[SOLVED] installing packages when you're a couple releases behind

planarian · 06-15-2013, 11:47 AM

Hi,

I'm running Linux Mint 12 on a Thinkpad, and would like to install tlp power-management. Their site indicates that it targets Mint 13 & 14, and sure enough, when I follow their installation instructions, apt-get returns "Unable to locate package tlp". Aside from upgrading (which is bound to produce its own problems), what are my options? Should I try to compile the source myself, or am I out of luck?

Thanks.

Timothy Miller · 06-15-2013, 12:05 PM

Try following the instructions for Debian in Mint 12. Aimed at an older Ubuntu release (10), so you might have better luck with it.

planarian · 06-15-2013, 12:13 PM

Interesting suggestion. Unfortunately I ran into trouble on the first command:

>>deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/linrunner/tlp/ubuntu lucid main
No command 'deb' found

Timothy Miller · 06-15-2013, 12:17 PM

You're not running that as a command.

Code:

sudo vi /etc/apt/sources.list

Then paste that into the file, making sure it's not commented out (no # before it). Save the file and update:

Code:

sudo apt-get update && apt-cache search tlp

planarian · 06-15-2013, 12:23 PM

Yes, I realized just after I posted, and I think it installed successfully. Thanks very much!

Timothy Miller · 06-15-2013, 12:26 PM

Post back and let us know if it really helps with battery life. I've considered trying it a few times, but in the end, all the issues I've read on their FAQ page has prevented me from ever trying.

planarian · 06-15-2013, 07:27 PM

Unfortunately, I'm not a great one to ask since I don't use the battery all that often. I wanted this driver because it enables a Thinkpad-specific feature that keeps charge levels between a pre-set max and min (called "thresholds"). I *can* report that that particular feature seems to work on my machine.