Mandrake Laptops: IBM

This file contains a list of laptops on which Mandrake Linux has been successfully installed on. All entries have been contributed by Mandrake users.

Ratings ('Marks') range from 1, worst, to 4, best:

  1. Barely working,
  2. Partially working,
  3. Mostly working and
  4. Perfectly working.

IBM

* section index * top

IBM

Model
Rel.
Comments / URL
Mark
Thinkpad 360e
8.0
Worked without issues.
4
Thinkpad 365cd
7.2
This laptop has been running Linux for over 3 years now.
4
Thinkpad 365x
SNF
Having problems getting my standard 3COM com1 modem to automatically detect and dial... been totally unsuccessful so far.  Other than that, installs great with pcmcia cdrom via pcmcia install image.  This would be a great system if my modem would dial out and actually let me use my firewall.
2
Thinkpad 380d
8.0
Had trouble installing 7.2 and 7.0  ML. Have no sound but am still working on that.
3
Thinkpad 380ed
8.0
Things seem to be working very well.
4
same
7.0
This was the easiest operating system I've ever had to configure on this laptop.  Even Win2k didn't load all the drivers.  The only one I had to load manually for Mandrake was the sound, and its a SB16 compatible device!  As soon as I try Mandrake 8.0+ on it I'll come back!
4
same
8.0
So far so good but having trouble with the mouse not always working and more often than not, failing if I use external PS2 mouse.
3
same
7.2
none
4
Thinkpad 380xd
8.0
Very pleased. Just remember to use the kernel update rpm because the stock kernel that comes with 8.0 renders the trackpoint unusable.
3
same
7.0
Sourceforge was very useful. Still a lot of drivers missing. Netscape just wouldn't work.
3
same
5.1 - 7.2
Impossible to install 8.0
3
same
7.2, 8.0
Works 99% on this laptop equipped with pcmcia 5mb ethernet 3com# 3c589D-TP. The Cirrus audio chip#CS4237B is the only thing that does not work.
3
same
8.0
Installation never fully completed, stalled at making last procedure(auto-install disk).
Had to power down and reboot. All worked well except my pointer under 2.4 kernel.
3
Thinkpad 380z
8.0
Using kernel 2.2.19 as well as 2.4 in Man 8.0 will not accept the thinkpad mouse. (TrackPoint.)
4
same
8.1b
96MB RAM; install without any problems but no sound so far.
4
same
8.1
Works fine. Sound OK with new Alsa drivers I still have to test the modem
4
same
8.0
Random freezes during install - No mouse or Trackball.
1
Thinkpad 390
8.1b
none
3
Thinkpad 390e
7.2, 8.0
none
4
same
7.2, 8.0, 8.1
Works perfectly, modem can be configured using gpl ltmodem tar. 8.0 had problems with tokenring out of the box. Fixed in 8.1.
4
same
8.1
Install went well, only ethernet nics are hard to install.
3
Thinkpad 390i
7.2
Need more pcmcia hardware support, particularly WiFi.
3
Thinkpad 390x
8.0
Worked like a charm, except I still haven't configured sound.
3
same
8.0
I understand the problem with the WINmodem, but I wish that would work. The SCSI and network card work great!  The sound works.  It eats up battery power, but so does windows :-)  Mandrake rocks!
4
Thinkpad 560
7.0, 7.1, 8.0fr
Freq works fine. With 8.0, the mouse does not work properly.
You ALWAYS have to compile your kernel to let apm work properly. See www.mobilix.org and the relevant pages concerning the TP560.
Draknet does not recognize my PCMCIA ethernet card (you have to configure the Ethernet connection by hand). Everything else works fine.
4
same
8.1b
The IBM Thinkpad 560 is a slow computer. With only a 133 mhz or 166 mhz cpu and the ability to run 80 mb of RAM (with a bios flash upgrade) it's pretty much a dog. Mandrake 8.1 installs perfecty there are no mouse pointer problems like there were in 8.0.
To get X working you need to choose Xfree86 3.3.6 (I never tried 4.01) in XFdrake, or during setup choose these defaults: Graphic Card = Trident Cyber 9382, Resolution = 800x600 at 16 bits, and Monitor = IBM 2248 14 in.
The sound card is a plain Sound Blaster if you do sndconfig as root you should only get 3 setup options just play with them until it works. That's it! I gave this Laptop a 4 because everythign does work. But, you need to mess with sndconfig and XFdrake to get it working.
4
same
8.1
Tried 8.0 but would not ftp install with 24 MB ram.. Had to buy 64 MB (total 72 MB) and by then 8.1 was out. Installed via FTP over DSL.. worked fine. Runs very slowly (much slower than RH6.2) despite many processes disabled. Sound not working yet. Video not working with XF4.1.0 (3.3.6 works, but installer still got it wrong so manual edit of config).
3
same
8.1b
Install was smooth over network.  I'm not used to the new ttySx setup.  I couldn't figure out how to get my Palm Pilot hooked up.  Unlike 7.2 and 8.0, sound doesn't seem to work with new kernel.  Other than the above problems, it runs fine.
3
Thinkpad 570
8.0, 8.1b
none
4
same
8.0
Had to switch back to my old kernel (trackpoint issue). XFree 4.0 crashes every now &
I need to reboot. -> Use 3.3.6. Sound doesn't work after suspend (worked in LM 7.2). When will Mandrake start to use the PCMCIA tools, e.g. for networking in different environments?
2
same
8.0
The mouse only works with 2.2 kernel.
3
Thinkpad 570e
8.0
Vanilla 8.0 doesn't work with the 570E's trackpoint.  Kernel 2.4.7 fixes this problem, but breaks VMware.  Working versions of the VMware modules can be found at:
ftp://platan.vc.cvut.cz/pub/vmware/

