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Toshiba Tecra A2
Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux with the Toshiba Tecra A2 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.
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Specifications
| Name | Toshiba Tecra A2 |
| Processor | Intel Pentium-M 715 1.5GHz |
| Screen | 15” SXGA+ |
| RAM | 512MB |
| HDD | 60GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW |
| Graphics | Intel Extreme Graphics 2 |
| Network | 10/100/1000 Ethernet, Intel 2200 802.11g Wireless |
| Other | 2 x USB2.0 |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Yes | Use the i810 module |
| Sound | Yes | Use the snd-intel8x0 module |
| Ethernet | Yes | |
| Wireless | Yes | Use the ipw2200 module |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Sometimes - see below | |
| Firewire | Not Tested | |
| Card Reader | Not Tested | |
| PCMCIA | Not Tested |
Fedora Core 6
This warning doesn't affect functionality but is annoying and there isn't any information available on the topic. When booting FC6 this is outputted:
PCI: Cannot allocate resource region 4 of device 0000:00:1d.0
PCI: Cannot allocate resource region 4 of device 0000:00:1d.1
PCI: Cannot allocate resource region 4 of device 0000:00:1d.2
These devices appear to be USB hubs.
Another annoying problem is that the laptop won't restore from a suspend or hibernate properly. The laptop will wake up, but then after a few seconds the backlight will turn off. Again, no explanation available online. If anyone has an explanation for these two errors please post it here.
Notes
There were no issues with the installation of Linux on this laptop.
Summary
There were no problems in getting this laptop working when used with an up to date Linux distribution. It is recommended to use a Linux distribution with kernel version 2.6.16 or greater, such as Fedora Core 5 or Ubuntu 6.06.
Discussion
I have a Tecra A2
I have an installation disk with Ubuntu 10.4 LTS.
Gets to a point on installation where nothing happens. The screen is blank, there is no hard disk activity and it does not respond to any keyboard commands.
It may well have installed nicely with earlier versions of Ubuntu, but it won't with this disk.
Interestingly you can run it as a Linux computer from the CD for Suse 10.0.
It won't do this for Ubuntu from the aforementioned disk.
I am running a Tecra A2-S336 and am having problems installing the xwin. I don't have the vertical/horizontal values and when I let the software probe the system it comes back that either the card or the screen are not compatible with any of the available settings.
I have a TFT active Matrix screen with max resolution as 1400×1500 SVGA+. The graphics card is Intel Extreme Graphics 2 shared video memory UMA.
Any help you can give in getting beyond the basic screen to a great view will be appreciated.
Have run Ubuntu 8.04 and upgraded to 9.04 with a reinstall. Had minor fiddling to get sound to work in 9.04. Not sure what adjustment in the mixer settings got it to work but at least did not have to get into the config files. In 9.04 Wireless worked out of the box but in earlier versions had to do some fiddling to get it to work.
Have not had any other problems.