---
layout: post
title: "Installing Ubuntu on Thinkpads"
description: ""
category: Development
tags: [Ubuntu, Debian, Thinkpad, Setup, Linux]
---
{% include JB/setup %}

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---
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Lenovo Thinkpads are well-suited for Linux. Although they work out-of-the-box, there are still many options that can be tuned.

# Do not remove Windows

If it is already removed, re-install it first. Then install system software from [Lenovo support](http://support.lenovo.com/de_DE/) or [IBM support](http://www-947.ibm.com/support/entry/portal/overview) (older Thinkpads), especially all firmware updates. Keep Windows installed, otherwise no firmware updates are possible or very difficult.

# Installing **Ubuntu** on a System with Windows (Dual-Boot)

Normally, Windows (Vista or later) is not intended to cover less than half the hard disk space. Here is how to do it:

1.  Shrink Windows partition
    1.  Start Windows.
    2.  Prepare drive `C:` for shrinking (so that it can be made smaller than 50% of the disk capacity)

        1.  [Set pagefile to
            zero](https://www.evernote.com/shard/s89/sh/62db75f8-c3b0-4b64-85aa-0b6915fa1dfd/4917c857af11acb623d704c01a413a88).
        2.  [Disable System
            snapshots](https://www.evernote.com/shard/s89/sh/055a042c-63fb-40d6-9818-6eac6c49de3f/0ba25202bc986966d23be4b66561dad8).
        3.  Reboot Windows and defrag drive `C:`.

    3.  Shrink `C:` using the Windows 7 tools (Control Panel, type `partition` in the search box) to a minimal size.
    4.  Revert pagefile and snapshots.
2.  Decide what edition of Ubuntu to use: 32bit or 64bit. Advice: always use the latter if you have more than 2G of RAM. Otherwise choose the 32bit edition. In any case **always use the latest version** of Ubuntu.
3.  Install Ubuntu on the freed space and reboot to Ubuntu.

For XP and earlier versions of Windows, use [gparted live CD](https://www.google.de/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=gparted+live+cd) to resize partitions.

# Miscalleneous Tweaks

1.  Use less battery power(also useful for desktops, e.g. for silent cooling). My Thinkpad now is in the deep sleep state (C7) about 97% of the time, and runs longer with Ubuntu than with Windows.

    1.  Check powersave potential on your device.

        1. Install **Powertop** (`sudo apt-get install powertop`).
        2. Run `sudo powertop`. Let powertop gather data for a while. Check sections *Device Stats* and *Tunables*. The former show you what hardware is using most power, the latter what you can do to tune your software.

    2.  [Install **TLP** (german)](http://thinkpad-wiki.org/TLP_-_Stromspareinstellungen_fuer_Ubuntu).
    3. With **TLP** installed, run **Powertop** again and compare. Google for any remaining recommendations under *Tunables*.
    4. Install Thinkfan as (described on the wiki)[http://thinkwiki.de/thinkfan].

2.  For US keyboards (recommended for programming): Run `sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration`, select *105 key generic / english-US layout with EUR sign on ‘5’ key*. use `AltGr` as modifier for foreign symbols (default).

3.  Read [ubuntuguide.org](http://ubuntuguide.org) how to set up the system with your desired user applications. Read the [Ubuntu cheat sheet](http://www.cheat-sheets.org/#Ubuntu) to learn some basics about your system. 

4. Consider replacing the Ubuntu unity application switcher by a version that does not group windows.

    1. Run `sudo aptitude install compizconfig-settings-manager`, followed by `ccsm`
    2. Go to Ubuntu Unity plugin and disable all Alt+Tab keybindings. Do not disable the plugin as a whole.
    3. Enable the Application Switcher plugin. 
    4. Consider using the Grid plugin, which cleanly aligns windows using keyboard strokes.

5. If you are working on the console a lot, consider [tweaking Ubuntu console](/General/2012/05/18/improved-ubuntu-terminal).