Medion Akoya LS and PCLOS

[lhb1142]

Back in 2005, I bought a Medion Akoya LS computer from Best Buy. It had (and currently has) Windows-XP Home Edition installed. It has been upgraded to 2 GB RAM (its maximum).

A couple of years ago I tried to install U----u to this computer but was unable to do so. (I had planned to use this computer for travel and to buy a cheap netbook as my Windows computer.) I had wiped the computer with DBAN and proceeded to try to install U----u with a (known good) installation disc; the installation appeared to proceed normally until it was 92% complete and then I would get a message that "Ubiquity" has failed and, of course, U----u was not installed.

I went onto the U----u forum and asked about this; one person wrote back and told me that if I changed the Wi-fi module, the installation would work. This was evidently due to the fact that the Wi-fi drive was not supported. I wrote back and asked for more information, but none was forthcoming. At that point in time, I did not wish to take a chance (nor pay any more money) for changing parts in this computer so I reinstalled Windows-XP. (The only reason I need a Windows computer is to update my Garmin GPSes which, as far as I know, cannot be updated on a GNU/Linux computer.)

I would like to know a) if anyone has successfully updated a Medion Akoya LS computer to PCLOS and b) if any physical changes to the computer (i.e. a new Wi-fi module) was necessary for the installation to be successful.

The reason I am asking this is because, as you know, as of April 8, 2014, Windows-XP will no longer be supported. This computer is in perfect physical condition and it would be a shame to have to discard it just because Micro$oft will no longer support its own operating system; there would be nothing else to do with it, however, if I cannot install a GNU/Linux distribution (and I prefer PCLOS) onto it.

By the way, I have tried Puppy Linux (using RAM only) successfully but I did not care for that distribution (however, everything worked - including Wi-fi - which makes me even more curious as to why I could not install U----u directly to the hard drive).

I should appreciate any useful replies about this. Thank you.

Lawrence

[agmg]

I don't know what hardware this computer has and you don't give any details about it.

The best thing to do is try a LiveCD or USB first. If everything works fine in live session then you can proceed with the installation.
You may have to try with another DE like Xfce or LXDE if the computer has limited RAM or a weak CPU...

[lhb1142]

I don't know what hardware this computer has and you don't give any details about it.

The best thing to do is try a LiveCD or USB first. If everything works fine in live session then you can proceed with the installation.
You may have to try with another DE like Xfce or LXDE if the computer has limited RAM or a weak CPU...

Dear agmg,

I did not feel it necessary to include the specifications because I think that the only person(s) who could really answer my question is one who him/herself has installed PCLOS to a Medion Akoya LS (plain or modified - I hope that the person will so indicate). It is strange that, and I should have mentioned this, when I tried U----u's Live CD (in Live CD mode), everything worked perfectly. But the OS would not install.

But for anyone interested, here are the specs (and note that I upgraded to 2 GB RAM - that is the maximum, not 1 GB as is indicated on some sites):

Medion Akoya LS MD95334

    Specs

    Type Ultraportable (there was no such term in 2005, the year I bought the computer)
    Screen size 12.1 inches
    Screen resolution 1280 x 800
    Bundled OS Windows (XP)
    CPU family Pentium M
    Processor speed 1.6 GHz
    System RAM 512 MB
    Hard drive(s) 60 GB (total)
    Pointing device Trackpad
    Maximum battery life Up to 2 hours

General

    Type Ultraportable
    Bundled OS Windows (XP)

Display

    Screen size 12.1 inches
    Screen resolution 1280 x 800
    Aspect ratio 16:10
    Screen type LCD (Active, Color, Backlit, CCFL)
    Screen surface Matte / anti-glare

Processor

    Processor make Intel
    CPU family Pentium M
    CPU model Pentium M 730
    Processor speed 1.6 GHz
    Number of cores Single-core

Optical media

    Optical drive Yes
    Disc loading type Tray loading
    Readable optical media DVD (12x), CD (40x)
    Optical write support Yes
    Writable optical media CD
    CD formats CD-R, CD-RW

Networking

    WiFi 802.11 a, b, g
    WiFi encryption WEP, WPA, WPA2
    Ethernet 10/100 [Fast Ethernet]
    Analog modem 56k

Memory and storage (basic)

    System RAM 512 MB (Mine is upgraded to 2 GB
    Hard drive(s) 60 GB (total)

Battery

    Maximum battery life Up to 2 hours
    Battery type Li-ion
    Battery access Removable

Input

    Keyboard Yes
    Pointing device Trackpad

Connections

    USB 2.0 (3 port(s))
    FireWire / 1394 400 (4-pin, 1 port(s))

Pricing & availability

    Availability Discontinued
    Original price $1100 USD (I paid $950.00)

Here is PCWorld's article http://www.pcworld.com/article/121576/article.html about the computer. Note that it has a Wi-fi button on its top row, something I have seen on no other computer that I have owned; I do not know if this makes any difference in causing the installation to fail when the Live CD works perfectly.

Thank you for writing.

Lawrence

[agmg]

Did you already try to boot with a PCLinuxOS LiveCD or USB?

[gandy]

I found more info on this machine.


