IBM-Lenovo Thinkpad X61
Created by: Bill Giannikos,Last modification on Thu 25 of Oct, 2007 [10:30 UTC]
This guide is intended to provide you details on how well this laptop works with Linux and which drivers you need to configure. For details on how to actually install and configure the required drivers have a look at our guides section for distribution specific instructions.
If you are looking to purchase this laptop you can visit Lenovo's ThinkPad X series page.
Authors
Bill Giannikos (bill2 at giannikos.com.au)Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux with the IBM-Lenovo Thinkpad X61 laptop. The X61 is a very small sized and light laptop with a good amount a power. This system is being tested with Ubuntu 7.04.Editing This Page
View our Editing GuidelinesLinux Compatibility
| Device | Type | Compatibility | Comments |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 1.8 Ghz | Yes | |
| Screen | 12.1" XGA | Yes | |
| RAM | 1GB | ||
| HDD | 80GB | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW | Yes | |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 | Yes | See notes below |
| Sound | Yes | See notes below | |
| Ethernet | 10/100/1000 | Yes | |
| Wireless | Intel 4965AGN 802.11abgn | Yes | See notes below |
| Bluetooth | Yes | ||
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | ||
| USB | 3 x USB2.0 | Yes | |
| Firewire | 1 x Firewire | Not Tested | |
| PCMCIA Slot | Yes | ||
| SD Card Reader | No | Produces errors, doesn't detect card at all |
Notes
This system does not include a optical drive so you will need another method to install Linux. A external USB optical drive works fine.Most current Linux distributions wont support the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 by default but there are drivers available to add support. In Ubuntu you need to use the xserver-xorg-video-intel driver.
The X61 use the 4965AGN wireless controller. This works with the new iwlwifi driver but these are currently quite hard to install. However they will be incorporated in the Linux kernel shortly which will remove this difficulty. Have a look at the Configuring the iwl4965 driver for the Intel 4965AGN wireless controller guide for installation details.
You will need the CVS alsa drivers to get sound working properly. Not even the latest 1.0.14 drivers are new enough for the X61. You can find a little easier to use alsa snapshot packages here. Grab the latest. If you are using Ubuntu and followed the guide for the iwl4965 you may have the /lib/modules/2.6.22-10-generic/ubuntu/media/snd-hda-intel/snd-hda-intel.ko file. This file will cause you problems so just remove it before installing the new alsa drivers.
Related Resources
Preparing your laptop for LinuxConfiguring the audio
Configuring the iwl4965 driver for the Intel 4965AGN wireless controller
Increasing battery life
ThinkWiki:Category:X61_Tablet
Summary
For now quite a lot of work and Linux knowledge is required to get the Lenovo Thinkpad X61 working with Linux. However it is expected that with the drivers needed to run this laptop properly being scheduled to be included in the mainstream kernel shortly that these difficulties will be alleviated. Update: Ubuntu 7.10 and more than likely other recently released distributions now include good support for this laptop. The graphics, sound and wireless work without extra configuration.Have you installed Linux on this laptop? If so how about leaving a comment about your success in the comments section below.
Comments
Ubuntu hangs on boot - & is there a notebook-specific distro?
On my x61t, Ubuntu installs, but hangs 9 out of 10 times on boot with some error about "Kernel direct mapping files". Browsing the various formus, it seems there are issues on the x61 with ACPI and SATA drives requiring miscellaneous hacking and patching.
password
Installation Issue
USB issue with Gutsy on X61
I install Gusty on my X61, everything work fine including wifi, hotkey, multimedia key even think light. Also, sound, 3D effect with compiz fusion...
but, there is only one thing I still can't figure out why. The USB port at the left hand side work perfectly, but the other two USB port at the right hand couldn't detect any device after boot. They work if I plug the mouse before boot up the system. Will you know how could I fix it?
Re: USB issue with Gutsy on X61
Re: USB issue with Gutsy on X61
Add "irqfixup" to the boot options for your kernel. Assuming you're using GRUB as your bootloader, this entails editing /boot/grub/menu.lst.
This appears to fix both the right side USB ports and the SD card slot, although I have not extensively tested either.
I installed Ubuntu 7.04 on X61 and now get the sound card driver issue.
I searched and noticed your article, it is helpful , however I'm a newbie on linux thus I'm not quite sure abt the steps of compiling the ALSA driver because I got some error when I issued the sudo ./configure command.
It seems to be looking for the Linux Kernel Source package but I dont have it, Error messages below:
Please suggest what I should do.
checking for kernel linux/version.h... no
The file /usr/src/linux/include/linux/version.h does not exist.
Please install the package with full kernel sources for your distribution
or use --with-kernel=dir option to specify another directory with kernel
sources (default is /usr/src/linux).
Re:
Replace the "2.6.22-10-generic" part with the kernel you are currently running.
Re:
The other question is regarding the SD Card Reader.
I remember it was working after the original installation of Ubuntu 7.04, however after kernel replaced then it no longer works, so maybe still that can be fixed, anyway the sd cardreader is not that important.
Thanks again for the guide here.