Acer Aspire One Update BIOS Using Linux

23/09/2009 by mtn.

How I updated my Acer Aspire One netbook BIOS using Linux/Ubuntu 9.04.

Following these instructions could render your netbook unusable! Follow at your own risk.

Quick Summary (detailed instructions below)

1) Use Unetbootin to create a FreeDOS bootable USB stick.
2) copy the downloaded BIOS update and BAT script on to the stick (unzip the BIOS download, and then go to the sub folder BIOS_ACER_3310_Windows_AOA110 & AOA150/Dos_Flash, and copy the files 3310.BAT, 3310.fd and FLASHIT.EXE to the USB stick).
3) Boot the Aspire One from the USB stick - choose “Default” and then “Safe Mode”.
4) At the Dos prompt go to the b: drive (i.e. type “b:”, without quotes, and hit enter)  and run the  the 3310.BAT script (i.e. type 3319.BAT, without the quotes, and hit enter) - job done!

Required Downloads

IMPORTANT: Download the correct BIOS update for your model from the Acer website
Service and Support > Driver Download > Netbooks > Aspire One > Model - Then the BIOS tab

Download Unetbootin for Linux:  http://sourceforge.net/projects/unetbootin/files/UNetbootin/372/unetbootin-linux-372/download

Download FreeDOS image ISO: http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/micro/pc-stuff/freedos/files/distributions/1.0/fdbasecd.iso

Detailed Instructions

Download the FreeDOS iso file to your desktop, from the link above. We’ll come back to this in a moment.

Unetbootin is a great tool for creating bootable USB sticks, we’re going to use it to create a FreeDOS bootable USB stick. Download the Linux version (from the link above) on to your destop. Right click on the downloaded Unetbootin file, go to Properties > Permissions and check the “Allow executing file as program” check box. Close the properties window. Double click on the Unetbootin (you should be asked for your password), and Unetbootin should start up.

In  Unetbootin there are a number options - choose “Diskimage”, next to the ISO drop down box. Next to the the Text Input bo, there is a “browse for file” button, click this and select the earlier downloaded FreeDOS iso file. Select the correct USB drive, and click “OK”.

Once the bootable FreeDOS  USB stick has been created, copy the downloaded BIOS update and BAT script on to the stick. To do this, unzip the BIOS download, and then go to the sub folder BIOS_ACER_3310_Windows_AOA110 & AOA150/Dos_Flash, and copy the files 3310.BAT, 3310.fd and FLASHIT.EXE to the USB stick.

Once the USB stick in ready, insert it into one of the USB ports on the Aspire One. Turn on the Aspire One and press the f12 key. Choose to boot from the USB stick. Once booted, hit enter and then select “Safe Mode”.  At the FreeDOS prompt (a:) go to the b: drive (i.e. type “b:”, without quotes, and hit enter)  and run the  the 3310.BAT script (i.e. type 3319.BAT, without the quotes, and hit enter).

Wait for the BIOS to update - do not interrupt this process.

My Acer Aspire One (AOA110-Ab, Model No: ZG5) BIOS
Latest BIOS Version at time of writting: 3310 (size 2.7 MB)
Release date: 2009/08/05

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Fix Network Printing Problem with Synology DS207+ and HP1018 Printer

24/02/2009 by mtn.

The HP LaserJet 1018 printer would not print via the Synology DS207+ as a network printer if the printer had been turned off and on again. I found that I had to connect the printer directly to a computer running Windows (in this case Windows XP) as a USB printer,  and print something, and then reconnect the printer to the DS207+ before my Ubuntu computer computers could use the HP1018 as a network printer. It looks like this is because the printer needs firmware “uploaded” each time it is turned on and this happens via the Windows printing process. After some hunting about (and this post maybe premature as I have only just “fixed” the problem) it looks like the solution is to update the Synology so that each time the printer is plugged it uploads the firmware. Here I will outline the step that I followed to accomplish this so that the printer should always work as a network printer for computers running the GNU/Linux/Ubuntu operating system. Briefly the steps are, gaining telnet access to the DS207+, downloading and copying 2 files to the DS207+. Most of the information I found at this forum post… http://www.synology.at/enu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=12718&sid=133792242a5c43c98348c4961947d545#p54476

Telnet access

Get the telnet patch from here http://download.synology.com/download/telnet/EnableTelnet.zip and follow the sysnology instructions for installing the patch http://www.synology.com/enu/support/releaseNote/telnet.php Basically through theDS207+ management HTML interface, go to firmware and select the newly downloaded and unzipped patch file, and then wait for the DS207+ to restart.

