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