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

[Ken Kauffman]

You could build a windows live CD just for BIOS updates.

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

Ken

On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 09:32, Unknown User <unknown.usr at gmail.com> wrote:

> Jay, thanks for all the help!
>
> I haven't messed with the hard drive, it seems to wipe and reload just
> fine, and removing it voids my warranty.
>
> My bios is out of date but all the update utilities seem to be Windows
> based.  I'm looking for alternative methods of bios upgrading.
>
> However, I ran MemTest86 and the netbook kept crashing.  I'm afraid that my
> netbook may have overheated at one point and taken out the ram.
>
> MSI is troubleshooting with me via email.  My fear is that I'll have to
> send it in for repair and I hate to do that.  My warranty expires the end of
> January, so if I'm going to do it, I need to do it now.  I just don't want
> to part with my poor netbook.  :(
>
> The good, Linux related news is that I was able to install Ubuntu Netbook
> Remix with no issues whatsoever.  EasyPeasy was not so easy because it
> didn't have the correct working wireless drivers available.  Even following
> the directions, the install of the wifi drivers generated errors and
> resulted in nothing but wasted time.  The Ubuntu Netbook Remix worked
> amazingly well right "from the box".  I installed from a USB flash drive and
> it just did it's thing.  The only extra software I needed to install so far
> was Google chrome, because I like it better than Firefox.  My one problem
> now, besides the hardware issue, is that Ubuntu doesn't seem to be detecting
> usb devices when I plug them in.  It was fine with the ones I had connected
> at bootup, but when I disconnected my mouse and moved the netbook, the mouse
> did not work again when I reconnected it.  I'll have to figure that one out.
>
>
> On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 10:47 AM, Jay Hart <jhart at kevla.org> wrote:
>
>> 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
>>  > _______________________________________________
>> > Novalug mailing list
>> > Novalug at calypso.tux.org
>> > http://calypso.tux.org/mailman/listinfo/novalug
>> >
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Novalug mailing list
>> Novalug at calypso.tux.org
>> http://calypso.tux.org/mailman/listinfo/novalug
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Novalug mailing list
> Novalug at calypso.tux.org
> http://calypso.tux.org/mailman/listinfo/novalug
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://calypso.tux.org/pipermail/novalug/attachments/20091230/53a2b50d/attachment.html