Friends in testing

Current test image: 11.3.1

Introduction

Since the schedule for the next G1G1 is not firm, we have decided to make:

a backup ship plan

ship the 8.1.1 release (currently candidate-708) and minor changes to the G1G1 activity pack available today

anticipates 4 weeks time before image delivery

a goal ship plan

ship the 8.2.0 release or defer the ship decision until better information is available

anticipates more than 10 weeks time before image delivery.

Your assistance would be invaluable in improving the results of the "goal" ship plan. Also if you have any friends with G1G1 or developer XOs, please help spread the word.

Send your friends with XOs to this Wiki page, which will be updated weekly. This is your opportunity to help give better software to hundreds of thousands of children next year as well as to future G1G1 donors.

Finally, if you have questions about this effort, please leave them here.

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. P.S. If your computer runs on MS Windows, point your cursor on the link, click the right mouse button and choose "Save Link Target As".
   • Copy these files onto of a clean (Full (not Quick!) formatted) 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.
   • Shut down your XO laptop. 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 clean-install 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 and Browse the internet to make sure you have a good connection, or
4. Use the Console (CTRL-ALT-Neighborhood) and wget a well-known page. (Example: www.google.com)
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 dot org. Thank you very much for your participation!!!

Other testing notes

If you have any trouble in general that is not related to a specific test, describe it here: