excellent news! Mandriva 2009 works!

The solution is to hav SD cards on each slot when installing Mandriva. It can only detect the Card reader with attached cards. If it's empty on setup, it will not detect it.

 

Anybody tried any boot-up tweaks? Mandriva 2009 boots up at 1m 30sec on my A110.....

That's more than 2x what I get with XP home. I'm gonna play with this setup for a couple of days, but I'll be goin back to XP soon.

Issues so far:

No wifi light. Slow SSD performance. SD Cards not detected on boot up, must unplug/plugin for mandriva to detect. :x

 

I've been using Mandriva 2009 on my AAO since RC1 (Gnome version) and overall it's worked well. I added another GB of RAM and that really helped performance. Most everything seemed to work out of the box with the following exceptions (do at your own risk):

1. UPDATED: Speakers didn't shut off when headphones were plugged in. To fix I edited /etc/modprobe.conf and added this line

options snd_hda_intel model=toshiba

note - You should also see more options in the volume control. My initial post had the model=auto which got the headphones to switch off the speakers, however I found that I couldn't get any audio after suspend. Using model=toshiba got both things to work.

2. Right card reader did not detect when a card was inserted. To fix I edited /etc/rc.d/rc.local and added this line

/sbin/modprobe pciehp pciehp_force=1

note - I'm not sure if this will have any impact on any other hardware, but everything seemed to be working in my limited testing.

3. Wifi LEDs don't work. From what I could find I don't think they will in the current kernel.

4. Wifi performance was slow. It's still not as fast as it should be, but here are some things I did to help speed it up:
Added install ipv6 /bin/true to /etc/modprobe.conf to disable IPv6
Disabled IPv6 in Firefox (about:config set network.dns.disableipv6 to true)
Disabled avahi-deamon (Control Center -> System -> Manage System Services)
Used a static IP rather than DHCP for my home connection.

5. SSD tuning;
Set noatime option in /etc/fstab
Set elevator=noop in /boot/grub/menu.lst

6. Other tweaks:
Disabled Compiz (I used it for a while but it really uses a lot of CPU under certain conditions)
Used Clearlooks Compact theme (http://martin.ankerl.com/2007/11/04/clearlooks-compact-gnome-theme)
Changed all fonts to 8pt
Installed Conky. Here's my script (.conkyrc):

Code:

# Conky configuration
background yes

# Use Xft?
use_xft yes

# Xft font when Xft is enabled
xftfont sans:size=8

# Text alpha when using Xft
xftalpha 0.7

# MPD host/port
#mpd_host localhost
#mpd_port 6600
#mpd_password tinker_bell

#Print everything to console?
out_to_console no

# Update interval in seconds
update_interval 1

# This is the number of times Conky will update before quitting.
# Set to zero to run forever.
total_run_times 0

# Create own window instead of using desktop (required in nautilus)
own_window yes

# If own_window is yes, you may use type normal, desktop or override
own_window_type override

# Use pseudo transparency with own_window?
own_window_transparent yes

# If own_window_transparent is set to no, you can set the background colour here
#own_window_colour black

# If own_window is yes, these window manager hints may be used
own_window_hints undecorated,below,sticky,skip_taskbar,skip_pager

# Use double buffering (reduces flicker, may not work for everyone)
double_buffer yes

# Minimum size of text area
minimum_size 210 5

# Maximum width of window
maximum_width 215

# Draw shades?
draw_shades yes

# Draw outlines?
draw_outline no

# Draw borders around text
draw_borders no

# Draw borders around graphs
draw_graph_borders yes

# Stippled borders?
stippled_borders 1

# border margins
border_margin 4

# border width
border_width 0

# Default colors and also border colors
default_color #cccccc
default_shade_color black
default_outline_color black

# Text alignment, other possible values are commented
#alignment top_left
alignment top_right
#alignment bottom_left
#alignment bottom_right
#alignment none

# Gap between borders of screen and text
# same thing as passing -x at command line
gap_x 5
gap_y 30 # To hide from tranparent window borders.

