Comparing Acer Aspire One AOA110 with Asus Eee PC 4G 701

Since I've both netbooks running Windows Vista, I did a comparison with Windows Experience Index.

Netbook	Acer Aspire One AOA110	Asus Eee PC 4G 701
Processor	3.0	1.8
Memory (RAM)	4.5	2.9
Graphics	4.2	1.9
Gaming graphics	2.8	1.0
Primary hard disk	4.8	4.0
Windows Experience Index Base Score	2.8	1.0

The memory should not be compared because they're of different capacity. I am surprised that the disk data transfer rate of Aspire One outperforms my Lenovo Z61t with 80GB SATA hard disk (4.3).

Running Out Disk Space After Windows Update on Eee PC

Previously, I managed to install Windows Vista Home Basic on my Eee PC with 4GB SSD using vlite. After installation, I still have at least 900MB of free space. But after Windows update as shown, the free space becomes almost zero and I have to reduce the size of paging file size for virtual memory from the recommended 753MB to 256MB.

ACPI Error on Eee PC with Windows Vista

I encountered this error last night but I can still use my Eee PC running Windows Vista. It lasted 2 hours 30 minutes after a full charge with no wifi, brightness at 1 bar and high performance power plan. Previously, without this error, no wifi, brightness at 1 bar and power saver power plan, it lasted 2 hours 15 minutes. This seems strange. Running Windows XP also lasts 2 hours 15 minutes. Since Windows Vista does not provide better power management, I suspect that the ACPI XP driver is not working properly so I remove the driver.
After removal, the system tray icon to change resolution to 800x600 is also removed. Also, Fn+F3 & Fn+F4 to adjust brightness will not show a visual indicator but it still works. Fn+F7 (mute), Fn+F8 (decrease) & Fn+F9 (increase) volume do not work but you can still adjust through the volume icon at the system tray.

USB Flash Drive Driver Issue with Windows Vista

On my Eee PC running Windows Vista, I encountered the problem that Windows needs to install driver software for my USB flash drive. It happened on all USB flash drives except Toshiba Transmemory 4GB. Since I know that from Windows XP onwards, there is no need to install any additional driver to access any USB flash drive, I suspected something else.
After checking, I found that when Windows has problem identifying drivers, it stores them in C:\windows\inf\INFCACHE.1. This file can be corrupted and deleting it actually solves the problem without even rebooting. But you have edit its file permission to grant Full control to the Users group. This can be done by right clicking the file and selecting Properties.

AVG 8.0 on Eee PC Running Windows Vista

Previously, I have reported 2 errors (March 15 & 16 2008) with AVG 8.0 on my Eee PC running Windows XP. Since now I am running Windows Vista on my Eee PC, I decided to test AVG 8.0. The installation went smoothly but after update online, Windows Security Center still reported that AVG reports that it might be out of update. A restart also did not resolve the issue. Opening Firefox reported an alert as shown and AVG search shield did not work.

Windows Vista on Eee PC

After using Windows XP on my Eee PC for many months without any issues, I decided to install Windows Vista since Windows Vista SP1 has been released.
You need to use vlite to reduce the size of Vista otherwise you need 15Gb of free space to install. After removing the unnecessary components from Windows Vista Home Basic and creating a bootable DVD from the 535MB ISO image, you only need 3.8GB of free space to install.
Initially, I used a Sony DVD+RW disc but I removed the modem driver and my Huawei E220 HSDPA USB modem did not work after Vista installation. So, I have to use vlite again to re-create the ISO image but Vista installation reported an error. After many attempts, I changed to a Verbatim DVD+R and it worked. I can only conclude that you can only use Sony DVD+RW disc only once to create a bootable ISO image.
The Vista installation only takes 30 minutes which is shorter than Windows XP which requires over an hour. The free space available after installation is 1.05GB from the initial 3.72GB SSD. As shown, Windows Experience Index shows 1.0. This is expected since Windows Aero is not supported on the Intel integrated graphics 915GMS of the Eee PC.

gOS Rocket Beta on Eee PC

Downloaded gos-live-2.0.0-beta1.iso and burnt it to a CD. Booted up on Eee PC as a live CD. The desktop shows 0.16.999.041. The network adapter was detected but not the wireless adapter. Assigned a static ip address and DNS. Unable to see Firefox icon at the bottom of screen or by right clicking the desktop. But, able to run Firefox by clicking G about icon or G->Applications->Internet->Firefox Web Browser or clicking any icons at the bottom of screen. The version is 2.0.0.11 and Java Runtime Environment is not preloaded but the latest version of Adobe Flash Player 9.0.115.0 is preinstalled. Able to surf the Internet and the history, cookies and cache can be deleted after browsing.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0 with MojoPac on Eee PC

Decided to test this software since manual updates for programs and virus definitions are available online. Managed to install this software within MojoPac on Eee PC after a long time. But after restarting the MojoPac environment, the software hung the Eee PC. Uninstalling the software resolved the issue.

PCLinuxOS 2007 on Eee PC

Downloaded pclinuxos-2007.iso and burnt it to a CD. Booted the live CD on Eee PC and Compaq TC1000. Only the network adapter in Compaq TC1000 was detected and assigned a static ip address. Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.3 with Java runtime environment is supported. After surfing the Internet, the web history, cookies and cache can be deleted.

