How to install Antix onto a SD card on a EEE PC 701

Moonlight_Fox · posted: 2012-06-27 20:40

Hello everyone!

I'm hoping you can help you a linux noob.
I have a Asus EEE PC 4G 701 with Xandros on it, I was hoping to install a few things onto it only to find it wasn't anywhere near as simple as I'd hoped. After another forum post elsewhere, I've been advised to drop Xandros entirely and install Antix. Thing is, as this thing doesn't belong to me, I was hoping to install it onto a CF or SD card. The other advantage of this setup would be if I ended screwing something up, I could boot Xandros and get online to see how to (hopefully!) fix it.
I was pointed towards this:
========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"http://yatsite.blogspot.co.at/2009/07/install-antix-82-final-on-asus-eee-900.html"
linktext was:"http://yatsite.blogspot.co.at/2009/07/i ... e-900.html"
====================================

As well as lots of talk about grub menus, live CD's, persistence, something else called antix2usb....none of which I understood.

I think now I'm even less clear on what it is I need to do!
This was made for a EEEPC 900 and Antix 8.2, I'm not even sure if this'll work with my machine as it's an older version. Should I be using V8.2, or should I try the newest version? does that make much difference to the way it's installed?
Does the card have to be formatted, and if so do I really need to use that particular program (Gparted) to do it, or can I do it with Xandros? I've had nothing but headaches and frustration trying to get anything other than the programs it came with to run on this thing so if I can, I'd like to aviod installing things onto it where possible.
I've notice that antix comes as a .iso file, the tutorial mentions putting it onto one of the cards/USB drives. Does this mean literally dropping the .iso file onto it? In my mind a .iso file is a disk image and needs another program to write the files, folders etc that are contained within it. Is this not the case with linux/Antix? Someone mentioned something called antix2usb..maybe this is where it comes in? *shrug* I'm at a loss.
After that the tutorial gets much easier to follow, so I think if I can get what I need onto the correct SD and CF cards then I'll hopefully be okay.
Any help would be much appreciated!

afab4 · posted: 2012-06-27 21:20

If you want to install antiX-12 to a USB use this information:

========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"antix.freeforu ms.org/how-to-use-the-new-usb-sh-script-to-install-live-to-usb-t3741.html"
linktext was:"antix.freeforu ms.org/how-to-use- ... t3741.html"
====================================
l

If you need to download antiX-12 here is the link you need for the iso file:
Recommend using either the base or full version.

========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"https://sourceforge.net/projects/antix-linux/files/Testing/"
linktext was:"https://sourceforge.net/projects/antix- ... s/Testing/"
====================================

More questions? Don't be afraid to ask....

rokytnji is the resident guru on EEE-PC installs.

rokytnji · posted: 2012-06-27 22:01

I was pointed towards this:
========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"http://yatsite.blogspot.co.at/2009/07/i"
linktext was:"http://yatsite.blogspot.co.at/2009/07/i"
====================================
... e-900.html
As well as lots of talk about grub menus, live CD's, persistence, something else called antix2usb....none of which I understood.

I think now I'm even less clear on what it is I need to do!
This was made for a EEEPC 900 and Antix 8.2, I'm not even sure if this'll work with my machine as it's an older version. Should I be using V8.2, or should I try the newest version? does that make much difference to the way it's installed?

Howdy and Welcome. The installer for AntiX has not changed from version 8.2 to the present. So that how to I made at Yats still applies for AntiX 12 or 11.

I thought I made those how to's pretty basic. I can be into overkill on how to's considering that I am not a nerd.

I am pretty sure I mentioned Unetbootin also in my how to's at Yats on making a live usb of AntiX. You are going to need 2 flash drives. One for Live AntiX. The other for installing AntiX to.

rokytnji · posted: 2012-06-27 22:10

My last internal install of AntiX to internal SSD drive shows screenshots of the installer also and shows how it has not changed.

antix-11-eeepc-900-install-finished-t3104.html

rokytnji · posted: 2012-06-28 21:05

If you get as far as installing to external flash drive Moonlight_Fox. Here is the /boot/grub/menu.lst off of my 16 gig external SD flash card running AntiX 12 full install iso on My M&A Companion Netbook which is just a toughbook version of a eeepc.

