Acer Aspire One D250, Fedora and Android

My Mom was asking me for a small laptop for her to use and I figured that the best thing would be to get a netbook. With my sons and nephew in tow, we trooped down to VivoCity to see what’s on offer. Best Denki was the first stop and nothing that caught my eye. I had with me, my USB drive that runs F11 so I can test out the machines before I buy them. Better than using a live CD because not all the systems have CD drives.

Then we moved to Challenger and I was pleasantly surprised to see on offer the Acer Aspire One D250 preinstalled with Andriod and the some other OS version 7. I promptly, with a puzzled sales person overseeing me, plugged in my USB drive and booted the machine. Fedora 11 came up sprightly and the built-in camera, audio, wifi, bluetooth, 3 USB ports, ethernet and SD card reader all were detected and configured.

I did check out the set on display and the Android is a customized edition. The challenger sales person asked me if I wanted to “set up the machine”. I asked him why and he said that the Other OS is pre-loaded, but not configured. I said that doing a configuration would mean I have to agree to use that Other OS which I am not prepared to and that I am really interested in the Android and Fedora as the two OSes. He was not much of a help because “you are trying to run a freeware from your storage USB drive?”. I told him that, like Android, I am running another Linux distribution, called Fedora and that I would not need any other OS – especially the Other OS in the machine.

It appears that I can default the machine to boot from Android but I will first have to “set up” via the Other OS, which I might just do, so that I can get this machine to Mom.

Here are the specs of the machine (from lspci -vv):

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
	Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device 022f
	Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast TAbort- TAbort- MAbort+ SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0
	Capabilities: access denied
	Kernel driver in use: agpgart-intel

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
	Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device 022f
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0
	Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
	Region 0: Memory at 58280000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
	Region 1: I/O ports at 60f0 [size=8]
	Region 2: Memory at 40000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
	Region 3: Memory at 58300000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
	Expansion ROM at unassigned [disabled]
	Capabilities: access denied
	Kernel driver in use: i915
	Kernel modules: i915

00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
	Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device 022f
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0
	Region 0: Memory at 58200000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
	Capabilities: access denied

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
	Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device 022f
	Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0
	Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
	Region 0: Memory at 58340000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
	Capabilities: access denied
	Kernel driver in use: HDA Intel
	Kernel modules: snd-hda-intel

00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx+
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0
	Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=0
	I/O behind bridge: 00005000-00005fff
	Memory behind bridge: 57100000-581fffff
	Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 0000000050000000-0000000050ffffff
	Secondary status: 66MHz- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR-
	BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR- NoISA- VGA- MAbort- Reset- FastB2B-
		PriDiscTmr- SecDiscTmr- DiscTmrStat- DiscTmrSERREn-
	Capabilities: access denied
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport-driver

00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx+
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0
	Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=02, sec-latency=0
	I/O behind bridge: 00004000-00004fff
	Memory behind bridge: 56100000-570fffff
	Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 0000000051000000-0000000051ffffff
	Secondary status: 66MHz- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR-
	BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR- NoISA- VGA- MAbort- Reset- FastB2B-
		PriDiscTmr- SecDiscTmr- DiscTmrStat- DiscTmrSERREn-
	Capabilities: access denied
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport-driver

00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx+
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0
	Bus: primary=00, secondary=03, subordinate=03, sec-latency=0
	I/O behind bridge: 00002000-00003fff
	Memory behind bridge: 55000000-560fffff
	Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 0000000052000000-0000000052ffffff
	Secondary status: 66MHz- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR-
	BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR- NoISA- VGA- MAbort- Reset- FastB2B-
		PriDiscTmr- SecDiscTmr- DiscTmrStat- DiscTmrSERREn-
	Capabilities: access denied
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport-driver

00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 4 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx+
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0
	Bus: primary=00, secondary=04, subordinate=04, sec-latency=0
	I/O behind bridge: 00001000-00001fff
	Memory behind bridge: 54000000-54ffffff
	Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 0000000053000000-0000000053ffffff
	Secondary status: 66MHz- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR-
	BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR- NoISA- VGA- MAbort- Reset- FastB2B-
		PriDiscTmr- SecDiscTmr- DiscTmrStat- DiscTmrSERREn-
	Capabilities: access denied
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport-driver