To access the DS207+ via telnet, open up a terminal in Ubuntu - Applications>Accessories>Terminal and type

telnet [IP address of the DS207+]
(In my case this was 192.168.2.2)

Then type the user name

root

and the admin password used for accessing the management interface.

Downloading and copying the files across to the DS207+

Ok… so far so good, we have a telnet session going on the DS207+

Now, download the 2 files needed from here

http://cid-94d5e7d028973aa5.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Public/usb.agent
http://cid-94d5e7d028973aa5.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Public/sihp1018.dl

I then copied these via samba/the network/Nautilus, to a shared folder I had set-up on the DS207+ called shared

Then, back to the terminal and time to copy the files from their shared location on the DS207+ to the location that they need to be on the DS207, i.e. copying the files from where I dropped them across the network into the correct place on the DS207+ operating system.

So I needed to get root access on the DS207+, first of back in the terminal windows type…

su

then…

ls

to list all the folder. Then…

cd  volume1/shared

Then

ls

again to make sure the files I copied there, are indeed there… they were! To copy the file to where they need to be type…

cp usb.agent /usr/syno/hotplug/

and then…

cp sihp1018.dl /usr/syno/hotplug/firmware/

Now reboot the DS207+ and the printer should always work with Ubuntu as a network printer.

Who was it that said something like… “I’m sorry I have written you such a long note but I don’t have time to write a short one”!!! This is just to help me remember what I have done and what resources I have used, so if you are reading this I’m, sorry if it does not makes sense…

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How to Install a Larger Hard Drive to a Softmodded Xbox With Ubuntu

24/09/2008 by mtn.

Xbox details

Xbox from Ebay that has already been soft modded with Xbox Unleased dash board and XBMC as an application.

Installing a larger (300gb) hard drive

1) Get the Eeprom.bin file.

First download a copy of ConfigMagic Xbox v1-6 FINAL

http://btjunkie.org/torrent/ConfigMagic-Xbox-v1-6-FINAL/4324cfc48c7fb23b4043bea4e68b20b01f74b156b581

Double click on the ConfigMagic-Xbox_v1.6-FINAL.rar file and unpack to the desktop.

Using FileZill, FTP the ConfigMagic folder to the Xbox e:/apps folder.

Reboot the Xbox and go to Applications>ConfigMagic - go to the main menu and select the option to backup the Eeprom.

FTP back in to the Xbox and find the Eeprom.bin backup file in E: (NOTE: to see the file in FileZilla, may need to go to “server” from the option at the top of the screen, and then select “force show hidden files”)

 2) Creating the xboxhdm boot disk, and then unlocking the xbox hard drive, cloning the xbox hard drive to the new (larger) hard drive and then locking both hard drives - follow this tutorial: http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=650510&view=findpost&p=4275830

 Download xboxhdm from one of the torrent tracker sites, for example Pirate Bay

To create the boot disk in Ubuntu use the “make-iso-lin.sh” instead of the “make-iso-win.bat” script. I.e. open terminal and the navagate to the xboxhdm folder cd /home/[user-name]/Desktop/xboxhdm and then type the command ./make-iso-lin.sh and hit enter.

 3)Locking the hard drives

NOTE: remember to lock them both. i.e. follow the tutorial to the end and this will lock the xbox hard drive. Then unplug the xbox hard drive from the IDE cable, set the jumpers on the new hard drive to “master”, then boot up from the boot disk again and follow the same locking process.

