Support FAQ

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Where do I get support?

Click Support for an extensive list of documentation, live chat support, interactive web forums, regional user groups, and repair options.

Please consider joining one of the many One Laptop per Child (OLPC) communities created as a result of the Give One Get One laptop program. XO laptops are now arriving across the US and will soon be arriving in Canada!

Getting started

How do I get started? Where is the manual?

The laptop design rationale is to encourage kids to discover/learn things by themselves, rather than giving them a fixed set of instructions. However, you can learn about your new XO laptop with our Getting Started guide, which is found here: http://laptop.org/start. A printable PDF version (17.5MB, be patient downloading!) is also now available.

Many volunteers are also working on a Simplified User Guide -- please check back soon for more updates.

What are the functions of all the keys on the keyboard?

The XO keyboard has a number of special keys and keycap symbols:

• the Esc key has a white × inside a black circle ();
• the Frame key has an open rectangle on it ();
• the F1 key is the same as the Neighborhood View key ();
• the F2 key is the same as the Group View key ();
• the F3 key is the same as the Home View key ();
• the F4 key is the same as the Activity View key ();
• the Delete key is the same as Fn-Erase.

Where can I find a list of all keyboard shortcuts?

Here is a list: Keyboard Shortcuts

Can I attach an external keyboard or mouse?

Most USB keyboards and mice work fine. However, avoid "PalmPilot keyboards," as these use IR (infrared), and "wireless keyboards," as these use Bluetooth—neither of which are supported on the XO laptop.

Is there a Caps Lock?

There is no Caps Lock key. However, in a future software release, there will be a way to create Caps Lock behavior in the Write activity.

Is there a stylus for the touchpad?

The touchpad is designed to work with a stylus across the full width of the three panels. (Only the center panel is sensitive to your finger.) A stylus does not ship with the laptop.

Currently, there are no activities that use the stylus. However, in a future software release, the Paint Activity (formerly known as Draw) will work with a stylus.

Why is my touchpad jumpy?

There are three known issues. A USB mouse is a useful workaround in all three cases:

The pointer jumps to the bottom-right corner of the screen

This can happen right after you touch the touchpad. Rebooting often helps. We are testing a fix that should resolve this problem in the next software release, which we expect to be downloadable in early 2008. Until that is available, a standard USB mouse can be used to get around the problem.

This intermittent problem often goes away automagically after several minutes/hours.*

The four-finger salute (Escape + Frame + Right Arrow + Fn, with Fn pressed last) also usually fixes this.

The pointer moves around by itself

Instead of reliably following your finger, the pointer can move around on its own, sometimes when a hand is close to it. This means that your laptop may need to be recalibrated.

You can fix this problem by rebooting your laptop (turn off your laptop and restart it). After you restart your laptop, do not touch the touchpad for a few minutes. Automatic recalibration on bootup may fix the problem.

If restarting your XO doesn't work, please try the manual recalibration procedure (the four-finger salute):

1. Press the following three keys at one time: the upper left, upper right, and lower right of the keyboard.
2. Press the fourth key (the lower left) last, and then release all keys.

If the four-finger salute doesn't fix the problem, shut down the laptop and remove all power sources (power adapter and battery) from the laptop for 10 seconds. Add the power sources back to the laptop (reinsert battery and plug in power adapter) and power the laptop back on. Do not touch the touchpad while the laptop is powering up.

Mouse moves mostly vertically

The touchpad works fine vertically but is very jumpy horizontally. This appears to result from bad touchpad hardware. Users who've explicitly confirmed this detailed diagnosis may email "help AT laptop.org" to apply for an RMA return/replacement within 30 days of receipt of their laptop.

Why is there no windowing system?

The XO laptop uses a new graphical interface, called Sugar, designed for young children.

You can explore the Sugar interface in our Getting Started guide.

Note the "Frame key" at the top-right corner of your keyboard, which toggles the presence of the Frame on and off the screen. (The Frame is the black border around the screen that holds the activity taskbar, clipboard, buddy list, etc.)

You can restart Sugar by pressing the Ctrl-Alt-Erase keys simultaenously.

How do I access a Linux command prompt?

For a Linux command prompt, run the "Terminal Activity"

How do I change my machine's Nickname?

Your XO's Nickname and other options can be changed using the Terminal Activity's command line Sugar-Control-Panel.

To access the Sugar Control Panel, launch the Terminal activity from the Home View as described in the section above. A summary follows: scroll through the Activity taskbar (along the bottom of your screen) to the right by pressing on the button on the bottom right of the Frame. When you find the Terminal icon , press it once to launch the Terminal activity.

To view the current nickname for your XO type:

   sugar-control-panel -g nick

To change the nickname type:

   sugar-control-panel -s nick "My New Nickname" 

To view other Sugar Control Panel options type:

   sugar-control-panel -l

Note: some characters should not be used in the nickname as them may prevent Sugar from loading properly after you've changed the name. Such characters to avoid include -(minus sign), ... bad nickname recovery help.

How do I change the colors of my XO figure (on my home view)?