# Subtract file system buffers from used memory?
no_buffers yes

# set to yes if you want all text to be in uppercase
uppercase no

# number of cpu samples to average
# set to 1 to disable averaging
cpu_avg_samples 2

# number of net samples to average
# set to 1 to disable averaging
net_avg_samples 2

# Force UTF8? note that UTF8 support required XFT
override_utf8_locale yes

# Add spaces to keep things from moving about? This only affects certain objects.
use_spacer none

# Maximum number of special things, e.g. fonts, offsets, aligns, etc.
max_specials 512

# Maximum size of buffer for user text, i.e. below TEXT line.
max_user_text 16384

TEXT
${goto 16}${color #6679C5}${color #6679C5}$sysname ${color #7FBEF4} $kernel ${color #6679C5} / ${color #7FBEF4}$machine
${goto 16}${color #6679C5}Uptime:${color #7FBEF4} $uptime
${color #FFFFFF}${color #FFFFFF}${font 28 Days Later:size=8}LOAD $stippled_hr ${font}
${color #6679C5}Core 1: ${color #7FBEF4}${freq_dyn_g cpu1}Ghz
${color #6679C5}Core 1: ${goto 65}${color #6679C5}${cpubar cpu1 7,110} ${color #7FBEF4} ${cpu cpu1}%
${color #6679C5}CPU Ave: ${goto 65}${color #6679C5}${cpugraph cpu0 7,110}
${color #6679C5}RAM: ${goto 65}${color #6679C5}${membar 7,110} ${color #7FBEF4} $memperc%
${color #FFFFFF}${font 28 Days Later:size=8}PROCESSES $stippled_hr ${font}
${color #6679C5}Processes: ${color #7FBEF4}$processes
${color #6679C5}Name ::. ${goto 138}CPU%${goto 175}MEM%
${color #7FBEF4}${top name 1} ${goto 138}${top cpu 1}${goto 175}${top mem 1}
${color #7FBEF4}${top name 2} ${goto 138}${top cpu 2}${goto 175}${top mem 2}
${color #7FBEF4}${top name 3} ${goto 138}${top cpu 3}${goto 175}${top mem 3}
${color #6679C5}Memory ::.
${color #7FBEF4}${top_mem name 1} ${goto 138}${top_mem cpu 1}${goto 175}${top_mem mem 1}
${color #7FBEF4}${top_mem name 2} ${goto 138}${top_mem cpu 2}${goto 175}${top_mem mem 2}
${color #7FBEF4}${top_mem name 3} ${goto 138}${top_mem cpu 3}${goto 175}${top_mem mem 3}
${color #FFFFFF}${color #FFFFFF}${font 28 Days Later:size=8}NETWORKING $stippled_hr ${font}
${color #6679C5}External IP: ${color #7FBEF4}${execi 10000 curl 'http://www.whatismyip.org'}
${color #6679C5}Internal IP: ${color #7FBEF4}${addr wlan0}
${color #6679C5}Down: ${goto 65}${color #6679C5}${downspeedgraph wlan0 7,92} ${color #7FBEF4} ${downspeed wlan0} Kbs
${color #6679C5}Up: ${goto 65}${color #6679C5}${upspeedgraph wlan0 7,92} ${color #7FBEF4} ${upspeed wlan0} Kbs
${color #FFFFFF}${color #FFFFFF}${font 28 Days Later:size=8}HARD DRIVE INFO $stippled_hr ${font}
${color #6679C5}Root: ${goto 65}${fs_bar 7,92 /} ${color #7FBEF4} ${fs_free /}
${color #6679C5}Home: ${goto 65}${fs_bar 7,92 /home} ${color #7FBEF4} ${fs_free /home}

I put a delay on starting the Conky script so it stays behind other windows using this script (.conky_start.sh)

Code:

#!/bin/bash
sleep 10 && conky -c .conkyrc;

To start it, add an entry to Sessions with the command sh ./.conky_start.sh

Cheers
Eric

 

UPDATE:

I did the Mandriva 2009 setup again... wifi activity light now works. But problem now is that my right SD slot does not work, and the webcam..... grrrr! I don't get it. How these things happen when doing the exact same processes. Is it because Mandriva downloads alot of stuff during install? :cry:

 

Can I still install Gnome even if my version of Mandriva 1009 is the KDE version?

UPDATE:

Installed GNOME lastnight, and it's way way better than KDE. I even enabled compiz now. Everything is alot more responsive.

