[TriLUG] Install - ThinkPad T20

[kevin at flanagannc.net]

I have a T21, very similar system.  If you have ram, say 256 or more, then
you can use just about any linux distro.  I have installed the following.

Suse 9.3
Knoppix install to hard disk
Red Hat Enterprise 3
Fedora Core 3



Based on that, I'd say that any of the newer versions of those distros
will be fine.



The power must be on for the eject button to work, but you can power up,
hit the button on the drive several times till it pops out, then put in
the CD and close the drive.  If it tried to boot while there was no CD in
the drive, it'll just fail, you can 3 finger salute it, and it'll boot.




Good luck,

   Kevin


> A few weeks ago I was asking about laptops and Linux.  I ended up trying
> to
> combine a low-dollar option with hardware that would most likely be
> compatible and I got an IBM ThinkPad T20 (P3/700MHz) on eBay.  I haven't
> tried powering it on yet but I don't think there is any operating system
> on
> it.
>
> So now I am deciding which Linux distro to use.  Any suggestions about
> what
> would be best for this machine or what I should avoid?  I have the
> Mandriva
> 10 install CDs on hand but I also have Roadrunner broadband and a CD
> burner
> on the desktop so I can get anything that's out there.  Mainly I want to
> get Apache, PHP and MySQL working on it.  It has a 12GB hard drive so
> space
> should be sufficient.
>
> Is it likely that some version of Linux will support most of the machine's
> features or would it be good to do a dual boot setup?
>
> Am I supposed to do this like a regular install?
>
> BTW, about laptops in general, how do these DVD drives work?  Can I just
> pull the DVD tray out manually while the power is off, put the install CD
> in, push it back in manually and then power on to start the install
> process?
>
> Any suggestions on where to get extra battery packs, besides eBay?
>
> Thanks,
> Matt
>
>
>
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