I know some people want to put a legal copy of Windows XP on their webbook, quite why you would want to do that is a mystery to me, but for those that do we are now providing the drivers for the hardware. The full package is a 51.4MB zip file and I checked it works (well I checked the zip file uncompresses, I didn’t check the drivers work – I don’t have a copy of Windows XP).
Hey Alan,
Drivers work fine, they download, extract and run as they should.
Regardless what OS the webbook is running, it is still a great little machine to have.
any word of when we’re getting recovery for Ubuntu?
Alan, I don’t have a webbook (yet!) but I wanted to compliment you on your writing – you seem to be able to convey technical information about software in a way which is friendly and non-condescending. The open source world needs more people with that sort of communication skill. Nice work.
win XP runs really well on this system, once you get 1GB RAM!! but if u really want to push the system you can also get vista to run on it okish!! just to make things pretty! haha! the odd thing is i cant reinstall ubuntu or any other linux disto because i cant find graphic drivers!! anyone know where i can get linux display drivers?
I’ll be honest, I’m getting pretty frustrated by Ubuntu … I seem to spend more time mucking about with the OS than actually using the laptop to do something constructive!
CPW’s answer to this was to suggest I call their dedicated Webbook call centre .. I can’t be bothered, I’ve given it 2 weeks and I’ve had enough I’m seriously considering Vista Home.
Has anyone any comments re loading Vista or XP Pro please?
Hi everyone here..I totally agree to Dave here.I have this webbook since 3 weeks now and the only thing I have done so far is to fiddle around with the laptop.I found it has a wireless card but can’t get it working.It also has a realtek ethernet car which does not work either..I am fed up with it and wish someone could help me to get this working,else I am considering windows as a last resort…Any help or suggestion????
Thanks..
well generally the wireless card works, but for some reason it is shipped in the “airplane safe” radio off mode. Press FN+F1 to turn it on and give it a few seconds to scan the area then you should see some wireless networks when you click on the network manager icon. The very first batch of webbooks didn’t have the setting set to tell the wireless card that it had an LED on the front, I wrote some instructions on setting this up. So what exactly doesn’t work with the wired network card? I have not heard any reports of this causing problems before. So what do you want to do with the laptop that you can’t do with Ubuntu? I can certainly help and suggest things, but you need to give me a few more clues as to what you want to know.
I followed all these instructions but with no luck at all..It seem that ethernet card,wireless and bluetooth is hard to get running on ubuntu 8.04..I wish you can help me.Thank you
well it doesn’t have bluetooth so lets concentrate on the network cards.
Can you go to Applications/Accessories/Terminal to get to a command prompt. Then type
iwconfig
and hit return. This should give you some information about the wireless card which should be called eth1, in particular it might tell you that the radio is off, this means you need to press fn+F1 again to turn it on. You can type iwconfig again to check the radio is on. Once the radio is on then you can type
iwlist eth1 scan
and it should give you a list of the wireless access points it can see.
Next lets take a look at the wired card. From the terminal type
ifconfig
to get some information about all the network cards. If you plug a wire in you should see a difference, hopefully it should pick up an IP address if you have dynamic addresses on your network. Tell me what you see and then we can go a bit further.
Sorry to be on a downer after all your hard work, but I’m getting p*ssed off that youtube STILL won’t work, files sent by friends colleagues etc wont open … the wireless issue I have solved with powerline adaptors which are brilliant.
Having a ubuntu laptop has taken over my life, rather than using the laptop as a tool it’s become the subject!
The last thing I want to do is downgrade to Windows, but occasionally I have to use it. Wine won’t always work, so I’ve installed XP into the virtualbox (the memory is low, but I’ll expand that later).
An oddity though. The default ‘host-key’ for the virtualbox is the right-hand Ctrl key, and the system messages say that. But for some reason, on the WebBook, it’s the LEFT had one!
prishma@ubuntu:~$ iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.
eth4 no wireless extensions.
wlan0 IEEE 802.11g ESSID:off/any
Mode:Managed Frequency:2.462 GHz Access Point: Not-Associated
Bit Rate:54 Mb/s
RTS thr=1600 B Fragment thr=2304 B
Power Management:off
Link Quality:0 Signal level:0 Noise level:0
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0
ppp0 no wireless extensions.
prishma@ubuntu:~$
//this is the first message I get when typing IWCONGIG
By the way my charger which is less than 3 weeks old turned out to be faulty.A quick run to a local store to exchange the power supply was a must.I insisted on getting a whole replacement as I was worried that my particular one may be faulty but the staff at CPW would not allow the exchange blaming that the manufacturer mentioned to do so…I wish I wont regret to have taken this laptop…
@heeman,
the eth4 and wlan0 bit are confusing me. On the webbook I have in front of me it is eth0 and eth1. I am looking in to this and will probably follow up by email. It looks like it should still work, just try iwlist wlan0 scan and see if that can see any hotspots.
