Ubunto Linux on Toshiba Satellite L40-17O

Ubunto Linux on Toshiba Satellite L40-17O (Intel Celeron CPU 540, 1.86GHz).

I've put Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) on my Toshiba Satellite L40-17O. Everything I've tested so far works perfectly, apart from the wireless card, which doesn't work in Ubuntu, but does work with a module found on the net (see below)

Note: for me, linux-image-2.6.24-18-generic (and -17) don't work. linux-image-2.6.24-19 works again. See launchpad.

I live in the netherlands, but they don't seem to sell Laptops without windows there (well, they do, but are some 300 EUR more expensive than comparable models with windows). So, this labtop is bought in Bulgaria (Sofia, technopolis, 409 EUR, 2008/06/03). Below I describe in more detail my experiences.

Wireless card:
Initially isn't recognised by the default ubuntu kernel.
Using the rtl8187b-modified-dist.tar.gz, patched with 2.6.24.patch, all downloaded from www.datanorth.net/~cuervo/rtl8187b/, compiling it and following the instructions in the README.first file, the wireless card now somewhat works:
- using 64 bit WEP encryption and "network authentication: open": Works
- 128 bit WEP encryption does not work
- setting "network authentication: shared" (in the ubuntu wireless-authentication popup) freezes the PC.
- The reporting of the link quality, link strength and noise level doesn't work (all are said to be 0).
- After suspend the link comes up automatically (but it does take some time).
links: http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?t=23084, guaka.org, www.datanorth.net/~cuervo/rtl8187b/
Builtin Graphics card: Intel GM965/GL960
lspci reports it as "Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)"
Works, with compiz (System/Preferences/Appearance/Visual Effects: Extra). Also, google earth works (though does flicker when a popup/under is displayed, and clicking on pictures in the map usually doesn't show the image).
CD/DVD writer
works
USB ports
All seem to work OK
Sound/Audio
Works. With gnome-sound-recorder 2.22.0 I can record my voice (using external microphone, no micorophone in the laptop), and can play it back again over the headphones (if connected) or over the built-in loudspeakers.
PCMCIA Type II, CardBus
Untested.
ACPI: battery-state
At least the really nice Power Manager icon in the gnome-panel shows credible information, and nice graphs about battery voltage, power usage, etc. Battery lasts around 1 hour and 40 minutes.
ACPI: temperature /proc/acpi/thermal_zone/THRM/temperature tells the (CPU?) temperature (usually around 55-59C)
ACPI: CPU management.
Ubuntu tells me: not supported for this CPU.
Suspend
Works, and takes about 6 seconds to switch off, and 7 seconds back to the login prompt.
When I first installed ubuntu, virtual console 1 was shown after suspend (need to press ALT-F7 to return to X), but haven't had that problem since.

Hibernate
Works.

Shutdown & Reboot
This doesn't always fully work: the computer doesn't always switch off, but continues to show the ubuntu shutdown-screen (with empty progress bar, indicating the computer can be switched off). Pressing the power switch for 5 sec does switch work.

Random bits of information

Here's the lspci output:

$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 03)
00:1a.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 03)
00:1a.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 03)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 03)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 03)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 03)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev f3)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801HEM (ICH8M) LPC Interface Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) IDE Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) SATA AHCI Controller (rev 03)
05:07.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)

Here's the lsusb output (that's where the wireless card is):

$ lsusb 
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 0000:0000  
Bus 006 Device 002: ID 0bda:8197 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. 
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 0000:0000  
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 0000:0000  
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 0000:0000  
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000  
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000  
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000

About Hibernate beeps: could the errors be these:

Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.667824] ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:00:1d.7[A] -> GSI 23 (level, low) -> IRQ 20
Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.667869] usb usb7: root hub lost power or was reset
Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.671750] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.7: debug port 1
Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.671871] ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:00:1f.1[A] -> GSI 18 (level, low) -> IRQ 18
Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.673342] ACPI Error (dsopcode-0481): Attempt to CreateField of length zero [20070126]
Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.673347] ACPI Error (psparse-0537): Method parse/execution failed [\_SB_.PCI0.IDE0.RATA] (Node f7c48c48), AE_AML_OPERAND_VALUE
Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.673398] ACPI Error (psparse-0537): Method parse/execution failed [\_SB_.PCI0.IDE0.CHN0.DRV1._GTF] (Node f7c489f0), AE_AML_OPERAND_VALUE
Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.673448] ata4.01: _GTF evaluation failed (AE 0x3006)
Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.674246] ACPI Error (dsopcode-0481): Attempt to CreateField of length zero [20070126]
Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.674250] ACPI Error (psparse-0537): Method parse/execution failed [\_SB_.PCI0.IDE0.RATA] (Node f7c48c48), AE_AML_OPERAND_VALUE
Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.674300] ACPI Error (psparse-0537): Method parse/execution failed [\_SB_.PCI0.IDE0.CHN1.DRV0._GTF] (Node f7c48a98), AE_AML_OPERAND_VALUE
Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.674350] ata5.00: _GTF evaluation failed (AE 0x3006)
Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.674368] ACPI Error (dsopcode-0481): Attempt to CreateField of length zero [20070126]
Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.674372] ACPI Error (psparse-0537): Method parse/execution failed [\_SB_.PCI0.IDE0.RATA] (Node f7c48c48), AE_AML_OPERAND_VALUE
Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.674421] ACPI Error (psparse-0537): Method parse/execution failed [\_SB_.PCI0.IDE0.CHN1.DRV1._GTF] (Node f7c48ae0), AE_AML_OPERAND_VALUE
Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.674470] ata5.01: _GTF evaluation failed (AE 0x3006)
Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.983271] ata2: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300)
Jun  7 08:34:04 abelo kernel: [   37.983282] ata3: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300)

Kernel compile speed: 2.6.25-rc2, with a 'oldconfig' modified /boot/config-2.6.24-18-generic takes:

real	65m12.295s
user	53m30.573s
sys	4m11.768s

I haven't tested everything yet; I'll try to add more info later. If you would like me to test something, please email me.

Written by Joost Witteveen, joostje at komputilo.org; copyright: GPL
Other pages: SFT-2000 satellite receiver and Dimage Z2 camera.