Toshiba Tecra A8
Contents
Reference Information
For this wiki, I also used information from the Gentoo wiki (page no longer exists).
General Information
This wiki will present how to install Arch Linux on a Toshiba Tecra A8.
Important information
A BIOS update is mandatory so that Arch Linux can boot. Otherwise, the supplied BIOS gives a lot of APIC errors. The BIOS updating procedure can be done by using the software supplied by Toshiba at bios update. Note that this requires that you run the program on windows.
Technical Specifications
Processor: Intel Core Duo 1.83 GHz T2400 Memory: 512 MB HDD: 80 GB FUJITSU MHV2080B DVD+/-RW : Matsushita DVD-RAM UJ-841S Video Card: Intel 945GM Display: 1280x800 @ 60Hz Audio: Intel ICH7
lspci (on model PTA83E)
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03) 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03) 00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03) 00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02) 00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02) 00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 02) 00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02) 00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02) 00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02) 00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02) 00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02) 00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2) 00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02) 00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA IDE Controller (rev 02) 01:00.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82573L Gigabit Ethernet Controller 02:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection (rev 02) 03:0b.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCIxx12 Cardbus Controller 03:0b.1 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Texas Instruments PCIxx12 OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller 03:0b.3 SD Host controller: Texas Instruments PCIxx12 SDA Standard Compliant SD Host Controller
Installation
I had everything prepartitioned from a previous linux install and as such I cannont give any insight on this matter. The installs is flawless, using the Don't panic install cd.
State of the drivers
What works
Gigabit ethernet controller: out of the box USB controller and ports: out of the box Touchpad: requires tweaking for enabling scrolling Intel 3945abg wireless: out of the box using iwlwifi CPU stepping : out of the box Cooler stepping: out of the box Display at 1280x800: out of the box
What needs special hacks for getting to work
Audio system
The integrated sound card works out of the box, but the integrated speakers don't. To enable the integrated speakers do:
echo options snd_hda_intel model=basic >> /etc/modprobe.d/modprobe.conf
Synaptics Touchpad
It works out of the box but without scrollzone.
To enable scrollzone use the ideas specified in touchpad / section ALPS
Section "InputDevice" Identifier "Touchpad" Driver "synaptics" Option "Device" "/dev/input/mouse0" Option "Protocol" "auto-dev" Option "LeftEdge" "130" Option "RightEdge" "840" Option "TopEdge" "130" Option "BottomEdge" "640" Option "FingerLow" "7" Option "FingerHigh" "8" Option "MaxTapTime" "180" Option "MaxTapMove" "110" Option "EmulateMidButtonTime" "75" Option "VertScrollDelta" "20" Option "HorizScrollDelta" "20" Option "MinSpeed" "0.25" Option "MaxSpeed" "0.50" Option "AccelFactor" "0.010" Option "EdgeMotionMinSpeed" "200" Option "EdgeMotionMaxSpeed" "200" Option "UpDownScrolling" "1" Option "SHMConfig" "on" Option "Emulate3Buttons" "on" EndSection
Do not enable circular scrolling as it will freaze the pointer in the center of the screen.