Thinkpad 600
8.0
CPU (p2-300) is detected incorrectly as p2-75.  bogomips: 184.72
kernel 2.4.8-12
2
same
8.1b
Recognized everything at setup except modem and sound card.  Seems to have a slight Video Driver Problem
1
same
8.0
 Had to boot from alternative boot disk.
4
same
8.0
Mouse & sound not detected. Mouse problem resolved by switching to a USB mouse.
3Com 10/100 pcmcia card working fine.
3
same
8.1
 Easy install, stable, recognized track point, assigned wrong sound (correct is cs4232), haven't tested modem.
3
same
8.1
Installed OK, must run sndconfig to get sound working (Crystal Audio CS4232 - get IRQ and DMA settings from windows first if you can). After this, a frownie face appears on bootup but system still works.  Sound is flakey, doesn't always work right and has an annoying "pop" sound every time it plays something. Must disable a service loaded on boot called "internet" as it freezes the computer. Can't run TuxRacer ;-}
3
Thinkpad 600e
7.1, 7.2, 8.0
8.0 sux, the trackpoint deal...

3
same
7.2, 8.0
7.2 worked without sound.
8.0 install didn't even recognize the trackpoint pointing device (7.2 did without any problem) seems like a step backward - I threw 8.0 away.  Also, even with 7.2, a minor annoyance was that every time I shutdown on the road without the removable diskette drive, it would hang.  After powering off, the next boot would involve the lengthy check process.  Sigh.
2-3
same
7.2
I tried 8.0, but it wouldn't recognize the mouse. Everything else is running perfectly.
4
same
7.2, 8.1
Just wish that the internal modem would work.
3
same
7.2
Runs great, I had to do some little adjustments but nothing too complicated to get everything working (Modem). I use several pcmcia cards and everything works smoothly. ;)
4
same
8.0
Unable to use PS2 mouse,got a  Microsoft Intellimouse (USB) to work. Sound seems to work. I'm still learning as I'm a newbie to linux. I'm having a great time. I have a DVD for this laptop and I hope to get it working next.
3
same
7.0 - 8.0
Mandrake 8.0 Broke mouse and X (linked) support, so had to download generic+kernel source and compile myself.
3
same
8.0
Requires changes for non-standard PS2 mouse & Token Ring PCMCIA card.
3
same
8.0
I can't get the Thinkpad TrackPoint to work.
3
same
8.0
Mouse dead... tried multiple strategies to resurrect... so far not good
1
same
7.1
8.0 would not work. The thinkpad pointer (mouse) would not function with any driver.
2
same
8.1b
This release worked well. The only problem I had was with some of the standard header files and object files. They didn't get installed by default or I just missed them.
3
Thinkpad 600X
8.0
none
1
same
7.2, 8.0
Nipple doesn't work at all in 8; it worked on 7. Random system freezes in 8; have no idea what's up with that. The sound works out of the box. That's never happened before, thanks.
On the laptop (but not on the desktop), Enlightenment won't run some of my apps (eg visual age java) on the laptop, so I'm limping along using sawfish with one hotkey command--make a terminal.
2
same
7.2, 8.0, 8.1b
7.2 on first boot after install will crash unless I do NOT tell it exact amount of RAM until after first boot.
