Cannot install software and drivers on eeepc running original xandros
 

Hi I know this question was asked in 2005 by Anthony1uk (btw Anthony if you are reading this and found a solution, I would really be greatful) but it doesnt seem to have been resolved at least to me.....

im gonna ask a couple of questions so please bear with me:

1. I have the eeepc running the default xandros OS and I can't seem to be able to load any software or drivers on it.

2. How does one add more or expand the original 4Gb hard drive memory -I bought a WD passport and a MMC card but it only reads them as removable external memory. I have also upgraded the originall 512 mb RAM to 1 Gb. Is there any way of making any of these (the 120 Gb WD passport preferably) the extra drive?

3. It picks up the wireless router signal 100% but I think because I cannot run the router's software, I can't input my account details and hence it doesnt connect to the net.

4. I also bought an external LG multi-drive which it only uses to read disks from but I cannot burn anything with it...

as you can probably tell I'm a novice and don't know anything so i need detailed answers in step by step format.

Thanx in advance guys

1. What software and drivers are you trying to load? Where did you get them?

2. I don't quite understand what you are trying to accomplish here. The devices you mention are removable devices, that is the only way they can be used. Plugging in an external drive does not increase the size of the main drive, it is just an additional storage device. Internal storage is limited to the 4 GB flash drive (though technically, if you just put a SDHC card in the reader and never remove it, that could be considered internal storage).

3. Routers don't require or use any software to work. If anything, you need to put your encryption key into the Eees' setup, or else allow the Eees' MAC on the router. But there is definitely no software involved.

4. I don't believe there is any support for actually burning discs in the default Xandros. You would need to install a burning application like K3B. You can download a version built for the Eee here.

First of all thanx very much for your answer......its making me realise that maybe I have been going about this all wrong......

1. I just thought that when it comes to devices such as the multi-drive you have to install its software (I'm not quite sure myself why I would like that), but I think i understand you - as long as the device works thats fine is that right? (which of course would be the purpose), it does not need to be mounted or anything either right (and while I'm at it....what exactly happens when one mounts a device - is it just recognised by the machine and added to the machine's network of devices?)

The software I was refering to is on the disks that came with the peripherals like the multi-drive disk has power-dvd, light-scribe for printing labels on cd/dvds being ripped...and the other was for the router but guess won't be needing that.

2. With regards to the memory, since I saw that under disk utility there was "primary drive" tab (which is the standard 4 Gb flash) but then there is an "extra drive" tab as well and I thought there was some way to get more memory to be accessed as the extra drive - could mounting do this?

sorry to be writng such a long one but let me tell you what my problem with this is specifically - I have some music on the WD passport a lot more than the 4Gb and it seems that if I want to play the whole collection at one go, it has to be added onto the internal memory which of course consumes the internal memory - catch 22?

thanx i managed to sort the internet thing out.

now i have discovered synaptic but when i install/reload the software i get an error message. any advice on how to find and install software? i am looking for java

The software that comes on those discs is for Windows...your Eee can't run any of that since it is a Linux computer. There is no support in the Xandros OS to run Windows binaries, and even if you had the support (by installing Wine) things like device drivers and hardware-specific software rarely work with it.

If you plug it in and it works, then it works. If it doesn't work when you connect it, then that is when you need to start looking around for Linux drivers or software. But nothing on the manufacturer-supplied discs is going to help you with an Eee.

As for the Extra Drive option, early Eee's had the capability to add another internal flash drive. Current versions don't have this connector though, unfortunately. I bought mine about a month after they hit the market, and even I don't have it. I don't know why they changed the design after the first batch, but that is just how it went.

As for the music specifically, you are going to either have to keep the drive plugged in (which I am guessing you don't want to do) or get a sufficiently large SDHC card and leave it in the reader. The biggest SDHC cards on the mainstream market right now are 16 GB, which you can get for about $60. If you have more music than that, well, that is going to be a problem.

thanx
 

thanx man u reallly helped me a lot by clearing up sum stuff, really appreciate it

There is a light scribe package for linux. It isn't as fancy as the Windows version but it gets the job done. Just create the artwork in gimp and load it into the program, scale and position as needed.

bluchill
You might like to visit this site for advice and HOWTOs for your eee:
http://wiki.eeeuser.com/
;)