 

I've installed Mandriva 2009.0 powerpack dual-boot on an AA1 with KDE desktop and XP. Mostly it all works Ok with some issues:

• WiFi light doesn't work (but h/w switch does)[/*:2jl4nd0q]
• Battery life a little down in Linux compared with XP, probably around 20-30 minutes less[/*:2jl4nd0q]
• Problem with touchpad not working after recovering from suspend-to-RAM when an external mouse is present, seems to work ok if no external mouse[/*:2jl4nd0q]
• Startup into linux is a little slow from cold-boot[/*:2jl4nd0q]
• The usual problems recognising the SD card readers[/*:2jl4nd0q]

That's about it - no other problems that I've found so far and none of them real show-stoppers as I have work-arounds. When I have some spare time I plan to try and improve the boot and touchpad problems, I can live with the other issues.

 

I think that after so many negative comments here, i won't install Mandriva until they developed a fully working distru. I think Mandriva should remove the line that they out of box support AA1, that is a kind of cheating users.!!!! :evil:

 

Agreed. It's a shame- I was interested.

 

Reading the Mandriva website, it says that Mandriva 2009 Powerpack is the edition that has all the tailored stuff for the AAO, MSI, and Eee. They mention that the Powerpack version was made with these machines, specifically, in mind. It seems to recommend the Live CD and other versions for desktops and other laptops only.

Has anyone tried the Powerpack version?

I tried downloading it, but am having troubles stitching the RAR files back together to get a nice ISO reconstituted.... Any ideas?
---EDIT---

Ok, I got the RAR files meshed, burned the ISO, and am installing it on my daughter's Eee.... we'll see how it looks on that first.

Question: I need to keep XP UNTOUCHED on my AAO - how do I create a dual-booting system with XP and Mandriva 2009 Powerpack? Can I just install Mandriva on a thumbdrive to boot off of? If so, how do I do that?

Thanks!

 

I have identical experience with installing Mandrive 2009 One (GNOME) on my 110 with the exception of the LED for the wireless switch. Anything special to make the LED for the wireless switch to work?

 

Hmmmm... Sounds like a good idea. I'll give that a try when I get my hands on a Powerpack DVD. Been fiddling with mandriva for a few weeks now. My only remaining complaint is the boot time. It's still so damn slow, even if they claim faster boot. I get 1m30s to desktop.... thats more than double of what I get with XP Home. W/c is 40sec.

Any ideas on how to get it to at least 60sec boot?

 

You already have an at least 60 second boot. ;-)
</smartass>

Is it any better with a lighter desktop environment (say, xfce), and startup processes (well, processes in general) pared down?

 

Install it on a usb flash disk just as usual, I have mine Adata MyFlash 4GB(3.7) full blown install from live cd, not removing the unused driver at the end of the installation,(I am newbie to linux), shut down the machine and just plug the usb flash disk to the One and boot from there, about 1 minute boot up, I have tried the same method with Ubuntu 8.04 , yes it boots, but it wont bring me the desktop. 1.3 Gb free space left on 4Gb. Evrything works fine, the wifi and the led, Fn keys for sound and brightnes.

 

Hehehe. yeah. Should have been "at most" 60sec... in any case. I've stripped the boot process of some unneeded services, reinstalled Mandriva on a non journalizing EXT2 FS.... now the boot time is down to 1m15sec from button click to working desktop. I can live with that, but still wished it was less. :roll:

 

That's too bad. Still looks like nothing's topping Linpus, and even Linpus looks like it has plenty that can be gutted out. I wish there were enough demand/motivation for someone to take a decent distro and pare it down to only what's needed/prudent for the AA1.

 

I am currently running Mandriva 2009 Gnome and as far as I can see almost every thing works out of the box. However! there are some problems. The main one that concerns me is the ability to use the SDHC card as my home partition. At present the SD card slots are both seen and swapable with no problem using either the Nautilus or Dolphin file browser. However! Gparted, QTparted and Mandriva Control Center can not see the SD card readers. This means when installing, the SD card readers can not be used as a drive for installation, also there is no way to format one of the SD cards. I have been posting on the Mandriva forum and have had some replies but I have not gotten any answers yet.