Live Update service update
- posted by Michael Walsh on January 3rd, 2009
- (29)
After closely following the comments over the Christmas period and bringing some of them to the attention of the tech support people in Acer, I recently received a mail from the Acer Software Product Management team regarding the Live Update issues many of you have been experiencing with the Linux Linpus operating system on your Aspire Ones.
For clarity, transparency – and for want of a better word, honesty – I am reporting that letter in full so that anyone wishing to understand what happens at the other end of the spectrum can. I hope it will server as proof that Acer takes these issues very seriously indeed and has a highly qualified team in place ready to put things right when they’re not.
Please remember that this letter was in response to you guys and your problems, not to me nagging. The Acer Guy is just a channel to get it to you.
Dear Michael,
I am a member of the Software Product Management team, and would like to give you further updates regarding the Aspire One issues that have arisen on your site.
1. For the live update server:
The Acer Live Update Server Sites are located in the following cities:
Amsterdam – Atlanta – Boston – Chicago – Dallas – Denver – El Segundo – Hong Kong – Houston – London – Miami – New York – Philadelphia – Phoenix – Seattle – Singapore – Sunnyvale – Sydney – Tokyo – Toronto – Virginia.After checking with our Canadian service provider, we discovered that the failures that occurred when performing Live Updates in England were due to a temporary reroute of the network connection from the English Cache Servers to the Australian Cache Servers due to a technical issue.
From Dec.19~Dec. 22, there were 3 submarine cables broken. Consequently, customers running a Live Update from the UK were redirected to the server in Amsterdam or Australia. Customers were unable to complete the last patch (180061), which because of the size of the file caused many users to encounter narrow bandwidth issues. As a result, the Live Update timed out and the update failed.
The service provider has since resolved the problem and, from the latest 300 network traffic logs, we can confirm that customers performing Live Updates from the UK (using the Cache Server located in England) should no longer encounter any problems.
2. Messenger not working properly:
Regarding the issues reported by some of your visitors experiencing problems getting Messenger to work properly, we have summarized some of the reasons:- A. Yahoo messenger currently only supports web cam sharing. Not audio.
- B. If a customer’s Wi-Fi signal is very weak, they might encounter log in fail with messenger. There is a time-out period, just as with Window’s Messenger.
- C. For more specific problems, I have attached some of the feedback from our engineering team for your reference (posted in specific thread – MW).Again, thanks for holding the community so well to help Acer customers.
Best regards,
Sandy Lin
Senior Manager
Software Product Management, Mobile B.U
Acer Inc.
You want comments? We got comments:
Click here for a RSS Feed to the comments on this entry.
Steve Nash wrote, on January 4th, 2009:
Live Update from UK is just timing out for the last 24 hours. 4Jan 09:36
Steve
Adrian Pettitt wrote, on January 4th, 2009:
Definitely still failing in UK. Bought AAO yesterday and been trying the updates unsuccessfully since! Glad others are having issue as I thought it might be a system problem.
SYLVIA MCCLAREN wrote, on January 4th, 2009:
We have been trying since 25/12/08 to get updates, (problem with reaching server)Very disappointed my daughter can not get her MSN messenger to work……
Nick Vezey wrote, on January 4th, 2009:
Same problem here. Unpacked the AAO today and set it up. Went to Live Update and although it said “Connecting to Server” the update failed and it timed out. Seems like the problem still exists.
Greg Havenga wrote, on January 4th, 2009:
I have two Linpus AOs that are not working for live update either.
Something is broken – either on the machine or the repository – and I haven’t found it yet…
When I run the updater from the command line, I can actually see what’s going on…
…
filename = /var/cache/online-updater/update.list,url_file = http://update.linpus.com/ACER/AspireOne/v1.0.9/update.list
setting url http://update.linpus.com/ACER/AspireOne/v1.0.9/update.list
resume to downlond from 0
try to download http://update.linpus.com/ACER/AspireOne/v1.0.9/update.list
filename = /var/cache/online-updater/lang_update.list,url_file = http://update.linpus.com/ACER/AspireOne/v1.0.9/en_US/lang_update.list
setting url http://update.linpus.com/ACER/AspireOne/v1.0.9/en_US/lang_update.list
resume to downlond from 0
try to download http://update.linpus.com/ACER/AspireOne/v1.0.9/en_US/lang_update.list
download_file return 0
all_update_items_cur->item =
…
================================================
>>>and from here on out, it’s all downhill…
================================================
update_log_items_cur->item = online-updater080904.sh
update_log_items_cur->item = locale.en.sh
all_update_items_cur->item = rt 80
…
somehow, something that should be a list of things is a HTML document.
