I have a handy-down labtop I'd like to use at my 2nd residence w/dial-up. WIN 98 and registry is corrupted with internet redirects etc. I can get online, but pop-ups keep-a-comin. All I want is Earthlink and IE. Can I erase the HD and use Linux? A few basic tips might get me in the right direction. Thanks.
Can Linux resurrect labtop w/corrupted registry?
- Thread starter Auto-Union
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It's just what the doctor ordered. Linux doesn't use the registry.
Get a Ubuntu live CD and you can run you computer right off the CD to see if you like it.
Ubuntu comes with Firefox which is close enough to IE that you should be able to use it without any instructions.
There are other good distributions besides Ubuntu but
Ubuntu is the most popular and has a friendly online support community.
If you laptop is old and not very powerful, the Ubuntu might be too much of a load on it. Do you know what processor (CPU) you have and how much memory? If not, what is the make and model of your laptop?
Get a Ubuntu live CD and you can run you computer right off the CD to see if you like it.
Ubuntu comes with Firefox which is close enough to IE that you should be able to use it without any instructions.
There are other good distributions besides Ubuntu but
Ubuntu is the most popular and has a friendly online support community.
If you laptop is old and not very powerful, the Ubuntu might be too much of a load on it. Do you know what processor (CPU) you have and how much memory? If not, what is the make and model of your laptop?
Thanks. I'm guessing it's like a P300mhz. Can I create my own CD on another computer and use it in the patient computer? I'll look into it. Thanks again.
You might want to check to see if the laptop has a "winmodem"; if so, you will need to look here
http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/answers/Hardware/WinModems_and_Linux
Most importantly from that link
Quote:
A winmodem is a piece of hardware that is commonly found in notebooks and computers designed for a Windows OS. A winmodem is not a modem! It is much more CPU heavy, and relies on Windows to function.
I wouldn't spend too much time trying to get linux to support a 1/2 [censored]ed hardware decision compromise like a winmodem; just pick up an external US robotics "real" modem from ebay for 10 bucks;
http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/answers/Hardware/WinModems_and_Linux
Most importantly from that link
Quote:
A winmodem is a piece of hardware that is commonly found in notebooks and computers designed for a Windows OS. A winmodem is not a modem! It is much more CPU heavy, and relies on Windows to function.
I wouldn't spend too much time trying to get linux to support a 1/2 [censored]ed hardware decision compromise like a winmodem; just pick up an external US robotics "real" modem from ebay for 10 bucks;
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ATI driver is all I know. Otherwise, I'm working on it. Went to a computer store, they talked me out of fixing it...including ditching Windows for Linux.
Considering there will be no cost other than the time downloading and burning on CD a few different versions of Linux, what do you have to loose?
If you can boot off the CD, you can run Linux in the Live mode without installing it and see if it supports your modem, etc.
There is also a many Linux sites where you can get some info that will help.
The XFCE version of Linux Mint offers multimedia support and is based on Ubuntu Gusty Gibbon Version 7.10.
Another option would be Puppy Linux that is very fast on older computers.
Give a few different versions a try.
Do you need to recover anything on the computer before you install Linux on it?
If you can boot off the CD, you can run Linux in the Live mode without installing it and see if it supports your modem, etc.
There is also a many Linux sites where you can get some info that will help.
The XFCE version of Linux Mint offers multimedia support and is based on Ubuntu Gusty Gibbon Version 7.10.
Another option would be Puppy Linux that is very fast on older computers.
Give a few different versions a try.
Do you need to recover anything on the computer before you install Linux on it?
Originally Posted By: Auto-Union
Thanks. I'm guessing it's like a P300mhz.
Ubuntu = Gnome desktop which will = slow as slightly chilled molasses @ 300Mhz. You could try Xubuntu, which uses the lighter XFCE desktop. Or others could probably recommend a dozen lighter distros too.
Quote:
I wouldn't spend too much time trying to get linux to support a 1/2 [censored]ed hardware decision compromise like a winmodem; just pick up an external US robotics "real" modem from ebay for 10 bucks
FWIW I have an external USR 56K modem and Ubuntu easily detected. Good advice, winmodems et al are rubbish and not supported.
Thanks. I'm guessing it's like a P300mhz.
Ubuntu = Gnome desktop which will = slow as slightly chilled molasses @ 300Mhz. You could try Xubuntu, which uses the lighter XFCE desktop. Or others could probably recommend a dozen lighter distros too.
Quote:
I wouldn't spend too much time trying to get linux to support a 1/2 [censored]ed hardware decision compromise like a winmodem; just pick up an external US robotics "real" modem from ebay for 10 bucks
FWIW I have an external USR 56K modem and Ubuntu easily detected. Good advice, winmodems et al are rubbish and not supported.
I tried Knoppix a couple of years ago and it worked great. It recognized all of my hardware with no trouble. You boot off the CD and it runs off the CD. It comes with a browser and other programs which I can't remember right now. It was very simple and it surprised me that Linux had come so far and was easy to use. If I had no choice I would switch to Linux, no problem. Right now XP is working great, Open Office works great, Firefox is great and the other software I need and use works fine. I have no motivation to switch at this point.
Cool. It's W2000 Office Pro or some [censored] like that. I don't need anything off the machine. I just want to surf when I need something online at my other residence. The machine is calling for the install disk to do any "fixing"....a lost cause. Honestly, copnsumers are ripped-off bythe system. Recovery discs should be free for the asking.
Cool. It's W2000 Office Pro or some [censored] like that. I don't need anything off the machine. I just want to surf when I need something online at my other residence. The machine is calling for the install disk to do any "fixing"....a lost cause. Honestly, consumers are ripped-off bythe system. Recovery discs should be free for the asking.
You're getting some good advice. You need a lightweight Linux distribution with a computer that slow.
Download several versions and try them.
The best Linux distribution for a newbie is the one that works with the least hassle.
A neighbor is using Xubuntu with satisfactory results on a 300 mhz CPU IBM laptop with 128 meg of memory.
The Winmodem may be more trouble than it's worth.
Download several versions and try them.
The best Linux distribution for a newbie is the one that works with the least hassle.
A neighbor is using Xubuntu with satisfactory results on a 300 mhz CPU IBM laptop with 128 meg of memory.
The Winmodem may be more trouble than it's worth.
JETBOOK
Alternatively you can get a $20 wifi card*, stick linux on there, and use your desktop for dialup. Run the analogx proxy server (real easy setup, possibly not most secure) on the desktop and enjoy wireless surfing! Edit, whoops, you'll be miles from home. But you may be able to mooch wifi from a neighbor! Never know!
If you look through the windows folder, you might find a folder full of .CAB files; these are the setup files if you want to do a clean install of windows.
*and of course a router base station if you don't have one
If you look through the windows folder, you might find a folder full of .CAB files; these are the setup files if you want to do a clean install of windows.
*and of course a router base station if you don't have one
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