@jim,
yes, I noticed the same thing with virtualbox. It looks like the control keys are the wrong way round, I did report this to the hardware folks who did the keyboard, but I only had a US keyboard layout at the time and I was hoping the UK one would be right. On the plus side I can’t think of any other application where the position of the control keys makes any difference.
@dave,
which files? For YouTube you are going to need flash, this was pre-installed on the first batch but apparently we should not distribute it so we had to take it out of the later builds. Can you go to System-Administration-Synaptic Package Manager then scroll down to find the package called flashplugin-nonfree. Click the checkbox next to it and mark it for installation. Now click apply and follow the prompts. Restart Firefox and flash stuff should work.
Hi Alan, my webbook would not play any youtube files, I did the flashplugin-nonfree thing a week ago with no change, I also did another command about adding extras (sorry can’t remember the command – got it off the ubuntu forums)nothing made any difference.
The helpdesk suggested I posted an entry on the Ubuntu forums!
It would also not convert MSWord or Excel files.
Anyway, patience at an end … I tried to exchange it for an XP version in CPW today only to be told they have all been recalled??
So I dug deep and paid the difference to have an Acer running Vista.
Thanks for your help, I fear you have an uphill battle if the attitude of the helpdesk and CPW helpdesk staff are a benchmark …
@Dave,
there was no recall of XP versions, there just were not many of them made. All the XP versions were sold online, only Ubuntu was available in store. I tend to just use ODF file formats these days, I only occasionally get Word and Excel documents, but I have not had any problems opening them. It even opens the new .docx format but that is a total dead end format now that Microsoft will be supporting ODF files in the next version of their office suite.
I would be interested to know what you will install on the Acer to get it to a productive level of functionality.
hi Dave..I tried to run the scan with no luck at all…seems to me that windows would be better off..I am not against free software but I think people would not mind to pay a little one off price but at least get the support for it.
Phone up CPW and was told that I could have an exchange within 14 days and take an Acer laptop but now since its gone past 14 days,they can only exchange for a like to like model as it is considered as faulty..Hope the staff would not try to open up the laptop and start testing the motherboard…Lol.! As they tried to do that when I exchanged the power supply..Think twice before taking deals from them..All these tricky policy..
General advice..Don’t go for a webbook if you don’t have a clue on how to run commands and if you are an absolute beginner in computing then forget it..Go for a windows version..
Alan, not sure where you have your info from, I saw 50 odd XP versions of the webbook on the CPW systems yesterday with my own eyes, and I was infact offered one in Droitwich but I chose the Linux version.
@Dave
Fair enough, maybe they moved some from the online stock into stores. I didn’t know they were going to do that.
@Heeman
Please send me the serial number as I mailed you offline. Give me a little time to do some investigation and I will sort this out for you. Possibly swapping your laptop for one I have personally verified working. I want to find out why the wireless card is wlan0 on your unit.
Hi Alan,I exchange the webbook today and it seems to be exactly the same as the previous one,FN +F1 does not seem to work and run any program.I will try to email you the serial number once I find it…Thanks for all.
The new laptop has the same problem as the previous one and to make things worst, it would not play youtube either.I have downloaded some flash player for linux but could any one explain the codes to install this..I assume something like “make install”..I am not too sure though..Thanks.
from the email it looks like the new laptop doesn’t have exactly the same problem, but we can follow that up offline. Installing flash is easy when you know how, no need to make it or go download it from Adobe. In short go to System-Administration-Synaptic Package Manager. Scroll down the list and find flashplayer-nonfree. Click the box next to it then apply the change. Restart firefox and you should be good to go. I am going to do an article about installing stuff, including flash.
Heeman, sounds like you are having the same problems with flash and youtube as I had with mine – none of the posted fixes worked, and I eventually gave up and exchanged it for an Acer running Vista.