If I can figure it out, I’ll post a fix just in case someone else is having problems…
Chris Mortimer wrote, on January 4th, 2009:
Just confirming what the others have said. I have been trying live update for the last 48 hours without success.
captFuture wrote, on January 4th, 2009:
… i get some strange file entries in /var/cache/acer-updater/ … basically if i read through it says “The document has moved updat.xml” with some xml markup surrounding and an apache entry …
isn’t it possible to rewrite the source of the update url to come over this “dead” server?
Jamsie wrote, on January 4th, 2009:
As with MANY people on the forums, have been having problems with the live update on my new acer (Linux software version 1.0.9)
I tried again first thing this morning, failed twice. I made a USB recovery with the DVD iso i downloaded from the Acer website, software version 1.0.15 (which i found using this forum)
Once the Acer was recovered with that, i tried live update again.. bang, it worked, im now all up to date.
Worked for me, so you may wish to give it a go, but remember, recovering the Acer in this manner WILL wipe your machine!
Michael Walsh wrote, on January 4th, 2009:
Hello everyone,
I’m sorry to hear you guys are still experiencing problems with your Live Updates.
I will get in touch with Acer tech in Taiwan again tomorrow for another update but in the meantime you might want to check out the Macles blog.
I have no idea who he/she is (mail me?) but whoever they are they have some pretty advanced (and privileged) information about the Aspire One.
Macles recently wrote an article explaining the issue and providing a solution (albeit a workaround).
If you’re still not getting anywhere with Live Update, try this.
shaun wrote, on January 5th, 2009:
whats error 241 cause i keep getting it up on my messenger
Morris Lee wrote, on January 5th, 2009:
@shaun
Did you update your machine?
Richard Burton wrote, on January 6th, 2009:
Just to add my name to the list of people who are still having time-out hassles with Live Update but also to thank you, Michael. I appreciate all you’re doing to bring our problems to the attention of those who can do something about it.
scott wrote, on January 6th, 2009:
i ran a live update today and it worked first time .i have been trying since the 4th of jan.
it has downloaded and installed all the patches and msn is also working now.
Chris Lewis wrote, on January 6th, 2009:
I got my AAo today and I can’t do liveupdate either. Haven’t tried the IM client yet.
Chris Lewis wrote, on January 6th, 2009:
This seems to have solved the problem
http://macles.blogspot.com/2009/01/live-update-problems.html
johnny niska wrote, on January 7th, 2009:
” C. For more specific problems, I have attached some of the feedback from our engineering team for your reference (posted in specific thread – MW).”
looking for this form as my webcam is not working with messenger on my A110L
/johnny
Michael Walsh wrote, on January 7th, 2009:
@johnny niska,
It’s not a form as such but a series of specific replies to specific problems. You can find it here: http://www.theacerguy.com/2008/08/messenger-not-working-on-aspire-one/comment-page-3/#comment-2897
Chris wrote, on January 12th, 2009:
Did the live update today, the kids wanted messenger and read on here you needed to do this. Now have a really big problem in that lots of things won’t work. Can’t open email, no way of connecting to the internet as the icon is now longer in the bottom panel and network connections manager in settings just won’t open.
Have 2 netbooks, one updated fine and the other has the problems above. The bottom panel was missing but managed to get that back but not sure what to do about the above?!
darren wrote, on May 25th, 2009:
well its currently 5,38 on monday 25th may 2009 i have an acer aspire one aoa150aw running on linux and messenger or windows live update doesnt work. looking at forums on these problems said that this problem was for the december period, why is this problem occuring. im situated in wales(united kingdom).
Any answers to the problem would be great and if to solve the problem would be totally greatful.
hk wrote, on May 25th, 2009:
i bought an aspire one last week (win XP), and had the same wireless issues as many posts listed. i tried many of the recommended fixes, including updating all drivers, disabling the power saver, etc., to no avail. i called acer customer service (on memorial day) i got an agent in a few min. 866-621-2237 for the US. they transferred me to an india call center, where the rep told me to 1) make sure the wireless is on (move sliding switch at bottom right side of computer to toggle on/off- look at screen to see if device on or off as you do this). 2) uninstall the Atheros driver- goto start, right click on my computer, properties, hardware tab, device manager, network adapter, right click on Atheros, uninstall. 3) restart computer. funny thing. this worked. the wireless then connected.
anyway, just my 2 cents.
hk
jeroen wrote, on May 25th, 2009:
Because of live update problems I re-installed Linpus yesterday. This did not solve the problem. Still the same error:”incorrect information file; please re-run live update again to fix the problem.” From holland.
