The easiest way to install Ubuntu, or any distro at that, is to make a bootable flash drive to install from. From Linux or Windows you can download and install UNetbootin, which will automatically download Ubuntu and create a bootable flash drive. All you have to do is stick in a flash drive and select the distro and version you want (in this case, obviously, Ubuntu 8.10). Do not choose the 8.10 net install…emphasis on NET…just choose the Live version.
Once UNetbootin finishes, open your USB drive and do the following:
Delete SYSLINUX.CFG:
rm SYSLINUX.CFG
Rename the ISOLINUX directory to SYSLINUX:
mv ISOLINUX SYSLINUX
Enter the SYSLINUX directory:
cd SYSLINUX
Rename ISOLINUX.CFG to SYSLINUX.CFG:
mv ISOLINUX.CFG SYSLINUX.CFG
Now you have a working Ubuntu Live Flash Drive!
Insert your new flash drive into one of the *right* USB ports of your Asus eee 1000HA. I say right because they have been a lot more reliable for me when booting from USB, but maybe that’s just me.
Boot up your eee and push esc when you see the boot screen. This should bring up the familiar Ubuntu Live screen where you can pick whether to start a Live session or go to the Installation. Installation is the obvious choice here. The Ubuntu Installation itself is past the scope of this wiki, but you can find help at ubuntu.com.
Once you have finished the installation you may notice that your wireless NIC is not yet recognized. Don’t worry, we are about to fix that, and a lot more.
First, setup the array.org repository in your apt sources:
wget http://www.array.org/ubuntu/array-intrepid.list (external link) sudo mv -v array-intrepid.list /etc/apt/sources.list.d/
Be sure to install the key for the repository:
wget http://www.array.org/ubuntu/array-apt-key.asc (external link) sudo apt-key add array-apt-key.asc
Update your apt-cache:
sudo apt-get update
Install the kernel:
sudo apt-get install linux-eeepc
Now reboot. When your computer restarts, make sure you are now using the correct kernel by pressing esc when the grub information is displayed and select the kernel that ends in “-eeepc”
Now remove the original kernel:
sudo apt-get remove linux-.*-generic
You are now the proud owner of an Ubuntu based eee!
