Few questions about installing linux?

DMGrier · 12-14-2008, 09:48 AM

Will my old laptop be able to support the latest linux OS? Dell inspiron b130, 1.6 GHz celeron, 512 MB of memory, 50 GB HDD. And since I would be instaling a different OS on there how would I install my old drivers?

Kornowski · 12-14-2008, 12:11 PM

I'd imagine it'd be able to handle it fine, I had it running on a 600Mhz Celron with 512MB RAM.

DMGrier · 12-14-2008, 07:18 PM

Well I'm glad to hear that it will run but I am curious what about installing my drivers. I have always bought prebuilt computers so this is my first time installing a OS so a little nervious.

Kornowski · 12-15-2008, 10:35 AM

It'll be fine. I don't have much experience with Linux, but from the times I've used it, I've gathered it's pretty simple. My Wireless Reciever was working straight away, so I didn't need drivers for that. When I tried to enable desktop effects, it told me I needed new drivers and started to download them for me. So it's all pretty simple.

hackapelite · 12-15-2008, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Well I'm glad to hear that it will run but I am curious what about installing my drivers.

Don't have to; in 99% of cases the default drivers / the stuff on the installation disc will work fine. Usually it's wireless that's causing the problems if any; though now that Atheros has gone open source that is changing fast. If any proprietary drivers need to be installed, it's a matter of few mouse clicks. Really simple TBH; unless the wireless drivers are the problem, those can be a pain to get working (welcome to the terminal).

DMGrier · 12-16-2008, 04:03 AM

I can't get my wireless to work so what do I do?

ukulele_ninja · 12-16-2008, 04:45 AM

What distro are you using?

DMGrier · 12-16-2008, 08:51 AM

ubuntu, what happen was xp wouldn't boot up and since I do not use this laptop anymore so I fighure I would reformat it with ubuntu linux, wanted to try a new OS. When I went through the help manager, I went through a program it told me to and it said that it was disabled and that it shouldn't be a problem to go through windows (which is no longer on there) and turn it on. So do you know a way to turn it back on or could you recommend a cheap external wireless card that I could purchase that is compatible. Thanks.

sg1 · 12-16-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMGrier

I can't get my wireless to work so what do I do?

What have you tried to get it working?

I just had a bit of a deeper look into your laptop specs and found this which may prove helpfull

It talks about using Ndiswrapper.

Good Luck

DMGrier · 12-16-2008, 08:35 PM

Well it recognizes my wireless card but it says I have to go through windows to turn it on cause I guess when I turned it on last when xp was working I had turned it off. But online I found a external wireless card compatible with ubuntu Linux, a Edimax 54 Mbps Wireless USB stick with Antenna.

12-14-2008, 09:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
DMGrier Gold Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Port Orchard, Wa Posts: 479	Few questions about installing linux? Will my old laptop be able to support the latest linux OS? Dell inspiron b130, 1.6 GHz celeron, 512 MB of memory, 50 GB HDD. And since I would be instaling a different OS on there how would I install my old drivers? __________________ Dell Studio 15z OS: Windows 7 (64bit) CPU: Intel Core i5 2.27 Ghz RAM: 4 GB DDR3 HDD: 500 GB (7200 rpm) Battery: 6hrs 3min

12-14-2008, 12:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kornowski VIP - Graphics Guru Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool, UK Age: 20 Posts: 16,332	I'd imagine it'd be able to handle it fine, I had it running on a 600Mhz Celron with 512MB RAM. __________________ Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 3.4Ghz EVGA 750i SLI FTW 4GB Kingston Hyper X @ 1066Mhz 2 X 8800GTS G92 in SLI @ 734/1890/972 Corsair HX520W Windows 7 Profesional 64bit Seagate Barracuda 500GB 7200.11 & WD 120GB Tuniq Tower LED Antec 900 (Modded) Acer 24" and Samsung 19" Monitors DH Biking - Because Golf and Football only require one ball. www.delamereriders.co.uk

12-14-2008, 07:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
DMGrier Gold Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Port Orchard, Wa Posts: 479	Well I'm glad to hear that it will run but I am curious what about installing my drivers. I have always bought prebuilt computers so this is my first time installing a OS so a little nervious. __________________ Dell Studio 15z OS: Windows 7 (64bit) CPU: Intel Core i5 2.27 Ghz RAM: 4 GB DDR3 HDD: 500 GB (7200 rpm) Battery: 6hrs 3min

12-15-2008, 10:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
Kornowski VIP - Graphics Guru Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool, UK Age: 20 Posts: 16,332	It'll be fine. I don't have much experience with Linux, but from the times I've used it, I've gathered it's pretty simple. My Wireless Reciever was working straight away, so I didn't need drivers for that. When I tried to enable desktop effects, it told me I needed new drivers and started to download them for me. So it's all pretty simple. __________________ Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 3.4Ghz EVGA 750i SLI FTW 4GB Kingston Hyper X @ 1066Mhz 2 X 8800GTS G92 in SLI @ 734/1890/972 Corsair HX520W Windows 7 Profesional 64bit Seagate Barracuda 500GB 7200.11 & WD 120GB Tuniq Tower LED Antec 900 (Modded) Acer 24" and Samsung 19" Monitors DH Biking - Because Golf and Football only require one ball. www.delamereriders.co.uk

12-16-2008, 04:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
DMGrier Gold Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Port Orchard, Wa Posts: 479	I can't get my wireless to work so what do I do? __________________ Dell Studio 15z OS: Windows 7 (64bit) CPU: Intel Core i5 2.27 Ghz RAM: 4 GB DDR3 HDD: 500 GB (7200 rpm) Battery: 6hrs 3min

12-16-2008, 04:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
ukulele_ninja VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Age: 23 Posts: 4,268	What distro are you using? __________________ http://raptr.com/badge/7183de702f2e4...bbc43e0/fs.png

12-16-2008, 08:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
DMGrier Gold Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Port Orchard, Wa Posts: 479	ubuntu, what happen was xp wouldn't boot up and since I do not use this laptop anymore so I fighure I would reformat it with ubuntu linux, wanted to try a new OS. When I went through the help manager, I went through a program it told me to and it said that it was disabled and that it shouldn't be a problem to go through windows (which is no longer on there) and turn it on. So do you know a way to turn it back on or could you recommend a cheap external wireless card that I could purchase that is compatible. Thanks. __________________ Dell Studio 15z OS: Windows 7 (64bit) CPU: Intel Core i5 2.27 Ghz RAM: 4 GB DDR3 HDD: 500 GB (7200 rpm) Battery: 6hrs 3min Last edited by DMGrier; 12-16-2008 at 09:08 AM.

12-16-2008, 08:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
DMGrier Gold Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Port Orchard, Wa Posts: 479	Well it recognizes my wireless card but it says I have to go through windows to turn it on cause I guess when I turned it on last when xp was working I had turned it off. But online I found a external wireless card compatible with ubuntu Linux, a Edimax 54 Mbps Wireless USB stick with Antenna. __________________ Dell Studio 15z OS: Windows 7 (64bit) CPU: Intel Core i5 2.27 Ghz RAM: 4 GB DDR3 HDD: 500 GB (7200 rpm) Battery: 6hrs 3min Last edited by DMGrier; 12-16-2008 at 09:11 PM.

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