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Toshiba Satellite A75
Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux with the Toshiba Satellite A75 laptop. The A75 is quite a fast notebook but its battery life is limited at best due to the processor used.
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 A75 |
| Processor | Intel Pentium4 3.2GHz |
| 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
The Mobility Radeon 9000 can work with either one of the open source radeon or ATI's proprietary fglrx modules. For installation instructions on the fglrx module you can view our Configuring an ATI graphics chip guide.
Summary
Install Linux on the Toshiba Satellite A75 was issue free and straight forward.
Discussion
Anyone have a xorg.conf that works well under Ubuntu for this. I've tried the ATI propriatary drivers and the included Radeon, and included work OK, but acceleration is for the most part poor.
Prefer the AMD drivers if there is a good working xorg.conf that will work. When I type “sudo aticonfig –initial -f” I get “aticonfig: No supported adapters detected”
Did a bit of research and the 9000 or 9100 on the A75 is not supported by the ATI proprietary driver after 8.28.8. The 8.28.8 relies on old xserver and other dependencies which make it a no go for the average user not wanting to hack up half their Linux install.
For Ubuntu, best bet is to mess with the included radeon drivers with the xorg.conf. Fun fun.
Install and use of Intrepid Ibex (8.10) was nearly flawless and it works marvelously, and the wifi worked out of the box (no madwifi necessary). Common laptop issue of suspend/hibernate remains, but with the relatively fast boot time it is not really an issue IMHO. Only other nit-pick I have is that due to the BIOS and the motherboard, lm-sensors detects no sensors and therefore things like Conky cannot be used to monitor the system effectively [possibly an acpi issue, have been unable to date to find a work-around for this]
Yeah, I have a Tosh A75 and run DreamLinux on it. It works well and for a platform to edit and write it is great. The two problems I have is with wireless printing. It simply won't recongnize the hp 6800 series - plugin fine, but no wireless through a wireless router. The other problem is that video is jerky. This seems to be a Dreamlinux problem, as other “brands” don't have the problem.
Still, these are small prices to pay and since I am not a developer, I don't have the skills - wherewithall.