Bought Linux Boot Up Acer Aspire by mistake - need help please
 

Hi everyone,

Please help a total newbie (idiot!)........I just bought myself a new laptop Acer Aspire ES15 but when it came I realised its sold with Linux Boot Up. Never ever had a laptop that wasn't Windows or Apple before so I'm totally up the creek without a paddle!

All I want it for is to access the internet only. On reading now about Linux, it sounds like a great thing, with few virus problems, fast speed, etc. etc. so I might just keep it and not stick Windows 10 on it.

All I need to know please is basically how to get this on the internet with an ethernet cable connection. Do I need to install something or type a command?

It just says Linux Boot Up on the invoice so I guess you guys know what my screen looks like when I switch it on. Many many thanks for your help. All the best.

Welcome to LQ!!! Does it actually have Linux installed on it? (or some bootloader only)
What does the screen look like when you start it up? Do you have a web-link to product/model? I see .cz products sold with this, but I don't know what it means, sorry. (Other than probably you didn't pay for M$Win10, fortunately!!!)

Here's a book ;) (old, so replace "cd" with "usb"; lookup: .iso to usb)

An interesting read is http://distrowatch.com (any 'distro' on your new es15?)
Plus web-searches with words like: Linux beginner gui login first time
https://www.pcworld.com/article/2918...ers-guide.html

screens
 

Hi, thanks so much for your fast reply. I have taken three screenshots.

Basically on pressing its power button, the first screen that flashes up offers two choices on a dropdown menu
It says Linpus linux, then underneath it says create a bootable USB disk

As the bottom of this screen it says Linpus Linus Lite version and if you leave it more than a few seconds it just auto selects the linpus linux.
It shows then another screen at top of which it says INIT: version 2.85 booting
Welcome to Linpus Linux
and lots of text below as it loads
finishing on the third and final screen that says

1997-2016 Linpus Technologies
Acer Linux v2.00.3000 (Linpus Linux LiveCD Edition v9.3 b160715)
[root@localhost /]

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much. As I say, all I need is to be able to connect my ethernet cable for internet research and if this Linux thing is as great as Ive just been reading, it sounds like I won't miss Microsoft or Apple at all!

Welcome to LinuxQuestions.

I assume you have linpus installed. Last time I saw linpus linux was many years ago and it was replaced shortly after with Ubuntu (EeePC). I assume that a first time script runs to setup your laptop with a user name / password and with a wired ethernet connection I would expect it should just work.

http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=linpus

Try typing in the command startx

nothing happens
 

Thanks for your reply.

It boots saying Linpus Lite. when I get to the black screen with flashing waiting cursor and type what you suggest startx, it says command not found.

Mm. Sounds like somebody else replaced Windows with Linux, but conveniently 'forgot' to mention the fact when advertising it for sale..!

With those specs, you'd do better to run a modern, easy-to-use distribution like Linux Mint. Seriously. I have heard of Linpus, but as with michaelk above, it was a long time ago. I'm assuming you're posting on the site via another machine, yes? What's that running, if I might ask?

It's straight-forward to download the Mint ISO from their main website, but as with all new-ish netbooks, there's no optical drive.....so you would need to install it via a USB, using something like Rufus, or UNetbootin.

Rufus: https://rufus.akeo.ie/

Unetbootin: https://unetbootin.github.io/

You can use the above apps to make your USB stick into what's known as a 'LiveUSB'; it will boot from the USB, and allow you to try it out before installing; good for discovering whether Mint likes your hardware, for starters. You'll not need to worry about drivers, etc; it's all already contained in the Linux 'kernel'.....indeed, at this stage the kernel is probably more than 95% nothing but drivers.

You'll like Mint. It's based on Ubuntu, but is rather easier to use and to set-up. And it's very similar to Windows in terms of using it.

I would recommend my own favourite, Puppy, but it's considered a wee bit 'odd' even by Linux standards.....and it's really intended for keeping very old hardware productive & useful. You've got a modern machine there, so you might as well enjoy using it!

Just my tuppence-worth.


Mike. ;)

No, Acer does installs linpus some of their laptops.

There have been similar threads that the basic linpus installation did not include a desktop. It isn't a main stream distribution and so getting help might be difficult. You would be better off installing something else if you want to try linux and would suggest also linux Mint.


https://linuxmint.com/

i am biased towards fedora:
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/How_t...d_use_Live_USB

Mm. I confess, I wasn't aware of that.

