Ubuntu 7.10 on Asus Eee PC

Howto Install Ubuntu on the EEE PC (with only a usb drive)

First, this took me a really long time, and I really don't wish this headache upon anyone else. Before you get started, I should remind you that because Ubuntu is not made for the eeepc, you may not have every software program. Also, I'm trying to retrace the steps it took me. So they may not be 100%, so refer to the wiki here.

Note: you will need a computer with working internet nearb

1. Let's format your usb drive so it will run smooth without any major errors. Open a Terminal. If you're using your eee (CTRL ALT T). Plug in the usb

2. fdisk -l (remember whatever the /dev/sd*1, replace the * with that letter later).

3. sudo mkfs.vfat -F 32 -n ubuntu /dev/sd*1

4. sudo apt-get install syslinux

5. wget http://kiwilinux.org/public/isotostick.sh

6. sudo chmod +x isotostick.sh

7. fdisk -l

8. Remember what your usb drive looks like, it should be something like
   

   /dev/sd*1 (replace the * with the letter of your usb drive)

9. sudo parted /dev/sd* set 1 boot on

10. sudo ./isotostick.sh /path/to/image.iso /dev/sd*1 (please change this to where ever you saved the iso image.)

11. sudo syslinux /dev/sd*1

12. Okay so now lets put ndiswrapper and the driver on. (if you have a wired connection available skip these steps, and just plug your eeepc in for internet.
1. Download these files to your usb drive
1. ndiswrapper-common

2. ndiswrapper-utils-1.9

3. WiFi Driver
1. Copy the folder called ndis5x to the usb drive as well.
   

13. sudo umount /dev/sd*1 (unmount if you are using a computer other than the eee pc)

14. if you used a different computer, it is time to put ubuntu on the eeepc! Plug it in!
15. Turn on the eeepc. In that first screen press ESC.
16. Choose the usb drive you put ubuntu on. It should start up like a livecd installation.
17. You will need to move the windows.
1. System>Preferences>Appearance>Visual Effects>None
2. use Alt and Click to drag windows that are too big by default
18. Go through the typical installation process.
    
19. Time to set up the internet. if you have a wired connection skip these steps.
1. navigate to the .deb you put on the usb called ndiswrapper-common. Install it
2. do the same for ndiswrapper-utils
3. Copy the folder ndis5x to your desktop
4. Open a terminal and type:
   

1. sudo modprobe -r ath_pci

2. sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-common

3. add this line:
   

   blacklist ath_pci

4. Reboot

1. Navigate to where you saved the .deb files of ndiswrapper-common and ndiswrapper-utils and doubleclick them to install
2. Open a terminal
3. cd Desktop/ndis5x

4. sudo ndiswrapper -i net5211.inf

5. sudo ndiswrapper -m

6. sudo ndiswrapper -ma && sudo ndiswrapper -mi

7. reboot
1. Now lets get the native madwifi drive running

1. sudo apt-get install build-essential

2. wget 'http://madwifi.org/attachment/ticket/1679/madwifi-ng-0933.ar2425.20071130.i386.patch?format=raw'

3. wget http://snapshots.madwifi.org/madwifi-ng/madwifi-ng-r2756-20071018.tar.gz

4. tar zxvf madwifi-ng-r2756-20071018.tar.gz

5. cd madwifi-ng-r2756-20071018

6. patch -p0 < ../madwifi-ng-0933.ar2425.20071130.i386.patch\?format\=raw

7. make clean

8. make

9. sudo make install

10. reboot

2. Next let's fix some of the known issues.
1. sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base
1. add this: options snd-hda-intel model=3stack-dig
2. (that will get your mic working)
   
2. sudo gedit /etc/default/acpi-support

1. SAVE_VBE_STATE=false

2. SAVE_VIDEO_PCI_STATE=true

3. USE_DPMS=true

4. # Add modules to this list to have them removed before suspend and reloaded
   # on resume. An example would be MODULES="em8300 yenta_socket"
   #
   # Note that network cards and USB controllers will automatically be unloaded
   # unless they're listed in MODULES_WHITELIST
   MODULES="ndiswrapper"

1. I don't know if that last line is necessary... because you should have madwifi up and running.
2. all of this fixes the suspend issues
   
3. save and close. now to fix the shut down.
   