8.0 does not recognize mouse, so must use USB mouse until after install and kernel recompile. Very unstable in KDE, crashes at least once per day.
8.1 Install program has trouble with configuring X, and configuring networking. It requires the choice of network module, but no pcmcia modules are available. X constantly gives error that adapter does not support that resolution/bit depth (it does, 1024x768x16). After first boot, can fix networking and once got X to work, but more unstable than 8.0 was.
3,2,1
same
8.0
No mouse, modem.
3
Thinkpad 760ED
6.5
Works well minus sound and built in modem. DSP card.
3
same
8.1b
Works well enough considering it's a P-133.  Sound doesn't work yet (alsa?).  Modem is apparently supported by IBM now (mwave?).  Go Mandrake!
3
same
8.1
IrDA doesn't work. GlidePoint runs und Gnome, when I change to X11 and back, the X server hangs.
Monitor must set to "custom" 31.5-48.0 50-70.
2
Thinkpad 760EL
7.1
Thinkpad 760 EL, Pentium 120 40 MB RAM, 1.4 Gig Hard drive. Using Netgear FA410 PCMCIA Network card, 3com 3c509 (If I remember correctly, haven't used that card in a while), Motorola 33.6 PCMCIA. Docking station has a MDE 12x SCSI CD ROM.
4
same
7.2, 8.0
Trackpoint does not work as well on 8.0 as it did in 7.2.
3
Thinkpad 760ELD
8.0
Using ReiserFS and XF86 3
4
Thinkpad 770
8.0
Trackpoint doesn't work. PS/2 Mouse support flaky.
2
same
8.1b
No sound.
3
same
8.1
sound does not work
1
same
7.2
Wanted to upgrade to 8.0, but read about bugs re: the mouse button, so left 7.2. 
4
Thinkpad A20m
7.2snf
none
3
same
8.0f2
Works great.  Dual boot with Win98, but I rarely boot the Windows partition.
4
same
8.1
none
4
Thinkpad A20p
7.2
Please fix XFree86 so it will work at 1400x1050 without tweaking!
4
same
8.0
8.0 standard kernel buggers trackpoint. Kernel 2.4.9 works. Configure kernel for real-mode APM BIOS restart or you will hang.
3
same
8.0
Broken kernel in 8.0 release required a kernel update, otherwise this distro works very fine. Reports indicate most Thinkpads are very happy with 8.0 though difficulties remain with APM/Suspend/Hibernation.
3
Thinkpad A21
7.2, 8.0
Both versions installed perfectly out of the box.
4
Thinkpad A21e
7.2
The 'mouse-nub' dies when logging out/logging back in. Other than that,
nearly everything works.
3
same
8.1b
Sound & USB Mouse do not work right out of the box.
Everything else works great.
3
same
8.1
Default sound driver is very buggy, Alsa works great. Internal mouse works, special keys (volume) work as well. Better than 8.0 (mouse).
3
same
8.0
Some problems with the install, I'm using a USB mouse and it had conflicts with the sound drivers on a default install.  Reinstall of Alsa and some config changes from a Red Hat IBM Laptop site set me straight though.  Setting up Verizon DSL to work with Mandrake was a snap with Roaring Penguin.
4
same
7.2
OSS needed for sound, but the audio control buttons work without further config.
No support for internal 3Com miniPCI NIC/modem (have comprehensively researched, and have to use PCMCIA cards). Wireless via Lucent WaveLAN card works great.
APM works great, sleep on a full charge lasts maybe 5 hours maximum though.
3
same
8.0
Very buggy sound, no internal mouse support (works fine with Redhat 7.1), external mouse only works if USB (external PS2 mice do not work). But, the special volume keys work well (do not work on Redhat 7.1).
