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Toshiba Satellite A70
Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux with the Toshiba Satellite A70 laptop. The A70 is a fairly ordinary laptop but does have great Linux support.
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.
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Specifications
| Name | Toshiba Satellite A70 |
| Processor | Intel Pentium4 3.06GHz |
| Screen | 15.4” WXGA |
| RAM | 512MB |
| HDD | 60GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD-ROM/CD-RW |
| Graphics | ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 |
| Network | 10/100 Ethernet, Atheros 802.11g Wireless |
| Other | 3 x USB2.0, 1 x Firewire |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Yes | |
| Sound | Yes | Use the snd-atiixp driver |
| Ethernet | Yes | |
| Wireless | Yes | Use the Madwifi module |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | Not Tested | |
| Card Reader | Not Tested | |
| PCMCIA | Not Tested |
Notes
For the Radeon 9000 graphics chip in the A70 you can use either the open source radeon module or ATI's proprietary fglrx module. For installation instructions, you can view our Configuring an ATI graphics chip guide.
Summary
There were no problems in getting the Toshiba Satellite A70 notebook working under Linux.
Discussion
I know this is a bit of an old post - but in the off-chance anyone will get this - do you know if the A70 (external boot) bios option means USB thumbdrive boot support - trying to resurrect this perfectly good 'ol laptop with Ubuntu.
Yeah mate I've done just that with my Toshiba Satellite A70. A good old bomb. Running Linux Mint 14 sweet - off USB bootable! Use UNetbootin to burn your ISO file on the USB, then plug in your USB and hit F2 for BIOS settings on reboot. Go to Boot tab and press Enter to expand the Hard Drives list, where you'll find your USB stick. Use F6 to shift it to the top of the list and CRANK IT UP! Cheers!
check your memory maybe it is not the same speed or frecuency mine is runing with 1.5 G and works fine
I have upgraded my A70's Ram by 1GB.
Once I have done that I cannot start my computer.
When I remove the 1GB Ram I have no issues with the A70.
any suggestions?
I thank you in advance.
Daffy
under a toshiba A75 works perfect, but sensor are not set if cpu goes over 95% it shutdown by over head, had to set cpu frequency to max 2.67GHz to keep it working.