This is a guide to running Linux with the IBM-Lenovo Thinkpad R51 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.
If you would like to edit this page please first view our Editing Guidelines.
| Name | IBM-Lenovo Thinkpad R51 |
| Processor | Intel Pentium-M 1.5GHz |
| Screen | 15” XGA |
| RAM | 256MB |
| HDD | 30GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD-ROM/CD-RW |
| Graphics | Intel Extreme Graphics 2 |
| Network | 10/100 Ethernet, Intel 2200 802.11g Wireless |
| Other | 2 x USB2.0 |
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| HDD | 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 | Yes | |
| PCMCIA | Not Tested |
There were no issues with the installation of Linux on this laptop.
In some Linux distributions you may have issues with some resolutions with an external monitor attached. This is solved with Xorg 7.2 so any modern Linux distribution wont have this issue.
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
qsqdq
Can i boot the system with linux from the USB?
tried the following packages, latest versions downloaded and burned to CD/DVD:
Fedora Core with Gnome, everything worked out of the box except Wifi. I got that working after downloading the proper pacages with help from this page: http://www.charlescurley.com/Lenovo.R51.html
OpenSuse with KDE, everthing worked out of the box except Sound. I could not get it to work.
Mandriva Spring 2009 with KDE, everthing worked out of the box except Sound. I could not get it to work.
Hi all,
thanks
pankaj
Hi,
I tried to install the UBUNTU 8.10 on IBM Thinkpad R51. Initially it was hangng giving some gnome error. Finally I could install using safe graphics mode. The system is running fine but I have a small issue. The screen resolution I could select has only 2 options that is 800×600 (4:3) and 640×480(4:3). In both options the display is too big and windows are going out of full screen. Which creates difficulty. Kindly help me changing this to 1024×768 atleast.
My /etc/X11/xorg.conf does not have any resolution specifications and everything is taken as default. The display driver is shown as VESA.
Please help.
In Centos5 - wifi is a big issue
http://www.centos.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=14374
https://www.centos.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=8473&viewmode=flat&order=DESC&start=20
However FC10 - it works beautiful