To change the color of the XO symbol at the center of your Home View, launch the Terminal activity as described in the section How do I access a Linux command prompt. A summary follows: scroll through the Activity taskbar (along the bottom of your screen) to the right by pressing on the button on the bottom right of the Frame. When you find the Terminal icon , press it once to launch the Terminal activity.

At the prompt, type just one of the following example commands:

   sugar-control-panel -s color green purple medium dark   (press "Enter")
   sugar-control-panel -s color blue yellow medium light    (press "Enter")

The first color you specify will apply to the XO figure's outline.
The second color will apply to the XO figure's internal color.
The 2 light/medium/dark values that follow the colors are optional. They specify the darkness of the outline and internal color respectively. To ensure that the color scheme you choose is readable when the display is in monochrome mode, the outline and internal light/medium/dark values can not be the same. If you try to make them the same, they will be silently set to be different.
For further help, type:

   sugar-control-panel -h color                            (press "Enter")

Restart Sugar by pressing these 3 keys at once: Ctrl-Alt-Erase.

Bonus: a few extra tips on running sugar-control-panel.

Can I print from the XO laptop?

For the first shipment of XOs from December 2007, there is no built-in printer support. However, 2 alternatives are available:

1. Documents can be saved to a USB flash drive and printed from another computer. Instructions on how to save and retrieve documents to the USB drive can be found in the section: How do I save or retrieve files from a USB drive or SD (Secure Digital) card? To summarize, insert the USB drive in one of three USB slots on the XO laptop; copy your document from the Journal to the USB drive; insert the USB drive into another computer, and print.
2. Software to enable printing will be added sometime in 2008 with a software upgrade that supports the standard CUPS / IPP protocols. (You can add network printing yourself, in the meantime, if you are in a real pinch and somewhat technically inclined.)

Note: In the developing world, paper is a precious resource, so children store their work on their laptops rather than print it out.

What does "Register" (in Home view) do?

"Register" is for children that are connecting to a School Server, and serves no function for G1G1 recipients.

How do I update/upgrade my laptop?

G1G1 laptops can be manually updated over the Internet, using the procedures outlined in the olpc-update article, or offline with a USB device as in Activated_Upgrade.

Here are some of the expected features of Update.1 targeted for late January 2008.

You can revert back to the previous version if an update goes wrong if you use the olpc-update method, using the Circle booting procedure on the Cheat_codes page. Advanced users will also be able to explicitly opt out in advance of all updates.

Finally in school situations, the teacher or administrator would be able to control the update process, perhaps so that updates don't happen until the end of a semester (This functionality is implemented, but the school server tools to actually administer groups of laptops aren't yet ready in early 2008, check School_server for more).

How do I begin to write programs for the XO laptop?

You can find information on how to create your own programs for the XO at Getting started programming.

For those already familiar with both linux and python, the Sugar Activity Tutorial is a step-by-step guide to building a Sugar activity.

Connectivity and the Internet

NEW! Wifi Connectivity Quick Start Guide

How can I access the Internet?

First, you must have wireless(*) Internet nearby; second, verify the network name (SSID) and its password, if it has one; and third, carefully follow the instructions found at: http://laptop.org/laptop/start/connecting.shtml

From December 2007, WPA security was not initially supported on XO laptops. If you are a knowledgeable Linux user, you can find instructions here to access the Internet with WPA security, by manually setting up WPA. It may be best for less experienced users to wait for the next stable XO software release, which should be available by the end of Janurary 2008. If you absolutely need WPA now, you can get it by performing an Activated Upgrade to a testing version, but in the process you will lose all data on your laptop.

(*) See below for Wired Ethernet. If a wireline network is important to you, you should use a USB-to-Ethernet adaptor.

Note: XO laptops were intentionally designed for children in developing nations, where it is faster and less expensive to introduce wireless connections, rather than a traditional telecom infrastructure.

How do I connect to an Apple Access Point?

There are two kinds of Apple Access points: WEP and WPA. If you have WEP:

1. Go to: http://www.corecoding.com/utilities/wep2hex.php and convert your password into a hex phrase.
2. Click on the Access Point in the neighborhood mesh view.
3. Choose Hex input for the key; and choose "shared" key instead of "open".
4. Enter your hex phrase.
5. You should be able to associate to and authenticate a connection to an Apple Access point.

If you have WPA, you should note that WPA is not working from the User Interface in build 650. You should upgrade to build 653.

How do I connect with Verizon FIOS?

The symptom is that the XO does not see the wireless access point reliably cannot connect to ActionTec M1424WR.

Resolution: The router must be set up to use one channel exclusively (1-11) rather than rotate the channel selection

From a computer other than your XO:

1. Go to your Browser, and type in 192.168.1.1

2. Screen will open, and you will need to insert "User Name" and "Password." The Default response would be -- admin -- password

3. New screen will open. Along the top you will spot "Wireless Settings." Select that category.

4. Along the left side you will see a column. Choose 'Basic Security Settings."

5. Look for Section.....3. Channel: ______________ If it says "Automatic." it is rotating through eleven channels. Choose just one channel.