Hi Dave,I have sorted the problem by using Synaptic Package Manager,enabled flashplayer-nonfree then restart etc..and it worked.Now the worst thing for me is to enable wireless and ethernet card…
Hi Alan,I have noticed another problem when browsing the net..Sometimes if I disconnect when using mobile broadband and try to reconnect back then the page goes to work offline automatically..So when I have connection and try to browse the net then I have to go back to file,and unclick work offline..then refresh before I’m back online.
@heeman, check out this entry the work off line thing was a bug in Firefox 3.0, there is now a workaround in FF 3.0.1 and we are trying to set the default to be right.
How do you install windows ? Can you put it on a USB pen or do you have to get an external cd-rom drive.
I don’t think Windows is flexible enough to install from USB sticks. If you have an external CD-ROM drive then you can boot from that. I haven’t tried it. Can you tell me what is motivating you to put Windows on it?
I am mostly a beginner when it comes to ubuntu, but I have got XP running under virtualbox-ose. I downloaded the googlechrome browser an made sure I have installed the guest additions. With seamless mode turned on, I would say it still runs better than my old 1.6Mhz dell!
Alan perhaps you could also do an article on fiddling with PartImage and using that on a new build an just restoring it if errors are made. I actually use an old memory stick as a boot disk. I think an SD card would be better.
Thanks for the reply I think that I didn’t make myself clear enough. I want to just install windows and get rid of Ubuntu. What I want to know is how to put the actual OS cd onto the machine.
The reason why I dont want Linux is that it just confuses me to much and I spend loads of time just to get it to do things.
Thanks
Jonathan King
@Jonathan
the webbook will boot from a USB CDROM or DVD. I guess Windows comes on one of them? Really, I don’t know much about Windows these days. I did have an XP disk a few years ago. It came with a Thinkpad I bought. I installed Linux on the Thinkpad and put the XP disk in the laptop bag, figuring I would install it later, then I tossed the Thinkpad in the bag and heard a loud crunching sound. I have not had an XP disk since.
Now what exactly in Linux is confusing and what is it that you are spending time to get it to do? I am here to explain stuff and de-confuse people!
I seem to be having a similar problem with Fn+F1 to switch on the wireless mode in XP. I bought model with Ubuntu (worked fine, connected to wireless network). After rebuilding with XP, nothing I do will get the Intel wireless adapter to work. I downloaded and used v11 of the intel drivers from elonex website but adapter in windows device manager says “device cannot start (code10)”. I tried updated v12 drivers from intel site but then they could not find a working adaptor. I am going to try re-install Windows (and then maybe ring Elonex support for Ubuntu image!) if that does not work. Anyone any ideas/insights ?? Thanks
Hi Alan
I am new to Ubuntu being a Windows Vista user. However I have been impressed with the WebBook using Ubuntu.
I read that you were working on an easy way to restore the WebBook to its factory setting. I would like to be included on your list of people interested as sooner or later I am going to need the facility. My biggest problem with the WebBook is that I cannot get the 3 USB Modem to work using either a 3 Sim Card or a T-Mobile Sim Card (My modem is unlocked). I am sure that if I could access the internet then I could be converted to Linux. The Book is great and i am impressed with the quality of the software included.
regards
Tony Prodger
Hi–
Great blog here-has helped in many ways and love my webbook. I do have a question regarding installing another hard drive and would much appriciate any info that can be given…Is it possible to purchase the cover/caddy for the drives as seperate item. I would prefer to just be able to remove the screw and install new hard drive with different OS Windows on it. Any source info would be much appriciated.
Keep up the great work all contributors and especial thank you to Alan.
regards
David
@David,
interesting question, I am not sure what is happening about accessories, partly because Carphone Warehouse has an exclusive on the webbook so I don’t think Elonex can sell them, or bits of them directly. I will try to find out for you.
Against my better judgement i helped a friend sully her lovely Webbook with XP.
I couldn’t get the elonex drivers to unzip without crc errors.
Found manufacturer drivers as below:
Chipset http://www.viaarena.com/Driver/via_hyperionpro_v520a.zip
Audio ftp://202.65.194.212/pc/audio/WDM_R204.exe
Video http://www.viaarena.com/Driver/cx700_winxp_22-00-02t(cx700).zip
Wlan http://downloadcenter.intel.com/T8Clearance.aspx?sType=&agr=Y&ProductID=2964&DwnldID=16617&url=/16617/eng/12.0.4.0_X_Drivers.zip&PrdMap=&strOSs=&OSFullName=&lang=eng
hope this saves someone all the legwork it took me!
