[Novalug] Slightly OT: Installing EasyPeasy (Ubuntu) on MSI Wind U100

[Jay Hart]

Margret,

Here is a list of things I would do/check:

1. Check to see if you are running the latest BIOS version.  If not, update to
latest version.

2. Call MSI and see if they have any recalls or issues. You might have to work
your way up the tech support levels.

3. Run MemTest86 (memory diag app) for a day or more

4. Determine hard drive vendor and see if you can run a diag test on the drive.

5. See about procuring a spare hard drive and use it as a test bed for a clean
install.

This should keep your occupied for a few days.

Jay

> So I could no longer bear the shame of having no Linux machines in my
> possession.  I was also sick of my Windows XP install on the netbook and the
> constant battle against what seems to be malware that was embedded somewhere
> on the drive.  It seems that whenever I would try to do a disk scan,
> virus/malware scan, change bios settings, or install a new OS - the netbook
> would simply power off.  It wouldn't be at the same point in the activity
> either.  Sometimes, for example, I'd get to the splash screen of a Windows
> or Linux install and the machine would shut off.  Sometimes I'd make it
> almost to the end of the install and it would power down.  Once in a while,
> it would show the shutdown screen options (shutdown/log off/restart), most
> of the time it would not.
>
> I was able to use the install partition from MSI to reimage the C drive, but
> that was it, and the problem would always come back.
>
> I was finally able to complete a disk repartition and install EasyPeasy,
> just by sheer brute force.  I kept trying to install the OS until it took.
> However, now I fear that this might not have been virus but a hardware
> issue.  I contemplated it being a harddrive or overheating problem, but I am
> not sure. It would run okay, maybe a little slow even after being on for
> days.  I even have it on a cooling platform with fans blowing air into the
> intakes.  It could be anything, bad ram or cpu.  I'm not sure what to check
> first or whether I need to check anything.  My roommate suggested that I
> replace the hard drive, but I'm not 100% that's the issue.
>
> Has anyone here run into anything like this before?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Margret
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