This setup boots up ok on this netbook. I made this on my Acer Aspire 5534 dual core Laptop. I have since moved it over to this netbook.

Code: Select all

timeout 10
color cyan/blue white/blue
foreground ffffff
background 0639a1

gfxmenu /boot/grub/message

title antiX at sdb1, kernel 3.2.2-antix.1-486-smp
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.2-antix.1-486-smp root=UUID=d2c859c1-ec51-44d6-a0b6-2a0d85533976 nomce quiet nosplash nouveau.modeset=0 vga=791  nomodeset
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.2-antix.1-486-smp
boot

title        Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 3.2.5-antix.1-486-smp
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.5-antix.1-486-smp root=UUID=d2c859c1-ec51-44d6-a0b6-2a0d85533976 ro vga=791  nomodeset
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-3.2.5-antix.1-486-smp

title        Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 3.2.5-antix.1-486-smp (init-3)
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.5-antix.1-486-smp root=UUID=d2c859c1-ec51-44d6-a0b6-2a0d85533976 ro 3 vga=791  nomodeset
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-3.2.5-antix.1-486-smp

title Windows Recovery Environment (loader) at sda1
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

title Windows 7 (loader) at sda2
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1
### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=d2c859c1-ec51-44d6-a0b6-2a0d85533976 ro nomodeset radeon.modeset=0
# kopt_2_6=root=UUID=d2c859c1-ec51-44d6-a0b6-2a0d85533976 ro nosplash quiet nomodeset radeon.modeset=0

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(/dev/sdb,0)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
##      alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
##      lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
##      lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
##      altoptions=(single-user) single
# altoptions=(init-3) 3

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
##      howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
##      memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title        Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 3.3.5-antix.1-486-smp
#root        (/dev/sdb,0)
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-3.3.5-antix.1-486-smp root=UUID=d2c859c1-ec51-44d6-a0b6-2a0d85533976 ro nomodeset radeon.modeset=0 
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-3.3.5-antix.1-486-smp

title        Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 3.3.5-antix.1-486-smp (init-3)
#root        (/dev/sdb,0)
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-3.3.5-antix.1-486-smp root=UUID=d2c859c1-ec51-44d6-a0b6-2a0d85533976 ro nomodeset radeon.modeset=0 3
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-3.3.5-antix.1-486-smp

title        Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 3.2.5-antix.1-486-smp
#root        (/dev/sdb,0)
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.5-antix.1-486-smp root=UUID=d2c859c1-ec51-44d6-a0b6-2a0d85533976 ro nomodeset radeon.modeset=0 
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-3.2.5-antix.1-486-smp

title        Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 3.2.5-antix.1-486-smp (init-3)
#root        (/dev/sdb,0)
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.5-antix.1-486-smp root=UUID=d2c859c1-ec51-44d6-a0b6-2a0d85533976 ro nomodeset radeon.modeset=0 3
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-3.2.5-antix.1-486-smp

title        Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 3.2.2-antix.1-486-smp
#root        (/dev/sdb,0)
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.2-antix.1-486-smp root=UUID=d2c859c1-ec51-44d6-a0b6-2a0d85533976 ro nomodeset radeon.modeset=0 
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-3.2.2-antix.1-486-smp

title        Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 3.2.2-antix.1-486-smp (init-3)
#root        (/dev/sdb,0)
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.2-antix.1-486-smp root=UUID=d2c859c1-ec51-44d6-a0b6-2a0d85533976 ro nomodeset radeon.modeset=0 3
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-3.2.2-antix.1-486-smp

title        Debian GNU/Linux, kernel memtest86+
#root        (/dev/sdb,0)
kernel        /boot/memtest86+.bin

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

Don't get discouraged. Installing AntiX to a external flash drive on a netbook is a breeze for me. Once you learn how.
You will be as proficient at it as I am.

