New gadget

Rik · Aug 18, 2008, 15:53:07

If you will dive in to Linux...

Noreen · Aug 18, 2008, 17:46:26

There's an interesting comment here (bottom of page), Simon. http://www.trustedreviews.com/notebooks/review/2007/10/30/Asus-Eee-PC-4G-701/p2

Rik · Aug 18, 2008, 17:49:18

Nice link.

Simon · Aug 18, 2008, 18:41:49

Thanks Noreen. Trouble is, it's useless to me without the wi-fi functionality, so if I can't get it to work, it will have to go back.

Noreen · Aug 18, 2008, 18:55:08

Another mention of wireless problem here http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10006278o-2000331777b,00.htm I don't understand it myself.

Also found this forum from that link http://forum.eeeuser.com/

Ted · Aug 18, 2008, 19:00:51

Ubuntu supports the Atheros chipset on my laptop no problem. Don't even think about using Ndiswrapper to load the window drivers, its a nightmare. I know, i've done it.
Try turning off security on the router, or try wep encryption instead.
Oh and turn off any firewall that's running.

Simon · Aug 18, 2008, 20:04:44

Quote from: Noreen on Aug 18, 2008, 18:55:08
Another mention of wireless problem here http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10006278o-2000331777b,00.htm I don't understand it myself.

Also found this forum from that link http://forum.eeeuser.com/

As usual, I wish I'd known this before I bought it!

I have found that forum myself, Noreen, but they seem to be a bit 'linux geeky', and tell you to search the forums if you dare to ask a question that's been asked before, rather than trying to help. Personally, I hate forums like that.

Quote from: Ted on Aug 18, 2008, 19:00:51
Ubuntu supports the Atheros chipset on my laptop no problem. Don't even think about using Ndiswrapper to load the window drivers, its a nightmare. I know, i've done it.
Try turning off security on the router, or try wep encryption instead.
Oh and turn off any firewall that's running.

The first part of that might as well be Chinese to me, Ted, but I don't really want to turn off the security on the router, as that would them compromise my other network connections (wouldn't it?). I turned off F-Secure, and also tried to connect with no security on the Eee thing, but to no avail. It's definitely seeing the router, but it's not receiving the DHCP, which I understand as it not receiving an IP address from the router. I could try a static IP setting, but how would I know what that would be, without the router assigning it first?

Don't think me rude, but I'm just off out, so may not see any replies till later.

john · Aug 19, 2008, 11:28:45

I hope you manage to get it working Simon but the problem you are having is similar to the one I had when I tried Linux as I couldn't get it to connect to the internet either and eventually gave up trying. I too found the forums were not a lot of help.

Simon · Aug 19, 2008, 13:54:46

I suspect the only way will be to install Windows on it.

Rik · Aug 19, 2008, 14:35:26

It will take XP, of course.

Simon · Aug 19, 2008, 18:07:49

Yes, but that means buying another XP licence, making the cost of the unit over £200, which I wouldn't have paid for it. Also, it should work out of the box, and if it doesn't do what it says on the tin, and there's evidence that the issue is generic, I should really be returning it as faulty.

Rik · Aug 19, 2008, 18:11:12

Indeed. Might be worth asking Diss first though as she got hers working.

Simon · Aug 19, 2008, 18:21:26

With Linux? I'm wondering if it's router related?

Steve · Aug 19, 2008, 18:24:30

Looking through the Eeeuser forum there seems to be a multitude of wireless issues with a variety of possible solutions. I suppose it depends on how much time you are prepared to spend on a product that should work out of the box. Some links at the bottom of this page http://wiki.eeeuser.com/howto:wireless_unexpected_stop

Rik · Aug 19, 2008, 18:25:07

Quote from: Simon on Aug 19, 2008, 18:21:26
With Linux? I'm wondering if it's router related?

I thought so, but wouldn't swear to it.

Simon · Aug 20, 2008, 00:38:19

Quote from: stevethegas on Aug 19, 2008, 18:24:30
Looking through the Eeeuser forum there seems to be a multitude of wireless issues with a variety of possible solutions. I suppose it depends on how much time you are prepared to spend on a product that should work out of the box. Some links at the bottom of this page http://wiki.eeeuser.com/howto:wireless_unexpected_stop

Thanks Steve, but there are so many different 'solutions', with no guarantees that any of them work permanently, I really don't think I can be bothered, and am on the point of returning the unit. All this Linux command stuff is completely foreign to me, and I just haven't got the time, patience or inclination to learn it. It really makes you appreciate how easy Windows is!

Steve · Aug 20, 2008, 08:22:27

Quote from: Simon on Aug 20, 2008, 00:38:19
Thanks Steve, but there are so many different 'solutions', with no guarantees that any of them work permanently, I really don't think I can be bothered, and am on the point of returning the unit. All this Linux command stuff is completely foreign to me, and I just haven't got the time, patience or inclination to learn it. It really makes you appreciate how easy Windows is!

I almost get the impression that the challenge with Linux on this machine is to get it working after that it becomes boring.

Simon · Aug 20, 2008, 10:49:05

I just wanted something that I could use in the car to access forums, etc, rather than fiddling about with my phone, and that's what this should have done.

I did make a small step last night, by using Static instead of DHCP for the IP. I chose an IP address one up from the last designated device on the router, and it did then seem to connect to the router (although I was in bed, and couldn't be arsed to get up to see if the light was on!), as it said 'Enabled', but then it gave the message 'Link is down', so I was stumped again. The trouble is, it's asking for DNS settings, and I don't really know what I'm doing with all that stuff.

Rik · Aug 20, 2008, 10:52:10

Does it ask for them in a dialogue box? If so, it should be straightforward just to type in the IDNet servers or OpenDNS.

Steve · Aug 20, 2008, 11:00:03

From the forum, set a static ip address it needs to be outside of the dhcp range of your router Set the subnet mask and ip gateway - you get these from ipconfig /all on another computer. dns setting- use idnet's?

Simon · Aug 20, 2008, 11:07:45

Sorry Steve, I get the rest, but don't follow the bit about the static IP address needing to be outside of the DHCP range of the router. Am I just supposed to guess one?

Rik · Aug 20, 2008, 11:11:30

That puzzled me too.

Simon · Aug 20, 2008, 11:13:18

OK, I've done all except change the IP from what I had, and it's still coming up 'Link is down', and there's no light on the router, so it's obviously not connected.

Gary · Aug 20, 2008, 11:14:19

Quote from: Simon on Aug 20, 2008, 11:07:45
Sorry Steve, I get the rest, but don't follow the bit about the static IP address needing to be outside of the DHCP range of the router. Am I just supposed to guess one?

Dont know if this link will help Simon http://corz.org/comms/hardware/router/static.ip.address.php

Simon · Aug 20, 2008, 11:28:41

Thanks Gary, it does explain some things, but it also says I need to disable DHCP on the router to enable a static IP, and I'm concerned about messing up the current settings for the laptop. I think what I might do is take this Eee PC out and see if it will connect to an unsecured wireless hotspot, and take things from there. Even if I get it to work here, with a static IP, that's not going to be much use if I'm not within range of my own router, is it?