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Table of Contents
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Tibi Turbureanu
edited by: Velimir Iveljic (the eth and CardReader section)
This is a compatibility guide to running GNU/Linux with the Lenovo IdeaPad U350 laptop.
This guide is intended to provide you details on how well this laptop works with GNU/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 | Lenovo IdeaPad U350 |
| Processor | Intel Pentium (1.30GHz 800MHz 2MB) or Intel Core 2 ULV Solo (1.40GHz 800MHz 3MB) |
| Screen | 13.3” HD WXGA LED 1366×768 |
| RAM | 2GB to 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz |
| HDD | 250GB to 350GB 5200rpm |
| Optical Drive | None |
| Graphics | Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X4500 |
| Network | Broadcom NetLink BCM57780 Ethernet, Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 5100 802.11agn OR Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g, Bluetooth Version 2.1 + EDR |
| Battery | 4 Cell Lithium-Ion |
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | tested with Core 2 Solo |
| Screen | Yes | when installing using Ubuntu 9.04 LiveCD have to switch to safe graphics mode |
| HDD | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Not Tested | should be tested with an external optical drive |
| Graphics | Yes | Ubuntu 9.10: wotb* due to new Linux Kernel Mode Setting, compiz runs nice; Ubuntu 9.04: bad resolution, uses generic vesa driver instead of intel |
| Sound | Yes | When headphones inserted, sound plays simultaneously on headphones and speakers |
| Ethernet | Yes | Using tg3 driver in kernel, but have to load “broadcom” driver first, before loading the “tg3” driver |
| Wireless | Yes | wotb in Ubuntu 9.04 and 9.10 (for the BCM4312 models just compile http://www.broadcom.com/support/802.11/linux_sta.php driver, using the patch given on the Broadcom website |
| Bluetooth | Not Tested | |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | Not Present | |
| Card Reader | Yes | Works on Slackware 13.0 after custom kernel installation (just select the drivers from the menuconfig) |
| ExpressCard Slot | Not Present | |
| Camera | Yes | wotb in Ubuntu 9.04 and 9.10 |
| Microphone | No | |
*) works out of the box
Enter any notes you have about your laptop here.
Enter a summary of your success with Linux on your laptop here.
Discussion
My headphones are plugged in, but the sound is still played through the speakers of the notebook itself. Help please!
Jasmine, there's work in progress
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/477226
Greatfull this Guide! Thanks a lot
there is a solution for the brightness key problem: (worked with my u350)
http://brettshaffer.com/blog/linux/fix-ubuntu-screen-brightness-problem/comment-page-1/
Hi.
Really thanks for solution with backlight.
It's enought to add nomodeset to grub boot parameters. Only now I have no graphical boot, only text one.
(I cant tun vga mode to 1366×768)
PS: What backlight you had set in BIOS, that will be the max for keys.
Hi everybody,
did anyone find a solution for the problem that while headphones are plugged in the speakers are still on?
Thanks for the information how to dim the backlight!!!!
Best wishes,
Sebastian
Hi boys.
Have you find something?
I have played with the linux configuration and the notebook last about 5,5 Hours
Have you heard something about HSPDA (GSM) module for U350 ?
I now, it has a card slot, but no modem.
Thanks
Do HDD protection system is working on Linux? On windows you can adjust settings like “sensitiveness” of shake detection, adaptive ignore of frequency shakes etc… Is any way to adjust that settings also on Linux?
Hi guys. I have 2 good news :
1. If your wireless stuck like me, load the bios defaults. It correct some settings and wireless is working again (wireless in bios was enabled)
2. I found a way, how to control backlight from Linux on some Forum. This setting is keeps until you restart. Better then nothing. You need to be root !
Here we go :
lspci | grep VGA (write the device adress, mine is 00:02.0)
setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B=66 (a value between 00 and FF, where FF is 100%)
Hi. I really need a help !
My wireless dissabled (no light and no Bluetooth/WiFI), even if the switch is on !
System show my, that there are a WiFi device (Bluetooth not) but I cant connect with it.
Nothing !!!!
On PCI I see “Interupts disabled”….
Hi guys,
I just bought the U350 and I am waiting now for the delivery by amazon. What about the build in microphone. It is written in the wiki that it does not work. Is that true?
Thanks!
Hi Sebastian.
It is not true, I had a call with Skype and the mic is excellent !
It works perfectly.
Notebook has only 2 disadvantages in Linux :
). - cost 1,5 W
Backlight cant be dimmed - cost 2,2 W
fan is always on (start at 45 Degree and switch off on 39. System normally has 43 Degree
With Linux optimalization I have a consumption about 9,6 W (standard work with wifi and Bluetooth enabled, full backlight and enabled effects), about 12,5 W if you do something bigger.)
If the is a way, how to control back-light and fan, I can make a lasting from 4 Hours to 6 Hour !
Sorry, I had a mistake in firs comment :
- power consumption is 12 W normally, 9,6 W with backlight totally off. Heavy work consume about 15-16 W.
