Linux on an IBM ThinkPad 390e

$Id: index.html,v 1.7 2003/05/11 22:51:12 nemesis Exp $

Well, there were a lot of other good web pages out there on how to get Linux up and running on a 390e, so I didn't write this web page until now. I'll put the quick-and-dirty specs in here, and then refer you to the other, much better, web pages that I used to get my thinkpad running.

What I have: Thinkpad 390 2626 EOU (PII 333MHz (256KB) 128MB RAM 4.3GB 14.1 XGA TFT 24X CDROM 56K(Int))

Get the latest firmware. SO many problems got fixed with the firmware upgrades, it's not even funny. Go to www.ibm.com and go through "download" and "thinkpad drivers" to select you laptop. The URL I ended up with was http://www.pc.ibm.com/qtechinfo/DSHY-46AKPY.html?lang=en_US&page=brand&brand=IBM+ThinkPad%7CThinkPad+390E%7C2626%7CE0U. Following the instructions, you'll get a bootable floppy disk which will update your BIOS.

Install RedHat. No tricks, no trouble. Select the LCD Panel 14.1", and the NeoMagic video drivers. That's it. UPDATE: you can use the internal modem now with Lucent driver. If you have any questions, here is someone that got it working.

Get sound working. You can get either the OSS Commercial drivers which you have to pay for ($30), or use the ALSA drivers, or use the latest (2.2.12) kernel drivers, which don't really work all that well. I'm partial to the ALSA drivers since I don't have to pay for them, and they work fine. A little tricky to install, but check Allin's page on setting up ALSA drivers. UPDATE: The free drivers in the kernel seem to work fine now.

Sorry this isn't very detailed, but others have already done it. I'd like to thank especially Allin Cottrell and Adam Spiers. A web page I discovered after I was done setting up my thinkpad was written by Craig Kulesa. It's quite nice.

Kees Cook.