Thinking about Ubuntu on my NC20

[Nohtanhoj]

After using “vanilla” XP for a while, I’ve been wanting to try something different… I’ve decided that I’m gonna try to install the newest release of Ubuntu (not the Netbook Remix). Is the install particularly difficult? I’ve never done any partitioning/multi-OS installs before. If it requires advanced computer knowledge, please let me know, because I don’t want to end up with a wrecked NC20.

Thanks in advance,
M.J.S.

[cdwakelin]

I’d wait for Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala due out this month. The beta installed with no problems for me, whereas earlier versions need you to install the openchrome driver manually etc.

You’re right not to use Netbook Remix as the openchrome driver isn’t sufficiently hardware-accelerated (yet) to cope well with the more complicated graphics in NR.

Linux support for the NC20 isn’t as good as the Atom-based netbooks yet, but VIA have started to provide beta drivers recently so there’s hope for the medium term!

See https://help.ubuntu.com/community/NC20 for community docs and especially the link to the relevant forum topic at the bottom of it.

Hope this helps,
Chris

[0d3]

I just got 9.10 installed with the openchrome video driver without any big problems. Creating a working USB live media takes a little bit of work. And after thats done the actual Ubuntu installation is very easy. The installer guides you with the partitioning of the hard disk so that isn’t a problem.

Anyway, here’s how I got things rolling:
1. download LinuxLiveUSB for Windows
2. use a USB stick of 1Gb or more (I used a 1Gb stick)
3. run LinuxLiveUSB, select to download Ubuntu 9.10
4. in LinuxLiveUSB deselect ‘Enable launching LinuxLive in Windows’ to get some more needed persistent space on a 1Gb stick
5. select maximum persistant space (on a 1Gb stick about 300Mb). If you are using a bigger USB stick you can select more space but it isn’t needed
6. create the bootable stick
7. plug in an ethernet cable for network access for the remaining steps
8. boot your NC20 with the USB stick
9. at the end of the boot and during the Ubuntu login sound the screen will cycle through colors because a suitable video driver is missing – press CTRL-ALT-F1 to drop to the terminal
10. follow ‘Build from SVN’ instructions from Ubuntu NC20 wiki
11. when you get to the desktop you can play with the system or install to the hard disk

As the openchrome driver is now installed on the persistent space on the USB stick it will remain there and therefore on the next boot from the stick the display will work correctly. Also the driver will be installed on the hard disk if you install Ubuntu.

After playing for a day with 9.10 everything seems to work pretty nicely on my NC20 🙂

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