Installing Ubuntu 6.06 on a ThinkPad R60

Overview

This is based on an dualboot win/linux installation with the Ubuntu 6.06 CD, on a R60 with Core Duo T2400, 512MB, 80GB, 15", SXGA+, ATI X1400 128MB, DVD±R.

Stuff that works out of the box: USB, CD/DVD-burner, Network card, Sound, UltraNav(mouses), Volume buttons

Stuff that needs tweaking: Fingerprint reader

Untested: WiFi, Bluetooth, Firewire, Modem

Partition and boot

Normally the machines come preinstalled with Windows XP. Also note that there is a somewhat hidden 5GB FAT32 partition that contains the recovery files used to reinstall Windows. If you only wants Linux, then all this can just be deleted. If you wants too keep Windows for dualboot, you have to decide if you want to keep the recovery partition.

If you want to keep windows, it's wise to make recovery CDs. You can both make a backup-cd/dvd, and make disks that contain what's on the recovery partition (these disks can only be made once). Start Windows, and run the ThinkVantage-programs for this.

Then boot with the Ubuntu-CD, start the installer and follow the simple guide until you reach the partition-question. If you want to keep Windows, select the option to do it manually. Now you will see the two Lenovo-created partitions. Resize the big partition with Windows on to the size you want. Then make a new partition for Ubuntu and a small swap partition. Complete the installer, and reboot into Windows. Chkdsk will start to scan C:\. It will probably correct some stuff, but hopefully Windows will start nicely afterwards.

Ubuntu will install the GRUB bootloader. At startup this will give you the choice of Linux and Windows, unless you got rid of the latter. It will also display a line with "Windows NT/2000/XP" that is the service partition, which you probably want to remove. (I did not try to boot from it, do no idea if it works.) Find a GRUB-howto and edit /boot/grub/menu.lst to remove it from the list.