6. Click the "Apply" button.

Are there access points that don't work with XO?

The XO Laptop is primarily designed to network with other XO Laptops using the mesh network, but the XO is also wifi capable.

The OLPC Support Team has been gathering notes and configuration tips for various Wireless Access Point (WAP) connectivity.

We are actively working to resolve minor compatibility issues with various Wireless Access points.

Newer Access Points have advanced speed options. If your Access Point is having problems, please check the following:

• a single channel should be selected, not "Automatic"
• The wireless network mode should be Mixed" or "Wireless-G", not "Disabled" or "Other"
• If Wireless MAC Filtering is enabled, the MAC address for the XO is entered
• The latest Firmware is loaded on your access point

Some access points that have reported intermittent problems with XOs:

• BelkinPreN - XO Connects but all other systems disconnect
• Linksys WRT54GX2 - XO Connects but cannot access internet

If you have one of these access points, please contact technical support if none of the basic setup fixes solves your connection problem.

Please email technical support if you are having connection difficulties. And please help update our wiki if you have a successful wifi connection.

A complete matrix of Wireless Access Point Compatibility is being updated by the support community.

How do Give1Get1 donors access their free year of T-Mobile wireless Internet?

Give1Get1 donors can activate their T-Mobile offer here: http://laptopgiving.org/pin

You'll need the reference number and email address you originally used to place your Give1Get1 order. (The reference number is marked "PO:" on the FedEx shipping label that came on the box of your XO laptop. If you have not received it yet, please wait until it arrives.)

The reference number is not valid as a T-Mobile pin until the XO is confirmed as received, so there may be a day or so delay between the time you receive your XO and when your reference PIN is activated.

Verify that both are correct and, if you are still having problems, send email to: "service AT laptopgiving.org"

Note: T-Mobile does not provide access in your home; instead you need to go to (or be near) a business with a T-Mobile hotspot! Details on accessing T-Mobile hotspots across the US are here.

Is there an email program?

You can use the Gmail activity to access your email, if you have a @gmail.com account; or you can simply use Browse to access most any web-based email program.

Can I use a wired Ethernet connection?

Yes, you can connect to a wired Internet connection; use a USB-to-Ethernet adapter.

Note: XO laptops were intentionally designed for children in developing nations, where it is faster and less expensive to introduce wireless connections, rather than a traditional telecom infrastructure.

How do I find my wireless MAC address and IP address?

Start the "Terminal Activity" from the Frame.

Type the following (and then press the "Enter" key):

/sbin/ifconfig -a eth0        

The MAC Address is listed as HWaddr in the first line. If your XO is connected to a wireless network, the IP address is listed on the second line as inet addr:

eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:17:C4:05:24:24  
          inet addr:192.168.1.107  Bcast:192.168.1.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::217:c4ff:fe05:2424/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:1597 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:747 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:260962 (254.8 KiB)  TX bytes:110450 (107.8 KiB)

Why can't the XO Browse When Connected?

Symptom: I can connect, but I cannot browse/search any pages.

Most likely, the XO has failed to receive DNS information from your internet access point. If this is the case, you would be able to access the Internet for sites named directly with IP addresses but not their common names. In other words, http://209.85.133.18/ would work but http://www.google.com/ would not.

Verify what the XO has received (from the Internet access point) for DNS information by using the Browse activity and looking at this URL:

file:///localhost/etc/resolv.conf

This page should show the IP address of the DNS server assigned by the Internet access point. If there isn't an IP address on this page, or if the IP address assigned is wrong, this would account for the behavior you're seeing.

If there is no IP address, or the address is wrong, you'll need to determine why the Internet access point is failing to supply one, but this is likely to be misconfiguration of the access point.

What information is needed to help diagnose wireless problems?

If you are experiencing problems with wireless connectivity, here is a list of information that you should provide your friends and OLPC community, so they can help you in the diagnosis of the wireless problems.

1. The software build on your XO. Please see this How to check the OS and firmware versions page to find your software build.

2. The access point/router brand, model, version, and firmware version (ideally).

3. The security configuration of your wireless home system. Most access points will be open (security disabled) by defualt. If you configured it to use cryptography (WEP, WPA, WPA2, etc) you should gather this information.

4. The description of the problem.

Other useful information you should consider adding to your description:

• Do you see the wifi Access Point in the mesh view?
• Have you previously successfully connected to this Access Point from an XO?
• Can you connect to the Access Point from another non-XO laptop?
• Is the Access Point displayed as protected (a lock badge appears), or as open in the mesh view? Is it consistent to the Access Point's configuration?
• When you click on the Access Point circle does it:
  
  • start blinking and after some time stop, without connecting? (no external white circle)
  • prompt for a window with:
    • a menu for "Encryption type" only
    • a menu for "Key type" and another for "Association Type"
• In case you have a protected Access Point what happens after you type in a passphase or a key?
  • It immediately returns and empty dialog window
  • Nothing happens when I click OK
  • The window disappears, the Access Point's circle starts blinking and after some time, the windows is displayed again.
  • The window disappears, the Access Point's circle starts blinking and after some time nothing happens (no connectivity - no white external circle)

What common wireless symptoms do users report?

