Installing Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty) on Asus Eee PC 1008HA
NOTE: See Addendum to Installing Ubuntu Jaunty on Eee PC 1008HA for updated instructions.
I just picked up one of the new Eee PC from Asus called the Seashell yesterday and I absolutely love it! I guess it’s classified as a Netbook. It’s much improved from the original 701 4GB model that I got over a year ago. Just for curiosity sake, I tried it with the pre-installed Windows XP Home Edition for a day. I was quite impressed with the brightness and clarity of the screen. It has had some good reviews on the web. I just had to see it for myself. Here are some quick specs as taken from their website:
- Genuine Windows XP Home
- Elegantly Beautiful Seashell-inspired Design
- Ultra slim at 1″ and lightwieght at a mere 1.1kg
- Capacious Hybrid Storage Comprising 160GB HDD and 10GB complimentary online Eee Storage
- Easy Mobile Connectivity with built-in 802.11n and Bluetooth v2.1
- 6 hours unplugged computing with Super Hybrid Engine
Anyway, after using it for a day with Windows XP, I decided to wipe it clean and install my favourite Linux distribution on it – Ubuntu Jaunty 9.04. Installation went smoothly with one exception of the wireless network card not working (and possibly the wired Ethernet card too; I didn’t try it because I only use wireless at home). To get the wireless to work, you need to install the compat-wireless package from Ubuntu’s repository. How am I going to install this package if the wireless and wired Ethernet is not working? Fortunately for me, I had another USB wireless card which works out of the box on Jaunty without requiring addition setup. I popped that into one of the USB ports on the Seashell and connected to my AP at home and updated my new install first from the Terminal:
sudo apt-get update
then:
sudo apt-get upgrade
Rebooted the Seashell when the upgrade was completed and then again from the Terminal:
sudo apt-get install linux-backports-modules-jaunty
then:
sudo apt-get reboot
Unplugged the USB wireless card that I was using temporarily while the Seashell rebooted. When the system came back up and after I logged on, my wireless card worked.
I’m now enjoying my new Netbook!
UPDATE: I’ve attached a screenshot of my Desktop on the Eee PC for those curious 
Enjoy!
May 26, 2009 at 9:06 am
What is the make & model of the USB wireless card you used? I’d like to get the same rig for myself.
May 26, 2009 at 9:16 am
It’s a D-Link DWA-130 Wireless N USB Adapter. Here’s a link to it on their website: http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=566
You can pick it up anywhere at your local store or online.
May 31, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Did all of the “little things work”? For example, the hotkeys to resize the screen or call go to sleep?
I just got this machine my self, and really want to install a version of Linux. I was running Xubuntu (dual boot with XP) on my OLD laptop before it fianlly quit.
I am leaning toward eeebuntu right now, because it’s supposed to work with all of the eee idiosyncoracies, but if plain Ubuntu works, I’d rather do that. I’m hardly fluent in Linux, so I think that sticking with a major distro like Ubuntu makes some sense.
Thanks for your reply,
-Ian
June 1, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I’m happy with what’s working for me. Screen dims automatically when it’s idle and behaves as it should when I go to use it again. As for the function keys above the keyboard, these are what works in the default install:
F1 – Sleep/Standby mode – It goes into standby and comes out of it, but network doesn’t come up properly; although I only tested with a USB ethernet adapter I had plugged into it at work as the built-in ethernet is not recognized.
F2 – Wireless Toggle – Not Working
F3 – I think it’s touchpad toggle – Not Working
F4 – I think screen size toggle – Not Working
F5 – Screen Brightness Down – Works
F6 – Screen Brightness Up – Works
F7 – I think display off – Not working
F8 – Toggle Display – I think it works, it flickers when I press it
F9 – Not sure what that does – Didn’t do anything when I pressed it
F10 – Volume Mute – Works
F11 – Volume Down – Works
F12 – Volume Up – Works
Overall, I am happy with what I have working. I’m sure if I google’d enough I could probably get the other function keys to work, but all that is important to me is the display brightness and volume. I leave my wireless on all the time when I use it at home and don’t need the Ethernet port unless at work, which I already have a USB Ethernet adapter for. I don’t really put the Eee PC on standby as Ubuntu doesn’t take that long to startup or shutdown like Windows does. Besides having it in sleep mode or standby does still slowly drain your battery. I like having it completely off
Hope that helps!
