Friends in testing

NOTE: The contents of this page are not set in stone, and are subject to change! This page is a draft in active flux ... Please leave suggestions on the talk page.

This page is currently in progress. Please don't try the described procedures until this sentence is gone. Thank you.

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Introduction

Since the schedule for the next G1G1 is not firm, it is not known how much time will be available in which to fix critical bugs or to change activities before delivering a release to manufacturing. Consequently, we have decided to make:

• a "back-up" ship plan - ship the 8.1.1 release (currently candidate-708) and minor changes to the G1G1 activity pack available today - anticipating 4 weeks time before image delivery, and
• a "goal" ship plan - ship the 8.2.0 release - or defer the ship decision until better information is available - anticipating more than 10 weeks time before image delivery.

Your assistance would be invaluable in improving the results of the "goal" ship plan.

Spread the Word

Have any friends with G1G1 or developer XOs? Send them to this Wiki page, which will soon have information on suggested testing and bug reporting to improve our upcoming releases. This is your opportunity to help give better software to hundreds of thousands of children next year as well as to future G1G1 donors.

Preparation

Clean-install your XO with the build Update.1 708, firmware Q2D16. As a result,you will lose all files you currently have on the XO laptop. Please back up personal files to another source if you would like to keep them.

Power & Game buttons for B2 and older XOs. B3 and newer have "O" at the top and "✓" (check) at the right.

1. How to clean-install:
   • Download the OS image and its signatures file to your local computer. DO NOT open them.
   • Copy these files onto of a clean USB memory stick. Your USB memory stick should now contain two files named: en708-1.img and fs.zip.
   • Unmount the USB memory stick and disconnect it from your computer when it is safe to do so.
   • Insert the USB stick into the XO Laptop and power up while holding the four game keys. (this is VERY important!)
   • Release game keys when it asks you to. It will take a few minutes to rewrite the memory.
2. Reboot.
3. Check that you have the correct build:
   • Hover over the XO in the Home screen and click on 'About my XO'
   • It should say build Update.1 708, firmware Q2D16

NB. If the install "hangs", then you may have a corrupted USB memory stick. In this case, reformat the stick (FULL format!), then copy the en708-1.img and fs.zip files to the stick. Be sure to properly unmount/remove the stick before repeating the secure reflash procedure.

Testing

Test 1: Wireless Internet access

For this test you need a wireless access point set up and running. You should know the SSID of the access point and a password, if any. If your access point is password-protected, you should also know whether your access point is setup to operate in the 'Open System' or 'Shared Key" mode.

1. After booting the laptop go to the Neighborhood view (Alt-ctl 'neighborhood', which is the 3rd key from the left on the top row)
2. Click on the Circle that represents your wireless access point. If the wireless encription key is required, the prompt will appear, requiring you to enter the password. Please be very carefull to choose the correct Key Type and Authentication Type!!! After clicking on "OK", wait until the circle stops blinking. Hover over that circle and see that the laptop is connected to your access point. You can also check it in the Home view (5th key from the left on the top row) - hover over the circle near the battery indicator.
3. Click on Browse
4. Browse the internet to make sure you have a good connection
5. Go to this wiki page: Wireless_Access_Point_Compatibility and enter your test results. Please specify your contact email (without using the @ sign), your XO's serial number (seen in "About your XO"), and the manufacturer and type of your access point.

If you have questions, please email joe at laptop.org. Thank you very much for your participation!!!