ASUS Eee PC - PC-BSD Forums

oskar · #1 05-29-2011, 02:36 PM

Does anyone here run PC-BSD on an Eee PC? I know a few models are listed in the FLCL, but I'm wondering if anyone has tried it on the later models, particularly the ones with Nvidia Ion. I heard, I believe on the FreeBSD forums, that someone couldn't get PC-BSD's graphical installer to boot on the 1215N, which has Nvidia Ion and GMA3150. Maybe I should get the previous model without Ion, the 1215P?

EDIT: Here's the thread where someone says it doesn't boot on the 1215N.

oskar · #2 05-31-2011, 09:14 PM

Well, I decided to jump in head first and find out. I bought an ASUS Eee PC 1215P, and it indeed fails at the part of the installer where it attempts to start X -- all I see is a black screen. This is exactly what I expected, since I heard FreeBSD doesn't support the GMA3150 chipset, so I'm putting Ubuntu on it in the meantime. I definitely hope I'll be able to get PC-BSD 9.0 running on it, if the graphics support is there.

kmoore134 · #3 06-01-2011, 11:45 AM

I have a similar EEE pc here, and I have to use "vesa" mode for X to
come up at all. However work is underway and hopefully will hit in 9.0
to make the latest intel drivers work

oskar · #4 06-01-2011, 01:56 PM

Awesome, good to hear. I figured vesa mode was always used by the installer, so maybe your Eee PC has a different graphics chipset. Anyway I'm looking forward to 9.0.

oskar · #5 06-02-2011, 11:26 AM

I realized after replying that you meant choosing the "Start X in VESA mode" option in the boot menu. This indeed allows the graphical installer to boot up! I just might install PC-BSD on here after all.

ppires85 · #6 01-29-2012, 11:41 PM

Well, as an asus eee pc 1215n, I tested PC-BSD 9.0 and it has the same problem yet. Installation freezes while starting X, vesa won't work also. Any tips?

snowfox777 · #7 02-01-2012, 01:56 PM

Likewise here.

When the X tries to start, everything goes bad and can't do anything afterwards.

Pointers, anyone?

asedt · #8 02-02-2012, 11:19 AM

I just installed it on my ASUS Eee PC 701 white, 7" WVGA, 512 MB,4 GB (SSD), WLAN.

It's matches the minimum requirements and I had some problems during install. It got stuck at 98% and I had to change the default layout and only make a root to get it to work. Also the installer window is bigger than the screen so one have to know that you can move it with the Alt-key.

I did use the LXDE image (PCBSD9.0-x86-USBLITE.img.bz2). It works but without getting my mobile broadband working I can't use it for anything

ppires85 · #9 02-02-2012, 08:13 PM

asedt, it looks like maybe you are having problems with disc image. If I were you I would download it again or burn it again.

Well guys anyone knows if FreeBSD has any similar issues? Since I won't use pcBSD now, it seems to be my last option.

asedt · #10 02-02-2012, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by ppires85

asedt, it looks like maybe you are having problems with disc image. If I were you I would download it again or burn it again.

As I already successfully installed it I don't understand why I would do that. I think the error was that the root was to small with the default layout. I tried to make usr smaller and root bigger but got error that usr was to small (after consulting IRC) I removed usr and after that there was no problem installing. After install there is around ~500 MB free, but I forgot to remove the swap (handbooks says SSD = no use swap). Or did you mean that it would magically fix my mobile broadband