I decided to test out 8.1 today on my EeePC 1005HAB. According to some Eee wiki stuff I read, the 1005HA and HAB are supported as of 8.1, though the ethernet is still a little dodgy.
Exactly how dodgy, I clearly did not anticipate.
I installed. I tried to set up the network... And failed (no carrier). I rebooted and tried to set it up again (still no carrier). Reconnected the cable, checked to make sure everything was plugged in, still no carrier. Rebooted into Linux, still no carrier.
Edit: wherever the CMOS battery is, I can't find it - it looks like I'd have to disassemble the netbook, in which case I might as well just scrap it. Bah.
This was when it hit me: I'd seen this before. In Linux kernels prior to 2.6.31, loading the atl1c driver used for the 1005HAB's ethernet controller triggers a firmware crash. To fix this, you have to shut down the netbook, unplug the battery and power, wait thirty seconds, then plug everything back in and boot up again, and it will work like new (provided you don't load the old driver, which will start the whole thing over again).
So I shut down, unplugged the battery and power, waited thirty seconds, made sure everything was plugged in right, and booted into Linux again...
Still no carrier. x(
Guess I'll try clearing CMOS next, assuming I can reach the CMOS battery. Meanwhile, I figure you people ought to know that there may still be some really serious issues with Attansic ethernet controllers.
Edit: tried clearing CMOS, didn't work. Looks like this computer is scrap.
Exactly how dodgy, I clearly did not anticipate.
I installed. I tried to set up the network... And failed (no carrier). I rebooted and tried to set it up again (still no carrier). Reconnected the cable, checked to make sure everything was plugged in, still no carrier. Rebooted into Linux, still no carrier.
Edit: wherever the CMOS battery is, I can't find it - it looks like I'd have to disassemble the netbook, in which case I might as well just scrap it. Bah.
This was when it hit me: I'd seen this before. In Linux kernels prior to 2.6.31, loading the atl1c driver used for the 1005HAB's ethernet controller triggers a firmware crash. To fix this, you have to shut down the netbook, unplug the battery and power, wait thirty seconds, then plug everything back in and boot up again, and it will work like new (provided you don't load the old driver, which will start the whole thing over again).
So I shut down, unplugged the battery and power, waited thirty seconds, made sure everything was plugged in right, and booted into Linux again...
Still no carrier. x(
Guess I'll try clearing CMOS next, assuming I can reach the CMOS battery. Meanwhile, I figure you people ought to know that there may still be some really serious issues with Attansic ethernet controllers.
Edit: tried clearing CMOS, didn't work. Looks like this computer is scrap.