1. I cannot associate to an Access Point from the mesh view. (The symptom is usually a flashing circle icon where the rim of the circle never turns white—this indicates the XO is trying to connect, but the connection fails.)

2 - I associate but I have no connectivity; or I cannot access the Internet from the browser in my XO.

3 - I cannot connect to my Access Point since it has a hidden SSID/ESSID (network name) (see: Ask_OLPC_a_Question_about_the_Network#manually_adding_a_wireless_network)

What is the difference between a key and a passphrase?

When you try to connect to a secured (encrypted) network your XO has to send an encryption key to the access point. This key is derived from the passphrase you chose when you configured your access point (and also from the ESSID, if you are using WPA).

So, the passphase is the long password that is relatively easy to remember while the key looks like a random sequence of characters. The lenght of the key varies depending on the type of security and it is usually represented in its Hex form, meaning that it will be formed by a sequence of digits and letters from A to F.

Here is one example, for WEP:

• Key length: 128 bits
• PassPhrase: MyPassPhrase
• Resuting Hex Key (26 characters long): 381E966F1EAE4140F83D30C201
• Converted using: http://www.corecoding.com/utilities/wep2hex.php

Here is another example, for WPA-PSK:

• Key length: 256 bits
• PassPhrase: MyPassPhrase
• ESSID: MyEssid
• Resulting key (64 characters long): c3044f3fbd077e236d12f0b1f9d7761e0e6de266783d843d76edf1da3131bff6
• Converted using: http://www.xs4all.nl/~rjoris/wpapsk.html

Can I calculate a WPA key using an XO?

Note that WPA is not currently supported (as of build 650, Dec. 2007), but yes, you can.

1. Start the "Terminal" activity from the Frame; instructions can be found here. You may have to scroll the icons along the bottom of the Frame to the right (by clicking on the button at the right of the Activities taskbar) to find the icon; it is labeled "Terminal".

2. Type the following, substituting the values for ssid and passphrase (and then press the "Enter" key):

/usr/sbin/wpa_passphrase <ssid> <passphrase>

3. The key will be displayed in the line starting with "psk=".

If you plan to use the same WPA key frequently, there is a script available at WPA Manual Setting with discussion here and here

What 802.11 wireless channel should I use?

With 802.11b or 802.11g, use channel 1, 6 or 11 in the US or Canada. Use of any other channels will degrade your own wireless signal and that of others.

Similarly, the mesh networking between XO laptops is restricted to work only on channels 1, 6 or 11.

How can I enable proxy settings?

The initial software build on the Give1Get1 shipped in December 2007 (Build 650) does not support a user interface to change the web browser by proxy settings. There is an outstanding bug (#2910) on this.

What exactly is a mesh network?

A mesh network allows nearby XO laptops to talk to one another directly (wirelessly) without the need for a traditional Internet Service Provider.

This feature makes very rural deployments (say, Nigeria) practical; there isn't much need for dedicated network hardware. The laptops do the heavy lifting, rather than the traditional hierarchical network of hubs/switches/routers.

Try the mesh demo here, to see how a mesh can connect to the Internet.

How do I disable wireless when flying?

• Launch the Terminal activity as described in the section How do I access a Linux command prompt. A summary follows: scroll through the Activity taskbar (along the bottom of your screen) to the right by pressing on the button on the bottom right of the Frame. When you find the Terminal icon , press it once to launch the Terminal activity.

• Run Sugar Control Panel; type the following (and then hit the "Enter" key):

sugar-control-panel -s radio off

• For advanced users: another way to disable wireless is to use Airplane mode.

• Wireless will be restored the next time the XO laptop is rebooted, regardless of the method used to disable wireless connectivity. Advanced users only: if you don't want wireless auto-restarting on reboot, log in as root and rename /lib/firmware/usb8388.bin -- remembering to restore this file later! Finally, ongoing work to improve this functionality can be tracked here.

How do I disable automatic connection to my Access Point?

If you want to remove any "memory" of connecting to a particular access point, launch the Terminal activity as described in the section How do I access a Linux command prompt. A summary follows: scroll through the Activity taskbar (along the bottom of your screen) to the right by pressing on the button on the bottom right of the Frame. When you find the Terminal icon , press it once to launch the Terminal activity.

Delete the network manager config file by typing:

rm /home/olpc/.sugar/default/nm/networks.cfg    (press "Enter")

Restart your XO laptop, or restart Sugar by pressing the Ctrl+Alt+Erase keys at the same time; your laptop will NOT automatically try to connect to the "known" access point.

If you change the configuration of your Access Point (such as adding or removing security features), then you will need to remove this file in order to get your XO to connect to the Access Point.

Can XO laptops share an Internet connection?