Like a few replys I am finding it frustrating. How do you down load the drivers for XP on to the Webbook please
I HAVE TRIED NOTHING HAPPENS. Im just used to clicking a set up icon
Thanks
@Derek and Robin
is there something wrong with the drivers on the Elonex page? I did download and uncompress the file on my webbook and I know some people have installed them. “NOTHING HAPPENS” is not a specific and actionable problem report. So did you download them from the Elonex site? The complete set or one by one? Did they uncompress? Tell me what you are seeing and I might be able to offer some help, or if there is a problem with the files I might be able to report that to someone else.
Hi Alan.
I thought if I up grade to Freespire It would be easy. Oh no it is’t! I can’t get the screen res down to down to 600. It has to be done through the admin. All that shows is 16bit colours and 1024×768 I don’t know how to change it. So I have now on my desk top the drivers to down load. In windows you just click the set up icon. Tried it here nothing happens. Help
Ps Theses are the Folders I down loaded
Wireless lan Intel
Main board drivers V516B XP
Display drivers for Vista and XP
Audio Drivers WDM R196
@David – Freespire!!! now there is a little nugget of information that is worth having. So forget the Windows XP drivers they are as much use as a chocolate teapot, Freespire is a Linux based operating sytem. In fact Freespire is based on Ubuntu 7.04 so I am not sure how much of an upgrade you get from the 8.04 that was pre-installed. Anyhow, I think you need to modify the file at /etc/X11/xorg.conf as detailed in this article
Hi alan
Sorry for being usless. Where do I start Where do you type it. I have only used windows in varying forms where I just click an Icon.
Not Running Comands. Confused
@Derek, but you managed to install Freespire OK? I suppose that is using the external monitor and not running on the LCD? You might be able to get to a console by pressing ctrl+alt+F1 or you might find it in Applications-Accessories-Terminal. Or they might have moved it somewhere else. In fact looking at this screenshot http://wiki.freespire.org/index.php/Image:Desktop2.png I would say the console was the little black icon to the right of the launch button.
Hi Again
That’s the problem I can’t see the bottom task bar because of the screen resolution. I will give it one last shot.
If it don’t work I will have to Istall XP because It’s easier to use.
Thanks Alan much appreciated for you help
Derek
Hi alan one last go
Done as you say found these Icons
shell
linux console
python interpreter
root shell.
Tried typing in each as in the article
etc/X11/xorg.conf
Nothing?
How do I install windows?
ok, typing etc/X11/xorg.conf just types the filename. Like going to a dos prompt and typing c:\autoexec.bat, it won’t do anything. Try opening the root shell and typing
nano /etc/X11/xorg.confthen try to change the resolution to 1024×600 as described in the article on reinstalling Ubuntu, or you could download the xorg.conf that I supplied on that article. I have no idea how to install Windows.All the elonex zip files are corrupt. both winzip & whatever version of zip gentoo uses report crc errors in lots of the uncompressed files.
I found an external CD drive the easiest way to install windows – there are instructions on howto create an SD card version of the windows on the eepc blogs… but they are rather involved. I’d suggest sticking out linux if you can!
Hi Alan and thanks for your help.
Got into the root shell typed exactly what you typed. Result no file or directory found.
I have had enough. It may opperate better but not simple to use. If I want to alter the screen res in XP just click an icon and there it is. Pity
@Derek, same in Ubuntu, selecting the screen resolution from the list of pre-sets available is very easy. The trouble is that when the resolution you want is a bit unusual then you have to give the operating system more of a hint about how to do it. I don’t know much about Freespire so I am guessing it is similar to Ubuntu, looks like in this area it has some significant differences. Linux is pretty easy to use, but can be a challenge to install on some hardware, as can Windows (or people wouldn’t be hunting about for drivers).
@Robin,
I just downloaded all the drivers from the support site for the XP webbook, they all decompressed for me using archive manager on Ubuntu, however the link to the lan/wifi drivers is incorrect, it looks like it should be: http://www.elonexsupport.com/Webbook/lan_driver.zip I will try and get this link fixed, but the archives themselves seem OK to me. There are some text files and images in the VIA chipset one that look fine. I don’t have a windows machine to try the .exe files but I think zip files either work perfectly or not at all don’t they?