Cheers.
June 3, 2009 at 3:00 am
Have you tried “Ubuntu Netbook Remix”? Maybe it’s more suitable to run on a Eee PC!
Screenshot: http://www.twitpic.com/6iupd
June 3, 2009 at 10:25 am
I’ve tried it..but I prefer the full versions of the OS with full desktop.
July 4, 2009 at 6:04 am
Netbook remix HAS a ful desktop version, There’s a “desktop switcher” app in the Preferences menu.
June 5, 2009 at 7:58 am
do you get good battery runtime in ubuntu? i hardly get above 4 hours – and i put even put a ssd-drive in… apart from that, nice netbook
there are some acpi scripts available to make all buttons work – see
http://code.googe.com/acpi-eeepc-generic
i used the 1000he config and only modified it slightly…
June 5, 2009 at 2:43 pm
I didn’t really gauge the battery usage, but that sounds about right. Their spec sheet says 6 hours though. I think Ubuntu (Linux) power management on the Eee PC still isn’t up to par with the Windows installation. Might just be in how the drivers are written.
June 5, 2009 at 7:59 am
misspelled the link …
http://code.googe.com/p/acpi-eeepc-generic/
thats it now
June 5, 2009 at 3:19 pm
You still misspelled it
http://code.google.com/p/acpi-eeepc-generic/
I think that’s correct now
June 5, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Thanks a lot for the detailed explanation. I was exactly stuck at the same problem. I had Kubuntu on my Pen Drive (thanks to pendrivelinux.com). I tried it on this new 10008HA… it neither connected to Ethernet not wireless!
I did not have any other external Network card, however I used the pen Drive on other laptop – booted Linux there, got the necessary drivers – shut down – and again plugged that to 1008HA. Even after reboot though Synaptic Package Manager shows the drivers package (the one mentioned above) installed, i am not able to connect to network.
I am using WiCD as a Network Manager (because the native Network Manager never managed to connect to any Wireless!
What could be the problem!? Will you please help?
June 8, 2009 at 10:26 am
Check the modules that are loaded. I believe the one loaded specifically to enable the wireless is the ath9k. To find out if it is loaded type:
lsmod | grep ath9k
These show up on mine when I run that command:
ath9k 282804 0
lbm_cw_mac80211 227364 1 ath9k
led_class 12036 1 ath9k
lbm_cw_cfg80211 73760 2 ath9k,lbm_cw_mac80211
Use that as a comparison. If ath9k is not loaded, you can manually load the module with the modprobe command. So in this case:
modprobe ath9k
and if you want to install it so it loads at startup type:
cd /lib/modules/2.6.28-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath9k/
to change to that folder (that’s where the module is located in mine, check your kernel version) and type:
insmod ath9k.ko
That’s it. Hope that helps!
June 7, 2009 at 11:06 am
Hey,
Sorry if this question is a little less relevant than some of the others. How does the flash plugin perform on this netbook under Ubuntu; e.g. how well do standard-quality YouTube videos play?
Cheers,
Andy.
June 8, 2009 at 10:11 am
The flash plugin is fine on the netbook. YouTube videos run smoothly in standard-quality. HD quality will play with the odd jitter but not much. Still good quality.
June 8, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Thanks for the help.
I managed to figure out the problem. I have burnt the Live CD ISO to flash drive and was running Linux from Flash Drive. All the changes, I was doing used to get lost after reboot!
I installed it on the disk. Downloaded the said binaries from windows machine and installed them separately – after reboot, everything worked just fine and dandy!
Thanks
June 8, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Glad to hear you got it working!
June 23, 2009 at 4:54 pm
I don’t understand something from your explanation. You said that it’s necessary to install the “compat-wireless” package. However, as far as I can tell, the instructions provided only installs “linux-backports-modules-jaunty”. Now that “package” is just a dummy with dependencies, so I assume it’s the case that one of the depended-upon packages is “compat-wireless”. Is that accurate?