John wrote, on May 28th, 2009:
I have had connection problems and eventually returned my Aspire One to Currys where they did a reload. It now connects perfectly.
Unfortunately I cannot update (all times of day and night for 2 days) and the advised links above, which should help, will not paste!
Any further advice.
earthforce_1 wrote, on July 8th, 2009:
I really appreciate your online support, I have a couple of problems that probably pertain to a lot of other users as well:
Problem #1
I am having a problem with the messenger client no longer connecting to yahoo on my aspire one. I am kicked out almost immediately, although it worked as of a few weeks ago. I understand yahoo recently changed their protocol – some IM clients have been updated to work with the new protocol, when will Aspire One messenger be updated?
Problem #2
Live update receives data from the server and indicates a patch for Huawei CM is available, but whenever I go to install the update I get a timeout error. (I was really hoping for a messenger fix here!)
If you have any ideas, (particularly for the messenger problem, or recommendations for an alternative client such as gyachi to try) I would really appreciate it!
Michael Walsh wrote, on July 8th, 2009:
@earthforce
Sent your comment on to Simone (Acer tech support) who says:
“For messenger , Acer needs time to update the software as the messenger is part of the full Communication suite. It’ll come out in a Live Update soon.
For Huawei , you can also download from http://www.acer.com/aspireone. You can try other software (gyachi) but remember the Acer distribution is highly customized so dependencies may be not satisfied.”
earthforce_1 wrote, on July 9th, 2009:
Thanks for your prompt response – I will install Huawei for now, I badly need something that works.
I have one other problem – I need to set the default user password for ssh access, but am unable to do this, either with the passwd command, or the Aspire One login password utility. It keeps coming back with the message
BAD PASSWORD: it is based on a dictionary word
This happens no matter how many digits I throw in the middle. I need to reset my default user password.
Is there any reliable way to set the default user password so I can log in using it with ssh and nomachine NX? I can’t remember what I used for the install (What I thought I used doesn’t work) and I can’t use either the command line passwd command or the change password utility in the GUI.
It complains “BAD PASSWORD: it is based on a dictionary word” no matter how many digits I throw in the middle.
BTW, if acer comes out with another Linux notebook (preferably based on a more mainstream distro, maybe chrome os??) I will be an early customer.
earthforce_1 wrote, on July 9th, 2009:
Ok, another problem…
Online updates are not working. When I run from the command line to see what comes back:
[user@localhost]onlineupdate
.
.
.
When I go to apply updates, I keep getting the message:
setting url http://update.linpus.com/ACER/AspireOne/v1.0.13/kernel090214.sh
resume to downlond from 4157632
try to download http://update.linpus.com/ACER/AspireOne/v1.0.13/kernel090214.sh
* About to connect() to update.linpus.com port 80 (#0)
* Trying 211.78.162.151… * connected
* Connected to update.linpus.com (211.78.162.151) port 80 (#0)
> GET /ACER/AspireOne/v1.0.13/kernel090214.sh HTTP/1.1
Range: bytes=4157632-
Host: update.linpus.com
Accept: */*
< HTTP/1.1 416 Requested Range Not Satisfiable
< Date: Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:23:37 GMT
< Server: Apache
< Transfer-Encoding: chunked
< Content-Type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1
<
* transfer closed with outstanding read data remaining
* Closing connection #0
* Transferred a partial file
curl told us 18
download_file return -1
And nothing installs.
tony mc manus wrote, on January 7th, 2010:
Hi,having read your letter from acer,i am still getting an error message from live update,linux lite on acer one,also messenger does not work
Andy Bee wrote, on January 23rd, 2010:
Hi
Looks like this problem’s never ending. I am trying to use LiveUpdate from Northern England and keep getting thrown out. At first, it all appears to be working, with progress bars making their way across the screen until Update 180074 a patch for the Operating system -(the last one) is encountered.
Then I get;
Error
Could not connect to the update server. Please
check your network environment as follows:
1. Check if the network cable is properly inserted.
2. Check your network status.
I have to assume that the download for the Huawei Mobile Dongle has not worked either. When I go back to re-try the LiveUpdate AGAIN, the tickbox for the Huawei 180082 is empty.
The problem isn’t that I don’t have a strong WiFi connection (currently 100%) or that I’m not connected (I’m writing this as I wait), but what else could it be?
Help!
Nyago wrote, on June 6th, 2010:
Wassup guys, I’m having this problem updating. I have tried everything and it still does not work. I swear it worked the first time, but i had to recover it. After trying to update it again, It would stay still when trying to install the Acer Communication Suite. Can anyone help me please?