At the moment, an XO laptop cannot be on both the Internet and on the mesh network at the same time with a default laptop configuration. This ability will hopefully be re-enabled by default in the future; until then, School Servers can server as Mesh Portals, and further details can be found on the Mesh Network Details page.

Give1Get1: Shipment & Donor Services

Note: all Give1Get1 "customer service" questions need to be directed to Donor Services at 800-201-7144, open Monday to Friday 9am - 8pm Eastern time—or email "service at laptopgiving.org".

When will my laptop ship?

Give1Get1 holiday shipping/delivery time estimates are here.

What is OLPC's tax exempt info?

Our US tax-exempt EIN (Employer ID Number) is towards the bottom of the Give1Get1 Donor Services FAQ.

What is the warranty info? RMA process?

Our 30-day Warranty is described in the Give1Get1 Terms & Conditions. For returns, apply for a Return Merchandise Authorization by following our RMA process.

All Give1Get1 "customer service" questions need to be directed to Donor Services. You can contact Donor Services by calling 800-201-7144 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, or email "service at laptopgiving.org".

My screen has a couple discolored pixels

We regret that our warranty does not provide for replacement laptops in this case, where just a few pixels are imperfect, in keeping with One Laptop per Child's mission to build the best all-around low-cost laptop for the Developing World.

How do I test my keyboard for sticky/broken keys?

Test your keyboard by running the firmware diagnostics. See Cheat codes. Holding the rocker (button below the speaker) to the left, while powering on, will get you into these diagnostics. The keyboard diagnostic will come up pretty soon, if you exit various earlier diagnostics by hitting the Escape key. This lets you see very easily what the computer is seeing as you press or release each key. Any "sticky" key would be visible in light blue on the screen as if a finger was still pressing it.

The touchpad and stylus area can also be tested in the same diagnostic.

Finally, if you've genuinely confirmed your keyboard is damaged, after multiple reboots -- check your warranty if you need to apply for a possible return.

What if my Give1Get1 laptop was lost or stolen in transit?

File a lost or stolen package claim immediately with FedEx by calling 800-GO-FEDEX. They will work with you and the credit card company to find the problem.

Does my laptop come with a hand crank? Solar panels?

The Give1Get1 laptop does not ship with any human powered device or solar panel. These devices are designed to support the XO laptops shipping to developing countries. Future peripheral availability is discussed on the Product News page.

Solar panels: The manufacturer of the solar panels may make them available to the US, Canada, and beyond in 2008.

How can I donate 100+ laptops?

Contact "givemany AT laptop.org" or call 800-379-7017. Basic cost/quantity details are here. For government inquiries only, contact "countries AT laptop.org"

For smaller international rollouts, please work with others on the grassroots mailing list.

Where should I donate my laptop?

If you want to donate your own laptop, consider joining others in donating to a local school or group where kids can learn together, in a well-supported environment. OLPC encourages individuals to initiate their own regional community groups and charities such as the Middletown Childrens Project.

OLPC's grassroots mailing list is a great place to find others who will work with you here.

If you choose to make contacts directly with the developing world, consider ideas like this one in India.

Activities and software

Questions regarding a specific activity should be directed to the author(s) of the activity.

How do I download and run Activities? (programs)

There are many Activities the community has developed for download. From the Browser activity on the XO laptop, go to Activities and click on the .xo file within to download and install the activity to your laptop. When it is finished installing, click OK. Press the Home key () (fifth key from the upper left) to see the taskbar.

Scroll the taskbar to the right (by clicking on the arrow ) until you see the icon for the activity; click on it to start.

All activities on the laptop have been developed in the open-source community by volunteers. OLPC encourages all laptop owners to contribute to this effort.

How do I close an Activity? (program)

Most activities have an "Activity" tab with a close button () found at the top right of the display; select the close tab and press to close the activity.

For most activities, the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl-q or Ctrl-Esc can also close the activity (Esc is the key).

Alternatively, return to the Home view by pressing the "Home" key (). Hover the cursor over the activity icon to bring up a menu; press "Stop" to end the activity.

Is Internet required, or are Activities included?

The XO laptop does not require Internet access to be used. The XO laptop comes with more than 20 Activities (programs) and many more are freely downloadable. See this page for a quick introduction to introduction to pre-loaded Activities on the XO laptop. Start any of these Activities from the Activity taskbar at the bottom of the Home View.

I can't find the icon for Read Activity. How do I read PDF files?

The Read activity does not have an icon; it automatically loads when you click on a .pdf file, either through the web browser (Browse activity) or from a USB stick (Journal activity).

How do I bookmark a website and browse it later?

1. Open the Browse activity and go to the website you'd like to bookmark.
2. Click the star (☆) in the upper-right corner to bookmark the website.
3. Close (Stop) the Browse activity.
4. Open your Journal activity.
5. Click on the Browse icon at the very top of the list entries; this is a record of the Browse activity in which you just made a bookmark. You will be taken to the detailed view of the entry.
6. For later reference, rename the session by typing in the field just to the right of the Browse icon; it should say "Browse Activity", but you can rename it to refer to your bookmark.
7. Click the "Resume" icon at the upper-right corner.
8. The Browse activity starts again and takes you to the bookmarked page.

