Acemagic Vista Mini V1 Notes

Russell Bateman
September 2025

In June 2025, I was tempted by and purchased an ACEMAGICIAN Vista V1 Mini PC computer from Amazon for $149. It came with Windows 11 Pro installed which I was able able to set up without obligating myself to create a Microsoft account requiring log-in. Here are the details:

12th Generation Intel Alder Lake N95 (Beat N100, Up to 3.4GHz, 4 Cores)
16Gb DDR4 RAM
512Gb M.2 2280 SSD (Maximum 2Tg)
Dual WiFi 5
Bluetooth 4.2
Intel UHD Graphics
Axial Fan Internal Cooling

Front
Power button
2× 3.2
3.5mm Audio Jack

Rear
Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45
UHD 4K HDMI 2.0 (4K @ 60Hz)
Display Port 1.4 (4K @ 60Hz)
2× 2.0
Power connector

I purchased this because the price and I need a replacement for my HP 17" touchscreen notebook running Windows 10 in order to run Turbotax software (which I have never been able to port to Wine.

However, I would like to run a headless Ubuntu Server

Better yet, on another instance of this hardware. This would be so I can set up a Jellyfin server for my house (n support for outside subscribers). I wonder if it's possible to serve up the media from an external USB-mounted drive. I tried to do that with my existing Plex Media server and it never really worked (the mounted volume kept unmounting.

What I have learned...

When installing Debian Linux on an Acemagic Vista Mini V1, the primary challenges involve accessing the BIOS for boot management and ensuring full driver compatibility for components like the NVMe drive and Wi-Fi card. While the system is based on standard x86 architecture and can run Linux, specific hardware can cause problems during or after installation.

BIOS and booting challenges

Difficulty entering BIOS: Unlike most computers, the Vista Mini V1 may not use standard keys like F8, F10, or Delete to enter the BIOS at startup. Instead, users report having to use the Windows Advanced Recovery settings to access the UEFI firmware options.
Secure Boot management: Once you access the BIOS/UEFI settings, you may need to disable Secure Boot to allow the Debian installer to boot correctly.

Driver and hardware compatibility

NVMe drive errors: Some users report that the Linux installer fails when trying to write to the stock NVMe solid-state drive (SSD), which may be an unpatched compatibility issue with certain Linux kernels.

Workaround: Some users have successfully fixed this by swapping the internal NVMe drive for another model.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers: The Realtek RTL8821CE Wi-Fi card included in some Vista Mini V1 models is known to have compatibility problems with some Linux distributions.

Potential fixes: Compatibility issues often require updating to a newer kernel or manually installing the appropriate drivers after installation. For the installation itself, you may need a wired ethernet connection or a different, compatible USB Wi-Fi dongle.

Graphical issues with some kernels: On some distributions, older kernels might lack proper graphics acceleration for the Intel Alder Lake-N integrated GPU. This can lead to poor video playback and visual glitches.

Solution: Using a modern Debian release with a newer kernel (e.g., kernel 6.5 or later) is often necessary for full graphics support.

General installation and stability issues

Random system freezing: Incompatibility with wireless or power management drivers can cause the system to freeze randomly. This is an issue even on relatively recent Linux distributions like Ubuntu 24.04, which is built on a newer kernel.
Lack of manufacturer support: While Acemagic claims Linux compatibility, they do not provide Debian-specific drivers or troubleshooting. If you encounter issues, you will need to rely on the wider Linux community and kernel development for fixes.

Strategies for a smooth installation

Start with a live USB: Before committing to a full installation, create a live Debian USB drive to boot from. This will allow you to test hardware components like the Wi-Fi and NVMe drive to see if they are detected and working correctly.
Use the latest Debian version: Use a Debian release with a newer kernel to increase the chances of "out-of-the-box" hardware support, particularly for the NVMe drive and integrated graphics.
Prepare workarounds: Keep a wired ethernet connection available in case the Wi-Fi does not work immediately. Research driver installation procedures for Realtek wireless cards on Debian before you begin the install.

