I am not quite sure what to do to install Ubuntu on my Thinkpad W520. I want to keep Windows 7 but primarily use Ubuntu.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Thanks
Reply 1 : Ubuntu on W520 with Nvidia Quadro 2000M
I suggest you wait for Ubuntu 11.04 to be released before you install it (April, 29). I'm not sure if the current 10.10 version supports the new Intel Sandy Bridge processors.
Anyway, to install Ubuntu, just go to Ubuntu homepage | Ubuntu and hit the big orange "Download Ubuntu" icon. Then you'll have an option of selecting whether you want to download the 32 bit version of Ubuntu or the 64 bit version. I suggest that you download 64 bit version Ubuntu since minimum amount of RAM the W520 is sold with is 4GB. 64 bit Ubuntu can take advantage of all that RAM with any modifications. 32 bit Ubuntu can also take advantage of >4GB of RAM if you install a PAE kernel, but I don't think it's worth the effort to do that.
The file you download will be an .iso file. This is a disk image file, an exact copy of a CD or DVD. You will have to burn the .iso file to a CD/DVD. In Windows 7, you can right click the .iso file and open it with "Windows Disk Image Burner". It will look something like this: http://www.win7articles.com/image-fi...-burning-3.gif. Just click Burn and you're good to go
Now, to the actual installation. Keep the CD in your computer and restart it. Your computer should start booting from the CD. Wait one or two minutes while Ubuntu boots up. Once it's up and running, you can double click the Installer on the desktop. The installer is really straight forward and should guide you through the install without any trouble. During the installation, there is an option to shrink your Windows 7 partition to make room for Ubuntu. After the installation is finished, reboot your computer and remove the CD.
When your computer reboots, you'll want to enter the BIOS. I'm not sure what key you have to press to get in the BIOS as I don't a W520. Once you're in the BIOS, set the graphics to the nVidia Quadro 2000m. nVidia's Optimus graphics switching isn't supported under Ubuntu since nVidia is unwilling to write drivers for it. Then, save the BIOS settings and restart.
When the computer boots, you will see that there's a bootloader menu that allows you to choose whether you want to boot into Ubuntu or Windows 7. So, choose Ubuntu and wait for it to boot up.
Most of your hardware will work out of the box, except for your nVidia graphics card and possibly your wireless card. To install the drivers, just click System > Administration > Hardware Drivers. That will guide you through installing your drivers. You will need a wired connection to do this if your wireless card doesn't work out of the box.
And that's it! If you want to the codecs needed to play MP3's, watch flash videos, etc., you can open up the Ubuntu Software Center and install "Ubuntu Restricted Extras". Alternatively, you can click this link in Firefox on Ubuntu: Install Ubuntu Restricted Extras.
I hope I didn't sound like I was underestimating your abilities
. Have fun and enjoy Ubuntu!
By the way, how do you like the W520 so far?
Anyway, to install Ubuntu, just go to Ubuntu homepage | Ubuntu and hit the big orange "Download Ubuntu" icon. Then you'll have an option of selecting whether you want to download the 32 bit version of Ubuntu or the 64 bit version. I suggest that you download 64 bit version Ubuntu since minimum amount of RAM the W520 is sold with is 4GB. 64 bit Ubuntu can take advantage of all that RAM with any modifications. 32 bit Ubuntu can also take advantage of >4GB of RAM if you install a PAE kernel, but I don't think it's worth the effort to do that.
The file you download will be an .iso file. This is a disk image file, an exact copy of a CD or DVD. You will have to burn the .iso file to a CD/DVD. In Windows 7, you can right click the .iso file and open it with "Windows Disk Image Burner". It will look something like this: http://www.win7articles.com/image-fi...-burning-3.gif. Just click Burn and you're good to go
Now, to the actual installation. Keep the CD in your computer and restart it. Your computer should start booting from the CD. Wait one or two minutes while Ubuntu boots up. Once it's up and running, you can double click the Installer on the desktop. The installer is really straight forward and should guide you through the install without any trouble. During the installation, there is an option to shrink your Windows 7 partition to make room for Ubuntu. After the installation is finished, reboot your computer and remove the CD.
When your computer reboots, you'll want to enter the BIOS. I'm not sure what key you have to press to get in the BIOS as I don't a W520. Once you're in the BIOS, set the graphics to the nVidia Quadro 2000m. nVidia's Optimus graphics switching isn't supported under Ubuntu since nVidia is unwilling to write drivers for it. Then, save the BIOS settings and restart.
When the computer boots, you will see that there's a bootloader menu that allows you to choose whether you want to boot into Ubuntu or Windows 7. So, choose Ubuntu and wait for it to boot up.
Most of your hardware will work out of the box, except for your nVidia graphics card and possibly your wireless card. To install the drivers, just click System > Administration > Hardware Drivers. That will guide you through installing your drivers. You will need a wired connection to do this if your wireless card doesn't work out of the box.
And that's it! If you want to the codecs needed to play MP3's, watch flash videos, etc., you can open up the Ubuntu Software Center and install "Ubuntu Restricted Extras". Alternatively, you can click this link in Firefox on Ubuntu: Install Ubuntu Restricted Extras.
I hope I didn't sound like I was underestimating your abilities
. Have fun and enjoy Ubuntu!By the way, how do you like the W520 so far?
Reply 2 : Ubuntu on W520 with Nvidia Quadro 2000M
cpm22... That is the exact same question/direction that I wanted to know? As soon as I have the required number of (pm) posted I can (pm) you for some tips on Howto install Ubuntu 11.04 onto a w520... Good luck.
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