A shortcut would be to resume the Browse activity associated with this bookmark without going to the detail view: just click on the "Resume" icon on the far right of the Browse entry that you have renamed (in Step 6) above in the primary Journal view.

How do I learn the XO software environment?

One Laptop per Child's XO software environment uses the Sugar graphical user interface on top of the Linux operating system. This environment is new and different from traditional PCs and Macs. We hope you will not only "learn by doing" at http://laptop.org/start, but also seek out others to collaborate with you in the learning process—taking the initiative to join/form users groups both online and in the real world. If there are other ways we can promote OLPC's worldwide learning community, please let us know.

How do I take a screenshot?

Press Alt+1 at the same time. Go to the Journal. The screenshot should be the first item in the Journal. You can copy the screenshot to the clipboard, and open it with the Browse, Paint, or Etoys activity.

After working properly for a while, activities won't load

There is a known bug in build 650 (the build shipped with all G1G1 laptops), which can result in activities working fine the first few times they are loaded; but on subsequent boots, the activities may not load.

There is a fix in build 653. If you have this problem please try upgrading to 653, following the Upgrade Instructions.

Using files and the filesystem

How do I save a file?

Files are saved automatically in the Journal. Access the Journal from the Home View. Select the notebook icon just below the XO character to open the Journal and find the activity or file you need.

For more information about the Journal, see OLPC Human Interface Guidelines/The Laptop Experience/The Journal.

How do I save or retrieve files from a USB drive or SD (Secure Digital) card?

Insert the USB drive in one of three USB ports on the side of the display of the laptop. The SD card inserts into a slot under the display.

The following applies to a USB drive. The procedure for an SD card is identical except the icon is different.

Go to the Journal view, which you can access from the Home View. Select the notebook icon just below the XO character to open the Journal.

The USB icon appears in the lower left corner of the display.

To save a file from the Journal to the USB drive, move the curser over the Journal item and drag it to the USB icon.

To retrieve a file from the USB drive, press on the USB icon first, drag the item from the USB drive to the journal icon.

If you are Linux-inclined, the USB drive's filesystem is automatically mounted under /media.

How do I delete a file?

Go to the Journal view, which you can access from the Home View. Select the notebook icon just below the XO character to open the Journal.

Find the file to be deleted by scrolling up and down the list.

Move the curser over the file to be deleted and press to select and open a preview of the file.

Press the minus sign at the top of the screen to delete the file.

How do I play sound files?

The eToys activity can play MP3 and Ogg files. After finding such a file in the Journal, click the far right icon (a square in a circle) to start eToys to play it.

To play sound files, you can also try the Watch and Listen activity, a Media Player based on the Helix project. When on the Journal entry for a sound file, click in the middle of the entry, to show the details. On that page, hover the mouse over the square-in-circle icon in the upper right corner of the screen. It should say "Resume", and list the possible activities that you can resume this file with. Click on Watch&Listen. Check for supported codecs you may need to download, if you require proprietary formats.

Language, keyboard, and display

What languages are supported?

We support the following keyboard layouts: English (US international), Spanish (Argentine), Portuguese (Brazilian), Amharic (Ethiopian), Arabic (Libyan), West African (Nigerian), French (Rwanda), Thai, Urdu, Cyrillic, Turkish, Nepali, Devanagari, Mongolian, Kazakh, Uzbek, Pashto, and Dari.

To see what languages are currently supported, go to Manufacturing Data#Keyboards.

You can also click on the link to each language to find out how to configure the keyboard layout. For activity localization, see Sugar Control Panel. However, please be advised that some configurations may cause the machine to behave abnormally (#5559).

If the characters do not display correctly, you might need to install language-specific font(s). Drop the ttf file into /usr/share/fonts and rerun fc-cache.

How can I type Unicode (non-English) characters?

Many common characters can be typed directly as well by using the AltGr key in combination with other keys. For example, on the US keyboard:

AltGr+c to type cedilla (ç);

AltGr+n to type n with a tilde (ñ);

a followed by AltGr+4 to type a with an accent acute (á);

e followed by AltGr+3 to type e with an accent grave (è).

Many (but not all) activities also let you enter Unicode directly: Hold down the Ctrl+Shift keys while you type u followed by the 4-digit code point for the character you want, e.g., Ctrl+Shift+u03A9 to type the Greek capital letter Omega (Ω). (You need to hold the Ctrl and Shift keys while you type all five characters.)

Other software

How do I install Adobe Flash?

Give1Get1 XO laptops come with an open source flash player, Gnash. Flash files are not played by default when a website is opened; you need to click on the flash window to load flash.

Install the latest version of Adobe Flash, which plays a larger variety of Flash pages, by following the instructions on our Adobe Flash page. After installation, you need to click on flash windows to open websites with flash.

To check which version of Adobe Flash is installed for your browser, take the Adobe Flash Browser Version Test. The version should show LNX not GSH.

How do I set up my XO for WebKinz or other Adobe Flash sites?

