help installing any sensible linux on IBM T41
 

Hi,

I try desperately install any sensible Linux on my IBM T41 (1,6GHz, 60GB HDD, 1G RAM 1400*1050 screen) but without any luck. Or yes, I managed to boot it up with DSL Live CD, but DSL looks bit too basic.

Ubuntu 10.04 ends with black screen (I have tried three black screen workarounds like xforcevesa or i915.modeset=1, which helped me to install Ubuntu on Fujitsu S7010 last week, but this does not help with IBM). Ubuntu feels nice to me and I have it also on IBM thinkpad 600x, 500MHz, 256MHz RAM.

Puppy Live CD stops with "Kernel panic...." during boot. This may be due to CD as it is not starting in any of my 4 laptops.

Today then tried Debian with 3 different version of CDs, but in all the installation hangs. Or actually I can boot in textmode from Live CD, but do not know how to continue.

And as said DSL boots nicely, but it looks bit basic and the WLAN is not working. I have DSL frugal HDD install on my old Pentium MMX 233Mhz and it feel right for that but for the T41 I would like some more. Or can I easily get the WLAN working and some nice application like open office, DVDs working, .....

So basically I need some recommendaton and some help ?? I would like to get the IBM T41 into real use

Br,
H

First off: welcome here :)

Okay, Well, any Linux is sensible, the question is: what Linux (disro) runs on the laptop in question?

Let's see, how about Xubuntu? Lighter on the system, leaner and smoother. I got it running on a system here, smooth as silk. Then there's macPup (since your CD fails on multiple systems, the prime suspect is the CD). Clean, nice and detects basically anything (stand too close to your laptop and it'll detect your shoe size). I've got that one on a Dell, smooth and clean. Be aware that the install needs a little "expert knowledge", but I can coach you tru that...
How about Arch Linux? Light w8, got that as main system. Can be fine tuned to your every specific need. Be aware, the community around it can me (CAN, does'nt have to be) somewhat "rough on the edges"...
There is Ariane Knoppix. Oh, now that's a nice one, not really to be installed, but, hey, why not. If you know your way around, pop that one on the drive. Nice interface and very up-to-date.
I'll keep this thread on the radar! :D

Thor

macpup seems to be the next one
 

Hi,

and thanks for teh fast comments already...

Meanwhile I also had Fedora CD, but it also does not boot on my T41.
Tomorrow I need to try the Macpup

Br,
H

Slackware should run fine on T41.

I use CentOS since 2006 on my T41 in 1400x1050 screen mode, it works really well. My daughter uses T41 with XGA display also without problems. I also used Fedora 15 without any problem. You should check http://thinkwiki.org which provides plenty of information about running Linux on IBM Thinkpad devices.

From my experience IBM Thinkpads are the best hardware for running Linux.

thanks for the hints so far
 

I have now started to think if there is something wrong with my laptop, when nothing except DSL boots up.
Does anyone know, if the HDD state affects the situation somehow ? With Live CD if should not or ...?
The HDD has safeguard and some old data and I have thought that I will just repartition/re-format the HDD during the installation.

I could'nt agree more, if it does not run on an IBM...well...

I you do decide on MacPup, do provide a swap partition! Installed it last night (in a run-up for this very thread) and found a swap partition to be very usefull. You could (if so inclined) do without it, but it's not very efficient...

By the way, the Grub needs to be instaled separatly...let us know if you need help with that one! :)

Thor

Hmm, okay, you have a challenge there...how good are you with the command prompt? If so, try to use TTYLinux, Finnix or Knoppix. Once in the command line (the black screen with white font), enter this

for Knoppix and (possibly) Finnix. TTYLinux starts you up in Root anyway.

Then:

and look at the output. There should be something like sda of hda, designations for the harddrive...

Please post what you get back...thanks

Thor

Edit : the distros I mentioned here are for system recupe/maint only, they're not really what you'd install on a day-to-day base... :)

I am running CrunchBang comfortably on a IBM T30... ArchBang should perform similarly.
Not even sure of the specs on it, but its certainly not a power house.

I guess that I could...
 

I guess that I could boot with DSL (when it boots) and then use DD command to overwrite the beginnig of the HDD and then use CFDISK to create hda. This is did for the other laptop that had (which booted nicely from ubuntu liveCD). Then I guess the HDd could not be the problem anymore.

now proceeded with HDD
 

Hi,

now I have 40G /dev/hda1 partition done with CFDISK.

But no difference on tryin to boot with my puppy or ubuntu or debian or fedora Live CDs.
So it was apparently not the HDD. Need to try to download the macpup, wheneven I have bit faster network connection.

some progress but not much
 

So I downloaded macpup and burned to DVD.
T41 reads the disk as I get graphical menu and then it starts

-loadin drivers
-searching puppy files
-loading macpup_528.sfs main file...copying to ram
-performing a "Switch root"
.making file system usable
-updating
-Loading kernel modules
-waiting modules to complete loading
-setting up services...
-Regognising media devices...optical input

AND then

getty: tty1: can't exec /bin/autologinroot

This keeps coming endlessly every 5 sec or so...

Since DSl is booting, try puppy wary or one of the puppy 4.3.1 iso's

what is puppy wary ?

since DSl workd try wary puppy or one of the 4.3 puppy iso's