In case the no-Microsoft account doesn't hold forever...

See Microsoft forces on-line accounts.

If ever I decide to install Linux on this box...

ACEMAGIC Vista Mini V1 Freezing Randomly on Ubuntu 24.04

From Acemagic: Our technical team has reviewed your issue and identified several potential causes:

Root Cause Analysis

Driver Incompatibility: The Bluetooth and Realtek Wi‑Fi drivers may not be fully compatible with the Linux kernel used in Ubuntu 24.04.

Power Management Issues: System freeze could be triggered by aggressive power-saving modes.

ACPI Deadlock: Errors in Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi drivers might be triggering ACPI events, which then cause the system to enter an unstable state and eventually deadlock.

New Kernel Instability: Ubuntu 24.04 was released recently, and some drivers may not yet be fully stable on newer 6.x kernel versions.

Recommended Steps

To troubleshoot and improve system stability, please try the following:

Temporarily Disable Bluetooth. You can disable it via terminal: sudo systemctl stop bluetooth, sudo systemctl disable bluetooth.
Turn Off WiFi Power Management. Add the following to /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/default-wifi-powersave-on.conf:
[connection] wifi.powersave = 2
Then restart NetworkManager: sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager
Disable SAP (SIM Access Profile) Edit /etc/bluetooth/main.conf, set:
EnableSap=false.
Update Bluetooth & WiFi Drivers. Check for any available firmware or driver updates for your Realtek chipset and Bluetooth adapter.
Disable ACPI Sleep Features (For testing only). Try booting with the kernel parameter: (Note: This may disable some power features; only use it temporarily to verify stability. acpi=off)
Try a Different Kernel Version. If the issue persists, consider switching to a Long-Term Support (LTS) kernel like 5.15 or 6.5, which may have better hardware compatibility:
sudo apt install linux-image-5.15.0-xx-generic

An answer for USM hard drive volume that keeps unmounting?

A common reason for a USB hard drive to keep unmounting on an Ubuntu server is insufficient or unstable power delivery, often resolved by disabling USB autosuspend, using a powered USB hub, or moving to a powered USB port. Other potential causes include faulty hardware like the drive, cable, or USB port, file system corruption, or the drive entering sleep mode, all of which can be investigated by checking system logs, testing different components, and disabling power-saving features.

1. Check for Power Issues

Disable USB Autosupend:

This feature can cause the drive to disconnect. You can disable it by editing the cmdline.txt file or checking power management settings in the Ubuntu control panel.

Use a Powered USB Hub:

This provides dedicated power to the hard drive, preventing it from drawing too much power from the server's USB ports.

Try a Different USB Port:

Connect the hard drive to a different USB port on the server. If the problem stops, it indicates a faulty port.

Try a Powered External Drive:

If you are using a portable, bus-powered external drive, switch to a model that uses its own external power supply to ensure stable power.

This video shows how to fix mounting issues with a USB drive:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utHUlE1d4SE

2. Investigate Hardware and Cables

Test the USB Cable:

A damaged or low-quality USB cable can cause disconnections. Try a different, higher-quality USB cable.

Test the Hard Drive:

If you have another USB device, test it on the same port. If the other device also disconnects, the port or USB controller is likely the issue. Conversely, if the hard drive works fine on another computer, the issue might be with the server's USB ports.

3. Rule Out File System and Drive Health

Check for Drive Errors:

File system corruption or errors can cause a drive to become unstable. Use lsblk to identify the drive and fsck to check and repair the file system if needed.

Monitor Logs:

Check system logs, such as dmesg, for messages related to USB disconnects or host controller errors that can provide clues to the problem.

Check for Drive Sleep Mode:

Some hard drives enter sleep mode to save power. You can create a simple cron job to access a file on the drive every minute to prevent it from going to sleep.