Toshiba Satellite A135

= Introduction =

Status of this document
This page focuses on running Gentoo Linux on a Toshiba Satellite A135 series laptop. Specifically, I'm working with the A135-S7403, which was widely sold by Best Buy around Thanksgiving 2007.

I have Gentoo successfully running on this laptop. I'm using kernel 2.6.23-gentoo-r3 because I couldn't get sound working in earlier kernels.

= Hardware =

Series Specs

 * Intel Celeron M 530 CPU (1.7GHz, 1MB L2)
 * Mobile Intel 943GML Express Chipset
 * Integrated GMA 950 Graphics
 * Intel 82801G High Definition Audio
 * Realtek RTL8101E PCI Express Ethernet
 * Atheros AR5006EG Wireless
 * Texas Instruments Cardbus Slot (working)

lspci Output
lspci

= Configuration =

Kernel configuration
Some of the options below (initramfs, userspace VESA) are added to get framebuffer support. For framebuffer support in this kernel don't forget to emerge v86d and configure grub using the video option described below.

Kernel notes

 * I had to completely turn off "ATA/ATAPI/MFM/RLL Support" because otherwise the system found the harddrive as an hda device, and it wasn't happy.
 * To get framebuffer support, I needed to emerge v86d and configure grub options. Also note above that you need to add the v86d initramfs into the kernel.
 * To get sound I had to disable kernel ALSA support. I followed the ALSA guide to emerge alsa-driver later, after which the internal audio worked. To get the headphone jack auto-sensing working I had to force "model=lenovo" as part of the modprobe command in /etc/init.d/alsasound around line 96. For some reason the conf.d method didn't work for me.

Wireless
See the Atheros 5xxx article.

Ethernet not working on 2007.0 minimal
The onboard Realtek ethernet chipset doesn't work from the minimal install CD, even though it appears to be claimed by the r8169 driver. To solve I copied across the stage3, portage, and kernel tarballs (/usr/portage/distfiles/) using a flash drive. After first kernel compile, ethernet works fine.

Ethernet now works on the 2008.0 beta-2 minimal.