Moonlight_Fox · posted: 2012-06-29 10:31

Okay!
Finally managed to get V12 downloaded!.. for some reason dispite it saying I have 7.6GB free space on my SD card, the download kept failing again and again around 35%
I then tried my CF card and it worked without problems! Odd, maybe it was just a coincidence.

Soo this grub menu thing, from what I gather it exists to create a menu when you start the machine so that you can choose which OS to boot...is this correct?
Is this something that's necessary for installation, or is it something that can be done at a later date? I think to start with, I'd just like to get Antix installed and running. To begin with, I can always hit F3 during startup and select which drive to boot from..right?

Moonlight_Fox · posted: 2012-06-29 10:47

OOh, forgot to ask: This system was bought in Austria, and as such Xandros is in German. Do I need to do anything in particular in order to make Antix install in english, or does it do that by default?

rokytnji · posted: 2012-06-29 11:28

Soo this grub menu thing, from what I gather it exists to create a menu when you start the machine so that you can choose which OS to boot...is this correct?

Correct.

Is this something that's necessary for installation, or is it something that can be done at a later date? I think to start with, I'd just like to get Antix installed and running. To begin with, I can always hit F3 during startup and select which drive to boot from..right?

What do you mean by"get AntiX installed and running" before I say anything else. On my
eeepc. The Esc key suffices for me to temporarily change boot order for
"I can always hit F3 during startup and select which drive to boot from..right?"

Moonlight_Fox · posted: 2012-07-02 04:09

yay! finally got around to getting the iso written and booted up!

I was having trouble using UNetbootin on linux, so I just used it under windows instead.

During startup, there's a menu with various startup options..do I just leave it to run under the default, or change it...I think one of them mentioned Live USB.
When I left it to run under the default setting, I get a lot of things like 'udevd[598]: timeout: killing: udisks-part-id /dev/.tmp-block-7:4' [687] as well as many others. I thought it was stuck in a loop and I was about to restart when it continued to the desktop environment. Somehow I doubt this is normal!

Moonlight_Fox · posted: 2012-07-02 06:52

hm, okay.. the live CD option brings up similar errors.

I think I may know what it might be, I did the Unetbootin part in windows, and at that time I happened to format the SD card...in FAT 32.
sure enough, GParted shows the SD card as being FAT 32. would this cause those errors and is it something that can be sorted or do I need to re-format the card and start again?

Moonlight_Fox · posted: 2012-07-02 08:00

ooh, I just went back and re-read the tutorial.. it mentioned pressing the space bar 'as antix boots up', I noticed that pressing the space bar on the menu selection causes it to jump to one of the options... I'm guessing this is more than just a coincidence!

Although after a bit it then asks for a login and password and the type cli-installer.. it doesn't mention this anywhere in the tutorial so maybe this isn't the right thing after all?
*shrug*

rokytnji · posted: 2012-07-02 11:51

Although after a bit it then asks for a login and password

Try login name demo
password name demo

then after you login. Type in next

startx

see if you get a Desktop then.

Moonlight_Fox · posted: 2012-07-02 15:16

Okay, that seems to work, installing at the moment.

I think the SD card slot may be malfunctioning, it seems to be very very slow. I have both cards plugged into my media card reader now and it seems to get rid of those timeout errors, also I noticed that in GParted, when the SD card was in the slot, it took a very long time to scan the drives, with them both in the media card reader.. it was just a few seconds.

It's definitely much easier when you have two machines running next to each other!

Moonlight_Fox · posted: 2012-07-02 18:37

Wohoo! up and running!

Well, mostly.. for some reason it can't seem to be able to find my wireless router. Any ideas as to why this may be?

Next task - learn how to install programs on this thing.. I sure hope it's easier than on Xandros *shudder*

rokytnji · posted: 2012-07-02 18:42

Good. As root in terminal (type in sux, then password) Post output of

Code: Select all

ifconfig -a

The hardrive just died on my M&A Technology Notebook. I think my wife or her buddy dropped the thing when I gave the netbook to her. So I am busy looking for a new ZIF Hard drive.