Install Ubuntu 7.10 to an SDHC for use on ASUS eeePC

I am writing this because I have not found a good and complete walk through on how to effectively install Linux Ubuntu on an SDHC 'card', to be ran independently on an ASUS eeePC. There are plenty of tutorials on how to install to the internal SSD, dual boot, or to a USB drive, but not for just the SDHC stand alone. In doing this my goal was to make no changes to the SSD installed in the eeePC, this includes absolutely no MBR changes. I want to also add that I in absolutely no way will proclaim myself to be a Linux or Ubuntu expert, so if some of my assumptions are wrong then so be it. I only know what I have researched and know what has worked or not worked for me.

Ubuntu likes to install Ubuntu on (OR the eeePC like to boot Ubuntu from) the /dev/sda* drive of the computer. So, in the case of an eeePC, the SSD is the /dev/sda* drive and the SDHC is the /dev/sdb*. This is the same if you are installing from any other PC that has an installed hard disk drive. Because of this I decided to take the installed hard disk out of the equation. This is actually a very easy and very logical fix and can be preformed quite efficiently.

There are a few things you need in advance to get this done (beside the obvious things like having an internet connection, download Ubuntu and burn it to a disk, an SDHC card (i used a 16gb), and an SDHC card reader). You need to choose one of two methods to set this up. Both require that you have a separate PC, not an eeePC. I suggest a desktop and not a laptop. Choose one of the two install options below and continue...

1. Remove or disconnect all physical hard drives from your desktop computer.
....OR....
2. Using VMWare, create a new Linux Ubuntu Virtual Machine. (You might be able to use MS Virtual PC, but I have not tested)
a. Accept all defaults.
b. After the machine creation, delete the virtual hard disk drive.
c. Make sure you have the cd/dvd configured.
d. Setup your network settings so you will have internet

I have fully tested and recommend using the VMWare method I describe above. Now follow the below steps.

1. Boot to Ubuntu 7.10 Live CD

2. Adjust resolution settings and confirm internet connection

3. Open Terminal

4. Type

sudo su

5. Type

fdisk -l

That's a lower case "L" - You should see nothing listed

6. Insert your SDHC card

7. Type

fdisk -l

You should see your SDHC Card listed as /dev/sda

8. Type

umount /dev/sda1

continue for any other mounted disks you see

9. Type

fdisk /dev/sda

10. Type “p” If you see any partitions type “d” to delete them, then type “p” to relist. If you still see partitions keep using “d” and “p” to remove them all

11. Type “w” to write changes

12. Close Terminal

13. Run "Install” from the icon located on the desktop

14. Go through the setup wizard. On the partition screen choose “Manual” > Select 'free space' > click "New partition" > the options should be set as Primary, Begining, ext3, Mount Point will be blank, click "ok" > Now click the new drive (it should be /dev/sda1) > Click "Edit partition" > ensure that the Mount Point is set, Click "ok" > Click "Forward" > when warned about not having a swap drive click "continue". Updated 4/24/2008

15. Continue with Installation…… and wait……

16. Do not reboot when finished! Remove/re-insert the SDHC card so it mounts

17. Open Terminal

18. Type

sudo nano /media/disk/etc/sysctl.conf

thats sysct(lower case L).conf

19. Add this to the end of the file

vm.swappiness=0

Save & Exit. (This removes swap)

20. Type

sudo rm /media/disk/etc/X11/xorg.conf

(This removes the xorg.conf file)

21. Type

sudo nano /media/disk/etc/init.d/halt

22. Add this to the end of the comment

rmmod snd-hta-intel

(this is tricky, it goes at the top area just under the comments with the #####’s, before all the code. This enables your eeePC to shut completely off)Save & Exit.

23. Type

sudo mv /media/disk/etc/rc2.d/S12hal /media/disk/etc/rc2.d/S13hal

24. Type

sudo mv /media/disk/etc/rc3.d/S12hal /media/disk/etc/rc3.d/S13hal

25. Type

sudo mv /media/disk/etc/rc4.d/S12hal /media/disk/etc/rc4.d/S13hal

26. Type

sudo mv /media/disk/etc/rc5.d/S12hal /media/disk/etc/rc5.d/S13hal

27. Type

sudo nano /media/disk/etc/init.d/rc

28. Change CONCURRENCY=none to

CONCURRENCY=shell

Save & Exit.

29. Type

sudo nano /media/disk/etc/default/acpi-support

30. Change SAVE_VBE_STATE=true to

SAVE_VBE_STATE=false

Save & Exit.

31. Umount the SDHC and remove it

32. Insert SDHC into eeePC and boot to the SDHC by pressing the ESC key at startup

33. Login

34. Open terminal

35. Type

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

(This configures your xorg.conf file)

36. Accept all defaults until you get to the screen resolution, select "800x600"

37. Type

sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf

38. Locate the Section “Screen” section and change 800x600 to "800x480" Save & Exit. (This sets resolution for the eeePC screen size)

39. Reboot and log in

40. Ensure you have a wired internet connection

41. On the eeePC go to the below link and follow the instructions for downloading and running the scripts LINK (This gets your hardware working)

42. Open terminal

43. Type

sudo gedit /etc/fstab

44. DO NOT COPY THIS LINE… just add “noatime” to your output so it looks something like “UUID=f3414867-f197-43af-84d6-d79397a09cff / ext3 noatime,defaults,errors=remount-ro 0 1”

45. Add the below lines to the bottom of the file

tmpfs /var/log tmpfs defaults,noatime 0 0



tmpfs /tmp tmpfs defaults,noatime 0 0



tmpfs /var/tmp tmpfs defaults,noatime 0 0

Save & Exit.

46. Run all Ubuntu updates now

47. Now to get your WiFi working, Back in terminal…. (skip 48, 49, & 50 IF WiFi works)

48. Type

sudo depmod –a

49. Type

sudo modprobe ath_hal

50. Type

sudo modprobe ath_pci

That should do it. Your eeePC should now be fully functional and all hardware should be working including the function keys. I have friends who have reported that after running updates some things break, specifically the wireless. You should be able to run steps 48, 49, & 50 to get it working again though. Hope you all enjoy and find this useful.

Enjoy.
RollnPC
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