Thanks for documenting all this. My 1008HA should arrive in a couple days!
June 23, 2009 at 4:59 pm
That’s correct
Congrats on the purchase of your 1008HA. I hope you enjoy it! Check out Eeebuntu 3.0 as well. The full Standard install for it has been released. I did a write-up on the Base install awhile back.
June 23, 2009 at 5:02 pm
wow that was quick
OK, well if that’s true, do you happen to know what the actual name of the .deb file is for those of us without a spare USB wireless adapter? My plan is to pull the package (or packages) from my regular laptop and then put them on the installation USB drive.
Again, thanks!!
June 23, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Actually, it’s built into the package, so the only .deb package you should need is:
linux-backports-modules-jaunty_2.6.28.11.15_i386.deb
replace “2.6.28.11.15_i386″ with the kernel version you’re using. To find out from Terminal type: uname -r
Hope that helps!
June 23, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Actually you might need 3 .debs:
linux-backports-modules-jaunty
linux-backports-modules-jaunty-generic
linux-backports-modules-jaunty-
June 23, 2009 at 5:14 pm
ok totally awesome – thanks again!! I’m planning on trying this with Xubuntu, so I’ll be back with anything weird/different/interesting I find out.
June 23, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Whoops..the code didn’t come out right on the last .deb. It should be the one with your kernel version ie:
linux-backports-modules-jaunty-2.6.28-13-generic
..which is for the laptop I am currently using (not Eee PC
June 23, 2009 at 5:22 pm
You can search for those packages from this site:
http://packages.ubuntu.com/
June 23, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Thanks – actually what I did was pull the package on my already-Jaunty normal laptop and then find them in the archive directory.
June 26, 2009 at 5:42 am
It looks like there’s a minor problem here. That linux-backports module is for 2.6.28-13, but Jaunty installs fresh from the alternate CD with 2.6.28-11.
June 26, 2009 at 5:51 am
oh duhh, I was just looking through the wrong repository. The .deb can be found here:
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/jaunty/i386/linux-backports-modules-2.6.28-11-generic/2.6.28-11.11
June 26, 2009 at 11:02 am
hi
many thanks for yor very desired an d helpful info. unlucky me, i ‘dont have an other usb wifi device. is there a way to download this backports and then transfer them via normal usb stick. atfer that how do can i install this backports.
thank very much for your appreciated help
mac
June 26, 2009 at 11:54 am
Great Help, its hard to find anything about the 1008HA.
My only question would be if ethernet works too after that.
Any idea?
June 26, 2009 at 12:28 pm
ok. I just downloaded the *.deb from here:
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/jaunty/i386/linux-backports-modules-2.6.28-11-generic/2.6.28-11.11
just like Mike said. I installed it and rebooted. Wirelles worked prerfectly after that, but ethernet didnt. So i did a system update and now wireless doesnt work anymore :S.
June 27, 2009 at 11:37 am
Wired works now as well, how it works is explained here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=7526788#post7526788
June 30, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Thanks for your clear write-up. I followed these instructions and managed to get the wireless working on my new gateway lt3103u with linux mint.
July 1, 2009 at 5:10 pm
When up do a system update (particularly right after you get Ubuntu 9.04 installed in the first place), for whatever reason the package update mechanism doesn’t get and run the “backports” .deb for you. Thus, if you’re getting started, it’s important to find the “11″ and “14″ (and maybe “17″? memory is fuzzy) versions of the backports package. Have them all handy. After the initial install, load the “11″ version. Then, do your update, and run the “14″ (and, maybe, “17″) packages.
This advice will of course age over time – as new releases of kernel patches come out for Jaunty, that process may have to be repeated.
July 1, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Hey while I’m here – has anybody noticed that audio volume from their 1008HA is very very low? Like, barely audible? I’ve installed Pulseaudio and Aumix, and I can get it up to the point where it’s quiet but OK via earbuds, but totally inadequate from the built-in speakers. Of course I don’t expect thundering sound, but as it is I have to put my head right up next to the machine to hear mp3 playback. (I’m not deaf or hearing impaired at all
If I figure anything out I’ll post back here.
