use OpenGL? on my external monitor and make the window too big (even glgears will do it). The second situation (OpenGL?