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Andres Gonzalez (dre2004 at gmail dot com)
This is a guide to running Linux with the IBM-Lenovo Thinkpad R61 laptop. The R61 is a fairly standard looking laptop but includes the Centrino Duo chipset and the model tested here has a nice display.
For full specifications see the Lenovo ThinkPad R61 specifications page.
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.
If you would like to edit this page please first view our Editing Guidelines.
| Device | Type | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core Duo T7300 2.0Ghz | Yes | |
| Screen | 15.4” WSXGA+ | Yes | Highest Resolution 1680×1050 |
| RAM | 1GB | ||
| HDD | 120GB | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW | Yes | |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce Go 8400 | only proprietary modules | |
| Graphics | nVidia Quadro NVS 140 | only proprietary module | nvidia-glx-new |
| Integrated Camera | Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd. | Unknown | Trying to get this to work now |
| Sound | Yes | Use the snd-hda-intel module | |
| Ethernet | 10/100/1000 | Yes | |
| Wireless | Intel 4965AGN 802.11abgn | Yes | See notes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | ||
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | ||
| USB | 3 x USB2.0 | Yes | |
| Firewire | 1 x Firewire | Yes | Tested with Kino and AV Cam |
| ExpressCard Slot | Not Tested | ||
| PCMCIA Slot | Not Tested |
Depending on the Model of R61 you have you will have a different Video Card.
These details are specific to the 89185MM.
| Graphics Chipset | Device Info NVIDIA NB8M-GS | 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation Unknown device 0429 (rev a1) |
The standard debian nvidia driver didnt work for Nvidia NB8M-GS chipset the commercial drivers were used instead. The latest version 100.14.11 worked fine.
These details are specific to the Quadro NVS 140M
| Graphics Chipset | Device Info NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M | 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation Quadro NVS 140M (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [[VGA]]) |
The standard ubuntu 7.10rc nvidia driver (nv) didn't work for this chipset (the screen was blank and it was impossible to switch to text virtual consoles)
The commercial drivers were used instead. The latest version 100.14.11 worked fine.
The Nvidia GeForce Go 8400 and Quadro NVS 140M which are included with the R61 do not function with the built in nv module so you will need to use the Nvidia proprietary driver. You can find installation instructions for the nvidia driver here.
Some cheaper models of the R61 include the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100. This has not yet been tested.
The 4965AGN wireless controller works fine on the R61, albeit they are a pain to install. You can get these drivers from http://intellinuxwireless.org/?p=iwlwifi. You can view installation instructions at our Configuring the iwl4965 driver for the Intel 4965AGN wireless controller guide.
You will need the CVS ALSA modules to get sound working properly. Not even the latest 1.0.14 drivers are new enough for the R61. You can find a little easier to use alsa snapshot packages here. Grab the latest. Update: Most Linux distributions no longer require this step.
It's a real ordeal to get the Thinkpad R61 working with Linux and it does require some very in depth configuration knowledge. Definitely not one for the newbie but you can get everything working with a fair bit of work. Update: Ubuntu 7.10 and more than likely other recently released distributions now include good support for this laptop. The sound and wireless work without extra configuration.
Discussion
Fedora 11 x86 64 worked for me. Currently I haven't seen how the boot or the shutdown runs, I neither had a look at messages/dmesg. Microphone is working but the sound/speakers are broken. I'm a touch pad addict; if I hit it twice, I don't get the clic. Those details should soon be in order.
Everything works but built in webcam using kubuntu 9.04 anyone can help please do.
Everything is working fine on my R61 except the sound….the sound is broken….is there anything I can do to sort it out??
T61 with Nvidia NVS140 does not work at all. There are several versions of the driver floating around, and quite a few comments on the forums. Still cannot get this laptop to work - well wait 'till version 9 and see if things improve :(
8.10 worked out of the box with Nvidia Qudro NVS140M video. The finger print reader does not work. Forget about sleep (suspend) and Hibernate modes, neither works for me. Hibernate just crashes and sleep mode looses video when it wakes up. I have to end up power cycling to get back up. Everything else works fine. Wired and wireless NICs configured on install without issue. I have not tested firewire, the modem, or the card slot either.
Have Ubuntu 8.O4 Heron on my R61e. Works OK, the only problems are the middle -mouse -button and - worse - the sound, which is very cracky with all media.
Intel Video - Ubuntu 8.10
Intel X3100 working out of the box with Ubuntu 8.10 and all the other things are also working fine. Great laptop to work with because of its relatively low price but an outstanding quality when you compare them to other manufacturers. It love the keyboard… when i get back to my old asus laptop it looks like some cheap crap :p
All good for me - Ubuntu 8.04
All worked for me, no probs!
My R61i 8918 CGG (C2D 1.5G, 2Gram,160HDD,NVS140M)
Hi,
so firs step was Ubuntu 7.10 and automatical upgrade to 8.04. But problems with some part and I solved it. Concretely: wifi, but in 8.04 works after upgrade. Problem with skype (mic didn't work) and hdaps (movement sensor for HDD). But after that I decided runs on UBUNTU 8.04 64b and after starts problems
On 64b works almost everything out-of-box. But again problem with skype, but I googled help. Hdaps run, but doesn't starts automaticaly after boot. Special keys works, but Fn+F5 works strange (looks like, that works in cycle: WiFi (WF) and BT off, WF on and BT off, both on, WF off and BT on, both off). Hybernation and suspend to RAM still don't works (I have to google more
) and after install drivers and SW for finger-print system reports problem with USB, when I try to run the finger print (something like: device on USB doesn't works or missed).
But important parts run just after installation, problems are with these above standard functions and devices. But I have to make runs hdaps and standby to ram, at least.
Ubuntu on R61e
I have 1 problem with the Lenovo R61E running Hardy, the sound is broken.
I initially installed Gutsy 7.10 onto an R61e, and it ran up, prefectly useable. There initially seemed to be an issue with the screen (it had 'dashes' all over) but the OS sorted it out by itself after the first re-start. Sound didn't work, and the sleep/hibernate functions wouldn't light up the screen when prodded. I managed to get the sound working (had to load a module), and I had to go get the codecs for watching DVD.
Upgrading to Hardy fixed the hibernate/sleep function (hooray!!) but broke the sound (boo!). Now it tells me “doesn't support 44100” and switches to 48000.
Ubuntu 8.04 on my R61i
Worked out of the box–even got the screen resolution right. My model has an intel 965 graphics chipset (whatever that means) and no integrated camera. The only necessary tweaks have been middle-mouse-button usability and turning on the microphone. Suspend & Hibernate even seem to be working, although I haven't used them much yet. Easiest Ubuntu install ever!
Have not tested bluetooth, firewire, the modem, or the card slots.