Webkinz.com and other Flash-intensive sites can be accessed with the XO Browse activity after some careful modifications to the XO's Sugar environment. These modifications must be repeated after every upgrade.

The XO Browse Activity is loaded with Gnash, a Free and Open Source Software that is compatible with Flash Applications to version 8.x, but Webkinz requires Adobe Flash version 9.0 or later.

Please note that Webkinz.com, Disney.com and other popular children's website generally require browser computers to have more than 1GB of free disk space, while the XO has a total of 1GB. Please be aware that successive uses of these sites may quickly fill up your free memory.

In addition, many of these sites only support Microsoft operating systems.

To successfully access Webkinz:

1. Close all Activities
2. Ensure that the XO is connected to the internet
3. Install Adobe Flash, and follow the advanced instructions to disable Click to Play
4. Disable Gnash
5. Reboot the XO

For best performance, wait until the Flash module is fully loaded before using the module.

Can I install Sun's Java? Other commercial software?

Installing Sun's Java might work but is NOT supported by OLPC—see this summary of Restricted Formats.

Can I load Microsoft Windows or my own software onto the XO laptop?

Currently, Microsoft Windows cannot be loaded on the XO laptop. The XO laptop has a GNU/Linux based Operating System and features its own programs that are specifically designed for children. There are thousands of software developers around the world currently developing content for the XO. For more information, visit Activities.

Can I read Microsoft Word or Excel documents on my XO laptop?

You may open the Browse activity and use Google Docs to read Word and Excel documents. Also consider the Write activity to open Word documents.

Similarly for .rtf files, AbiWord is an open source application you can download.

Can I install AOL dialup software, or AIM?

AOL dialup software is not actively supported on the XO laptop. AOL Instant Messenger is also not supported by OLPC. The best way to use the AIM network or other chat networks is to use the free online service Meebo within Browse.

If you're technically-oriented and eager for a challenge, explore Googling "AOL Linux" if you also own a USB modem, and if you're willing to seriously explore this installation process, at your own risk.

Similarly, for AOL Instant Messenger, we regret it's similarly not supported by OLPC. While there are probably ways to install it (in Terminal mode, using your XO laptop's underlying Red Hat/Fedora operating system) you will need to be technically very savvy, and research others' past Linux work here.

What antivirus & firewall security software is available?

Out of the box, your XO laptop is "safer than" your PC -- threats to Linux are rare.

Advanced users may be interested in Linux's free open source antivirus (ClamAV) and firewall (iptables) software, but these are NOT supported by OLPC.

Note: There are few software/services that listen for connections from the Internet (Avahi mdns, ssh), which helps limit your risks.

How can I protect my children from objectionable content?

If you would not allow your children to have access to a PC, then carefully consider giving them access to an XO laptop. If you feel reasonably safe with a PC, then you can feel reasonably safe with the XO.

The best thing you can do to keep your children safe is to participate in their education. For example, explain to them the kinds of threats they may encounter online and appropriate behavior, don't give out personal information such as an address, phone number, etc. over the Internet.

Finally, there are possible 3rd party solutions, such as http://DansGuardian.org, emerging as part of One Laptop per Child's Uruguay rollout. OLPC is also exploring options for future client-side filtering.

Power, suspending, and hardware

What kinds of power sources can I use with the XO laptop?

See also Does my laptop come with a hand crank? Solar panels?

In addition to plugging the laptop into an electrical outlet (110-240 volts AC), the XO laptop can take a DC input ranging from 11 volts to 40 volts, a range that’s far more flexible than most portable devices. The XO laptop is remarkably energy efficient, generally using only 5-10 percent of the average wattage of a standard laptop.

See our overall discussion of Battery and power requirements. For more formal specs, see Hardware specifications.

My XO laptop won't power on

Carefully read the power/battery issues at: http://laptop.org/start/troubleshooting.shtml

Ensure the battery is properly inserted and the power adapter is plugged into the XO laptop and the electrical outlet.

If both the battery and power lights are on (just below your screen, to the right),

• 

  Power button

and the laptop won't start when the power button is pushed, this may indicate a minor problem with the embedded controller (EC). Remove all power sources (take the battery out and remove the power adapter; wait 10 seconds to allow it to reset; and power up your XO laptop. Confirm your laptop turns on and boots. If your XO laptop does not turn on or boot, it may be damaged.

If your XO laptop was damaged on receipt, call Donor Services at 800-201-7144 within 30 days, to exchange it or email them at "service at laptopgiving.org". They are open Monday to Friday 9am - 8pm Eastern time. For warranty information, check the Give1Get1 program's Terms & Conditions, along with the Donor Services FAQ.

How do I power off the XO laptop?

From the Home View, move the pointer over the XO symbol at the center of your screen, and press "Shutdown."

Or depress the power button briefly until the green power light goes off.

• 

  Power button

How long does the battery last?

Battery life is approximately 3 to 6 hours, depending on which Activities are used. Battery life may be increased to 10 hours or longer with the next software release, expected in late January 2008.