Kubuntu 6.06.1 LTS (Dapper) on Eee PC

Tested Ubuntu 7.01 live CD on Eee PC and Compaq TC1000. In both laptops, the network adapters are not detected but the wireless adapter is detected in TC1000 and it supports WPA2 Personal wireless encryption. Next, I tried Kubuntu 6.06.1 live CD. It also does not detect the network adapter on Eee PC. But in Compaq TC1000, the network adapter was detected and assigned a static ip address. Managed to access Internet using Conqueror 3.5.2 but the Java runtime environment is not pre-loaded. Unable to delete web history, cookies and cache after surfing Internet.

Knoppix 5.1.1 on Eee PC

Unable to boot the live CD due to display issue on Eee PC and it hung. Tested on Compaq TC1000 and it booted up properly. Able to detect the network adapter and assign a static ip address.
There are 2 browsers available. Konqueror browser does not have Java runtime environment pre-loaded. Ice Weasel browser is similar to Mozilla Firefox but older version 2.0.0.1 pre-loaded with Java runtime environment. After surfing the Internet using Ice Weasel, I was able to delete history, cookies and cache.

Xubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon on Eee PC

Tested the desktop CD which is a live CD as well on Eee PC without installation. The Atheros L2 fast ethernet network adapter is detected but not the wireless adapter. After assigning a static ip address to the network adapter, I am still unable to ping to my own ip address, the router or access the Internet. Encountered the same issue with another laptop Compaq TC1000 with a different network adapter.

AVG Antivirus Free with MojoPac on Eee PC

Decided to test this software since manual updates for programs and virus definitions are available online. This software can be installed in MojoPac but the resident shield does not load so on-access scan will not work. You can update the program and virus definitions files manually if the automatic updates are blocked by the firewall in the host computer. The on-demand scan via Windows Explorer is definitely faster than ClamWin Free Antivirus.

Avast! Antivirus with MojoPac on Eee PC

In MojoPac, I installed Avast! 4 Home Edition Free but on-access protection (resident shield) is not functioning. It gives the error message as shown. Following the instructions did not resolve the issue. Since manual updates for programs and virus definitions are not available online, I uninstalled this software.

ClamWin Free Antivirus with MojoPac on Eee PC

My host eee PC is running iolo antivirus and it is able to detect the anti-malware test files. But inside MojoPac, running the same test fails. Thus, I installed ClamWin Free Antivirus which is supported with MojoPac. You can schedule automatic virus database update but it did not work. I have to download and update manually. Also, on-access scan is not supported while on-demand scan is slow. In the end, I have no choice but to uninstall this software.

MojoPac Freedom on Eee PC

On my Eee PC, I installed the free MojoPac Freedom on my Kingston 1GB microSD card. After installation, you can speed up your mojo. You can use any USB 2.0 compliant storage device with at least 128MB free space to install MojoPac Freedom. This is a desktop virtualization software which creates an environment whereby my microSD card becomes the c:\ drive to install applications. This allows you to carry your applications and data files for use on any Windows XP PCs. Another advantage is that it will prolong the life of the SSD on the Eee PC since there are less writes on the SSD.

Optimizing Windows XP on Eee PC

As mentioned in the Eee PC user guide, for the best performance of your Eee PC with Windows XP operating system, follow some quick steps below to make your Eee PC run faster:

1. Changing Virtual Memory
2. Turning Off System Restore
3. Compressing Disk Drive
   
4. Relocating Files - My Documents
5. Relocating Files - IE Temporary Internet Files
   
6. Deleting Unnecessary Windows Components
7. Clearing System Backup Data (sfc /purgecache)
   
8. Delete Unnecessary Document Files

I advise doing only steps 2, 4, 6, 7 & 8. There is no need to change virtual memory as there is still sufficient space for virtual memory even for a full install of Windows XP on 4GB SSD. Compressing disk drive will slow down file access and doing more read and write on SSD. This is bad as the lifespan of SSD will be shortened. Relocating IE temporary internet files to a SD card will affect Windows as well in the event something goes wrong with the SD card.

Checking SSD on Eee PC in Windows XP

HD Tune 2.54 can be run from USB flash disk without being installed. It can check the Solid State Disk (SSD) for the following:

1. Transfer rate & access time
   
2. Health status from Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T)
3. Error scan of damaged blocks
   

Error Using USB Flash Disk for System Recovery on Eee PC

If you need to re-install Windows XP on your Eee PC, you must re-create the USB flash disk for system recovery of Xandros Linux. This will avoid an error message of Error 15 if you attempt to boot from USB flash disk to restore Xandros Linux.
Also, any prior attempts to move "My Documents" directory and IE Temporary Internet Files settings to the USB flash disk will result in Blue Screen of Death (BSOD).

Printing Problem on Eee PC

If you remove cups daemon from running as mentioned on December 13, 2007 in Xandros Linux, you won't be able to print. But, when you click Start as shown, it won't do anything in full desktop mode and you won't be able to print. In easy mode, when you click Start, the print service will start.