Missing firmware on install & broken packages, here's how I fixed it

Mander · 2020-10-26 11:55:36

I decided to try BL on an old netbook that was gathering dust. The device is pretty anaemic (Acer Aspire ONE D257-1497, with 1GB RAM and Intel Atom N570 CPU) but still functional. I'm not totally new to Linux but it's been a while since I used it and I never was an expert. I thought my experience installing it might be helpful to others, as I had some problems but seem to have resolved them. Here's what I did:

Create Live USB (I used dd mode in Rufus on Windows)
Choose text installer
Go through language settings
Got message that it cannot mount CD-ROM; found a tip in another post to unplug the USB drive and plug it in again. This works, so I proceed

First attempt I got an error message about missing hardware. I continued anyway, but although it seemed that my wifi card was recognized and working I couldn't get it to connect, so I continued without a connection. I assumed that I could just update any relevant packages later.

BL seemed to install OK, but after rebooting I could not install anything new, even though it connected to the wifi with no problems. I tried the usual commands (apt update, apt upgrade) but every time installation failed and I got several error messages about broken packages. I did not add any new repositories or anything like that.

So I downloaded the firmware and extracted it onto the same USB drive with the live distro. In the process I overwrote a lot of 0B files that were in the existing firmware folder, so maybe there was an error to start with?

I started the install again, and as expected didn't get any error messages about missing firmware this time. I also connected it to the network using a cable.

This time I was prompted to install a PAE kernel, enable buster-backports, install a meta package, bluetooth, flash, and various developer tools. I accepted most things, and over the next several hours (I wandered away and did something else for a while, and when I came back there was a prompt waiting so I don't know how long it actually took) many more things were installed. I am now able to install other applications without errors.

Everything seems to be fine now. So far Bunsenlabs seems to work quite well on this computer, although there is a significant lag between clicking on an icon or menu item and the application actually opening (including opening the menu itself). I imagine this is probably a limitation of the computer itself.

However there are a couple of things I'm wondering about. Should I disable the buster-backports repo, in case there are conflicts? What is it that downloading this extra firmware actually fixed, given that everything seemed to be working on the live USB? Is it essential to be online when installing, or could I have added whatever was missing later? I tried installing some of the missing dependencies and broken packages individually but nothing worked.

sleekmason · 2020-10-26 14:15:50

Wild, Good job!

As to your questions,

No need to disable the repo, though given what you just posted, I would check your sources.list anyway to make sure all the entries are there. Backports have to be called exclusively, so no worries on upgrades.

I think the option for non-free comes during the bl prompt after install? Been awhile.

While not necessary to be connected during install in order to get a running system, you may have to adjust your sources.list as on some installs the internet is necessary to get things right.

Pretty sure a few others could go into more/better detail:) Glad you got it working!

DeepDayze · 2020-10-26 17:44:11

Great to see those old netbooks getting some Linux love as Linux performs better on those very weak netbooks than with Windows. I have made an old IBM Thinkpad T42 into a solid netbook-like machine that is pretty responsive in most cases.

For netbooks or old laptops just install a minimal set of apps and it will be quite a usable machine even with low ram. Don't install memory hungry apps though.

rbh · 2020-10-26 18:35:15

Mander wrote:

I continued anyway, but although it seemed that my wifi card was recognized and working I couldn't get it to connect, so I continued without a connection.

It is better to attach cable if problem with wifi.

So I downloaded the https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unof … /]firmware and extracted it onto the same USB drive with the live distro.In the process I overwrote a lot of 0B files that were in the existing firmware folder, so maybe there was an error to start with?

Yes, that is not recommended method. Copy needed firmware to the root of new usb instead!

This time I was prompted to install a PAE kernel, enable buster-backports, install a meta package, bluetooth, flash, and various developer tools. I accepted most things,

Prompted...? You get the proposals... I do not think there is any reason to install PAE kernel on your pc. If it had more than 3.2 GB RAM, then you should do that.
Here is more about PAE: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PAE

However there are a couple of things I'm wondering about. Should I disable the buster-backports repo, in case there are conflicts?

If there would be chance of conflicts, it would not be an choice...

Is it essential to be online when installing,

Yes, when installing BL. I one can not make internet connection, better install bare cli-debian and run the BL-netscript.

Last edited by rbh (2020-10-26 18:35:59)

#1 2020-10-26 11:55:36

Missing firmware on install & broken packages, here's how I fixed it

#2 2020-10-26 14:15:50

Re: Missing firmware on install & broken packages, here's how I fixed it

#3 2020-10-26 17:44:11

Re: Missing firmware on install & broken packages, here's how I fixed it

#4 2020-10-26 18:35:15

Re: Missing firmware on install & broken packages, here's how I fixed it

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