Installing Debian Squeeze 6.0 on Asus eeepc 701 using a usb stick and Debian-live

In this short tutorial I explain how I installed Debian Squeeze 6.0 on my Asus eeepc 701 4G using a usb stick and Debian-live.

FOREWORD: Formatting drives destroys all data contained there. Before proceeding make sure to backup all important data!!!

In order to follow this tutorial you need:
- A USB stick with Debian Live installed. In order to properly install it you can follow the procedure as explained in the official live-manual
IN SHORT: Download a pre-built image from http://live.debian.net or alternatively build your own. And image it on the usb key using dd.

- An Asus eeepc 701 4G to faithfully reproduce every step. Other models will possibly work much alike.

- Some overall knowledge of how a Debian system works.

STEPS:
1. First plug the usb key in the machine :P

2. Boot the image pressing ESC at the bios splash screen and selecting the usb device from the menu.
3. The first thing to do is to wipe out the contents of the default SSD flash disk as 4G is not enough to dual boot other operating systems. Alternatively you can install this new OS on a memory card (There is a memory card slot on the right side of the computer)
4. Once the default desktop is loaded go to System/Aministration/Synaptic Package Manager

5. Search for and install gparted.

6. Open a terminal. Type sudo su. Start gparted and delete any partitions. BE WARNED that this will erase ALL data. If there is something important in the drive make a backup before proceeding. Have you? Good for you!!! Create a new partition and format it if you want (Formatting is not really necessary at this point since the installer can do it later. What is important here is to prepare a clean partition as a starting point).

7. Once the new partition is ready. Double click the debian installer launcher on  the desktop.

8. Install.
9. Reboot the machine when done and boot into your brand new Debian Squeeze Operating System.
10. ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!

Now, as you can see this is really NOT complicated. If you have ever installed a Debian system following d-i steps is a blast.

Squeeze on eeepc 701. Success!!!

Yesterday I told you I was trying to install Debian GNU/Linux 6.0 codenamed Squeeze on my tiny toy eeepc 701. I couldn't, but late at night I saw a ray of hope when I downloaded a hybrid-iso image from http://live.debian.net/ The installer seemed to work just right but it was time to go to bed.

Today I have successfully installed Squeeze on the eeepc and it was a blast. Seriously, the installer was a breeze. Awesome work again of the d-i team.

The process is plain. I copied the hybrid-iso image to a usb pendrive:

$ dd if=debian-squeeze-live-beta2-i386-gnome-desktop.iso of=/dev/sda

Then I booted the eeepc from the usb pressing Esc at boot time and selecting the usb drive. I checked everything was working fine in live mode and finally launched the installer (There is an icon on the desktop so you only have to click it)
That's it!!!

My model of eeepc only has 4GB of disk space so I have removed some applications I do not use with it (openoffice) and installed some I do use (abiword) It's a fierce fight for space!!!

The ethernet and wifi interfaces work out of the box. Now I only have to configure a new connection to use my Alcatel X060 usb modem when I am not at home. Here you can see a screenshot of the desktop with dropbox already at work.

And here is a picture where you can see why I love my eeepc so much. I even use it as TV with kaffeine(Watching Code Lyoko lol). The only nuisance is that I have to copy the firmware of the dvb-t usb stick to /lib/firmware. But that is just once; I have written it down here just as a reminder for other occasions in case I have to reinstall.

New Year. Same old usual hard work for my machines!!!

First of all let me wish you a happy new year 2011.

Secondly let me tell you that all my machines are working hard as hell as usual. Santa brought me a 22 inches led screen (LG Flatron E2240) for Odd. I used the old 15 inches screen to substitute fhopper's CRT. Now they both look really gorgeous. But beauty is just in the eye of the beholder!!! I have assigned them some hard work as usual. I improved some of my scripts and there they go.

But the real deal is that I'm trying to install Squeeze in my eeepc 701. Nothing out of the ordinary it seems, but pay attention to the process:

First I used clonezilla-live-1.2.6-40-i686 to make a copy of the entire system just in case things go wrong.

Second I want to install Squeeze. I use a live debian system with installer. The debian-squeeze-live-beta2-i386-gnome-desktop.img installer does not work. So I have to think of an alternate method.

Third I can't upgrade in the usual way (apt-get dist-upgrade) because I'm out of disk space.

Finally I've downloaded a live version of the debian installer and see if it works. The instructions are here
I'll report success or failure.

UPDATE: Failure. Keep on trying.
UPDATE(Last minute): I have downloaded another Debian live version (A hybrid-iso. Last one was an .img) This time the installer seems to work perfectly but I'll wait until tomorrow to install it.

A few words on Lenny. Squeeze installed.

Some time ago I wrote a blog entry entitled "The best debian release ever (imo)" or something similar. Well my conclusion at that time was: 'Etch' but now after installing Squeeze if I had to write the article again I would conclude: 'Lenny' What's the matter?

I have reached a very simple conclusion. Once you have the system up and running; all software is stable and all config files and all scripts are ready and at work you just can't do without it. I love installing Debian. I have done it on many occasions. Sometimes it's a breeze and sometimes it is a pain, but nevertheless it takes a lot of time and effort to configure your system to your liking. That is one of the great achievements of Debian but at the same time it's one of its flaws since it is a bit hard and daunting for the new user. That is why newbies usually choose Ubuntu or Mint or whatever... But in the end with a bit of experience they'll come round and that's for sure.

I once read a sentence that made me laugh because I felt identified with it: "Ubuntu: An African word that means: I can't configure my Debian" it's hilarious but it's true. Ubuntu is too faulty. Debian rules. In a couple of years I suppose I'll be writing another entry reading like this: 'My favourite debian release: Squeeze' But all this could be summarized by saying: 'My favourite debian release? Answer: Any!!! As long as it is Debian GNU/Linux!!!! Forever!!!