As written below, I had problems getting Ubuntu Dapper Drake (6.06)
installed on my laptop.
I got a different CD-ROM drive and tried it. I had the exact same
problems. But, if I let it just error out, it would eventually read the
data and while it took about 4x as long as it should have, Ubuntu booted
and then was installed. I've got to say, it runs GREAT on a P3-1000mhz
with 384MB RAM. I left it downstairs in my house and ran an extra cable
for my network, and now I sit in my easy chair and do most of my work.
One hint on the old Dell Inspiron 4000 series laptops: The j-mouse (the
little nub next to the j key) really really stinks. On mine, it would
render the touch pad useless because it would go out of calibration and
the mouse would end up stuck in a corer. I would jiggle the j-mouse
around and then try the touchpad and it would work. I got so sick of it,
I removed the keyboard and tried to unplug the mouse from the keyboard
connector. They are joined, though, and cannot be separated by normal
means. So, I got a knife and literally cut the j-mouse cable in two.
Problem solved! Now it works great with the touch pad. The j-mouse is
rendered useless, of course, but that's fine with me. It was worse than
useless before!
I also have found that I *really* like Ubuntu. I haven't played with it
much other than using the desktop on my laptop, but its very nice and
polished. I have NO experience running it as a server though.
Ryan Flowers wrote:
Thanks for all the great responses, I really appreciate them. The laptop
is my travel companion. I usually only go out of town once or twice a
year and so it doesn't see much use, but when its all I've got, I need
it for ssh sessions, email, typical admin type work. I do not forsee
doing any development on it beyond perl or shell scripts. Previously it
only got booted up when I needed Paint Shop Pro or when I was staying in
SFO for the weekend and needed a computer in the evenings at the hotel.
Josh: it takes CL2 SODIMMS. Its got a 256 and a 128 in it right now.
This evening I got Ubuntu 6.06 burned to a CD and tried installing it.
It failed the md5 checksum test that the cd runs on itself when booted
in the laptop. I ran a manual md5sum check on my workstation and it was
fine. I suspect that the older cd-rom drive in the laptop does not like
the media I'm using, or its simply incapable of reading modern (burned)
cd's.
So, for now I will either try to fix the Winders Xtra Pointless
installation, or figure out another solution on getting a Linux distro
installed.
Y'all have a good night.
Ryan Flowers
www.rykoala.org
Ryan Flowers wrote:
I have an older Dell Inspirion that just puked its Windows XP
installation. Surprise, surprise. I booted it a few months ago and it
was fine. Tried to boot it last week to make sure it was ready to
take on a trip to the bay area and it was dead. XP just reboots itself.
Its a P3 1ghz with 384MB RAM and a 20GB hard drive. I run FC5 at home
and work, but I doubt it'd survive well on this older hardware. Any
suggestions for a distro it would be happy with?
Thanks!
Ryan Flowers
www.rykoala.org
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