This is a guide to running Linux with the Asus Eee PC 1215B laptop. If you have the Asus Eee PC 1215B and are running Linux on it please consider editing this page or adding a comment below with your compatibility details. By contributing you will help other people running this laptop or trying to make a decision on whether to buy it or not.
This page is just for discussing using Linux on the Asus Eee PC 1215B. For a general discussion about this laptop you can visit the Asus Eee PC 1215B page on LapWik.
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For full specifications see the Asus Eee PC 1215B specifications page.
Name | Asus Eee PC 1215B |
Processor | AMD Fusion APU E450 1.65GHz (dual core)/E350 1.6GHz (dual core)/C30 1.2GHz (single core)/C50 1.0GHz (dual core) Processor |
Screen | 12.1“ (1366×768) Widescreen |
RAM | DDR3, 2 x SO-DIMM, 2GB RAM Upgradable to 4GB (work fine with 8GB) |
HDD | Seagate ST932032 hard drive up to 500GB |
Optical Drive | None |
Graphics | AMD® Radeon HD 6250/AMD® Radeon HD 6310 |
Camera | UVC 0.3 M Pixel Camera, 320 by 240 resolution |
Ethernet | 10/100 Ethernet Atheros AR8152/8158 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller (NDIS 6.20) |
WiFi | WLAN 802.11b/g/n @2.4GHz Atheros AR9285 |
Bluetooth | Bluetooth 3.0 |
Device | Compatibility | Comments |
---|---|---|
Processor | works | |
Screen | works | |
HDD | works | |
Graphics | works | opensource kernel drivers lack graphic acceleration, proprietary catalyst drivers are not compatible with many distributions |
Sound | works | some problems with HDMI audio and the MIC, does not work in Skype |
Ethernet | works | |
Wireless | works | |
Bluetooth | works | |
Modem | not tested | |
USB | works | |
Card Reader | works | |
Webcam | works | |
Suspend to RAM | works | debian users can install eeepc-acpi-scripts, other distro users must install manually acpi scripts |
Hotkeys | don't work |
This part aims to describe the steps needed, to fully enable all features of the 1215B when using Ubuntu 11.10, “Oneric Ocelot” (released in autumn 2011).
Ubuntu 11.10 “Oneric Ocelot” supports all hardware components of this netbook. 3D-Desktop acceleration starts automatically. Sound is fully supported. WLAN support works right away. In the system menu, scrolling with the touchpad easily can be configured. Due to the dual core processor, Ubuntu runs with excellent performance on this netbook. Watching movies in HD for example is not a problem. Browsing files on a device connected via bluetooth works reliable. The battery will not last for the claimed eight hours. Depending on the system load, the battery life time is something around five hours.
'Warning! ' Before you install Ubuntu on the 1215B, backup all your data. During the installation procedure, parts of your hard drive will be formated and you will most likely change the size of existing partitions. If something goes wrong during these very critical operations, all your data may be lost! So backup all your data! Keep in mind, that the installation disks of the original operating system of the laptop are ONLY stored as images on the hard drive. So please, make sure you have backed up all your data before you proceed! |
It is recommended to keep a Windows installation on the netbook. It is at least needed for BIOS updates.
* Get the installation image from Get Ubuntu. The 1215B are 64 bit processors and you should use the 64 bit Ubuntu as it works significantly faster. Once the .iso file is downloaded, create a bootable USB pen drive either directly on windows (download the USB pendrive application) or on an existing Ubuntu 11.04 computer (create a bootable USB pendrive with the USB-startup-creator tool in the Ubuntu menu under “System” > “Administration”) * Plug the USB stick into the netbook, restart the computer and enter the BIOS by pressing and maintaining “Escape” when the computer starts. A screen appears to select the boot device, make sure you select the USB stick and first partition ubuntu (trying it, obviously). During the installation process you need to manually partition the disk (do not select “install Ubuntu alongside Windows 7” it will shut down the installation process. Choose the “something else” instead). The preloaded partition comes : /dev/sda1 ntfs 107374 MB (Windows principal partition) /dev/sda2 fat32 16106 MB (Windows recovery environment) /dev/sda3 ntfs 196574 MB (data partition) /dev/sda4 none 16 MB (unknown)
You can re-size the windows data partition to 20000 MB and go on the following partition table : /dev/sda1 ntfs 107374 MB (Windows principal partition) /dev/sda2 fat32 16106 MB (Windows recovery environment) /dev/sda3 ntfs 50000 MB (data partition) /dev/sda5 ext4 20971 MB (Ubuntu mounted on /) /dev/sda6 ext4 20971 MB (Ubuntu mounted on /home) /dev/sda7 swap 5022 MB (Ubuntu mounted on swap)
Then Install Ubuntu on you laptop. Grub, the application that enables users to choose which operating system chose, does not work at the first time. There is a way around :
sudo grub-install –boot-directory=/mnt/boot /dev/sdX
Example: sudo grub-install –boot-directory=/mnt/boot/ /dev/sda
Reboot and it should work. You should now have Ubuntu working
Then Ubuntu should ask you to activate the ATI/AMD proprietary FGLRX graphics driver (post-release updates). The driver is required to fully utilize the 3D potential of the graphic cards.
