Thinkpads Forum

I have T61 with 8 GB of RAM.

What is the most stable Linux distro for T61 when used with docking station and 2 external monitors? So far I tried Live versions of latest 32-bit Ubuntu and Fedora from USB flash drive. They both suffer from GUI hanging. I can use "Ctrl-F2" and issue "shutdown" command, so the system is not completely frozen. I also installed 32-bit Fedora on hard drive, downloaded all updates and still had the same issue.

I suspect the fact that I want to use laptop with dock and/or 2 external monitors is relevant to hangs. Before I removed laptop from the dock I wasn't even able to install Fedora to hard drive - setup would hang in the beginning.

I think you would be better served by a 64-bit version of whatever distro you like. And make sure you have the right graphics driver installed. BTW, the graphics drivers are not usually included on the live CD. Mandriva used to include nVIDIA and ATI drivers, but what is that distro called now?...Magia?....or something like that.

With those two issues covered, choosing a distro is just a matter of taste.

Neil wrote:I think you would be better served by a 64-bit version of whatever distro you like. And make sure you have the right graphics driver installed. BTW, the graphics drivers are not usually included on the live CD. Mandriva used to include nVIDIA and ATI drivers, but what is that distro called now?...Magia?....or something like that.

With those two issues covered, choosing a distro is just a matter of taste.

How can I tell what driver I am using? I am not booted into Linux now, so can't check, but I recall only option to switch resolution option was available, not even bit depth.

It turns out these are known problems with no fix except using KDE version of Fedora instead of Gnome:

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=699922

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=701244

Can't speak to dual external monitors specifically connect to the dock specifically (as I am now down to a single 24 inch HP 1920x1200 and gave the remaining 20.1 inch 1600x1200 to my wife after it's twin died sad to say), but I have had good luck with Ubuntu 11.10 64 bit, a Thinkpad Mini Dock plus series 3 for mobile workstations and both a T410, T420 and my work W520 using one of the two display ports on the dock. I have my Thinkpad configured to disable the internal display when on AC and the lid is closed, and I typically only use the external monitor when in the dock.

However, both of my laptops have had Intel integrated graphics and, from the links, you have an nVidia card in yours. Since the bug reports are for the nouveau open source driver, have you tried to install the nVidia closed source driver in Ubuntu?

The nVidia closed source driver worked fine for me on the desktop in my sig, it has an nVidia Quadro NVS 285 low profile dual head pci express card in it and I used it for years with the dual displays mentioned above...

wolfman wrote:Can't speak to dual external monitors specifically connect to the dock specifically (as I am now down to a single 24 inch HP 1920x1200 and gave the remaining 20.1 inch 1600x1200 to my wife after it's twin died sad to say), but I have had good luck with Ubuntu 11.10 64 bit, a Thinkpad Mini Dock plus series 3 for mobile workstations and both a T410, T420 and my work W520 using one of the two display ports on the dock. I have my Thinkpad configured to disable the internal display when on AC and the lid is closed, and I typically only use the external monitor when in the dock.

However, both of my laptops have had Intel integrated graphics and, from the links, you have an nVidia card in yours. Since the bug reports are for the nouveau open source driver, have you tried to install the nVidia closed source driver in Ubuntu?

The nVidia closed source driver worked fine for me on the desktop in my sig, it has an nVidia Quadro NVS 285 low profile dual head pci express card in it and I used it for years with the dual displays mentioned above...

1) Yes, I have nVidia graphics
2) I konfirmed that KDE doesn't have this problem (installed latest Fedora x64 with KDE). However, TrueCrypt doesn't seem to work under KDE.
3) I tried installing nVidia driver but it requires Nouveau driver to be disabled. I wasted enough time trying to do this but didn't succeed. One can hate Microsoft all they want but Windows 7 x64 works on my T61 just fine out of the box.

JoeSchmoe007 wrote: 1) Yes, I have nVidia graphics
2) I konfirmed that KDE doesn't have this problem (installed latest Fedora x64 with KDE). However, TrueCrypt doesn't seem to work under KDE.
3) I tried installing nVidia driver but it requires Nouveau driver to be disabled. I wasted enough time trying to do this but didn't succeed. One can hate Microsoft all they want but Windows 7 x64 works on my T61 just fine out of the box.

<Troll>
So you mean the paid for OS with heaps of developers behind it works better than the free one put together by random people? Gosh, whodda thunit?
</Troll>

I would use ubuntu 64bit, and boot into unity 2d (or use something like Lubuntu, or Xubuntu) (click on the small icon next to your name, when you log in).
My x60s flies on ubuntu 12.04 32 bit, in unity 2d, and it's VERY stable

- Helio

I run Ubuntu 12.04 64 bit, it works perfectly as installed from the ISO, tick the box that says something about 3rd party or "non-free" sources and the Nvidia driver will be installed automatically.

If you really want to you can add fine tuned fan control with tpfanco and the jupiter applet for battery savings.

I see no reason for using 2d unity on a T61, it is really fast and trouble free with 3d unity ("Stock" unity).

Elchund

My problem was in Noveau display driver that is used by default by Ubuntu and Fedora live CD. Once I got it replaced with Nvidia driver the problem went away. Instructions on how to do this here: http://rpmfusion.org/Howto/nVidia

I am glad to that you got it sorted out.