How to Install Kubuntu on Acer Aspire One

By Debby Miranda Mannuragie Friday, April 1, 2011 0 comments
Kubuntu is another version of Ubuntu. It’s a little easier to manipulate some of the settings than Gnome desktop and it has a more familiar looking desktop. Installing Kubuntu on the Acer Aspire is really rather easy, but it will take a while. This guide is for the Acer Aspire One mini notebook, but should work on just about anything computer that would run Kubuntu. 

Computer's spesification
Computer with Windows OS
Min 2GB USB Flash that you can erase all data on.
Kubuntu 8.04.1 ISO (Like Ubuntu, 8.04 will not work on the Aspire One)
Ubuntu8convert2.exe
Cat5 Cable with Internet connection


Creating a bootable USB with Kubuntu Live CD
  1. Download the Kubuntu ISO from here and save it on your hard drive.
  2. Download the Ubuntu8convert8.exe from here.
  3. Insert your USB drive into the Windows machine and make note of the drive letter (If the drive letter is higher than K: you’re going to have problems, so change the drive letter if needed to something below K that doesn’t conflict with other drives).
  4. Run Ubuntu8convert2.exe you will be prompted to extract the contents. Be sure you have around 1GB free on the drive you’re going to extract to.  DO NOT EXTRACT TO THE USB!!   A new folder has been created called “Ubuntu8″
  5. Copy the Kubuntu ISO into the Ubuntu8 folder.  You can just drag and drop it, but be sure you have enough room on the hard drive to accommodate the size of the ISO.  You should now have the Ubuntu8 folder on your hard drive with the Kubuntu ISO inside the Ubuntu8 folder, there will also be other files inside the Ubuntu8 folder
  6. Click on fixu8.bat inside the Ubuntu8 folder (If you’re using Vista or logged in as restricted user, right click and run as administrator).  A command window will open and begin the process of copying the files and preparing the USB to be bootable.   Follow the directions of the prompts!!  You will need your USB drive letter, enter it when prompted.  This process can take a rather long time and seems to get longer with larger USB.  DO NOT STOP THE PROCESS!!

You have now created a bootable USB Live with Kubuntu 8.04.1

Installing Kubuntu on the Acer Aspire One
  1. Plug the USB into your Acer Aspire One with the power turned OFF and power on the unit.
  2. Press “F12″ when the machine starts to pull up the boot menus  F12 allows you to choose which device you will boot.  Choose the USB device
  3. Plug in your Acer Aspire One with a Cat5 cable that has internet (this isn’t mandatory and won’t cause a problem, but it will make things easier during install)
  4. Choose Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer.  Notice, it says Ubuntu and NOT Kubuntu, that’s OK and no need for alarm.  The install option may work, but it’s not what I used.  Let the machine load. It takes about 4 minutes for me from the USB on the Aspire One to load the Kubuntu OS from the USB Live.
  5. Let it load! If you’re using the Aspire One, there will be a prompt saying, you’re using restricted drivers, wait until this prompt pops up and close it.
  6. Click the Install icon on the desktop.  You will be prompted to choose your language, then time zone, keyboard layout until you get to “Prepare disk space”
  7. Choose “Guided – use entire disk” unless you don’t want to and you know what you’re doing.  You WILL loose everything that’s stored on the hard drive
  8. Let it install.  There are a few prompts, like are you sure you want to do this?  If you’re sure, then continue. The install is going to take a while (40 minutes for me) and is a good time for a coffee and donut break.   When the install is complete, you will be prompted.
  9. Reboot.  You will want to reboot!

You have installed Kubuntu, but you need to ‘fix’ a few things:
Plug your Cat5 into your Acer Aspire One.  You’ll need to enable DHCP on your router. 
Boot your machine.  The first time is going to take a little longer than normal as you’re going to be prompted for user name, password and such.  Don’t forget your user name and password!
Open a terminal window.  Go to “K” which is where “Start” is on windows, then go to utilities and open the terminal.
Get your WiFI working. Into the terminal type:
sudo apt-get update
wait for the machine to do its thing.  Then type into terminal
sudo apt-get upgrade
These will get the latest updates for your new OS.

Now, let’s get those wifi drivers ready!  Into the terminal, one a a time, type in:
wget http://snapshots.madwifi.org/madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6-current.tar.gz
tar xzvf
madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6-current.tar.gz

You are NOW using the current builds which will change directories, depending on the build.  The above step will show the directory that was created. This directory WILL change every time a new snapshot is made.  You will see the directory listed in the files extracted in the terminal.
cd
madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6-r3816-20080742 (This will change when new snapshots are made)
sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)

You’ve just donwloaded the WiFI drivers for your Acer Aspire One, now let’s install them!  Type into the terminal, one line at a time:
make
sudo make install
sudo -i
echo ath_pci >> /etc/modules

You may or may not need the sudo on the last line before echo.  If you get an error without sudo, then add sudo.  If it still won't work, try kdesu.

Now, we’re almost done.  Here’s the last line you need to type into the terminal
exit

Viola!   You now have Kubuntu installed on your Acer Aspire One.  You had to reboot to get the WiFI to work.

reference: dahwoo
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