00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
	Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device 022f
	Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0
	Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
	Region 4: I/O ports at 60a0 [size=32]
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd

00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
	Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device 022f
	Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0
	Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 17
	Region 4: I/O ports at 6080 [size=32]
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd

00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
	Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device 022f
	Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0
	Interrupt: pin C routed to IRQ 18
	Region 4: I/O ports at 6060 [size=32]
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd

00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
	Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device 022f
	Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0
	Interrupt: pin D routed to IRQ 19
	Region 4: I/O ports at 6040 [size=32]
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd

00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
	Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device 022f
	Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0
	Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
	Region 0: Memory at 58344400 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
	Capabilities: access denied
	Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd

00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2) (prog-if 01 [Subtractive decode])
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0
	Bus: primary=00, secondary=05, subordinate=05, sec-latency=32
	Secondary status: 66MHz- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium TAbort- TAbort- MAbort+ SERR- PERR-
	BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR- NoISA- VGA- MAbort- Reset- FastB2B-
		PriDiscTmr- SecDiscTmr- DiscTmrStat- DiscTmrSERREn-
	Capabilities: access denied

00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
	Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device 022f
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0
	Capabilities: access denied
	Kernel modules: iTCO_wdt, intel-rng

00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA AHCI Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 01 [AHCI 1.0])
	Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device 022f
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx+
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz+ UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0
	Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 28
	Region 0: I/O ports at 60d8 [size=8]
	Region 1: I/O ports at 60fc [size=4]
	Region 2: I/O ports at 60d0 [size=8]
	Region 3: I/O ports at 60f8 [size=4]
	Region 4: I/O ports at 6020 [size=16]
	Region 5: Memory at 58344000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
	Capabilities: access denied
	Kernel driver in use: ahci

00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
	Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device 022f
	Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 17
	Region 4: I/O ports at 6000 [size=32]
	Kernel driver in use: i801_smbus
	Kernel modules: i2c-i801

01:00.0 Network controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express) (rev 01)
	Subsystem: Foxconn International, Inc. Device e016
	Physical Slot: 1
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 32 bytes
	Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
	Region 0: Memory at 57100000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
	Capabilities: access denied
	Kernel driver in use: ath9k
	Kernel modules: ath9k

03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Attansic Technology Corp. Device 1062 (rev c0)
	Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device 022f
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx+
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast TAbort- TAbort- MAbort- SERR- PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0
	Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 29
	Region 0: Memory at 55000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
	Region 2: I/O ports at 2000 [size=128]
	Capabilities: access denied
	Kernel driver in use: atl1c
	Kernel modules: atl1c


This is the fdisk output:

fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x7529554a

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1               1        1567    12586896   27  Unknown
/dev/sda2            1568        2090     4200997+   c  W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/sda3   *        2091        2103      104422+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda4            2104       30401   227303685    f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5            2104       30401   227303653+   7  HPFS/NTFS

The Android partition is /dev/sda2. I have backed up each partition and kept them as a tgz file. The android partition is about 1.3G uncompressed.

I think my next task is to file for a Other OS refund. Looking forward to the fun.

4 comments


  1. Hello, could you tell that shop’s detailed position in VivoCity?
    Why Android is installed on a FAT32 partition?
    and I found there is some “access denied” phrases from lspci output, that is because you run that command under normal user’s privilege,
    Capabilities: access denied
    Could you please run it again with root privileged? Thanks,


    • Re: Hello, could you tell that shop’s detailed position in VivoCity?
      It was from Challenger. I am sure you can get it at Funan. I don’t think the error messages are not because of privilege. I did run it as root.
      In any case, I does appear that after the “install” of the other OS, the partition holding Android seems to have disappeared. I need to figure this out. Need to send a bunch of questions to Acer.


      • Re: Hello, could you tell that shop's detailed position in VivoCity?
        And I also don’t like the Other OS version 7, interesting about the refund, have you succeeded to get refund? How do you achieve?
        “I think my next task is to file for a Other OS refund. Looking forward to the fun.”
        You must know in Singapore, it seems hard to find&buy one netbook/notebook pre-installed with linux or just be friendly to linux, so do you have some advice to those novice computer-buyers who just want linux (don’t pay for M$ shit)?
        Thanks,

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