If you have been looking around for a way to run the Ubuntu 8.04.1 on the MSI Wind U100
successfully, there is a simple, comprehensive tutorial; which would guide you through the
process.
Incidentally, it also includes the instruction to start your webcam and wireless installed.
So, let’s get started:
Preparation
1. Begin by Downloading the Ubuntu ISO from your chosen mirror.
*Optional* In Windows, check it for errors with WinMD5Free. In GNU/Linux:
cd the-directory-where-your-iso-is
md5sum filename-of-iso.iso
Study the comparison between the characters to the official hashes here. If they match, you
may proceed.
2. Download UNetBootin. This program will turn your USB stick (a minimal of 1gb is needed)
into a LiveUSB.
3. Plug in your USB stick and start UNetBootin. Click on ‘Disk Image’ and select the ISO
file was downloaded. In the field ‘Type,’ select ‘USB Drive’ and then the letter of your USB
drive. Click ‘OK’.
If you do not have a USB stick, you’ll have to burn the CD image to a CD. For a desktop PC,
use the docs-recommended program, Infra recorder. Likewise, a USB stick is ideal as the Wind
does not have an internal drive for optical disks. So, you will require an external drive
for your burned disk.
4. Restart your pc while your LiveUSB/CD is still plugged in. This will start up Ubuntu.
5. Now, you can start the installation process.
INSTALL
1. Go through each screen, adding the required information where required.
2. When you are at the partitioning portion, select ‘Manual.’
Make one ‘/’ ext3 partition about 10-15gb large. If you’re having trouble converting gb to
mb, use this handy byte calculator. ‘/’ is where Ubuntu will go.
Create a swap partition about twice the size of your RAM. The Wind that comes with 1.0gb
ram, so has a swap that is 2048mb large.
Use the rest of the disk for your ext3 ‘/home’ partition, where all your files will reside.
If you want to read a bit more on partition-planning, if you plan to dual-boot, you can read
aysiu’s guide here. It will give you more information on partition-planning.
3. Now you can proceed with the installation.
WIRELESS
If you do not intend to buy a new wireless card and just use the one that comes with the
Wind.
1. Download this .tar.gz archive and add it to your home folder.
2. From your newly-installed Ubuntu desktop, head to Applications > Accessories > Terminal.
Input these commands. Click on the Reference link to find out what each command does.
sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`
tar xvzf rtl8187se_linux_26.1016.0716.2008.tar.gz
cd rtl8187se_linux_26.1016.0716.2008
./makedrv
sudo ./wlan0up
3. If you are still in the terminaR, repeat this step for each of these .ko files, replacing
the * with the proper filenames.
ieee80211_crypt-rtl.ko
ieee80211_crypt_wep-rtl.ko
ieee80211_crypt_tkip-rtl.ko
ieee80211_crypt_ccmp-rtl.ko
ieee80211-rtl.ko
sudo cp -r ieee80211/*.ko /lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/
4. The last set of commands:
sudo cp rtl8185/r8180.ko /lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/
sudo depmod -a
sudo modprobe r8180
You may need to play around with the networking options periodically even if it seems to be working.
Do not close the terminal if you want to get your webcam fully-operational
WEBCAM
1.The MSI Wind’s built-in webcam is either an ID 0c45:62c0 Microdia or an ID 5986:0203 Bison. However, it would do no harm to check it again:
lsusb
If those characters fail to appear, press Fn+F6 and input lsusb again.
2. Once you are convinced that you are using one of these webcams, input the following commands:
sudo apt-get install subversion (Add build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r` if you did not
go through the above steps for setting up your wireless card.)
svn checkout svn://svn.berlios.de/linux-uvc/linux-uvc/trunk linux-uvc
cd linux-uvc
sudo make
sudo make install
sudo cp -a uvcvideo.ko /lib/modules/`uname -r`/ubuntu/media/usbvideo/
sudo modprobe uvcvideo
3. Now, you may want to try out your webcam. Go to Applications > Add/Remove Programs,
look for a program called Cheese, and install it. Then, go to Applications > Graphics >
Cheese.
That’s it. You have done it!