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.

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Page Contents Author Introduction Editing This Page Specifications Linux Compatibility Notes Related Resouces Summary

Author

Bill Giannikos (bill2 at giannikos.com.au)

Introduction

This is a guide to running Linux with the Toshiba Satellite L45 laptop.

Editing This Page

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Specifications

Name
	Processor	Intel Core Duo T2310 1.46GHz
Screen	15.4" WSXGA+
RAM	1GB
HDD	80GB
Optical Drive	DVD+-RW
Graphics	Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Network	10/100 Ethernet, Realtek 8187 802.11bg Wireless
Other	3 x USB2.0

Linux Compatibility

Device	Compatibility	Comments
Processor	Yes
Screen	Yes
HDD	Yes
Optical Drive	Yes
Graphics	Yes	See notes below
Sound	Yes	Use the snd-hda-intel driver
Ethernet	Yes
Wireless	No	See notes below
56K Modem	Not Tested
USB	Yes
Card Reader	Not Tested
ExpressCard Slot	Not Tested

Notes

The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 in the Satellite L45 is quite new and requires a recent version of Xorg to work properly. Ubuntu 7.10, Fedora 8 and other distributions released around this time work fine.

The wireless controller does not have any good drivers available for Linux. There are these drivers which are currently under development but I couldn't get them to work at all.

Related Resouces

Preparing your laptop for Linux
Increasing battery life

Summary

The major issue with the Toshiba Satellite L45 is the Realtek wireless controller found in it. Linux does not yet have a good set of drivers to use with this controller so you properly wont have any wifi access.

If you are looking to purchase this laptop you can visit Toshiba's Satellite page.

Have you installed Linux on this laptop? If so how about leaving a comment about your success in the comments section below.