4) Formatting the new hard drive

Finally, plug the new hard drive in to the Xbox and go the the Unleashed “format” menu (password “Xbox” - case sensetive) and format all deives, F, G, X, Y, Z)

Done

To set XBMC as the default dash use this http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=220144 remeber to download and unpack XBMC to get the shortcuts from _tools.

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Settings for Manually Mapping Synology DS207+ Shared Folder from the Neuros OSD

15/05/2008 by mtn.

(OSD using the new Arizona software platform)
Both the Synology DS207+ and the Neuros OSD use open source software.

From the OSD’s main menu Play.Browse>Network Shares>Map Network Share Manually>

Connection Type = Windows
Server Address = [DS207+ LAN IP address], example: 192.168.2.20
Share Location = [folder name], example: share-ds207
Share Name = [folder name], example: share-ds207

Accept

Input user details (check user privileges using the DS207+ admin pages)

Done

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Stop My Asus Eee PC Going Into Standby Mode When the Lid is Closed

27/04/2008 by mtn.

I’m sitting on the train happily surfing the web on my Asus Eee PC using the now free WiFi Internet, available since National Express took over from GNER a few months ago (available on the UK east cost service anyway!). I use my Eee PC as an MP3/OGG player. I decided I wanted to stop surfing the web, and read a book instead (a momentous decision), this meant closing the lid of the Eee and leaning my book on top of it for maximum comfort. However, this reminded me that when you close the lid, the Eee automatically goes in to standby mode - very annoying if you want to carry on listening to music!

So, since I’m on the train and have nothing else to do, I thought I would investigate how to stop it going in to standby mode when you close the lid, and instead do nothing except turn the screen off.

It took a few mins to find out how to do it…

First, open a terminal. In easy mode (default Linux setup) simply press the CTRL, ALT and T keys on your keyboard all at the same time. The default terminal program in Easy mode is named lxterm.
(Info from: http://wiki.eeeuser.com/howto:openaterminal)

Then, in the console type

sudo kwrite /etc/acpi/lidbtn.sh

You should see

#!/bin/sh
LID_STATE=`cat /proc/acpi/button/lid/LID/state | awk ‘{print $2 }’`if [ $LID_STATE = “closed” ] ; then
/etc/acpi/suspend2ram.sh
fi
exit 0

Replace with the code below and save the file.

#!/bin/sh
LID_STATE=`cat /proc/acpi/button/lid/LID/state | awk ‘{print $2 }’

if[$LID_STATE = “closed”]; then
# /etc/acpi/suspend2ram.sh
su user -c “DISPLAY=:0 xset dpms force suspend”
elif[$LID_STATE = “open”];then
su user -c “DISPLAY=:0 xset dpms force on”
fi

Close the lid to test. That’s it.,
(Info from: http://wiki.eeeuser.com/close_lid_shutdown)

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Network Printing Ubuntu and Synology DS-207+ Disk Station

04/01/2008 by mtn.

Setting up a client computer (i.e. laptop or desktop) running Ubuntu Gusty to print over the home network with a Synology DS-207+ Disk Station as the print server.

There is also a very rough video version (my first ever video tutorial!) of this How To.

This part of the How To assumes that the network printer is pluged in to the DS-207+ and that the DS-207+’s IP address and Samba user name and password are know, and that the network is setup and ready to go. If this is not the case please see the sections below and the Synology DS-207+ setup CD and manual.

Setting up a Network Printer on a Client Computer Running the GNU/Linux Ubuntu Gutsy Operating System
- Open up the “Print Configuration” window - System>Administration>Printing

- Click “New Printer”.

- In the add printer dialog window select “Windows Printer via SAMBA” and then in the “Samba Printer” input box type the IP address and printer designation (this is hard set by the DS-207+ and cannot be changed - “/usbprinter”) of the DS-207+ (i.e. 192.168.2.20/usbprinter).
- Click “Authentication required” and add the user name and password and click “Verify”.

- Once the printer has been verified as being available click forward.
- On the next screen, select the printers manufacturer from the list and click forward.
- On the next screen, select the printer model from the list and click forward.

- Choose a name for to identify the network printer by.