    1.6 GHz Pentium M processor, 533 MHz front side bus
    512 MB memory, 60 GB hard drive, DVD-ROM, CD-RW drive
    3 USB 2.0. 1 IEEE 1394 FireWire, 3-in-1 card reader, SPDIF audio out
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 (up to 128 MB shared memory), 10/100 Mbit Fast Ethernet LAN, Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG, 56K modem
    Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works 8.0

Have  you thought about shrinking the Windows partition and doing a dual boot? That way you could do test installs. Or make a Live USB stick with persistence and boot from that. 

[Neal ManBear]

With that processor, you should try a lightweight desktop environment:     
LXDE:     
http://www.pclinuxos.com/?page_id=188     
XFCE:     
http://www.pclinuxos.com/?page_id=213     

You can install KDE/Gnome later, if you want.     

I did not feel it necessary to include the specifications because I think that the only person(s) who could really answer my question is one who him/herself has installed PCLOS to a Medion Akoya LS (plain or modified - I hope that the person will so indicate).

     
That is an incorrect assumption. The combined hardware, Medion Akoya LS is the totality of its hardware, but each piece of its hardware is a separate entity on its own. There may be (and most likely are) members who have experience of each component individually and/or in various combinations.     

[Just17]

....

Have  you thought about shrinking the Windows partition and doing a dual boot? That way you could do test installs. Or make a Live USB stick with persistence and boot from that. 

+1

Nothing beats trying it yourself ......  and if you hit problems THEN ask for help resolving them.

[lhb1142]

Did you already try to boot with a PCLinuxOS LiveCD or USB?

No I haven't. I do not know if that would tell me anything. As I said, I booted this computer using the U----u Live CD and everything worked perfectly. Even so, the OS would not install.

I really would like to know if there is anyone out there who has actually tried (successfully or unsuccessfully) to install PCLOS to this computer.

Lawrence

[lhb1142]

I found more info on this machine.


    1.6 GHz Pentium M processor, 533 MHz front side bus
    512 MB memory, 60 GB hard drive, DVD-ROM, CD-RW drive
    3 USB 2.0. 1 IEEE 1394 FireWire, 3-in-1 card reader, SPDIF audio out
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 (up to 128 MB shared memory), 10/100 Mbit Fast Ethernet LAN, Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG, 56K modem
    Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works 8.0

Have  you thought about shrinking the Windows partition and doing a dual boot? That way you could do test installs. Or make a Live USB stick with persistence and boot from that. 

Dual-booting was my original intention. I had planned to install U----u (version 10 point 04) to this computer (after wiping it with DBAN) and then reinstalling Windows along side of it but U----u would not install (even though, when booting the computer with the Live CD, everything worked fine).

[lhb1142]

I did not feel it necessary to include the specifications because I think that the only person(s) who could really answer my question is one who him/herself has installed PCLOS to a Medion Akoya LS (plain or modified - I hope that the person will so indicate).

     
That is an incorrect assumption. The combined hardware, Medion Akoya LS is the totality of its hardware, but each piece of its hardware is a separate entity on its own. There may be (and most likely are) members who have experience of each component individually and/or in various combinations.     

I stand corrected. Thank you.

[lhb1142]

....

Have  you thought about shrinking the Windows partition and doing a dual boot? That way you could do test installs. Or make a Live USB stick with persistence and boot from that. 

+1

Nothing beats trying it yourself ......  and if you hit problems THEN ask for help resolving them.

You're right, of course, but, frankly, I do not want to have to go to all the trouble of reinstalling Windows-XP in the event that the PCLOS installation should fail. (Have you ever installed Windows? What a PITA!!!)

That's the reason I asked the question here; I am hoping that someone else, who has actually installed PCLOS on a Medion Akoya LS, will respond.

If there is no such person here, then I am going to have to go with "Plan B" - I'll keep using this computer for my Garmin updates (that's all I use it for!) until April 8, 2014, and then I'll just "junk" it and buy a very cheap new Windows computer. Who knows? Maybe at that time there will be other types of GPSes that do not require updating via a Windows computer only.

At that point, it's goodbye Micro$oft completely!

I thank everyone who has written.

Lawrence

[Just17]

You're right, of course, but, frankly, I do not want to have to go to all the trouble of reinstalling Windows-XP in the event that the PCLOS installation should fail. (Have you ever installed Windows? What a PITA!!!)

The suggestion was for a dual boot ......  which leaves the original installation of Windows untouched when done correctly.

[RobNJ]

[
Dual-booting was my original intention. I had planned to install U----u (version 10 point 04) to this computer (after wiping it with DBAN) and then reinstalling Windows along side of it but U----u would not install (even though, when booting the computer with the Live CD, everything worked fine).

IF I'm not mistaken, when dual booting with windows, windows has to be installed first

[YouCanToo]

Did you already try to boot with a PCLinuxOS LiveCD or USB?

No I haven't. I do not know if that would tell me anything. As I said, I booted this computer using the U----u Live CD and everything worked perfectly. Even so, the OS would not install.

So because the big "U" failed, does not mean PCLOS will do so.

I really would like to know if there is anyone out there who has actually tried (successfully or unsuccessfully) to install PCLOS to this computer.

Lawrence

[gandy]

IF I'm not mistaken, when dual booting with windows, windows has to be installed first

No, it can be done in reverse but it's more steps.