2
Thinkpad A21m
8.0
Well, I only have one drawback: No PS/2 mouse support for the trackpoint in IBM machines.Thus I'm using an external mouse.
3
same
8.0
none
4
same
8.0
none
3
Thinkpad A22p
8.0
I have most everything working but i can not get DRI to run. I would love
to have OpenGL support with DRI so I can try out Tuxracer and many other 3d games.
3
same
8.1
Astonishing install on top of win2k. Everything works (mouse, sound, Accelerated X 4.1, PCMCIA, multiboot, KDE desktop, cups printing). Only thing that doesn't seem to work out of the box is X doesn;t come back after a suspend cycle - probably have to build a custom kernel like I did last time.  The best install I've ever seen (Tried RH, Debian, previous Mandrake (7,8), Corel, Slackware, etc)
4
Thinkpad e-series
8.0
none
4
Thinkpad i240
8.1
Works great, only configuring it to be more energy efficient is a bitch!
4
Thinkpad i1161
8.0
Do not boot directly into X, log in on the console and then run 'startx' manually.
4
Thinkpad i1200
8.0
KDM doesn't work. Replaced it with XDM.
3
same
8.1
Hangs on usb detection, bypass install with noauto, disable kudzu and usb.
1
Thinkpad i1210
8.0
Problems with sound card and connecting to my school's LAN with DHCP. X works great.
3
Thinkpad i1260
8.0
Did not experience CD-Rom boot problems which others have had difficulty
with when installing MDK onto Thinkpads.
Had some difficulty configuring X and getting new changes to 'stick', ended up needing to use 'XFdrake --expert --noauto' to get X v3.3.6 to work - still have to boot in nonfb mode and set BIOS boot display device to 'both' to get X to work.
Otherwise everything works well and looks great.
3
Thinkpad i1400
8.0
 Everything works, although I had to get the linmodem drivers from another site. All in all a simple install, except that I use a wireless card and the wireless tools are not on the first CD.
4
same
7.2
works great except I can't get the sound to go any higher than a whisper.
3
same
8.0
Installed fine. Didn't like the linksys etherfast 10/100 PC card. Wouldn't do DHCP until I popped the card out of the slot and (I guess) forced the hardware to rescan?? and then it was fine.
3
same
8.0
The sound card (ESS-Solo1) is not working. Don't know how to fix this. This card worked fine with Red Hat 7.1. Otherwise, OK.
3
same
8.0
Brilliant install, everything mostly working. Minor problems with trackpoint and modem - modem fixed (lucent), still working on pointer.
3
same
8.1
Everything working except sound (none) and LinkSys 10/100 pcmcia ... swapped out to a NetGear 10/100 and that is working -- almost have SAMBA running.
3
Thinkpad i1410
7.2
Some trouble initially with X install and operation, but reinstall fixed it.
4
Thinkpad i1451
7.2, 8.0
Upgrades didn't work very well.  Everything would go fine to the point of X configuration.  From that point I'd be left with an X configuration which would hang my machine, even after manually tweaking resolution, chipset, etc. via XFDrake.  Finally solved the problem by doing a clean install -- seems like I always end up there w. Linux...
3
Thinkpad i1472
8.0
Looks great,everything works perfect but no sound.
3
Thinkpad i1480