October 12, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I am having a problem with my power-saving options. I have the computer set to suspend when idle for a given amount of time. This works if I leave the screen open, but if I close the screen it does not. Have you had any problems like this, and do you have any suggestions?
July 8, 2009 at 8:29 am
Has anyone managed to get bluetooth working under Ubuntu 9.04 on this model?
July 8, 2009 at 9:19 am
If you’re talking about bluetooth for file transfers, ensure you have the gnome-bluetooth packages installed:
apt-get install gnome-bluetooth
Then it should show up in your Applications > Accessories > Bluetooth File Sharing
July 8, 2009 at 12:56 pm
“If you’re talking about bluetooth for file transfers, ensure you have the gnome-bluetooth packages installed:
apt-get install gnome-bluetooth
Then it should show up in your Applications > Accessories > Bluetooth File Sharing”
I’ll try this. But, in fact, I wasn’t even able to get pairing to work. I read somewhere that the bluetooth radio hardware needs to be turned on in XP, an OS that I’ve already deleted! Doh!
July 8, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Ubuntu has built in drivers for it. I remember it working for me. I left the netbook at home and I will try for you when I get home tonight and let you know.
August 20, 2009 at 9:13 am
Does Bluetooth work under Ubuntu?
July 22, 2009 at 11:09 am
What can I say, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!
Yesterday I bought my 1008HA, and was until 3 a.m. trying that was working the wifi connection.
And today with your indications it has worked in 10 minutes.
It’s incredible that this information is not be in ubuntu-com or worse even in Asus, at least still there are generous people who shares his knowledge.
Once again, Thank you.
July 22, 2009 at 11:38 am
Hi Alberto: You’re welcome
August 3, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Thank you very much for tutorial, i want to ask for your permission to translate it to Indonesian for my blog. Thanks
August 25, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Sure no problem.
August 25, 2009 at 3:06 am
Thanks for the useful info. It’s so interesting
August 25, 2009 at 1:52 pm
[...] Installing Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty) on Asus Eee PC 1008HA [...]
August 26, 2009 at 9:25 am
Is there a FN key combo to turn on the bluetooth radio? I don’t think mine is on…
August 26, 2009 at 9:30 am
No there is no FN combo key, however, if your wireless is on, then the bluetooth will be on. What exactly are you trying to do? Be sure you install gnome-bluetooth to be able to use Bluetooth File Sharing.
August 28, 2009 at 9:15 am
Does the ethernet and wifi work by default with the latest version of 9.10?
September 3, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Thanks for the idea to get networking via an USB device.
It is easy to not see the trees when in the woods.
I looked around what was at hand and found my Telenor 3G USB modem.
I plugged it into my 1101HA and Ubuntu presented the 3G install wizard, I could get it working. Only detail to remember there is that Username and Password needs to have dummy names filled in in the config panel for the Telenor account before a connection is possible, such as “Donald” and “Duck”.
So now my initially Ubuntu network crippled 1101HA is busy doing an Ubuntu update..
October 6, 2009 at 5:13 am
I have installed Ubuntu 9.04 along side XP on my Asus PC 1000he but cannot make the WiFi work. I am new to Ubuntu and know very little. I would appreciate any advice how to get the WiFi working.
October 21, 2009 at 3:19 pm
This website will tell you how to get the wifi working: http://www.jfwhome.com/2009/08/06/perfect-ubuntu-jaunty-on-the-asus-eeepc-1005ha-and-1008ha/
November 8, 2009 at 7:24 pm
great netbook! BUT there is no computer without an ethernet card, got any luck with that??
Thanks!
December 17, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Install the new Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic. Everything works for me.
August 25, 2009 at 11:52 am
Yes it does. You will need to install gnome-bluetooth in order to use File Tansfer, etc. Just do a “sudo apt-get install gnome-bluetooth” and it will show up under Applications > Accessories > Bluetooth File Sharing. Not sure about bluetooth audio though as I don’t use it.