So is there a way to enable AHCI after the install of Windows Vista / 7?
The short answer is “yes”.
You will need to disable AHCI while performing the procedure, but you’ll be able to enable it afterwards and make Windows boot normally without Blue Screens.

Your question might be: “How do I do it?”. Well it’s pretty easy. Follow these steps and you’ll be running your computer in AHCI mode:

• If you’ve already enabled AHCI, please go into your BIOS to disable it.
• Let Windows Vista / 7 boot like it normally would
• In the Start menu search field write: Regedit
• Go to the registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\msahci
• Right click on “Start” and  choose “Modify”
• In the Value Data field enter “0″ (zero) and click “OK”
• Exit Regedit
• Reboot the computer and enter the BIOS
• Enable AHCI
• Let Windows Vista / 7 boot up
• Standard AHCI drivers will be installed, and you can now install the manufacturer AHCI drivers if you want.
• Reboot the computer and you are done with enabling AHCI.

Disclaimer: I can’t be held responsible for any problems that might arise from following this guide.

You can fix this rather easily by following the below steps:

1. Click Start Menu, and type: regedit in the Start Search and press <ENTER>.
2. Navigate to the following registry branch:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\[ext]
   Replace the [ext] with the actual file extension that you want to restore . If you are unsure, browse through all the sub-key under FileExts.
3. Delete the sub-key named UserChoice.
4. Exit from Registry Editor.

After you’ve gone through all the needed extensions, reboot the computer and you should be ready to go.

Disclaimer: I can’t be held responsible for any problems that might arise from following this guide.

This guide will guide you through, step by step, on how to install Ubuntu 9.10 on the Znote V11a/Lengda M11A/Marasst X11A netbook and to get everything working, including the touchpad.
I originally created this guide back in February 2010 for my old blog, which was hacked and the database deleted. I know this is an old guide, as Ubuntu 10.10 has arrived, but I didn’t think it needed to go to waste anyway.

This guide will walk you through the steps of the English install, and all the selections will be the English ones. If you are installing Ubuntu 9.10 in any other languages the selections might be different.

Hardware specifications:

As the Znote V11a / Lengda M11A / Marasst X11A at the release in September 2009 were pretty unique regarding the hardware specifications, I’ll just summarize them:

• Intel Atom N270 1,6GHz
• 1024MB PC5300 DDR2 RAM
• Intel GMA 950 onboard graphics with up to 224MB shared RAM
• 160GB Western Digital 5400 rpm hard drive
• Realtek based 10/100/1000Mbit network
• Realtek based 54Mbit wireless network
• 1.3MP Webcam
• 11.1” LED backlit LCD screen with a 1366×768 resolution

Some of the specifications are pretty bland and standard netbook stuff, but especially the 1Gbit wired network, 1.3MP webcam and 1366×768 screen resolution on the 11.1” screen where pretty unique as other manufacturers released similar specifications 1-2 months later.

What is needed?

This guide does not include how to burn Ubuntu 9.10 on a CD/DVD, so it is expected that this has been prepared before beginning this guide.

What you need before you begin:

• Ubuntu 9.10, 32 bit CD
• External USB CD/DVD drive
• Netbook connected to a working power supply
• External mouse until touchpad is permanently enabled
• One hour of spare time to complete the install from beginning till end

Step 1: First part of installation

Now let’s get going on the journey of getting this very popular Open Source operating system installed on the Znote V11a.

• Turn on the netbook by pressing the power button
• Press <F10> at BIOS screen to access the Boot Menu
• Choose the ‘USB CDROM’ by using the arrow keys
• Press <Enter>

The Ubuntu installation will now be loaded from the Ubuntu 9.10 installation CD.
While the installation is loading it is a good time to power on the wireless network card by pressing the “Wireless on/off button” which is placed right next to the power button.
The wireless LED indicator at the left hand side of the netbook will light up, to show that the wireless network has been powered on.

It is now time to set up the basic information needed to complete the first part of the installation and to enable the touchpad, so that it works during the installation

• Choose “English” at the Language selection menu
• Press <Enter>
• Choose “Install Ubuntu” in the menu
• Press <F6> to access the command line to be able to enable the touchpad
• Press <ESC>
• Press <→> (right arrow button)
• Add this after the “–“ in the boot options line:
  i8042.nomux=1
• Press <Enter>

The graphical part of the installation will now begin to load

Step 2: Graphical part of installation

Welcome

• Choose “English”
• Press “Forward”

Where are you?

• Choose your Time Zone (I’m choosing Region: Europe, Zone: Denmark Time)
• Press “Forward”

Keyboard layout

• Choose the layout that fits your country (normally automatically chosen from your time zone).
  If the correct is not chosen by default please choose the correct layout before continuing.
• Press “Forward”

Prepare disk space

• Choose “Erase and use entire disk”
• Press “Forward”

Who are you?

• Enter your full name (example: Bob Johnson)
• Type your log-in name in small letters if you want it to be different than your first name
• Enter the password you want to use for log-in and administration rights
• Re-enter the password you chose before once more
• Type in the name of the computer.
  (This is also shown as the computer name when connected to a network)
• Choose which way to log in on the Ubuntu 9.10 installation
  “Log in automatically”
  (No security, not recommended)
  “Require my password to log in”
  (Normal security, recommended for normal use)
  “Require my password to log in and to decrypt my home folder”
  (Highest security, only for systems with critical data in the Home Folder)
• Press “Forward”

Ready to install

• Look through the settings you have chosen. If anything is wrong go back and change them.
• If nothing is wrong with the settings, press “Install”

Ubuntu 9.10 will now install on the Znote V11a / Lengda M11A /Marasst X11A.
When the installation is done press “Retart now”
The Installation CD will now be ejected. When this is done press “Enter” to reboot the notebook.

Step 3: First boot

At first boot you will need to have an external mouse connected to make the appropriate steps in getting the touchpad enabled.

Start by logging in with the credentials you chose during the installation.

Now we need to start up a terminal to get to the needed parts of Ubuntu 9.10:

• Choose “Applications”
• Choose “Accessories”
• Click on “Terminal”

The terminal application will now load.

Write the following in the terminal:

• sudo gedit /etc/default/grub
• Press “Enter”
• Type in the password for your user account (like when you log in)
• Press “Enter”

The editor “gedit” has loaded with the grub file.

We now need to edit this file to be able to activate the touchpad during each boot of the machine, and so it will work even after Ubuntu updates the operating system kernel (basic part of the operating system).

• Find the line: GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”quiet splash”
• Change it to: GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”quiet splash i8042.nomux=1”
• Close the gedit window
• Choose “Save”
• In the terminal window write:  sudo update-grub
• Press “Enter”
• After the command has been processed write: sudo update-grub2
• Press “Enter”

We now need to reboot the netbook.

• Find your logon name in the top right corner of the screen
• Press it
• Choose “Restart…”
• A popup will appear. Press “Restart”

You should now be able to use your touchpad.

The site has once again been revived from the ashes. This time hopefully for good.
I’m working on getting this site up running slowly but steadily, so stay tuned.

The plan for this site is:

• Personal blogging (main site)
• Forum, also featuring guides, tips and tricks (sub-site)

Hope to see you around, and I’m hoping you’ll stay tuned for the updates, and information that is slowly going up on this site.

On a final note, please be aware that to prevent spam, I’ve set up the site, so I need to approve every comment. Don’t freak out if you can’t see your comment at first, it will show up as soon as I approve it.

Best Regards,

Rene