Zorin 8/9 Lite Installation Guide eeePc 701

Because I still have one lying around I tried installing Zorin on a eeepc 701, but it doesn't install without some additional work.
So I wrote down the steps I performed just in case anyone has similar issues.

This manual is written to use the full SSD, so your current OS and all files will be removed.
Back-up all your files before you start!

What do you need:
-eeepc701 (only has 4GB SSD)
-External USB DVD drive (probably USB pen drive would work also)
-Zorin8 lite DVD (Download and burn on DVD, or USB pen drive)

Steps:
1. boot eeepc701 with Zorin8 lite DVD (or pen drive) and select to boot live system (if selected installation, cancel and you also will be on desktop)
2. on desktop start terminal, left top corner, search for term.. and start the terminal.
(we are going to remove the disk-size check)
3. in terminal execute command: gksu abiword /usr/lib/ubiquity/plugins/ubi-prepare.py
(abiword opens)
4. in abiword navigate to last page, scroll tiny bit higher to find function "def big_enough(self, size)" that checks disk-size, replace the return variable 'ret' in return function to 'True' ('return ret' --> 'return True'). The disk-size check will always tell your drive is big enough, even if it is not.
5. save file and close abiword.
(leave terminal open, we need it for step 6)
6. execute command: xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode 800x480 --panning 1024x600 --scale 1.28x1.25
Your screen is resized, caused some weird stuff for me (mouse can not navigate full screen) but you can work around this by dragging the windows into the mouse-workable area and use TAB to navigate forms that are unreachable by mouse and press ENTER to confirm buttons.
7. Start the installation (icon on desktop) and select a manual partitioning (last option), remove all existing partitions from SSD with '-' button.
8. Make 1 new partition, EXT4 and mount it to '/'. (The installation takes 3GB from the 4GB, so you have 1GB left. EXT4 is okay for SSD)
9. Start installation, ignore the "SWAP partition is missing error" (we can't really afford SWAP, SSD life also decreases from that much writes).
10. Continue installation, wait until finished, select to Restart when asked.
My eeepc got stuck on a blue screen, I waited a bit and did a hard reset (after disconnecting DVD drive).

After the reset boot Zorin, log in, and hopefully you will be on your desktop.

Hint: In case you want to install updates: keep in mind downloading + installing requires additional space, install updates separately not in bulk. Also remove installation packages after update with command: gksu apt-get clean

After installation suggestions:
I started Synaptic Package Manager to remove applications I do now want/need to free up some space.
Also I read the following recommendations (From Ubuntu manual):
In "/etc/fstab" remove "/dev/sdc1 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec 0 0"
In " /etc/apt/sources.list" remove "deb cdrom:[Ubuntu *** _XXX XXXX_ - Release i386 (200xxxxx)]/ xxxxx main restricted"

Remove access timestamp to reduce writes on SSD:
Add noatime to fstab and save: gksu abiword /etc/fstab
The configuration should look like this: "UUID=f0ae2c59-83d2-42e7-81c4-2e870b6b255d / ext4 noatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1"
source: https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/ssd

Zorin Lite post installation guide:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4835

This manual is based on help from:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/EeePC/Installation

Fix for resizing the screen with a working mouse
Scaling via xrandr (1024/800=1.28, 600/480=1.25):
xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode 800x480 --panning 1024x600 --scale 1.28x1.25

For the eeepc 701 / 4G Surf:

You can tweak/overclock the CPU from 630MHz to the native 900MHz with: eee-control.

Some suggestion for upgrading your RAM module from 667 to 800Mhz when overclocking from this forum: http://crunchbang.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=7741
Underclocked:
- bus frequency: 70MHz
- CPU: 70 x 9 = 630 MHz (standard Celeron multiplier for this class of CPU)
- ram: 70 x 4 = 280 MHz (I read somewhere that memory is quad-pumped)
- DDR2: 280x2 = 560 MHz
a DDR2-667 module is capable of handling such frequency.

I guess you also install zorin over the network with PXE, see generic manual here: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/PXE
Also might come in handy for other tweaks for 701: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/ASUS_Eee_PC_701

I used this under windows XP, but should work with wine I guess: http://transgaming.com/swiftshader
Swiftshader will add software shaders in case you just want to run Crysis on your eeepc.
You do need a big SD-card and an external DVD player or web installer to install the game.
Don't have to high hopes though, the menu runs well but the game is a slideshow.

Update for Zorin 9 Lite.

Sames steps as mentioned for Zorin 8 Lite.
More details for step 4:
Navigate to def big_enough(self, size) function and replace last line of this function 'return ret' with 'return True'.

Zorin 9 requires more space from the available 4GB. I removed some language pack from languages I didn't use (freed 100MB+).
You can remove these packages here: start->system tools->synaptic package manager (in left menu select 'status' and above that option 'installed').
To remove applications you are not going to use do this: start->system tools->software center (select option in top menu: Installed software).
(Examples: bluetooth manager (704 has not bluetooth), playonlinux (no room for games), xfburn (dont have DVD-drive), etc)

Keep in mind that you might be required to install updates separately instead of in bulk, as there might not be enough space to store the installation packages and installed versions at the same time. Use this command to clean installation packages: gksu apt-get clean
To check available disk space you can use: start->preferences->Disks.

More tips!

Power Consumption:
Install package: powertop

Overclock EeePC (tip, explanation: command):
Install headers: sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-generic
Download source (also attached to this post!): wget http://eeepc-linux.googlecode.com/files ... 0.2.tar.gz
Decompress: tar -xf eeepc-linux-0.2.tar.gz
Navigate to source: cd eeepc-linux/module
Build it: make
Now you have the file "eee.ko".
Use it: sudo mv eee.ko /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/
Edit /etc/modules and add 'eee': gksu abiword /etc/modules
Register file eee: sudo depmod -a
Load file eee: sudo modprobe eee
Create a script for following lines, direct overclock might crash eeepc (example: gksu abiword /home/overclock.sh & chmod 755 /home/overclock.sh)
Overclock by steps_1: sudo sh -c 'echo 85 24 1 > /proc/eee/fsb'
Overclock by steps_2: sudo sh -c 'echo 100 24 1 > /proc/eee/fsb'
Overclock by steps_3: echo "FSB overclocked to 100MHz"
Create a script for following lines, regular speed script (example: gksu abiword /home/stockclock.sh & chmod 755 /home/stockclock.sh)
Restore by steps_1: sudo sh -c 'echo 85 24 1 > /proc/eee/fsb'
Restore by steps_2: sudo sh -c 'echo 70 24 1 > /proc/eee/fsb'
Restore by steps_3: echo "FSB returned to 70MHz"

Source:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/EeePC/Using