Mobii netbook Ubuntu 9.04-9.10 problems P1, P2, P3.

Tue Aug 18 14:48:08 UTC 2009

Hello all!

I am configuring (linuxing) a netbook Mobii NB9010 for a friend.

Installed by now: 
Ubuntu 9.04 netbook remix, classic desktop. 
Ubuntu 9.10 netbook remix karmic alpha 4, classic desktop. 
Easypeasy (Ubuntu 8.10). 
Tried also via live-usb (iso to usb with unetbootin) Ubuntu 8.10. 

Everyone works great, but I have some annoying problems:

P-1: When inserting the headphone, the speakers don't mute 
This problem is most important for my friend! 
Googling around I found dozens of sites about this, including ubuntu
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HdaIntelSoundHowto?action=fullsearch&context=180&value=linkto%3A%22HdaIntelSoundHowto%22, .
This is a classic netbook issue, tested some posted solutions, failed
all.

Clues: When I installed 9.10 UNR alpha4, this problem was solved, but at
the first update returned to appear. 
I believe that it changed pulseaudio-module-Hal for
pulseaudio-module-udev, plus many others.
Maybe, if I am able to reinstall/downgrade to the previous
pulseaudio-module-hal it could be solved. (Help here welcome!)

Another option that I have (opinions welcome!)  is to leave the newly
just installed 9.10 UNR alpha4, that solved the P1 problem, and that
works nice and seems stable, and that I have read that it works well
(even at its alpha4 stage) in netbooks.

As my friend lives very far from me and I cannot help her easily if
there are problems, I can (temporarily) disable the automatic updates
(except security ones), until November when Ubuntu launches the release
version, supposing that the problem has been fixed then. 

P-2: Wifi internal does not work, keys FNF1 don't enable-disable
internal wifi, and the wifi led is always on. 

Wifi with an USB adapter goes perfect, and Ethernet also.
There are linux drivers at the pointofview-online.com site (the NL
company of the (China made) Mobii), but I failed to install them,
configure error. (?) I think that the driver seems inappropriate for the
kernels of the 9.04-9.10.
http://www.ralinktech.com/ seems to have newer drivers, probably OK for
the newest linux kernels, I would try them if I find an easy newbie step
by step installing instructions.

P-3: I think that the video does not run at its best (INTEL945GME), it
lags a little.
In Karmic 9.10 alpha4, desktop effects don't work, and in 9.04 yes, but
I feel that it slows down all a little more what it should be.

The netbook is from Point Of View, Holland, www.pointofview-online.com. 
http://www.pointofview-online.com/showroom.php?shop_mode=product_detail&product_id=61

Point of View (Holland) says they can give support for Ubuntu 8.10 only,
but I want to install the 9.04 or the 9.10.

I tested the 8.10 (in live usb) and easyPeasy (that this based on 8.10)
and they don't solved above mentioned problems.

Someone out there with a Mobii netbook? 

Any tips, opinions, clues and solutions, very welcome, have a (cold)
beer or two! Thanks to all in advance.

Overall I am very happy with this little machine, fantastic bright
screen, a sorry I have to give it back to her owner soon.

banjo.

PD1.: Mobii nb9010 SPECIFICATIONS:
http://www.pointofview-online.com/showroom.php?shop_mode=product_listing&category_id=80
Intel® ATOM 270 1.6 GHz
160 GB 
1GB DDR2 (+1GB opTional)
WXGA 10,2” 1024X600  500:1  contrast: 285 cd/m2

WEBCAM 1.3 Mega Pixel
3x USB 2.0
RJ45
Internal wireless 802.11 b/g
VGA output for externa dispay
4-in-1 SD/MS/MMC card reader
Spekers 2X1W (estéreo)
micr
headphones
1 free internal mini-pci-express

1,25 Kg
254 x 189 x 39 (mm)

Batery: 4400 Mah/7.4 v (6-cell) (or 2200 mAh (3-cell), lighter but only
2 h)

PD2.: CLUES:

cat /proc/asound/card0/codec#* | grep Codec

mobii at mobii-laptop:~$ cat /proc/asound/card0/codec#* | grep Codec
Codec: Realtek ALC662 rev1
mobii at mobii-laptop:~$ 

I actually found out that my Realtek audio codec was ALC662 by typing

cat /proc/asound/card0/pcm0c/info
mobii at mobii-laptop:~$ cat /proc/asound/card0/pcm0c/info
card: 0
device: 0
subdevice: 0
stream: CAPTURE
id: ALC662 Analog
name: ALC662 Analog
subname: subdevice #0
class: 0
subclass: 0
subdevices_count: 1
subdevices_avail: 0
mobii at mobii-laptop:~$ 

mobii at mobii-laptop:~$ lspci | grep -i audio
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High
Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)

mobii at mobii-laptop:~$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Memory
Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME
Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME,
943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High
Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express
Port 1 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI
Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI
Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI
Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI
Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface
Bridge (rev 02)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA
IDE Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller
(rev 02)
01:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller (rev 02)

mobii at mobii-laptop:~$ cat /proc/asound/cards
 0 [Intel          ]: HDA-Intel - HDA Intel
                      HDA Intel at 0xfea38000 irq 16
mobii at mobii-laptop:~$ 

mobii at mobii-laptop:~$ cat /proc/asound/*
cat: /proc/asound/card0: Es un directorio
 0 [Intel          ]: HDA-Intel - HDA Intel
                      HDA Intel at 0xfea38000 irq 16
  0: [ 0]   : control
  1:        : sequencer
  4: [ 0- 0]: hardware dependent
 16: [ 0- 0]: digital audio playback
 24: [ 0- 0]: digital audio capture
 33:        : timer
00-00: HDA Codec 0
cat: /proc/asound/Intel: Es un directorio
 0 snd_hda_intel
cat: /proc/asound/oss: Es un directorio
00-00: ALC662 Analog : ALC662 Analog : playback 1 : capture 1
cat: /proc/asound/seq: Es un directorio
G0: system timer : 4000.000us (10000000 ticks)
P0-0-0: PCM playback 0-0-0 : SLAVE
P0-0-1: PCM capture 0-0-1 : SLAVE
  Client application 2918 : running
Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.20.
Compiled on Aug 17 2009 for kernel 2.6.31-6-generic (SMP).
mobii at mobii-laptop:~$ 

mobii at mobii-laptop:~$ head -n 1 /proc/asound/card0/codec*
Codec: Realtek ALC662 rev1
mobii at mobii-laptop:~$ 

PD3.: 9.04 SCREENSHOTS
http://imagebin.ca/view/7sGV_wy.html
http://imagebin.ca/view/vJe5lFIO.html