4. sudo gedit /etc/init.d/halt

5. add to the TOP:

   rmmod snd-hda-intel

3. If you want Compiz-Fusion enabled, I recommend this:
1. ALT F2
2. apps > Compiz > plugins > move > allscreens > options
3. uncheck constrain y.

I think that should be it!! Hopefully it worked for you!

Simple Mode Frustrations.

I consider myself a beginner linux user. So maybe my input will have some meaning to those of you who are just now purchasing the eee. You're getting your feet wet, and you're discovering that sometimes software installs take you back to the command line.

Lame. I wish there was an alternative. But to my research, I still haven't seen a way of doing things the easy way, while maintaining Asus easy mode.

Why do i want to stick with the easy mode? Because even though the xandros set up looks nicer, I get so frustrated trying to navigate through the start menu options. Try using a super small touch pad and a super small screen to navigate and you will see what I mean.

The eee's gui is great simple, I just wish I could easily add my own installed software onto it VIA SYNAPTIC.

If you don't know what synaptic is, its cool, basically it is a library of anything you would want to install, you just click, and it will set it up for you automatically. That is probably a little too simple.

because somehow the eee is blocking synaptic, I have to look up the file I want in synaptic and then go into command line. This is really really dumb.

Even though i like the eee's user interface, as soon as they get those wifi drivers for ubuntu,... i'm so out of this, and you will see a whole new blog section.

Carrying Case for the eee

Found here: http://forum.eeeuser.com/

http://www.rei.com/product/733023

Made by Eagle Creek, very well made. Holds the Eee perfectly, with room for power supply, mouse, headphones, even a paperback or little sketchpad. Many pockets and storage places.

I like it cause it's a shoulder bag, dimensioned like the Eee, and especially because it doesn't look like a computer bag--better security if folks don't know what's in there.

Amazon.com This case looks pretty solid.

Uploading Videos

Most Unfortunately Youtube does not accept .ogg video formats, which is what your eee pc will by default record your webcam videos in. There are some options to translate the .ogg file into a uploadable format such as mpeg... but that would be a waste of time.

just use video.google.com! All .ogg files will upload, and from there you can send your video messages to anyone, and it will be in format virtually playable to anyone.

Playing Quicktime

The following was taken from eeeuser.com

Downgrading MPlayer

1. Open the console (In easy mode, press ctrl-alt-T. In advanced desktop, it's on the start menu, under system, or press alt-F2 and type Konsole.)
2. In the console, type sudo kwrite /etc/apt/sources.list
3. Add the line deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ etch main non-free contrib (copy from here and paste in kwrite by right-clicking and choosing paste)
4. Save and exit
5. In the console, type sudo apt-get update
6. Then type sudo apt-get install mplayer=1.0~rc1-12etch1 (if your console window has a white background, you can copy from here and right-click in the console window to paste)
7. Type sudo kwrite /etc/apt/sources.list
8. Find the line deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ etch main non-free contrib and put # (a hash or number sign) in front of it. This will disable the debian repository, so that you don't accidentally install incompatible software.

Initial Tweaks

For those of you with good eyesight, I think the best and most useful tweak out there is changing the font size.

here is what I used:

Press CTRL ALT T, and a command line prompt will appear.



Then type:

kcontrol

a new window will appear:



To change the default KDE font size, navigate to the Display/Themes/Fonts page, and change the font sizes to your liking.

Unfortunately, for some reason this tweak makes the openoffice fonts very very tiny,and I'm not sure how to resolve it. Suggestions would be wonderful!

There are some other work arounds, like abiword perhaps, but I strongly reommend google docs. here is what it looks like on the eee.



As you can see, it isn't bad. at all. A little cramped, but the eee pc is a little cramped in general.

I recommend docs.google.com in general, because then you don't have to worry about memory wasting, or toting all of your documents on a jump drive. Also it is great for emailing, and having other people make revisions on your documents.

A couple other important tweaks:

When using Firefox, press F11. This will bring the internet window to full screen mode. To exit out of it simply press F11 again. Another great option in firefox, press CTRL + or - to decrease or increase the font size. This will come in handy for those with good or bad eyes.

Also, when in full screen mode in firefox, press alt-tab to toggle between windows, or the home key to bring up the start menu.