Ubuntu Eee on the Eee, The dark side ...

December 19, 2008 Posted in · Eee, Linux

Given a bunch of tutorials that are on the net about how to install various Linux distributions on the Asus Eee did not expect that I would write a post about it, for two reasons: first because I had more to do and second because I hate to go to Google search and find several sources with the same content, as happened this morning. I know it would follow the yellow brick road and all be happy.

I recently purchased an Eee and signed a plan of "broadband" 3G for a need to access the outside world where he worked as the proxy blocking access to GMail.

In my opinion Asus is spot on in selling the Eee as an appliance instead of a computer. You buy, take a look in the manual and start using as if using a blender. No mysteries. The Xandros distribution that comes standard is perfectly usable by any idiot, including me in this case, for the tasks to which it is intended: intenet, email, office basic multimedia. Everything is quite simple, including updating the BIOS!

Now of course if you want to use it for something beyond the original proposal, customization is welcomed as the official repositories have older packages. I had to install Opera to access one of those sites made by sub-berries eaten bad we do know that only sites that do not work properly in Firefox and I was on hand, the dependencies could not be satisfied automatically.

Parsley before half-eaten bad we will fill the bag, as I make it clear that I am also web developer and I know the differences and the costs involved in producing a decent website or one of those crap you spew out there.

Anyway, since I decided to install a proper distribution but with the new requirements of my Eee, I chose the Ubuntu Eee for pure personal preference even after all he is my oras.

Material

  • 01 Eee Pc (required, DHA);
  • Micro 01 to generate the image bootable (optional if you have u external CD-ROM);
  • 01 SD of at least 1 GB (ditto above);
  • 01 SD 2GB (optional, only one backup);
  • MP3 player xing-ling USB 2GB for the case of SDs fail (optional);
  • Adapters for various convenience (optional);

Sources

Of the various tutorials that I researched I would like the wiki, Ubuntu Eee, the online documentation for Ubuntu, an article in Tecnoclasta and an article by Morimoto.

Steps

The installation of a Linux distribution facilities in the Eee using drives CD-ROM is identical to installation on a common PC and details can be found in the article by Morimoto. Already without CD-ROM it is divided into two basic steps: the first is to prepare a bootable image on a USB stick, the second is the installation itself.

Preparing a bootable image

In my research I found some ways to create the image bootable and tried two. The first is using the script isotostick.sh as described in the article Tecnoclasta, the other is using a wiki as UNetbootin Ubuntu Eee.

I used a SD 2 GB, since the image is just over 600 Mb The UNetbootin is a single executable and its use is quite intuitive. Just choose the ISO or distribution (in this case it downloads the ISO Web), choose the device and have them generate. It takes a little bit and sometimes it seems that he is caught, but it is normal, after all is almost 700 MB of data.

Done this is only insert the card, have the system boot by elee boot, right? Wrong, at least for me ...

My image is not bootable booted. What the hell is bootable image does not fully boot?

Ok, let's try again. .. Nothing.

Change the iso ... Nothing.

Return SD ... Nothing.

Caceta, did I not know to configure the BIOS boot Eee pra via SD? Looking for a little, change a few options and ... NOTHING!

Hence the crack: micro switch. I was in the note and put the stick to boot (one of those adapters for SD USB) and ... NOTHING! Okay, is the image, not the SD. And now? Not seen anyone reporting on the net that the picture made with UNetbootin no boot.

After a little more reading I discover a macabre detail. Rereading the tutorial cited in the Ubuntu documentation and researching other sources that do not remember when I saw that depending on the vesão UNetbootin and hardware of the SD format of the file system of the SD could be different.

Well, sick of pra search commands and the movie in Owl is not helping. I of GParted then. How do not know what the configuration will work, we can only try to hit you. In my case it was with ext3.

The steps are very simple that only time-consuming

Open GParted, recreate the partition and choose the file system;

Rebuilding the partition table

Do not forget to mark the new partition bootable. To do this click right on it and go to "Manage Flags";

Changing flags

And check the boot option (other options may be needed depending on the hardware used).

Marking as bootable

Once that's done UNetbootin open and save the iso.

Writing iso
Burning Process

Installing

Now the easy part: the installation. It's no different than installing a PC, save one or two details.

To choose which device will be used to boot, just put the SD on the reader of the Eee, boot and press ESC a few times to enjoy the boot menu. See images below

Choosing the boot device.
Choosing the boot device

Grub Installer.
Grub Installer

Ubuntu Eee booting.
Boot
Boot
Boot

Screens of the Ubuntu installer, already well known.
Installation
Installation

For the keyboard, in my case. USA - USA International with dead keys. to set the accents and cedilla.
Installation
Installation

When performing the partitioning should not be created swap partition, because we are installing a flash, not in HD. The partitioner will complain about it but just move on.
No swap

The also famous screen User Configuration standard.
User Configuration standard

Follow the installation.
Follow the installation
Follow the installation

End of installation, time of reboot.
Reboot

The basic login screen.
Login

Desktop. Not bacaninha?
Desktop

Finishing

Unlike parsley very fond of saying around here everything worked perfectly including network card and wifi function keys. Some optimizations and customizations I intend to publish new posts soon, or not.

Comments

3 Responses to "Ubuntu Eee on the Eee, The dark side ..."

  1. Daniel Mantovani on December 19th, 2008 11:02

    They Ubuntu for everything, even for PSP has

  2. Marcelo on February 23rd, 2009 01:05

    How to install on a sd Umbutu and leave the HD to run Windows? (Dual Boot?)

  3. blab on February 23rd, 2009 12:12

    When you generate the SD boot with UNetbootin, SD itself already has a ubuntu bootable equal to the live CD.

    But if you want to install the card, I imagine you will boot from some other media that I know of, then there's part of the partitioner DS will appear as a 'hard' no, just have to install it.

    If you want to dual-boot, in my opinion causes a micro truth. Netbooks are not designed to be machine with two operating systems, development stations are, etc.. They are designed to give you mobility in mundane tasks such as accessing the Internet and read documents. The scope of them is stopping there.

    It has a tutorial much more complete in my http://blog.igdium.com that'll please explain why we do not recommend INSTALLING windows in SD discs.

    But again, it's just * our * opinion.

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