TuxMobil: Linux on the IBM ThinkPad A22m Laptop

Installation

On the ThinkPad A22m [IBM 2628 - X1G (TA2X1GE)]*) I have installed Debian 2.2 (Woody) from CD, which worked fine. Using kernel 2.4.7 nearly everthing works fine. Also I have got a success report from <strobi_at_f2s.com> for Mandrake 7.2 expert install via FTP.

*) Note: This model number is important, because there seem to be different models on the market, which behave different with Linux (e.g. they feature different modems).

Partitioning

I have used Partition Magic from PowerQuest to resize the existing partitions. There were two already installed. Drive C: (/dev/hda1) for MS-Windows98SE and a recovery partition (/dev/hda2). Note: I recommend to press F11 during boot time and create a recovery floppy first. Maybe it's also possible to boot the recovery partition, when configured as an entry in your boot loader configuration, but I didn't have time to check that. But I could check it on an IBM A22e and it worked.

MS-Windows98SE Recovery

The pre-installed MS-Windows98SE didn't work well (e.g. the correct driver for the graphics chip wasn't installed). So after installing Debian/GNU Linux , I have tried to recover MS-Windows98SE from the recovery partition. Though the warning about formatting the whole hard disk, the recovery process only formatted drive C: (/dev/hda1) and left the existing Linux installation intact. Though I had to boot from the Debian/GNU Linux CD again and had to start lilo again.

X-Windows

<strobi_at_f2s.com> wrote: "XFree86 has no trouble going into 1024*768, nice refresh rate by default! Only too much switching between X and console did mess up my Xserver."

PCMCIA

Tested with PCMCIA-CS-3.1.28 package.

Sound

ALSA 0.9.0-beta7 works fine with snd-card-cs46xx module. Also the kernel sound module cs46xx works.

IrDA

I had only time for a quick check. Enable IrDA in the BIOS. SIR works on /dev/ttyS1. irdadump detects my HP Laserjet 2100.

FIR module nsc-ircc doesn't load correctly. Please read docs for special settings in /etc/modules.conf.

Network Card

The network slot at the backside seems not to be connected to a network controller. So the existence of the slot might be misleading.

Internal Modem

The modem is a Lucent WinModem. minicom works with ltmodem driver, but PPP doesn't seem to work.

tpctl

The ThinkPad configuration tool tpctl by Thomas Hood works fine. I didn't use the Debian package, but compiled from the source.

apm

Instead of the apm command, I have used tpctl. I have checked "STANDBY", "SUSPEND" and "HIBERNATION". All works well.

lspci

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 440BX/ZX - 82443BX/ZX Host bridge (rev 03)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 440BX/ZX - 82443BX/ZX AGP bridge (rev 03)
00:02.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCI1450 (rev 03)
00:02.1 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCI1450 (rev 03)
00:03.0 Communication controller: Lucent Microelectronics WinModem 56k (rev 01)
00:05.0 Multimedia audio controller: Cirrus Logic CS 4614/22/24 [CrystalClear SoundFusion ...] 
00:07.0 Bridge: Intel Corporation 82371AB PIIX4 ISA (rev 02)
00:07.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82371AB PIIX4 IDE (rev 01)
00:07.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82371AB PIIX4 USB (rev 01)
00:07.3 Bridge: Intel Corporation 82371AB PIIX4 ACPI (rev 03)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc 3D Rage P/M Mobility AGP 2x (rev 64)

vim

A recommendation for the vimrc file.

" maps the F1 key to Esc to disable going into Help. 
" On some IBM ThinkPad laptops, the ESC key is above F1
" you may keep hitting F1 and going into help!
imap <f1> <ESC>

Other Resources

Doug Alcorn has also set up a page about the Thinkpad A22 .

Hard Disk

To improve the settings of the hard disk or check an IBM hard disk you may try the IBM Hard Disk Utils . Parts work even with non IBM hard disks.

TuxMobil - Mobile Linux

Please feel free to mail me if you have recommendations or criticism. I'm very receptive to additions, suggestions and changes from the readers of this document. Please note: If you don't object I will include your name and e-mail address in the credits section above.

Werner Heuser <wehe_at_tuxmobil.org>

Credits

<strobi_at_f2s.com>
Doug Alcorn <lathi_at_seapine.com>