Installing Debian 6.0 (squeeze) on a ThinkPad X220
(Please note: One user reported that the Debian 6.0 (Squeeze) installer did not include a driver for the Ethernet card in the X220. It is possible that this is due to hardware differences between models. Please check that your hardware is supported. As described below, the 4291 model works.)
Contents
Introduction
Background: I found that my X220 (4271) often froze when using LibreOffice on Ubuntu Natty, so I decided to try a more stable distro. So far I haven't experienced any lockups. The GUI is not quite as pretty, but I prefer stability over eye candy. I'd highly recommend Debian Squeeze.
Debian Squeeze can be installed without problems on the ThinkPad X220 (4291 model) using the 6.0.3 DVD.
However, wireless does not work out of the box. Also, in order to get the GPU to work properly, it is necessary to install newer X and kernel packages from Backports.
Wireless
Install the iwlagn kernel module as described in the Debian wiki (instructions are pasted below):
Add a "non-free" component to /etc/apt/sources.list, for example:
# Debian Squeeze/6.0 deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian squeeze main contrib non-free
Update the list of available packages and install the firmware-iwlwifi and wireless-tools packages:
# aptitude update # aptitude install firmware-iwlwifi wireless-tools
The necessary kernel module should be automatically loaded. If necessary, it can be manually loaded via:
# modprobe iwlagn
Verify your device has an available interface:
# iwconfig
Raise the interface to activate the radio, for example:
# ifconfig wlan0 up
Additionally, I had to pass the parameter 11n_disable=0 to the iwlagn module. Either do this:
sudo modprobe -r iwlagn sudo modprobe iwlagn 11n_disable=0
...or create the file /etc/modprobe.d/intel-5300-iwlagn-disable11n.conf with the following content:
options iwlagn 11n_disable=0
Then reload the wireless driver:
sudo modprobe -r iwlagn sudo modprobe iwlagn
It might be necessary to repeat the last step a couple of times.
Newer kernel
Add the following line to /etc/apt/sources.list (or add a new file containing the line in /etc/apt/sources.list/d/):
deb http://backports.debian.org/debian-backports squeeze-backports main
Run apt-get update.
Install the new kernel image:
apt-get -t squeeze-backports install linux-image-2.6-amd64
Reboot.
Graphics
It is necessary to install a newer version of X from Backports. Please refer to this page for instructions.