8.0, 8.1
Works great.  Now, to check and see if IBM released open-source code for the WinModem problem. QuickLaunch buttons, and I'm set .
3,4
Thinkpad i1720
7.x, 8.0
Problem with 3COM NIC/modem adapter in all - finally got USB ZIP working under 8.0.
3
Thinkpad i2621(?)
7.2,8.0
Great Installation, and both versions worked great.  Just had to make sure to load the alsa sound drivers for sound to work right.
4
Thinkpad T20
8.0fr3
It works awesome, track point and all. 4
same
7.2
My (Mandrake) GNU/Linux on an IBM Thinkpad T20 page:
http://mr.uue.org/gnulinux/t20/
3
same
8.0fr3
kernel source on CD broken so I installed the latest kernel from cooker to get VMWare running
3
same
8.0
none
4
same
8.0f2
cannot get Dvorak layout/other keyboards to work. right side is gibberish
under mandrake...so far
2
same
7.2, 8.0
 Default install of 8.0 fails because of broken mouse support.  Installed with kernel 2.4.2 and then rebuilt kernel.
4
same
8.1b
Had some installation problems. Still have a problem of swapping DVD/floppy
3
same
8.1b
1. keyboard sometimes freeze in x mode
2. screen sometimes gets misaligned and splits in 2 vertical sides when in getting back from sleep/standby mode..
3. winmodems are most bad ass monkies...
3
same
8.0f3
Mandrake 7.2 was flawless.  8.0 could not identify my mouse, of course. Installation also trashed my Linux partition.  Freq 3 installed flawlessly and works fine.
3
same
8.1
Wouldn't recognize my trackpoint mouse or a P/S2 mouse, had plenty of problems with sleep/standby freezing. 8.1=> All previous problems went away...now I can't access my CD/DVD or floppy. Not sure about the video or audio. I haven't tested.
3
same
8.0
Works great except: modem (haven't tried yet), floppy i/o errors.
2
Thinkpad T21
8.0
no immediate support for modem (need kernel upgrade + specific driver
module)
3
same
7.2
(1) needed XFree 4.0.3 to get video to work
(2)  needed latest ALSA to get audio to work
(3)  internal Ethernet install from Mandrake distribution
(4)  needed to download driver for internal winmodem (but available)
4
same
7.2, 8.1b
Could not use 8.0 release as it would not work with my TrackPoint and
Mandrake never responded to cries of help.
7.2, 8.0beta, and 8.1beta all work fantastic for all including the winmodem.
4
same
8.1
Works almost perfectly. Sound, video, and other hardware recognized properly except the Lucent WinModem (which should work with drivers from linmodems.org).
3
same
8.0
I'm a newbie. The install program will not recognize the track point "mouse" and I don't know how to fix that.
1
same
8.1b
OK
2
Thinkpad T22
8.0
Download the ltmodem-kv_2.4.3_20mdk-5.99b-1.i586.rpm to make your modem work. Haven't got the Trackpoint to work yet, but have seen some tools which should do it.
3
same
8.1
Gnome does not work.
3
same
8.1
Everything worked flawlessly (Video, Audio, Ethernet). The provided dhcpcd doesn't seem to support token ring adapters. All in all a very good experience
4
Thinkpad T23
8.1
I got my T23 up and running quickly under M8.  I don't have the audio working, but I haven't investigated this problem yet.  I also have not been able to use the hibernate feature.
3
Thinkpad X20
8.0
Works great!
4

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