How do I get an Acer Aspire One D270 working?

Solution 1:

Oddly enough, Ubuntu 12.04 installed fine on my Acer Aspire One D270 and runs at 1024*600 - though it reports an "unknown" monitor. I installed Google Chrome, and it runs in-window Apple iTunes trailers at 480p very crisp, no stutter or other degradation.

I say "oddly enough" because when I tried to do a similar install on an Asus x101ch, which also has the Atom N2600 chipset, it will ONLY run at 800*600 no matter what I do. I did try an install of Fedora 17, just released, which is SUPPOSED to support the N2600/GMA3600, but while it installed (on the Asus) at 1024*600, I couldn't install Google Chrome at all - kept calling for software that wasn't installed, but a search through the add software program couldn't find it. (I found Fedora 17 much less user friendly, desktop, than Ubuntu, and believe it or not, I actually LIKE Unity on Ubuntu better than the other desktops I have tried (Linux Mint, LXDE, XFCE).)

I wish I could find out what voodo allowed Ubuntu 12.04 to install at 1024*600 on the D270, since I may pick up an N2800 Lenovo S110 while I am overseas and would love to run Ubuntu on it, but not if I'm stuck at 800*600 like on the Asus.

BTW I DON'T think there is software support for any of the advanced features of the GMA 3600, it seems to be running at a simple generic VESA level without any hardware acceleration, but with the dual cores of the N2600 it is ok for simple in-browser video, at least. If anybody wants me to hook up an external DVD player to see if it can play DVD's, or see if it can play h.264 rips of DVD's via Handbrake, let me know.

Solution 2:

Install Intel binary Xorg driver for GMA3600 (Cedarview) GPUs!

a). still not full performance but works with 2d acceleration and I could play 720p videos with out problem.

b). Adjust brightness with Fn Keys Work!

How to do?

1. First install generic kernel, reboot and and make sure you're using this kernel:

   sudo apt-get install linux-headers-generic linux-image-generic
   

2. Remove pae kernel with their respective headers & reboot at the end of this:

   • sudo dpkg -l | grep linux-image (This will show kernels on your system)
   • Remove all package related with pae kernel: sudo apt-get --remove purge "name of package"
   • sudo dpkg -l | grep linux-headers (This will show headers on your system)
   • Remove all package related with pae headers: sudo apt-get --remove purge "name of package"

3. Install the cedarview drivers:

   sudo apt-get install cedarview-drm libva-cedarview-vaapi-driver cedarview-graphics-drivers
   

4. Update the Grub Bootloader

   sudo update-grub2
   

5. Reboot the System and joy!

NOTE: can activate 3D acceleration test, to see if it works. For this,change Option "AIGLX" to "On" (default settion):

sudo gedit /usr/share/intel-cdv/X11/xorg.conf.d/61-cdv-pvr.conf

Solution 3:

(I'm not english speaker-writer, but give me a chance)

I'm using ubuntu precise (12.04 LTS) in my AOD270. Everything is right for me except the video (VGA, HDMI) output. Fair to say that I do not use quite much graphics and that's almost the only issue that I've noticed (on about 3 weeks of using it with Precise Pangolin) and obviously must take more than the output (the only thing that I care about video). Anyway, if I connect the external monitor before turning on the netbook it works as it only has the external monitor (showing a distorted mirror image in the netbook screen).

So it has the issue of the GMA 3600 (output, brightness, 3D, etcetera...), but I've used the rest of the hardware (WLAN, USB, audio, touchpad, etc...) and it works fine. It would be better if while installing you have a LAN conection, in case that you need some [privative] drivers from the intenet before using WLAN (STA Broadcom).

Right now I'm downloading MeeGo, for installing aside Ubuntu Precise and W7; because I read that it has drivers for de GMA 3600. I've seen other user's commentaries about changing successfully to MeeGo. I think to do it partially, just for using the video outputs, and until ubuntu or another similar linux distro have better perfoncance with the Atom N2600 and the GMA 3600.

The other general and I think minor issue is that maybe Ubuntu 12.04 run quite slowly in AOD270 (no more than W7 anyway) because of Unity. But is something of taste I think, and you can always try Xubutnu and Lubuntu.

If you hasn't buy the netbook yet, maybe an Asus [or Lenovo] is more friendly hardware for Linux.

Finally I insist: Ubuntu 12.04 works fine in my AOD270, except the known video issues.

Hope this to be usefull. Manuel.

Solution 4:

I installed Linux Mint 13 (based on Ubuntu 12.04) on my D270, and the monitor booted at maximum(or very high brightness), and the fan is continuously running at a high speed. No resolution problems though.

The monitor problem I could easily fix by entering in the terminal:

sudo setpci -s "00:02.0" F4.B=35

I ended up adding this line to /etc/rc.local to make it automatic instead of having to change the brightness in the terminal for every session. Change the number at the end(in my case 35) to a lower value to decrease brightness and vice versa.

Now I have to figure out how to stop the fan running at full speed, because it is loud, and unnecessary when the machine is idle. This will no doubt wear out the fan bearings too. Will update when I can find an answer.