I was rather under the impression that Linpus was one of those distributions that had 'bitten the dust' and gone the way of the dodo.....

Hm.

https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=linpus

Fedora-based, 'twould appear...


Mike. ;)

Hi again,

Thanks everyone for all your replies. Firstly, its a brand new machine, the Linux Linkups Lite is installed by Acer, who having contacted them already, do not offer Linux support (not helpful at all!). Second, it does have a disk drive on its side as well as USB ports.

I have a second machine, a MacBook, which I am writing on now, which is grinding to a halt with all my music and photos on it, hence I bought the Acer simply to to surf the net and come off my MacBook. So, I can effectively get online and download anything to either USB or a disc, whatever you suggest.

So, can anyone please point me in the right direction for an idiot proof guide of what to do next please?

Two of you suggest the Mint option, so that suits me, I like the colour and the sweets, so I'll go with your recommendation gratefully.

Just I need to know what to do next please as I'm scared of getting this wrong and having a totally useless machine still without any support from either the online shop and Acer.

Thanks ever so much.

Might help or not to get you started. You say no usb ports? This video shows them on the back of the netbook.

You can check out the bios settings to get you started. Mint and Ubuntu XFCE editions are pretty close to being the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD3JtoSbfOo

Kinda hard to find exactly what you need. One of us could install something else in a hour or less. No tutorials I know of for these exotic knock offs. Maybe some one else has a better take on this.

Don't worry!!! Play&discover, for a little while. Side question: do you know IF there's any specific 'app'/reason you need M$Win10? Probably not and it will cost like $100US more. You will 'get there' with Linux!!!

Look for an example of the df command (web: linux df tutorial); ignore tmpfs stuff; try to see what partitions your disk has, and how much is used and free. Take even an hour or more if needed! Let us know. Trying to see 'how much' Linpus you have: just a cli or a gui. From #3, 2016 v9.3 looks 'maybe hopeful'. No Linpus docs came with it?

Try: fdisk -l (or better: parted -l ; efibootmgr -v)

Wait!!! Look here, df in #7. Are you booting a usb stick? Vs. internal hdd? UEFI?
(In #10 you say: "Second, it does have a disk drive on its side as well as USB ports.")
There's a ton of confusing info when I web-search this: aspire es15 linux
http://www.linpus.com/products/product_view_en/91

Do you have a free blank usb memory stick? If not, can you get one? <$9 &very useful
Then see what the 'create-usb' option does.
Explore/experiment a bit. As long as you don't 'rm', it's fine&safe;)

Two more little projects: find a simple explanation of, and try;
uname -r ; ifconfig -a (also try without -a)
From 1st image, several of these cmds would fit on screen, for a new pic.
(Posting those pics shows good ability: :thumbsup: You're progressing well! Great!)

Update: oh, you also have a Mac!!! :doh: (it has a 'terminal', for 'unix cli' stuff)
Visit: VirtualBox.org then osboxes.org, for a rest break from new PC :D
Another idea: maybe just add a 1-4TB external drive to Mac, instead of a new computer?

I did a little checking. Linpus is based on Fedora and uses the Cinnamon graphic user interface. See the distrowatch web page: http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=linpus

My distribution of choice is Linux Mint with the Cinnamon gui. I found the Linux Mint documentation helpful in figuring out Cinnamon. https://www.linuxmint.com/documentat...glish_18.0.pdf

Sooner or later you will probably want to replace Linpus with a different Linux distribution. But there is no huge need to do so immediately. Play around with what you have for a while, first. By the way, simply installing an ethernet cable between your computer and your router should be enough to get on the web. Linpus' web browser is chromium, according to the distrowatch page. Going wireless may be a bit more complicated.

Have fun.

Good Luck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWasEZBxp2o

From acer rep in 2015

http://community.acer.com/t5/E-F-V-a...ll/td-p/353493

To get out of

The video I posted covers that. Then one can install their choice of operating system < Windows/Linux/BSD > on these netbooks via a live usb. Using Legacy boot and picking usb boot from the menu in bios. Hell. One can run a live usb with persistence < probably something new to you > also. Instead of messing with the internal SSD drive.

I have not-at-all fond memories of Linpus Linux on my 2008-vintage Acer Aspire One ZG5 netbook. Based on that experience (and the lack of a graphical desktop on you new Acer), I emphatically recommend replacing Linpus. As for a recommendation, I'd start with Linux Mint (probably the most newbie-friendly of the major Linux distros) with the Mate desktop.