Hi Marian,
thanks for your response. I just got the notebook and I like it a lot. The noise of the fan is the only thing I don't like.
Best wishes,
Sebastian
Hi.
If I can help you with something, I will be very pleased.
I wish you all good in New Year.
Hi,
Maybe you can. Could you answer my question in post “Wednesday 28 of October, 2009 [07:40:25]”
Can you set the brightness through the power management or the panel applet or by any other means: key mapping or BIOS?
Sebastian, you are likely to have a sticker on your CPU. It increases the heat and fan noise. Follow my link on the same post. You will have to disassemble your notebook and remove it. Cheers.
Hi.
The is no way, how to set up the brightness of the display. Linux always answer “no device” for display backlight. I think, it is a problem with ACPI (BIOS), becuase bios was optimized for W7 and is a new one (doesn't identificate itself as thinkpad_acpi).
I can't get work any of the laptop acpi in kernel. Because of that, we are not able to change the backlight.
We must wait for new bios or kernel ???
If you find some way, how to set backlight or fan (withou disassable my lenovo), I will be very happy.
Marian, I don't purchase the laptop yet because of the brightness issue. Can you try something and get back to me. As workaround for the brightness, can you boot and enter the BIOS menu (probably Alt+F2) before to log-in. From there you should be able to set the brightness using the FN keys. The setting should be permanent from one boot to another. It's not perfect but still better than nothing. Let me know.
Regarding the fan, if you have read the thread, there is problem in the assembly line. They put a sticker on the cpu, a dumb as it is. You need to open the notebook to fix it, it's a matter of a few screws.
Hi.
Thanks for your idea. It worked! It's enought going to bios or bootmenu and with FN+UP/DOWN you can change the backlight. And this setting is permanent. Great! Only my Linux should also do this
About the fan/heat - I now, that it's only about 12 screws, but my 2 years guaranty …. I'm pretty sure, that Lenovo will see changes on PCU heatpipe.
But, I will open my notebook and see, what's the matter.
Once more thanks
You are welcome
Hi.
First suggestion : How about enable ambient light sensor? With it, the laptop can control back-light dynamically.
And my experience - heat / fan :
I have disassembled my U350. It wasn't so easy as I tough, but I succeed. Heat-pipe was ended with thermal compound (really small amount) and it´s shape didn´t fit into the fan.
I added new thermal compound (after removing the old one) and corrected the pipe shape, to fit into the fan.
I have now about 3 Degree less. It´s not much, but it helped in 2 ways :
1. I have normally only 42-43 Degree and my fan doesn´t start
2. After 45 Degree the fan starts cooling and it STOP ! (It took the heat under 40 !)
Nice day to everyone
Bad news boys. The 3 degree lower temp was caused by disabled WiFi.
If you have one of the new models (my November 2009), there is no advantage, if you disassamble your laptop. You only loose warranty as I.
you 've probably broken something in the process. Lower temp and Wifi are not related.
Do you take a photo (before/after)? Can you upload it on a file server and past the link on the thread?
So, there was not sticker on your cpu? That's good news. What's your location.
Maybe you are right, no WiFi connection couse less interruptions.
I have no foto (I had forgotten make some). The was sticker nowhere. I was suprissed. Pipe just doesn´t fit into the fan (there was a free space between them).
I´m from Slovakia (Middle Europe). I don´t know, where was this notebook bought (I have it from IT Stock - Ed´Systems).
The last resort regarding the FN key is to open a bug report on Launchpad.net. Be ready to provide some debugging information.
That's the only change to see some evolution (maybe) with this model.
Everything is working.
((
Only its impossible to change the backlight or edit the fan speed. thinkpad-acpi.ko is not loaded. (Fedora, Kubuntu, Sabayon)
Hi.
I bought this computer in the highest version (SU7300).
Network is not working aout of the box. You will need a broadcom drivers (compilation in 20s, easy).
Backlight switch is not working, also Bluetooth. Synaptic doesnt enable multitouch use of touchpad.
I will post, if I find something.
@ Ramon
Thanks for the feedback. Can you set the brightness through the power management preference (System) or using the BIOS setting and FN keys (the workaround works with the let's note panasonic) before to launch Ubuntu?
Regarding the FN keys, post if you find a fix.
For the fan, you might take a look there http://www.notebookforums.com/post3074321.html
Forgot to mention that Suspend worked without any problem, but after Hibernate Kubuntu 9.10 did a normal boot instead of resume
On my U350 with Kubuntu 9.10 FN Keys + Brightness doesn't work but Fn + Volume does work out of the box. The fan is a bit loud. Wireless works with STA driver installed by “Hardware Drivers” of Kubuntu.
What about the ACPI (9.04/9.10): Do FN Keys + Brightness / + Volume work or not?
Tg3 driver included in ubuntu is useless, even with broadcom module first.
The solution is to download broadcom 57088 driver from broadcom, build from source and load. Works flawless.