* Google Chromium navigator. You can find in the “Ubuntu Software center” : Go to the left of the screen with the mouse and click on the filled paper bag icon. It can also be downloaded at http://www.google.com/chrome check for the 64 bit .deb (For Debian/Ubuntu). Download it and open the self installer.
These are the common additional software install that can't be installed throught the “Ubuntu Software Center”
* Skype. You can also find it in the “Ubuntu Software center” and search for Skype. It will ask you to add the “Natty-Partner Source”. Just accept. You can alternatively check http://www.skype.com/intl/en/get-skype/ and ask for the Ubuntu + 64-bit version.
* Dropbox. It is not in the “Ubuntu Software center” you can download it at https://www.dropbox.com/downloading Check for the Ubuntu (x86_64 .deb) version.
* Autoscan-network (A network discovery utility) http://autoscan-network.com/download_linux
These are other common install you can get directly from the Ubuntu Software center: * Microsoft fonts To install Microsoft fonts like (Arial, Times New Roman). Search for “ttf-mscorefonts-installer” in the Ubuntu Software center To install Wingdings and other fonts, download the font file (wingding.ttf) here: http://cid-a69c4d1ba0c53559.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/WinExperience/Fontes/WINGDING.TTF . Copy the font file to ~/.fonts and refresh the font cache by typing in a terminal
sudo fc-cache -fv
* Medibuntu (Multimedia, Entertainment & Distractions In Ubuntu) is a repository of packages that cannot be included into the Ubuntu distribution for legal reasons (copyright, license, patent, etc). Follow the instructions here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu * Google Earth (needs medibuntu) * WiFi Radar (Tool to scan neighboring WiFi signal), Wavemon to measure the intensity of wifi signal so to adjust the position of your laptop in increase reception (don't forget this is a terminal application, you have to add a launcher for it) EtherApe (Graphical Network monitor that shows you who you computer is talking with), Umit Network scanner, Zenmap to check what ports are open in your network, Wireshark to see what is going on on your network. * Sync-ui is a sync application to synchronise all your agenda and contacts with an external server (needs medibuntu) Search for sync-ui in the Ubuntu Software center and Sync will appear. Install it and run it. It will first ask fo a slow sync * Audacity An excellent piece of software that permits to edit sound and music files. * Other interesting programs include GnuCash, Openshot video editor and Team Viewer (not in the “Ubuntu Software Center”),
After the netbook has been in powersave mode, you will allways be asked to logon. If you don't want this:
1. uncheck: “lock screen when screen saver is activated” in the System→Preferences→Screen Saver menu.
2. Type gconf-editor in a terminal. Under apps/gnome-power-manager/locks check: “use_screensaver_settings”.
3. If still asked for password, you can (also in gconf-editor) go to desktop/gnome/lockdown and check: “disable_lock_screen”. Credits to itslofty below for this tip!
Super Hybrid Engine doesn't work, so power usage is higher than Windows. Hotkeys don't work. Please post workarounds, if any to get those keys working.
You can enter any specific notes with running Linux on the Asus Eee PC 1215B here. Test results refer to ubuntu 11.04.
You can enter a summary of how well the Asus Eee PC 1215B works with Linux here. * Agen Sbobet Kaskus
~~DISCUSSION:off~~