Icaros Desktop 1.1.1 is available again. I had to replace the original kernel with a former one, which doesn't include latest changes to our ata.device, since it was dangerous for data on computers equipeed with AMD SB600 or similar southbridge and, maybe, for other architectures too. People who downloaded yesterday's release are encouraged to download again this fixed version, and please don't install the former one. I'm really sorry for the troubles Icaros Desktop 1.1.1 might have caused, but evidences of the danger arose after public release. What happened, unluckily, is quite usual during development of an open source niche OS, since having few developers means also having few machines to test it on before releases. The problem, for me, is that I have started this project with the first aim to give people a stable AROS version they can trust on, and this time I failed the mission: luckily, it seems this didn't cause any real damage, but this will be a lesson to learn, and I will pay much more attention in the future, before releasing.

This doesn't mean at all that Neil did something wrong with his changes to ata.device: on the contrary, his work is absolutely going into the right direction. Some people that couldn't even boot AROS before, succeeded in installing and using AROS nightlies and Icaros Destkop 1.1.1 without any issues, so it's now only matter of waiting for his job to be completed, for his current code to be fixed to avoid troubles with some specific chipsets, and AROS/Icaros will be even more compatible, even more reliable, even more fast. In the meanwhile, however, I had to fix the issue in the most secure and speedy way, so I had to postpone Neil's changes in Icaros Desktop for some time: they will be added in Icaros 1.1.2, as soon as we are really sure they will not potentially harm data anymore. Good download, and good Icaros experience!

AROS can't be yet installed on a netbook, since many parts are still missing: it's quite impossible to boot it up from a USB key or a memory card, and many required drivers are still not developed. There's no option to open a screen with a resolution of 1024x600, and no way to connect to a wireless network. However, I managed to install Icaros Desktop 1.1.1 on my Aspire One netbook and get a quite good experience. How? Using the latest virtualization techniques included in Qemu 10.1, that comes along with the new full DVD version of Icaros. The final result is AROS running at a reasonable speed (that's what you would expect from an Atom processor, minus some emulation overhead), with audio and wireless network support. In practice, what you really need for a good AROS experience on a netbook. Here's how I did it:

First step, preparing the host operating system

My Aspire One comes with Windows XP preinstalled, which is an advantage. This way, having an accelerated installation of Qemu is quite simple. I copied IcarosLive_1_1_1.7z.exe on a USB stick and connected it to the netbook, then I ran the auto-extracting archive and decided to expand files in C:\. A "Live" directory has been created automatically.

Once files have been expanded, you need to install the Kqemu.sys driver. This on provides acceleration for Qemu, so it will perform incredibly better than usual. To do that, you have to do only two things. Move with explorer into the \Live\Emulator\Kqemu directory and run the inskqemu.exe file. This is not enough, however. Right click on the kqemu.inf file, and choose "Install", then wait for Windows to end installation. If you can't see the kqemu.inf file, you have either to set up Windows to show hidden files, or at least to show extensions of known file types.

Second step, modifying Icaros start batch file

It's time to turn back to the \Live directory. Here you will find the Win32-START.bat file along with others. Right click on it, and choose "Modify". The batch file will be opened in notepad and shown as follow:

@REM Start qemu on windows.
@ECHO OFF

echo EMULATOR SPEED WARNING!
echo -----------------------
echo Icaros Desktop under Qemu will run CONSIDERABLY SLOWER than on
echo real hardware. Operations that normally need a few seconds
echo on real hardware, may take serveral minutes to complete
echo under Qemu. For istance, reading PDF manuals straight from
echo the DVD under Qemu will need a LOT of time. Don't ever take
echo Qemu times as indicative of the overall Icaros Desktop speed: it
echo isn't.
echo -----------------------
pause

net start kqemu
cd emulator
start qemu.exe -full-screen -L . -M "pc" -m 192 -cpu "qemu32" -vga vmware -serial vc -parallel vc -name "Icaros Desktop" -drive file=aroshdrive.img,index=0,media=disk -drive file="..\icaros-v111-pc-i386.iso",index=2,media=cdrom -boot d -soundhw ac97 -kernel-kqemu -net nic,vlan=0,model=pcnet -net user,vlan=0 -usb -localtime

The parts in red must be deleted
The parts in green must be added

Now, just run Win32-START.bat and live happy. Choose the 800x600 resolution to continue.

