I bought an Asus EEE Pc 4G with GNU/Linux Xandros preinstalled. I read that it's possible to install Ubuntu (Gutsy and Hardy) on it but I wanted to install gNewSense. ;)

I made a bootable usb key with gnewsense.iso and all the needed files. I booted from the usb key, I could see the gNewSense green logo and pressed enter. After a few terminal lines I saw the busybox terminal prompt.

I tried the same things with the hardy.iso image and I was able to boot live Ubuntu Hardy from usb key with no problem. Why?

Have you ever tried to install gNewSense on the Asus EEE Pc? Could you report some experience here?

Thanks a lot.

Maybe you could get a IDE to USB conector (like the one for external HDD or CD, DVD) so we can discard the files to boot from a USB key and use the normal LiveCD. Maybe that could help you pass the boot

This is a suggestion, i don't have a EEEPc :'( hehehe.
Good luck!

Hi, you know reading this make me think about getting one Asus EEe PC, since i'm traveling to do my final project on my university, and i can't carry a Desktop PC everywhere.

And after saving some money and working i did buy one. Now i'm waiting for it.
Would you like to work on a gNS installation guide?
I'll have it in 2 or 3 days top.

Hi Ark, nice to hear you again! :) I wiped out Xandros and installed gNewSense 2.0 on my Asus EEE Pc 4G. I did it using a script called isotostick.sh I found here:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick

I used the gnewsense.iso image instead of the Ubuntu one and it worked. I will write an installation guide soon on my website: www.sorbaioli.org

After the default installation I can report that video, sound and ethernet work. SD Card reader worked after I added a line to fstab.conf. Wifi didn't work but I think it will with the new Atheros drivers. Maybe I just need to recompile the kernel.

A message to all the Asus EEE Pc owners: INSTALL gNewSense and help us bring freedom to the Asus EEE Pc.

It has arrived, i would like to make some test, and maybe at night i'll start to free this Asus EEE Pc.
Just like St Ignucius professes :)

Last update broke ethernet too. Me and Ark74 are using the EEE Pc wihtout ethernet, wireless, webcam and sound. :(

Ethernet: don't know why it stop functioning

Wireless: Atheros fully free drivers are being developed

Webcam: there is a free driver but it's not on the kernel. Must compile it by yourself

Sound: gNewSense activists are checking the known module for proprietary files. When it is done the module will come back via an update and it will contain only free software.

BIOS: there is a some work going on for making coreboot work on the device.

Two of my friends are doing a wonderful research work on the eee pc. They are Jaromil, author of Dynebolic: www.dynebolic.org and Jeff, the main developer of Blag and linux-libre, a fully free Linux kernel.

Look here: http://www.blagblagblag.org/pub/BLAG/developers/jebba/eee/

The model of Asus that i'm testing is a Asus Eee Pc 4G Surf (webcam not included :'( )

Let's beging, just as arc said, right now we have this two status on gNewSense, the installed out of the box. And the one with a fresh update.

If we install gNewSense out of the box, we have an Asus EeePc that will work fine with some minor configurations, we would have:
gNS 2.0 Out of the Box

What still i'm missing. Fn+F5/F7/F8/F9 Hotkeys
gNS 2.0 Fresh Update - 30 June 2008

Using the kernel gNS linux-image-2.6.24-19-386



What still i'm missing. Fn+F5/F7/F8/F9 Hotkeys

A complete fresh update (normal releases and deltah updates) let us without sound, and ethernet*. This may be solved when the ubuntu-modules are completed.

While writing i'm compiling `linux-libre', an FSFLA project to have and maintain a free Linux kernel. A good project for our - KF Verificators - friends :)
I'm building this kernel thinking on the modules for the EeePc. This is the first time i build one, so i hope it works fine.

I'll test it after a full update && upgrade, and will comment again.

So far this is what has been keeping me busy, ... ah really i almost forgot!, Ubuntu works the same, all the minor and mayor configurations applies to, but sound and Ethernet are working, also it consumes almost all the space available on the hard disk without any of you're desired software. XD

* Ubuntu shows the Atheros ethernet using a restricted driver, i suppose that's the cause gNewSense update is disabling it.

Cheers!

About the kernel build

~~ so i hope it works fine ~~

It was sarcasm :P

Hi again!

Today i tested the compiled `linux-libre' kernel after a fresh update and upgrade of gNS 2.0 (~195 packages), and i found that sound has come back and is working fine :), i supposed everything else is working correctly to.
But i wasn't lucky with the Ethernet connection, i believe now that what Ubuntu showed about the restricted drivers for ethernet was right.

Therefore i should say that until we have a free driver for LAN on the Asus, we can't recommend it as a Free Software (mini-)Laptop :-/ to buy.

Maybe this could change with the time and work, but right now they are a lock to user's freedom. A complete shame :'(
I'm referring of course for this model, this may change for the 4G or 8G.
Comments, questions and suggestions are welcome.

Before i this goes further
I have to point that they (asus eeepcs) are useful if you/we don't need to use LAN or Internet (ethernet) connection. (I really doubt it)
Happy hacking!

So is the EEE working good now (wireless is what I care about) with gnewsense 2.1? :)

i have tried gNS 2.1 on my Eee PC 900 with a live usn image. The screen res., sound and ethernet works out-of-the box. The wireless does not since ath5k is supported on higher kernel versions. (but it should be possible to compile)

And my question is - do you have a working distro for the EEE900? I do not want to re-invent the wheel ... if so, can I get a copy?

everything in eeepc 900 works with free software.

1) create a usbimage from gns iso with FUSBi from http://aligunduz.org/FUSBi/

2) install gNewSense

3) install any of the free linux-image deb's from the Freedom Shoppe at http://aligunduz.org/gNewSense/