- Select the newly installed printer from the list on the left and click the “Print Test Page” button.

All being well the printer is installed correctly and will print a test page.

Get the Home Network DHCP Allocated IP Address of the DS-207+
- To login the network router open up Firefox and type the IP address 192.168.2.1 (the default IP Address for this particular Belkin router) into the address bar and then hit “Enter”.
- Login to the router administrations pages using the admin user name and password.
- Click the option “DHCP Client List” in the left hand menu.
- The DS-207+ host name will be “null” and the IP address is indicated to the left.
NOTE: I have “hard set” the DS-207+’s IP address so itis outside the DHCP allocated addresses (it is 192.168.2.20) and will not change if the router is restarted. This is because the client computers have to know the correct IP address for the DS-207+ in order access the network printer. To hard set the IP address see the instructions below.

Login to the DS-207+
- - To login the DS-207+ open up Firefox and type the IP the address 192.168.2.20 (this is the IP Address I have hard set the DS-207+ t0) into the address bar and then hit “Enter”. Otherwise find the IP address of the DS-207+ as allocated by the routers DHCP server - see instructions above.
- Login to the DS-207+ administration pages using the admin user name and password.

“Hard Set” the DS-207+ Home Network IP Address
- To “hard set” the DS-207+ IP address login to its administration pages as above and then click the “System” option in the left hand menu.
- Input the IP address that you want making sure it is within the home networks range i.e. 192.168.2.2 - 192.168.2.xxx.

Create a New Samba User

Check Pinter is Attached to the DS-207+

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Getting an HP LaserJet 1018 Printer Woirking With Gutsy 7.10

02/01/2008 by mtn.

The HP LaserJet 1018 printer stopped working for some reason, although it had worked out-of-the-box. This thread on the Ubuntu forums sorted things tho, specifically using the code below.

$ wget http://foo2zjs.rkkda.com/firmware/sihp1018.tar.gz
$ tar xvzf sihp1018.tar.gz
$ arm2hpdl sihp1018.img > sihp1018.dl
$ sudo cp ./sihp1018.dl /usr/share/foo2zjs/firmware/sihp1018.dl
$ sudo cat /usr/share/foo2zjs/firmware/sihp1018.dl > /dev/usb/lp0

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Re-Encoding AVI Using Mencoder

02/01/2008 by mtn.

I had a home movie file that was not playing well on the Neuros OSD so I checked out how to re-encode it. Specifically I followed these instructions.

mencoder original-movie.avi -oac mp3lame -ovc xvid -xvidencopts pass=2:bitrate=800 -o new-version-of-movie.avi

Once re-encoded the movie worked perfectly.

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Neuros OSD Media Player - Auto Mount Network Shares

18/12/2007 by mtn.

Neuros OSD: http://www.neurostechnology.com/

IMPORTANT: Remember to turn off the firewall on the computer with the shares!
(Use Fire Starter and add a rule to allow the OSD access)

Setup Samba
This was basically to allow basic networking and so the script files created using gedit could be copied on to the OSD.
Create Samba user: http://linux.byexamples.com/archives/123/creating-samba-user/
Open terminal and type…

smbpasswd -a username

Telnet into the OSD
Open terminal and type…

telnet
open [IP address]
User name: root
Password: pablod
cd ..
ls

Auto Mount Script
General instructions: http://forums.neurostechnology.com/index.php?topic=7918.0
Specific script I adapted: http://forums.neurostechnology.com/index.php?topic=7918.msg41934#msg41934

Create the script and rc.user files using gedit and copy them to /mnt/OSD folder on the OSD

cp /rc.user /mnt/OSD
cp /mount_script.sh /mnt/OSD

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Sharing Files Over A Local Area Network (LAN) - Ubuntu and Windows

15/11/2007 by mtn.

Straight forward and clear tutorial for getting files sharing between Ubuntu and Windows machines using Samba: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=202605&highlight=network+sharing

I used this with Ubuntu Gutsy 7.10 and and Vista, and it worked great.

[Edit] Another good tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad17kma8rNM

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