Third step, setting up AROS

Now that you have Icaros DVD virtually running on your netbook, open it and go to the /Tools drawer. Launch InstallAROS and follow the installing instructions in the Icaros guide as like as if you were installing it on a real computer. Once finished, close Qemu and modify the Win32-START.bat again. In the last line, look for this string:

-drive file="..\icaros-v111-pc-i386.iso",index=2,media=cdrom -boot d

and replace it with:

-cdrom d: -boot c

From now on, you'll have only to start AROS again and:
1) use automatic network settings
2) set up the AC97 device for audio in AHI, using it for music, unit0 and unit1 devices.
3) live happy with your almost-fully-working AROS installation on your netbook.

Exactly a month after Icaros Desktop 1.1 main release, it's time for a little update. This newer version provides the latest system files and also an improved version of the OWB browser, and fixes some system issues encountered with the 1.1 release. For this reason, this update is available in two versions: an update CD for Icaros Desktop 1.1 users and a complete full live! DVD for new users. The photo above shows Icaros Desktop running on a Acer Aspire One netbook. It works fairly well, although it's running under an accelerated version of QEMU. The complete procedure will be explained in the next days...

DOWNLOAD
> Download the Icaros Desktop 1.1.1 update CD
from main Icaros site (64 MB, 7z file format)
> Download the Icaros Desktop 1.1.1 update CD
from Amikit site (64 MB, 7z file format)

> Download Icaros Desktop Live! 1.1.1 full DVD (410 MB, 7z file format)

DOWNLOAD 7-ZIP
> Download 7-Zip for your operating system to extract files from .7z archives.

New from Icaros Desktop 1.1

- added sound in QEMU and VirtualBox using AC97 driver
- updated QEMU to version 10.1 (in the full Live! release)
- updated OWB to version 0.9.3
- OWB is now faster and correctly supports sites login
- updated NoWinED to latest version
- updated SabreMSN to latest version
- MUIBuilder now works as expected
- added Cairo and Pixman libraries
- added TCPprefs to Prefs for setting up network
- updated LookHere: no more issues with Nvidia cards
- added Lzip 1.5
- updated MuiBase to latest version
- added ICU 4.0.1 to development libraries
- updated AmiBridge using Steve Jones' modifications
- improved Wanderer and fixed many bugs

INSTALLATION

There are two ways to install this update. Please choose either the first or the second.
1. use the Updater tool of Icaros Desktop:

- turn on your Icaros Desktop system
- boot from hard drive
- mount the update cd
- run AROS:Tools/Updater
- wait for the program to copy all files
- remove the update cd
- reboot

2. use InstallAROS on the update CD

- choose to use existing aros partitions
- install system extras and development files
- select to install bootloader if you wish
- unselect format partition (it must not be formatted!)
- select DH1 or DH0 for work:, according to your actual
settings
- wait for InstallAROS to finish its job
- remove the update cd
- reboot

IMPORTANT NOTICE
Users of AMD southbridges (like SB600), please read this.

If you can't boot Icaros and the process stops after the red pointer appeared on the screen, please do as follow to fix the issue:

- turn on PC
- choose a resolution from Grub's menu but DON'T press Enter
- press 'E' instead
- move cursor after "ATA=32bit" and change it either to "ATA=nodma" or "ATA=nopci" (depending on what it works for you)
- press Ctrl+X to continue booting

If booting has success open /boot/grub/grub2.cfg with the AROS editor, search for the "ATA=32bit" string and replace it with "ATA=nodma" or "ATA=nopci". You can do this easily, using the 'replace' option in the 'search' menu of the editor.

Icaros Desktop LIVE! is a complete distribution of the AROS desktop operating system. Icaros Desktop LIVE! comes on a bootable live DVD-ROM which runs directly on your hardware (it must be already supported by AROS). It can be installed on the hard drive and can coexist with Microsoft Windows XP, in a dedicated partition. A quick reference guide and some AROS PDF manuals are included. This version comes also with a Qemu-based virtual machine which allows Windows users to test the distribution in a safer (but slower) environment.

SUPPORT ICAROS DESKTOP!
After downloading, please consider donating. Every release of Icaros Desktop requires a lot of time and work, for a hobbyst project. Donations will be spent to enhance Icaros Desktop and to contribute to AROS bounties.

• Users of VmwAROS 1.0 and 1.0.1 should read the manual, chapter 3.1, to learn how to upgrade from their current installation to Icaros Desktop 1.1.1 and keep their data.
  

Features of the first update to Icaros Desktop 1.1 have been frozen, and now we are doing some internal testing before releasing it. The first update will be available both as CD update and full release, so if you still hadn't luck booting former versions, maybe this time you'll be luck (1.1.1 includes most recent changes to ata.device).