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Toshiba Satellite A505
Introduction
Installed Ubuntu 9.10 on the A505 with many problems. Ubuntu 10.04 as of Feb. 20, 2010 does not install at all.
Update: the acpi=noirq kernel parameter fixes a lot of errors.
Specifications
For full specifications see the http://laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/satellite/A500/A505-S6030.
| Name | Toshiba Satellite A505-S6030 |
| Processor | Intel® Core™ i7-720QM processor |
| Screen | 16” HD (1366×768) |
| Graphics | NVIDIA® GeForce® 310M with 512MB GDDR3 discrete graphics memory, plus up to 1755MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory using NVIDIA® TurboCache™ technology. Total Available Graphics memory 2267MB |
| RAM | 4GB DDR3 1066MHz memory |
| HDD | 500GB - 5400rpm |
| Optical Drive | DVD-SuperMulti (+/-R double layer) with Labelflash™ drive |
| Network | 10/100/1000 802.11b/g/n |
| BIOS | Insyde H20 Rev. 3.5 Bios Version 1.10 EC Version 5.29 |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Not supported until Kernel 2.6.33 | |
| Screen | Working | |
| HDD | Working | |
| Optical Drive | Working | |
| Graphics | Working with Nvidia 195 drivers | |
| Sound | Working | |
| Ethernet | Working | |
| Wireless | Not working. Tried known procedures for Realtek RTL8172/8192. Wireless driver shows up, but does not work, nor scan for networks. Working out the box in Ubuntu 10.04 | |
| Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Not Working, probably a result of the broken Insyde H20 bios. Fixes with acpi=noirq kernel parameter | |
| Card Reader | Working | |
| ExpressCard Slot | Not Tested | |
| Webcam | Working (UVC driver) | |
| Microphone | Working |
Notes
The only things I don't have working are the laptopy things, like battery monitor and brightness controls. Suspend and hibernate works fine.
Discussion
I cannot even install ubuntu. How you did it? I tried with the original cd, and with a usb.. Non of them worked. It just shows a lot of code up and then suddenly stops.
D: I'm tired of searching in google!!
HELP!
I have a Toshiba A505-s6020 with i5 CPU. Both openSuse 11.2 and PCLinuxOS 2010-1 install fine.
On PCLos I've upgraded kernel from 2.6.32.12 to 3.6.33,2 to 2.6.33.4.
Still not supported is:
. Realtek RTL8192SE
. NVIDIA GeForce 310m
. Intel 3400 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller
There is a patch release from NVIDIA to apply to kernel. But it must be reapplied with any kernel update.
I've applied kernel patch from Realtek rtl8192se_linux_s.6.0010.1012.2009.tar.gz, but wifi will not sniff out my router, nor connect when I do all manual configuration. This is like from back in my Broadcom days! NDISwrapper, it's been 3 years since I've needed it!!! That's why I bought an Intel architecture laptop.
And nothing USB works! That's how I ended up here, looking for patch to resolve this USB issue.
Sure wish I would have read this post prior to my purchase at Frys…
As mentioned below, add the kernel parameter apci=noirq and that should get your USB working.
The nvidia 195 drivers work with the 310M, even though it's not offically listed as supported. I'm running it and have full compiz effects with no issues.
When I installed the realtek driver the console scan results were unreliable (sometimes it would see networks, sometimes it wouldn't), but it worked without issue when I used the Ubuntu wireless configuration tools.
The only things I don't have working are the laptopy things, like battery monitor and brightness controls, but as I'm plugged into AC 99.9% of the time anyway that's not such a big issue for me.
I can get usb and the display working with acpi=noirq, but the wireless still doesn't work. I installed the driver from the realtek site, and it shows some of the networks in the area, but all of them, and even when it does let me connect, there is still no internet and I can't access the router.
Any ideas?
I had the similar issue and noticed that the module that is installed in the kernel modules was different size than the one that is compiled and found under the HAL folder (the compiled module that is found under the realtek driver source directory) So i copied this module to the kernel modules and it worked fine afterwards. So go into HAL/rtl8192 folder and then issue the following
cp r8192se_pci.ko /lib/modules/2.6.32-21-generic/kernel/ubuntu/rtl8192se/
rmmod r8192se_pci
modprobe r8192se_pci
and afterwards hopefully it should work!
I need help on the brightness setting, it does not work and that is killing my eyes, anybody figured out how to enable brightness setting?
I've got a brand new A505 s6017. I am guessing I have a video driver problem. Ubuntu 9.10 installed fine, grub knows about the install, but when I boot to ubunto, the kernal messages scroll to fast to read, and eventually the screen goes blank. I still here the ubunto welcome sound so I am guessing there is a problem with the display driver, but dont know where to start to work around it.
i work with ubuntu beta2 and realtek driver RTL8192SE i download from http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=21&PFid=48&Level=5&Conn=4&ProdID=230&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false&Downloads=true
and work fine USB,Wireless
Hi,
Just wanted to let you know that this laptop works fine with ubuntu 10.04 beta1 alternate edition. Also, for the freezing, it is caused by GDM which has some sort of bug. Works fine with enlightenment E17…
My 2 cents.
I also got wireless working with the kernel parameters acpi=off irqpoll. The only thing I don't have working is the battery/AC indicator, was hoping the acpi=noirq option above might help with that but no luck.
USB and the webcam will also work with the above parameters.
I used the driver from here: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=48&PFid=48&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false&Downloads=true#RTL8192SE
The nvidia 195 drivers work with the 310M even though it's not officially listed.
I got wireless working by passing kernel parameter acpi=noirq. It fixes alot of the irq errors as well.
How/where do you go about “passing kernel parameter acpi=noirq”?
Depends on your distribution, but usually you add it to /boot/grub/menu.lst. Find the first line which begins with 'kernel' and append it to the end of that.
In Ubuntu 9.10 however you need to edit /etc/default/grub and add it after what already exist in GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT, then run 'update-grub'.