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Lenovo Thinkpad T400
Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux on the Lenovo ThinkPad T400 laptop.
This guide is intended to provide you details on how well this laptop works with Linux and which modules you need to configure. For details on how to actually install and configure the required modules have a look at our guides section for distribution specific instructions.
This page is just for discussing using Linux on the Lenovo Thinkpad T400. For a general discussion about this laptop you can visit the Lenovo Thinkpad T400 page on LapWik.
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Specifications
For full specifications see the Lenovo ThinkPad T400 specifications page.
| Name | Lenovo ThinkPad T400 |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo |
| Screen | 14.1” WXGA or WXGA+ Widescreen |
| RAM | 2GB to 8GB |
| HDD | 80GB to 320GB to 64GB SSD |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW or Blu-ray |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD |
| Network | Ethernet, Thinkpad 802.11bg or Intel 5100 802.11abgn or Intel 5300 802.11abgn, Bluetooth, WWAN |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Works | |
| Screen | Works | |
| HDD | works | hdaps driver isn't working |
| Optical Drive | works | |
| Graphics | works | You need to disable automatic OS detection and choose the integrated or dedicated adapter instead of the switchable one. You also probably needed to force lvds in the configuration file. |
| Sound | works | The volume buttons work strange. |
| Ethernet | works | |
| Wireless | works | >=2.6.27-rc5 |
| Bluetooth | works | |
| WWAN | works | Tested in Jaunty |
| USB | works | |
| Firewire | Not Tested | |
| Card Reader | works | |
| ExpressCard Slot | Not Tested | |
| Fingerprint Reader | Doesn't work | http://www.thinkwiki.org |
| Camera | works | I use the motion tool |
Notes
Power button doesn't work in Linux. Some key events aren't delivered by acpi.
Summary
This is too new hardware for Linux for now. Most probably better support will be there in the future.
Discussion
I am running Debian Squeeze 6.0.3 AMD64 on my beloved 2768-12U T400.
I have ATI graphics disabled until I get a better understanding of how power management works. Touch Pad works but the FN+F8 key to disable does not work that I know of.
It worked in Ubuntu 9.04 perhaps there is a config file I could grab?
I cannot disable it perhaps I will disable it all together in the BIOS.
Standby and Hibernate both work well. Everything including FN keys work.
IEEE 1394 and Modem I have not tested. Compiz works well with the Intel graphics.
Don't expect to get the fingerprint reader to work. The only supporting project I found was Fprint which seems dead.
I have mine set to be required at boot (set this up in Windows)… Then ditch Windows.
Follow this link for the track point configuration.
http://wiki.debian.org/InstallingDebianOn/Thinkpad/Trackpoint
I have yet to have a better understanding of the system to really dial in good power management settings but so far power management is OK and the system is stable. This is a great laptop and I love it more than my work laptop (HP Elitebook).
I LOVE THE DEBIAN DISTRO!
I am running Mandriva 2009 and it works great except for a few things.
Pretty much all the hardware was recognized automatically, except for the camera and can't get any DVD to play . I haven't tested either the express card slot or the fingerprint reader.
modem is not working. There is strange linux version but you have to pay for fullspeed.
the fingerprint is currently not supported. But may be in the future.
The 2.6.28 and 2.6.29 kernels solves some issues with hibernation/sleep ++
Thinkwiki is really useful for any Thinkpad really. Find our exact spec and move down to the relevant component.
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:T400
Had a very good experience with T61 / Ubuntu (and Kubuntu) 9.04 Beta
I've no sound, drivers are loaded recognized a conexant cx20651 Hermosa chip.
OpenSUSE 11.1
If i turn on the radio switch only the bluetooth light goes on. Don't know how
to activate the wireless light.
hdaps works!
HDAPS and TP_SMAPI do work on my T400… I had to make a modification to the source code, though.
Modem support
Yes, I have.
I got two version of the hsfmodem driver, one is from the lenovo site for the t61 and another one is latest from linuxant.
Then I install linuxant deb version into the system and after reboot I have workable driver for 14.4. Then I did unpack t61 version and replaced all .O files in the /usr/lib/hsfmodem/modules/imported/ folder from lenovo driver. Then ran hsfconfig for rebuild driver.
T400 & Ubuntu 8.10
All works fine out out box, but i'm not tested firewire, Express Card Slot, and Fingerprint Reader.
Suspend & Hibernation works @ Intel VGA, but i installed suspend and hibernation packets from ubu repository
When you say you installed suspend and hibernation packages from the repos… what packages are you talking about? Do you have exact names for them?
Firewire was working with Kubuntu 11.10 and Kubuntu 10.04, last one was destroyed by Vista :(
Modem support?
Anyone have luck with the modem?