ASUS EeeBook X205TA (11.60", Intel Atom Z3735F, 2 GB)

ASUS EeeBook X205TA

11.60", Intel Atom Z3735F, 2 GB


Question about ASUS EeeBook X205TA

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Anonymous

9 years ago

Would a Linux OS run smoothly on this notebook? Is the hardware supported at all?

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cyrilstoll

9 years ago

It runs smoothly, that's not the problem. The problem is actually the hardware support. With a 4 Linux kernel, the WLAN NIC is supported. However, most Linux currently still use a 3 kernel, which has no drivers for the WLAN NIC. The biggest problem, however, is that although it is in principle a 64bit processor, the EFI runs with 32bit. Most Linux installation CDs (ISO file, also usable for USB stick) do not have a 32bit bootloader. This means that the Linux on the CD might run, but the EEEBook will not boot from the CD. You have to compile a bootia32.efi file by hand, put it into the ISO and put it on the CD or USB stick. This way you should be able to boot and install it. After that, you have to adjust the files that Grub accesses so that the notebook will boot without the installation CD. To be honest, I am not a Linux professional, but I do have a certain amount of knowledge. Nevertheless, I've spent at least 10 hours on it and still don't have a Linux running... For the ambitious and cracks it's ok, because the notebook itself is pretty cool (thin, light etc.). But for hobby Linuxers, it's probably still a bit too heavy at the moment. Maybe there will be better support for it in a few months.
According to my research, however, in addition to the WLAN, some special keys and such do not work correctly under Linux, even with a lot of tinkering, not everything has been made to work yet, as far as I know, but apart from the missing network, it is possible to live with it.
Greetings