Is my battery OK? Why does it say "discharging" when plugged in?

The vast majority of reported battery issues are not in fact hardware problems, but rather software problems. This is because December 2007's Build 650 has a couple bugs which commonly leads to false reporting in the Home view, as to the actual amount of battery life.

These software bugs (#4208, #4401) will be fixed shortly, in an upcoming release.

If however your battery does not retain any charge at all, consider applying for an RMA return.

How do I put an XO laptop to sleep?

The sleep feature is not enabled in software provided on XOs shipped starting December 2007 in the Give1Get1 program. A software upgrade early in 2008 will support suspend/resume sleep features, for much improved battery life.

How much memory/disk is built in?

The XO laptop has 256MB of dynamic RAM memory, as well as 1024MB (1GB) of flash memory.

Note: The flash memory acts as the hard disk. Original specifications are outlined here.

How should I use the SD card slot?

The SD card slot is hidden on the edge of the unit under the power button. It is not intended for casual use, but intended for (semi)permanent augmentation of flash storage on the system. To try to keep water and dust out of the main unit, it has a rubber seal that makes it difficult to extract the SD card.

As a result, we recommend using the USB ports for casual transient storage expansion or moving files from computer to computer.

Troubleshooting (Advanced) & Repair

My XO laptop won't play sound

If there is no sound when you boot the XO laptop; or you are unable to record voice from the Record activity, you may have a broken component—like the speaker. If you confirm sound is completely broken, call or email Donor Services at 800-201-7144, open Monday to Friday 9am - 8pm Eastern time—or email "service at laptopgiving.org".

What's the latest on the current software release? (Build 650)

Details of software "Build 650", which shipped on all Give1Get1 laptops starting December 2007, are found in the General Release Notes. (This software environment includes the operating system and all built-in applications.)

Why do I see Build 653 on this page? What's the deal with Build 653?

Please refer to the section -- After working properly for a while, activities won't load.

How can I restore my Give1Get1 XO to its factory configuration?

If you have "upgraded" the software on your laptop, try the recover process: hold the 'O' game pad key during boot. This should boot from an alternate "disk image" (the one shipped with the machine).

Second, for advanced users only—be prepared to lose all data— try upgrading the activated laptop to re-flash its entire "disk image" including its operating system and Activities.

If you see a "Bad hash at eblock #0" message while performing these "Activated Upgrade" steps, this indicates your image on the USB key is bad. Download the image again, or try a different USB key.

How do I "reflash" my Give1Get1 XO?

There are some situations—such as recovering from the "Disk Full" error—that may require you to reflash your XO laptop. Please follow the instructions here.

How do I run unofficial/unsigned builds & firmware?

For advanced users/developers only. You will need to download a "developer key". Please follow the process outlined at Activation and Developer Keys.

How do I obtain replacement parts, EG. batteries and chargers? Repair?

Replacement batteries and power cords (chargers) will be available in early 2008. We hope to arrange for the sale of replacement screens, touchpads and keyboards as well. Check our Maintenance/Repair pages for other emerging post-Warranty options.

Do NOT remove the watch battery on the mother board if you disassemble your machine; prior to the Q2D07 version of firmware, this can result in the computer becoming unusable, due to a bug in our anti-theft firmware implementation. G1G1 systems do not have the anti-theft system enabled.

Does opening my laptop void the warranty?

No, in fact you may want to disassemble your own XO laptop to explore its components, AT YOUR OWN RISK—for example, the screen connector and keyboard internals are very easy to break!

Do NOT remove the watch battery on the motherboard if you disassemble your machine—prior to the Q2D07 version of firmware, this can result in the computer becoming "bricked" or unusable!

We regret that spare parts are not yet available as of early January 2008.

How do I set the date and time on my laptop?

You may set the date and time as follows:

1. Connect to the Internet. (For details, see How can I access the Internet? )
2. Open a Linux prompt. (For details, see How do I access a Linux command prompt? Note that unless you are an advanced user, you should use the Terminal Activity button to open the prompt.)
3. Log in as "root". Assuming you are using the Terminal Activity program, you can log in as root by typing "su -" at the command prompt and pressing the Enter key. Note that as user "root" you have the ability to destroy all software on the XO, so you should end your session as soon as you successfully change the date and time.
4. At the command prompt, enter the following commands:
   /usr/sbin/ntpdate time.nist.gov
/usr/sbin/hwclock --systohc
5. Press the Enter key after each. In response to the ntpdate command, if it successfully contacts this US government official time server, the system will output a line of data displaying the correct date and time.
6. Click the X in the upper right corner of the screen to log out and close the Terminal Activity program.

How to set the timezone on my laptop

You can set the timezone by opening the "Terminal Activity" and executing:

su sugar-control-panel -s timezone America/Chcago

This will set the timezone to that of Chicago (Central Time)

To find out what timezones are available execute:

sugar-control-panel -h timezone

(See also: Fixing_XO_clock_Data)

How do I check which version of the operating system I am running?

Instructions are found on the How to check the OS and firmware versions page in the wiki.